Oct 25, 2020; Denver, Colorado, USA; Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones (95) sacks Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock (3) in the first half at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The Denver Broncos tried to get cut on their offensive play calls against the Kansas City Chiefs, and it backfired spectacularly.
Week 7 saw the first snow game of the NFL season with the Denver Broncos hosting the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. After tying the game in the first quarter, quarterback Drew Lock appeared to be taunting his division rivals after his rushing touchdown, which only awakened the sleeping giant. Down 24-9 in the third quarter, the Broncos decided to get cute with their play-calling, and it backfired spectacularly.
On first-and-10, Lock handed the ball off to running back Melvin Gordon, who then lateraled the ball back to the signal caller on a flea-flicker. However, Gordon’s lateral flew over the head of Lock and ended up in the arms of Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark, who returned it inside Denver’s 15-yard line.
Broncos need to go back to the drawing board
The end result could have been a lot worse for the Broncos. The Chiefs couldn’t turn that fumble into a touchdown, having to resort to a 31-yard field goal by kicker Harrison Butker. Congrats?
Down 24-9, you can understand why the Broncos opted to use a trick play against Kansas City. They had to try something to catch the Chiefs defense off guard. However, trying to lateral the ball in the midst of a snowstorm wasn’t the best of calls by head coach Vic Fangio and offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur. A ball is slippery in the snow, you know.
We’d like to give Denver an “A for effort,” but that execution was atrocious. Sorry, but that’s how we grade.