5 winners and 5 losers from the Chiefs’ backups shedding to the Broncos

What a daily season this has been!

The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs collected 15 wins on the best way to locking within the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed (with its first-round bye) and an ideal probability to assert the NFL’s first three-peat.

However there was a invoice due for this season’s enjoyable and success: watching the crew’s backups lay a whole and whole egg towards the Denver Broncos in Sunday’s season finale.

Kansas Metropolis’s 38-0 loss was concurrently probably the most stress-free and least enjoyable sport of the season — maybe even in all the Patrick Mahomes period. However the Chiefs have been in a position to relaxation their high gamers whereas getting another guys some reps. I suppose that’s a small victory.

There weren’t many standouts on this ugly loss — however we’ll attempt to discover a couple of.

Winners

Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Photographs

Working again Samaje Perine: He had solely two touches on Sunday afternoon, however at the very least one in all them reminded us of why he’s on the squad: the veteran transformed a fourth down with a 13-yard catch-and-run. Perine could have a key function within the playoff run.

Security Jaden Hicks: The rookie has solidified himself as a part of the crew’s future. 5 tackles (one for loss) and a batted go represented a fairly good effort on the day.

Defensive finish Josh Uche: For a man who had been a game-day inactive for the final 4 sport, Uche was fairly energetic towards Denver. He led the line of defense with eight tackles and coated lots of floor. We’ll see if defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo was moved by his efficiency.

The Broncos: Coming into the ultimate week of the common season (and needing a win to safe a playoff spot), Denver was prepared. Bo Nix — who performs a enjoyable model of soccer — seems to be the crew’s long-term answer at quarterback. The Broncos’ protection remains to be fairly stout — they usually have sufficient playmakers to be harmful. Sure… I do know it was towards third and fourth-string gamers, however Denver did precisely what it ought to have completed: dominate the sport.

Losers

Ron Chenoy-Imagn Photographs

Cornerback Nazeeh Johnson: Burned deep by Courtland Sutton within the first quarter, he missed an open-field deal with to increase a drive within the second quarter — after which tipped an finish zone go to Keith Taylor (who by some means saved it within the air) for the Broncos to carry it in for a landing. Then Sutton beat Johnson deep once more, outjumping him for a go down the proper sideline. All of that was simply within the first half. The Chiefs have a cornerback drawback — and the one answer is Jaylen Watson.

Kicker Harrison Butker: The Chiefs actually had just one alternative to attain: a 51-yard area aim try. Butker missed it badly. That led to the primary time Kansas Metropolis has been shut out since 2012. Hopefully, this was the final of the rust Butker wanted to shake off earlier than the playoffs — as a result of the crew will want him.

Quarterback Carson Wentz: To paraphrase a former Chiefs nice on “Hard Knocks,” Kansas Metropolis’s reserve signal-caller was attempting to “make chicken salad out of chicken poop.” He was enjoying behind an offensive line stuffed with rookies whereas throwing to some guys who most likely gained’t be energetic within the playoffs. Nonetheless, his full incapability to get the offense transferring was regarding. His accuracy didn’t look good and he took some horrible sacks — together with on fourth down. It wasn’t fairly. Let’s hope this was an aberration — or that he doesn’t get right into a playoff sport except it’s rubbish time.

The Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins: Final 12 months, the Chiefs needed to beat each these groups on a brutal playoff path to the Tremendous Bowl. This season, each watched the Broncos cruise into the ultimate playoff spot. All they and their followers might do is complain. In the meantime, Kansas Metropolis will take pleasure in its bye week — adopted by what ought to be a neater postseason bracket. Benefit from the Professional Bowl, Bengals and Dolphins!

Notice: Making use of the labels “winners” and “losers isn’t meant to be a judgment on the expertise or character of any of those gamers. It’s only a easy strategy to grade their efficiency in a single sport. No disrespect is meant.