Broncos at Chiefs - Week 15 - Record: 10-4

These games are the funnest. Lots of snow, and during the game. A lot of times they've covered the field so if it isn't snowing during the game it just isn't there.  But today! Awesome.

Most times that snow can be debilitating to a high-powered offense, but it can also have an impact on the defense. The Broncos simply could not do anything with our ability to throw the ball down the field and at least get into scoring position.

Mahomes was terrific, 27-for-34, 340 yards, two TD passes. He threw to Kelce all the time. Hill had two touchdown catches. Watkins showed he's still excellent despite what everyone has been saying. Even Robinson and Hardman did very good things out there. It makes me wonder, why run the ball at all. Yes we didn't have Damien Williams again, and if we could use LeSean McCoy more frequently I think we'd be okay. Darwin Thompson's getting some reps, that's good too.

But still. Mahomes is getting it done through the air no matter what we do.

If we can just build a huge lead like we can, easily, like we did today, we won't have to worry about a 4th quarter. Still even when way ahead, we've got to run the plays with assertiveness...

We're also still getting too many penalties on big plays! Are we not disciplined enough?! A splendid Mahomes-to-Kelce big pass play was wiped out by an illegal block. Mathieu intercepts a pass on 4th down for a stop close to our end zone, but we get defensive holding. Lucky we got Thornhill intercepting the very next pass to make it moot.

Another thing is we are just leaving too many points on the field in the red zone. I heard Mitch say Harrison Butker has the NFL record for most points by any player over his first three years. This is (a) because we do have such a potent offense, but also (b) he is kicking too many field goals when we get close to the goal line. The Chiefs by far have the most touchdowns from beyond the 20 this year. Easy to see why. We have the weapons to stretch the field, it is an awesome array. But what about just pounding it in when close?

Sure enough though, the 4th quarter starts, we have the ball, we're driving, doing great, then Patrick scrambles, scrambles, scrambles -- and throws a pick at the goal line. Errgh. I must say his scrambling earlier in the game to buy time to connect with Watkins on the two-point conversion, that was a thing of beauty.

So what did we do today in the last five game-minutes, even in one like this ahead 23-3? When that five-minute time period started, the Broncos had the ball, and on 4th down their QB threw an incompletion they challenged as pass interference, but it wasn't. That pass interference thing, though. Makes me very nervous, that new way they're doing pass interference reviews. Just when will that ugliness ruin us in the playoffs? I know, just getting emotionally prepared for it, sorry, call me the anti-Pollyanna, you can, I understand.

So as it is we get the ball under that five-minutes and run clock with Spencer Ware this time. He does very well actually, very nice. Feels like 2016 -- pretty neat. Here is where that steady grinding works, however. Just not close enough for it to be meaningful as far as the Reid playcalling being stellar when it is crucial.

Next week is when it gets really serious, regular season-wise. The Bills need to beat the Patriots and we need to win out -- the Bears and Chargers close out the regular season.
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