Broncos DB Makes Baffling Decision Not to Tackle Patrick Mahomes

Broncos DB Damarri Mathis bizarrely chose not to tackle the guy with the ball during Thursday night's game against the Chiefs.

Thursday night’s game in Kansas City didn’t go well for the Broncos.

The final score was 19–8, but that obscures just how miserable Denver was in its loss to the Chiefs. The Broncos managed just 197 yards of total offense, including a mere 82 passing yards, gave up four sacks, turned the ball over three times and didn’t score until late in the fourth quarter. 

The Denver defense was actually pretty good, limiting Kansas City to a single touchdown, but it also had its issues. Take, for example, one bizarre play by Broncos defensive back Damarri Mathis in the third quarter. 

On third-and-11 from Kansas City’s 35-yard line, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes dropped back to pass. Unable to find an open receiver, he took off running and gained 15 yards. But he might not have been able to pick up the first down if Mathis had done his job properly. 

#Chiefs Patrick Mahomes directing traffic vs #Broncos pic.twitter.com/1XgMsrZQCm

— Tanner Phifer (@TannerPhifer) October 13, 2023

As Mahomes approached the sideline, he motioned for tailback Jerick McKinnon to get out ahead of him and block Mathis. For whatever reason, Mathis then ran straight into McKinnon, seeming to completely ignore Mahomes. The baffling decision allowed Mahomes to pick up the yardage necessary for the first down. 

It was an inexplicable decision by Mathis.

How did he not recognize that Mahomes was the guy with the ball, not McKinnon? He was staring at Mahomes the entire time. Mahomes didn’t throw the ball to McKinnon, and McKinnon was running at Mathis with his arms wide open, clearly not carrying the ball.

The play didn’t end up costing the Broncos too much (the drive ended in a Kansas City punt), but it was emblematic of the sort of mistakes Denver (1-5) has routinely made during what’s been a disastrous season.