Denver Post: The Broncos broke Mahomes

[Hammock Parties]

I'm sure this will age well.

Keeler: Broncos DC Vance Joseph didn’t just beat Patrick Mahomes. He didn’t just beat the Chiefs. He broke them.

Vance Joseph didn’t just beat the Chiefs. He broke them like plates at a Big Fat Greek Wedding.

Before the Broncos turned Patrick Mahomes upside down in Week 8 and shook him like a snow globe, No. 15 was Showtime.

He’s been Redbox ever since.

Mea culpa, VJ. I was wrong. We were wrong. Broncos Country wanted a scapegoat for that 70-burger in Miami. Your office was the closest to the sacrificial altar.

And if the wonks who vote on NFL Assistant Coach of the Year are paying attention, that baby oughta be your to lose, Vance. You got it right. Sean Payton got it right. George Paton got it right. Greg Penner got it right.

Instead of shedding blood, the Broncos shed disgruntled veterans. Instead of blowing up the bathroom, they retiled the shower. Every little tweak hit like a sledgehammer.

They identified a new boundary corner (Fabian Moreau) who could handle the traffic from QBs avoiding Pat Surtain II. They found a star in nickelback Ja’Quan McMillian, a college free agent out of East Carolina whose quiet case for a Pro Bowl nod — seven TFLs, two interceptions and two fumbles forced over his last eight games — gets louder by the week.

They handed the keys to Baron Browning, Jonathon Cooper and Nik Bonitto, then watched them drive tackles batty. No team in the NFL has more sacks over the past three weeks than the Broncos’ 18.

Explosion plays vanished. Missed tackles felt like unhappy accidents. In his 13 games as defensive coordinator, Joseph’s defense somehow transformed from a rusty, flaming dumpster into Optimus Prime. Welcome to The Vance Vance Revolution.

If the buddy-cop tandem of Payton & Paton are half as smart as they think they are, they’ll get in Penner’s ear, rip up whatever’s left of VJ’s contract and let Joseph name his price.

It’s been so long — too long — since Broncos Country found something they could trust falling in love with again. You don’t let that feeling walk away easy.

Now that you mention it, the last seven weeks have been so much fun, the only thing missing for Joseph’s cadre is a clever nickname, right? Some proper shorthand, along the lines of “Orange Crush” and “No-Fly Zone”, for one of the most remarkable defensive units in the history of a franchise that’s been defined by them.

Open to suggestions, of course. “Team Takeaway?” “The Turnover Train?”

Here’s another stab, take it or leave it: The Mahomes-Wreckers.

The NFL is an unabashed cut-and-paste, copycat league. Other great defensive minds have proffered theories toward an antidote for the logic-bending, gravity-defying, generational genius of Mahomes, the Chiefs’ QB1.

Joseph might’ve just written the definitive book on the subject.

Before Kansas City visited Empower Field on Oct. 29, the Chiefs were 6-1. The Broncos were roadkill.

On a cold day in Hades, VJ’s defense forced five turnovers, picking off The Grim Reaper twice and sacking him three times.

“Well, you know, Mahomes was sick”, they sniffed.

“Yeah, it was the snow,” they scoffed.

Was it?

In Kansas City’s six games that followed, the Chiefs are 2-4. The defending Super Bowl champs have scored a Shurmuresque 19 points per game during that stretch, while surrendering 1.83 sacks per tussle.

Context: In the seven games before Broncos 24, Mahomes 9, Andy Reid’s finest averaged 25.4 points per game and allowed just one sack per tilt.

During that 6-1 start, Mahomes threw for at least 280 yards four different times. During the 2-4 run since, one that includes the Chiefs’ first loss to the Broncos in forever, No. 15’s only managed to hit that mark once.

So much for sick.

So much for snow.

“Vance and these guys have done a really good job of bringing combinations, if you will, which makes it a little harder,” Payton reflected Monday.

“I think it’s a little bit contagious. I think there (are) certain plans you have for certain styles and certain quarterbacks. Some of these guys are too good to sit in the pocket and they’re too talented. Somehow, you have to disrupt the passing game. And it’s either at the line of scrimmage and re-routing receivers, or it’s with the quarterback. (VJ’s defense has) done a good job.”

When the recovery becomes even more impressive than the failure, it’s not just good, coach. It’s historic.

And when the stuff this league is cutting and pasting is yours, it’s not just flattery. It’s gospel. The AFC West is a race again, and Hallelujah.

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by Rausch

Who has lost more super bowls than Denver?

Buffalo?

[RaidersOftheCellar]

Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

Because you got your ass handed to you in a couple more Super Bowls?

That fanbase has delusions of grandeur. They’ve reached the playoffs 9 times in the last quarter century. When they do reach the postseason, it usually ends with a 41-10ish beatdown.

Reality is that being a Denver fan hasn’t been nearly as awesome as they like to pretend.

The first two decades were miserable because they were the worst team in the league. Then came Elway, but it only made them more miserable because he was just good enough to beat Bernie Kosar, win a weak AFC, and get clubbed like a seal by whoever represented the NFC in the SB. In several years, he didn’t even reach the playoffs. Elway’s career was considered a disappointment until they cheated the cap to put a loaded roster around him to send him out with a bang. Since Elway, they’ve done very little outside of a few years with Manning, and they’ve been miserable again for 8 years straight.

For some reason, I’m not overwhelmed with jealousy like I’m supposed to be.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by RaidersOftheCellar

That fanbase has serious delusions of grandeur. They’ve reached the playoffs 9 times in the last quarter century. When they do reach the postseason, it usually ends with a 41-10ish beatdown.

