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Broncos snap counts reveal coaching mistakes in Chiefs loss
Denver's play-calling and personnel decisions didn't match the game situation in a lopsided 31-10 defeat.
In brief
Denver's play-calling and personnel decisions didn't match the game situation in a lopsided 31-10 defeat. The Broncos' offensive coordinator abandoned the run game despite productive backs, while defensive personnel choices left them vulnerable to Kansas City's ground attack. Originally reported by Denver Broncos On…
Broncos stumble in season opener
Denver lost 31-10 to Kansas City on Monday night at Arrowhead Stadium. The offense and defense both played poorly, and Sean Payton's staff was out-coached by Andy Reid.
Snap counts tell the story
Bo Nix and the starting offensive line played all 51 offensive snaps. The defense was on the field for 69 total snaps. Analyzing snap distribution reveals key coaching decisions.
Running backs underutilized
RJ Harvey led with 26 snaps, J.K. Dobbins had 22. Both were productive when given carries, but the Broncos only rushed 15 times total.
Coordinator lost run-pass balance
Davis Webb called just six rushing plays in the first half. Dobbins averaged 4.5 yards per carry and Harvey averaged 6.0 yards, yet the run game was abandoned.
Harvey prioritized as pass-catcher
Harvey got more snaps than Dobbins because Webb focused on passing against Kansas City's secondary. The strategy made sense in theory but lacked balance.
Rookie Coleman barely used
Jonah Coleman dressed but received only three offensive snaps with no touches. He did return a kickoff for 27 yards on special teams.
Practice squad elevation wasted
Adam Prentice was elevated from the practice squad but got just six snaps with no touches. He could have helped on a crucial third-and-one situation.
Top receivers struggled badly
Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle combined for eight targets, three receptions, and 13 yards. Waddle dropped a critical third-down pass.
Pat Bryant emerges as number three
Bryant got 30 snaps, far more than Marvin Mims Jr., who left early with a shoulder injury. Bryant is now the clear third receiver option.
Engram leads receivers in production
Evan Engram caught four passes on five targets for 43 yards and a touchdown, leading Denver's receivers. He got 32 snaps, the most among tight ends.
Defensive line rotation too short
The Broncos sat Jordan Jackson and rookie Tyler Onyedim, their better run defenders, in favor of Sai'vion Jones. This hurt them as Kansas City's ground game dominated.
Zach Allen leads defensive line
Allen played 42 snaps, 61 percent of the action. D.J. Jones and Eyioma Uwazurike split time at other positions.
Bonitto game-planned out of action
Nik Bonitto got 36 snaps but recorded only two pressures. Kansas City specifically targeted him and mostly succeeded in neutralizing his impact.
Elliss and Robinson lead pass rush
Jonah Elliss got 40 snaps and Que Robinson 32. Both recorded three pressures each, leading the Broncos' outside linebackers despite no sacks.
Singleton played nearly every snap
Alex Singleton missed just one snap with 15 tackles, but he was a disaster in reality, missing countless tackles and getting caught out of position.
Cornerbacks struggled in run defense
Patrick Surtain II and Riley Moss played all 69 defensive snaps. Both covered well but missed multiple tackles, with Moss missing two that led to touchdowns.
Safeties couldn't stop the run
Talanoa Hufanga played all 69 snaps and Brandon Jones missed four. Both were part of Denver's missed-tackle epidemic, though Jones did intercept a pass.
Key didn't get defensive action
Devon Key dressed but saw no defensive snaps, which may explain why Denver brought Taylor Rapp back to the practice squad for safety depth.
The essence
The Broncos' offensive coordinator abandoned the run game despite productive backs, while defensive personnel choices left them vulnerable to Kansas City's ground attack.
