2013 Broncos Season, Week 11

The Denver Broncos are, once again, in first place in the AFC West and the top seed in the AFC. To stay that way, we need to repeat last night's performance the next two weeks.

Week 11: Broncos 27, Chiefs 17
Season Record: 9-1 (6-0 Home)
Key Play: Lead 3-0 in the first quarter, after the teams traded fumbles, Peyton Manning locked on to Demaryius Thomas and connected on a 70-yard pass that brought the Broncos to the Chiefs' nine-yard line. Two plays later, Manning connected with tight end Julius Thomas on a nine-yard touchdown pass to make it 10-0. The Broncos established control and never trailed.

Recap: Much was made of this game heading into the fray last night. It was a 9-0 team facing an 8-1 team. It was the two best teams in the AFC squaring off. And it was a divisional rivalry game. To say nothing of the fact it was the NFL's No. 1 offense facing the NFL's No. 1 defense. And the game lived up to that hype. The Broncos couldn't move the ball easily, and the Chiefs wouldn't be blown out. They held the Broncos to their lowest point total of the season — 27 — but the Broncos broke the Chiefs streak of holding opponents to 17 points or less. Perhaps the biggest takeaway was the work done up front. The Broncos have struggled to protect Peyton Manning in the past five games. He's taken a lot of hits that have left him worse for the ware. He came in with two bum ankles, and there was reason to fear that another big hit could lead to the beginning of the Brock Osweiler era in Denver. Instead, the line held up well against a ferocious defensive rush. Manning threw quick passes, the Broncos committed to the run, and the Chiefs were held at bey. Statistically it wasn't the team's flashiest performance, but it might have been the best. And with two tough road tilts coming up the next two weeks, it was a promising sign this offense can continue to function at a high level. Of course, the game wasn't without a cost. Several players got banged up, with the most serious being Wes Welker's concussion. If he isn't cleared to play against the Patriots on Sunday that will be a serious blow to the Broncos' offense. Of all the tactical decisions made, the fact the team carries only five wide receivers — one of whom is returner Trindon Holliday — is an area that lacks depth. That will force more creativity from the Broncos, and Manning, if Welker is unable to suit up.

Game Balls:
* Demaryius Thomas. Thomas is the Broncos' best receiver, and he proved it again against the Chiefs. He didn't find the end zone, but he had five catches for 121 yards. He had the big play — a 70-yard reception — that helped get the offense going and on track.
* Knowshon Moreno and Montee Ball. In the stat books, it doesn't look like these guys had a great night. While the yards per carry weren't high, both backs ground it out for the Broncos. That helped keep the defense honest, and against a team like the Chiefs that's needed. Plus Ball found the end zone twice as the Broncos limited Manning's exposure to the Chiefs' pass rush.
* Chris Clark. The Broncos have called Clark the best reserve tackle in football. He showed why last night, keeping Manning clean despite facing Tamba Hali and Justin Houston, two rushers who've combined for 20 sacks this season. Plus Clark delivered a beautiful profession of faith following the game, which was inspiring.
* Denver Defense. This unit has been maligned at times this season, but the Broncos came up with the big plays when they had to and held this Chiefs offense in check. Alex Smith had some success, but didn't have the big plays. And the Broncos bottled up Jamal Charles, on of the league's most explosive backs.

Areas of Concern:
* Wes Welker. Welker is a dynamic weapon, and you know he would be properly incentivized to beat up on the Patriots, his old team. His concussion puts that game in jeopardy, and could set him back. With four weapons in the passing game, the Broncos are tough to stop. Removing any of those weapons changes the dynamic of this offense. Let's hope he's back to health soon.
* Injuries. Rahim Moore came out, Von Miller was dinged up, Champ Bailey still isn't healthy, and Danny Trevathan came out briefly. One of the keys to winning a championship is keeping the pieces healthy. The Broncos have some depth, but we need our key players to win.
* Brutal Schedule. The Broncos are 9-1 and in first place in the AFC West. They are on track to be the No. 1 Seed in the conference, too. But there are six games left in the regular season — and Denver plays four of those games on the road. That includes back-to-back games against the Patriots and Chiefs the next two weeks then back-to-back games at Houston against the Texans and at Oakland to meet the Raiders to close the season. Those are all winable games, but the Broncos need to stay focused and keep winning to stay on top.