Reality is that being a Denver fan hasn’t been nearly as awesome as they like to pretend.

The first two decades were miserable because they were the worst team in the league. Then they lucked into Elway, but it only made them more miserable because he was just good enough to beat Bernie Kosar, win a weak AFC, and get clubbed like a seal by whoever represented the NFC in the SB. In several years, he didn’t even reach playoffs. Horseface’s career was considered a huge disappointment until they cheated the cap to put a loaded roster around him to send him out with a bang. Since Elway, they’ve done very little outside of a few years with Manning, and they’ve been miserable again for 8 years straight.

LOL. Somehow I’m not overwhelmed by jealousy like I’m supposed to be.

I desperately want Denver in the Divisional Round so we can curbstomp them. That'll shut them up for at least an entire year. Because they're getting swept again next season.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by Mosbonian

Buffalo?

Isn't it 4 to 4?

Did the Bills make an extra SB I don't remember?

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by Rausch

Isn't it 4 to 4?

Did the Bills make an extra SB I don't remember?

True....both are embarrassments to the AFC as Super Bowl representatives

[Mile High Mania]

Originally Posted by Rausch

Isn't it 4 to 4?

Did the Bills make an extra SB I don't remember?

Don’t sell us short… lost the SB in the 70s to Dallas, 3-5 overall.

[DomCasual]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

The broncos' records in 1993, 1994, and 1995 after "unleashing elway": 9-7, 7-9, and 8-8 for 24 total wins.

The broncos' records in 1990, 1991, and 1992 with a "run-first offense": 5-11, 12-4, and 8-8 for 25 total wins.

Unleashing elway produced a net of -1 wins over three seasons.

After really the Super Bowl debacle to the Redskins, the Broncos went through a few years where Dan Reeves drafted terribly, and they became bereft of talent. And let's face it, Wade Phillips had some great years as DC (including 2015, when the Broncos had arguably at least a top-5 defense of all time); but he simply wasn't very good as a head coach. In '93, they squeaked in as a wild card on the back of the waning talent left over from the Super Bowl years, and Elway finished top-5 in the MVP voting. 1994 was brutal, and the talent deficit was at it's worst. Elway probably retires pretty quickly if they don't hire Mike Shanahan.

It wasn't just that they turned him loose, it was how they helped him. It was still largely run-first. It just wasn't as obvious when they would run vs. when they would throw. The run set up the pass; rather than the pass being something to bail you out from the run. They also got him the best OL and skill position players he had in his career.

Some averages prior to 93:

238-434 54.4%; 3021 yds; 15.8 TD 15.7 Int; 72.9 rating

1993 - the end of his career:
291-485 60%; 3,543 yds; 23.7 TD - 11.5 Int; 89.1 rating

And especially in the last years, they piled up the wins, and won two titles.

It's not that different with Mahomes. The numbers are different, obviously - totally different era. But with a HOF TE in his prime and Tyreek Hill spreading out the field, Mahomes is better than he is with a bunch of middling WR and Travis Kelce distracted and aging. As long as Mahomes is there, the Chiefs will be at least a good team: in the playoffs most years; winning the division every other year, or a little more. But he can't throw to himself. He can't block for himself. Pacheco will certainly help him. But they're going to have to get him help.

[DomCasual]

Originally Posted by Mosbonian

True....both are embarrassments to the AFC as Super Bowl representatives

Yet, for all those embarrassing years, you guys were in the same conference and not even winning playoff games.

[tredadda]

Originally Posted by DomCasual

Yet, for all those embarrassing years, you guys were in the same conference and not even winning playoff games.

All irrelevant now.

[PHOG]

Originally Posted by DomCasual

Yet, for all those embarrassing years, you guys were in the same conference and not even winning playoff games.

Hmmm, I could have swore we had been to two Super Bowls, and won one of them, before Dungver even realized they actually had a football team.

[rydogg58]

Originally Posted by PHOG

Hmmm, I could have swore we had been to two Super Bowls, and won one of them, before Dungver even realized they actually had a football team.

That bitch forgets he's even a donk fan until they have a winning record. He'll disappear, again, once they start losing.

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by PHOG

Hmmm, I could have swore we had been to two Super Bowls, and won one of them, before Dungver even realized they actually had a football team.

You beat me to the punch...I swore that we won our first one while Denver was trying to find itself. And we gave a winning SB record.

[FloridaMan88]

Originally Posted by Rausch

Who has lost more super bowls than Denver?

Denver and the Patriots are tied with the most Super Bowl losses with 5 each.

Although Denver certainly has the lead for the most embarrassing blowout losses in the Super Bowl.

Their average scoring margin in their Super Bowl appearances is 18.4 points scored... 32.4 points allowed.

They made a mockery of the Super Bowl... the sport of football... and were/are a national embarrassment.

[tredadda]

Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88

Denver and the Patriots are tied with the most Super Bowl losses with 5 each.

Although Denver certainly has the lead for the most embarrassing blowout losses in the Super Bowl.

Their average scoring margin in their Super Bowl appearances is 18.4 points scored... 32.4 points allowed.

They made a mockery of the Super Bowl... the sport of football... and were/are a national embarrassment.

Even two of their “legit” SB wins are suspect. I think the league punished them for violations that led to them winning two SBs.

[Reerun_KC]

I’d give this thread 2 out of 4 stars.