The Denver Broncos are now 13-3 after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17. The 11-4 Los Angeles Chargers must beat the 10-5 Houston Texans this week. Or the Broncos clinch the AFC West. Then, the question becomes, if the Chargers lose, would they sit their starters in Week 18? For now, here’s everything you need to know about the Broncos’ Week 17 win against the Chiefs.
What Went Right for Broncos
The Broncos’ defense went right in Week 17. The Chiefs’ offense was held to 139 total yards on eight drives (3.3 yards per play) and 20:32 of time of possession. In addition, the Chiefs’ offense totaled 42 plays to the Broncos’ 71 as well. And the Chiefs’ offense totaled 10 first downs to the Broncos’ 22, while the former was four of 11 on third down and the latter was 11-of-18. We watched the ball go through the net for the Broncos’ defense in Week 17.
What Went Wrong for Broncos
The Broncos’ passing offense went wrong in Week 17. Nix was 26-of-38 for 182 yards, a 68.4% completion percentage, a touchdown, an interception, and a 76.9 passer rating. He totaled nine totes for 42 yards and a touchdown as well. Every time it feels like Nix will explode, he doesn’t. This includes the past two games. It all started in Week 15 vs. the Green Bay Packers.
Nix was 23-of-34 for 302 yards, a 67.6% completion percentage, 302 yards, four touchdowns, an 8.9 yards per attempt, and a 134.7 passer rating. He totaled seven carries for 10 yards as well. Then, in Week 16, Nix flopped vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars. Nix’s Week 16 stats are below.
Nix: 28-of-47 for 352 yards, a 59.6% completion percentage, a touchdown, an interception, and an 81.2 passer rating (four carries for 11 yards).
Don’t let the yardage between the 20s fool you. In the second half of Week 16, Nix lost a fumble to stall a drive, threw an interception to stall a drive, and turned it over on downs. This was the result of three of the Broncos’ final five possessions. The Broncos lost 34-20. Two of those three drives ended in Jacksonville territory as well.
Then, in a get-right spot against the Chiefs, Nix didn’t bounce back outside of a game-winning drive out of eight possessions.
