Broncos Player Grades From Agonizing 19-8 Loss to Chiefs

The Denver Broncos fell to 1-5 on the season, and the defense doesn't carry the blame for once.

Erick Trickel | Oct 13, 2023

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Denver Broncos

Thursday night featured a flipped performance from the Denver Broncos, where their defense was solid, and the offense was terrible. But Denver still lost to the Kansas City Chiefs, 19-8.

If this team wants to be competitive, the Broncos must learn how to play a complete game on both sides of the ball. This was the first time the Broncos got a complete game from even one side of the ball all season.

This loss likely cements a teardown and rebuild, with multiple players set to be traded before the October 31 deadline. Some of the players likely on their way out may have hurt their overall value with their previous two showings, so seeing what Denver can get in return will be interesting.

Now, it's time to get into the Week 6 player grades.

As for the grades, a player starts at 50 and gets graded for each play based on how he impacts the overall play. Remember that some players qualify for a grade but go unmentioned in these articles because I aim to emphasize the noteworthy performances each week, for better or worse.

Offensive MVP: Courtland Sutton | WR

Grade: 65.2

Sutton is a good receiver who has always been adept at making contested catches or drawing defensive pass-interference calls. He caught four passes on six targets, dropping one, but also drew a pass interference call that helped the Broncos (to no avail).

In the end zone, Sutton made a great adjustment to secure a contested catch to pick up the Broncos' lone touchdown in the clutch. As good as he is at making contested catches and working the quicker slant game, he isn't getting targeted often enough.

Defensive MVP: Ja'Quan McMillian | CB

Grade: 73.2

This was a great game from McMillian, who was outstanding working against the run. There were hiccups in coverage, where he allowed 5-of-7 targets to be caught for 53 yards and a touchdown. The touchdown came on a pick route concept, which immediately took McMillian out of the play.

There was only one bad coverage play where McMillian allowed a catch: a 23-yarder to Rashee Rice. Rice got instant separation from McMillian and made the play.

One of the passes McMillian didn't allow, he ended up breaking up. If he can sustain his play against the run and develop consistency in coverage, he could be a really good slot corner in the NFL.

Quarterback: Russell Wilson

Grade: 27.5

This was a lousy game from Wilson. He failed to make the pre-snap reads he needed to make, and in a game where he seemed to have more freedom for adjustments at the line, the ones he made hardly worked out.

It started badly for Wilson, where on a third down play, he took a five-step drop in shotgun, otherwise known as the Joe Flacco special, and then followed that up with a sack on fourth down.

There were other issues with the Broncos' passing game, from the concepts that were called, to the receivers' effort and ability to get open, to the pass protection. However, each of those was exasperated by the issues of the quarterback.

Your pass blocking is struggling? Get the ball out quicker, don't hold onto it. Passing concepts are bad? Read the defense and adjust to find a play.

Are wide receivers struggling to get open? Realize you have a good contested catch receiver, and don't be gun-shy to attack tighter-window throws.

The quarterback is the most challenging position to play in all of sports. There's so much that goes into it before the snap of the ball and so much more after it. It can be an unforgiving position.

Wilson missed obvious blitzes. He missed a linebacker dropping into his throwing lane because he was locked onto his target and threw an interception. He looked off an open receiver to check it down on third down.

The pressure wasn't all on the Broncos' offensive line, not when Wilson wasn't adjusting the protection and allowing a free blitzer to come at him. For as much money as the Broncos are paying him and set to continue doling out to him, can anyone say with confidence that Wilson is the solution at quarterback?

I certainly can't.

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The Positive

Kareem Jackson | S | Grade: 64.7

It was back-to-back good games from Jackson. He's playing hard and reacting quickly to what offenses are doing. The slight adjustments made in the secondary, especially with Justin Simmons back, are helping Jackson.

Jonathon Cooper | OLB | Grade: 61.9

Cooper had such a good game as a pass rusher. He picked up six pressures, including a sack, and held the edge against the run well. There were some plays in which he got baited by movement and drawn out of his lane against the run or even got beat by the block, but his overall game was excellent.

Jaleel McLaughlin | RB | Grade: 58.2

McLaughlin has speed and quickness in spades, but he has to find consistency with his vision. In Kansas City, he needed to see his landmarks and read his blocks more consistently. The rookie is dynamic, but he's leaving yards on the field and maybe even points with his issues here.

Lloyd Cushenberry III | OC | Grade: 56.1

It was a back-and-forth game from Cushenberry. He would have a good block on one play, only to follow it up with getting blown up at the line. There have been plenty of flashes from Cushenberry this season but no consistency, and with how long he has been in the NFL, you're looking for more.

The Negative

Jerry Jeudy | WR | Grade: 29.1

The expectation is Jeudy has either played his final game for the Broncos or is about to do so, as he's expected to be moved before the trade deadline. Watching him, it's easy to see why he's on the outs in Denver.

You can't trust him as a blocker, which is a tell when he's on the field. For as elusive as he's said to be, he doesn't make defenders miss. His effort when attacking the ball to make a catch leads me to one conclusion: Jeudy has checked out on Denver.

Adam Trautman | TE | Grade: 30.4

This is Sean Payton's guy, and he has not lived up to any of the expectations placed on him by the coach or himself. Trautman's blocking has often been problematic, and his ability as a receiver is lacking.

Ronnie Perkins | OLB | Grade: 38.4

There were a few good plays from Perkins, but much more bad. He missed tackles and lacked gap integrity. Perkins doesn't have much experience, as he never took a snap in the regular season until Week 5.

Perkins' developmental window is nearly closed with how long he's been in the NFL. When Baron Browning returns, Perkins will thankfully see the field much less.

Damarri Mathis | CB | Grade: 40.1

This is a mini-bye week for the Broncos, and there has to be a change coming with their right cornerback, right? Mathis has been a liability this year, and his three or four good plays against the run, or short passes, are not enough to make up for it. Payton traded a 2024 third-round pick to move up and get Riley Moss, and it's time to get him on the field to see what he can bring to the table.

Other Noteworthy Grades

Mike McGlinchey | OT | Grade: 31.6

The McGlinchey signing was questionable because when you watched him in San Francisco, it was clear he wasn't trusted in pass protection. He got a lot of help in pass protection and as a run blocker.

In Denver, McGlinchey has gotten many more one-on-one opportunities and has failed consistently. He's now six games into his big contract and already trending toward being yet another regrettable right tackle signing who is released after a year or two.

Mike Purcell | DL | Grade: 42.6

It has been a rough season for Purcell as a run defender. He's getting pancaked multiple times each game and giving up gap integrity. While he had a good batted pass against the Chiefs, that was his only real noteworthy play.

Nik Bonitto | OLB | Grade: 43.3

There is something weird going on with Bonitto, and it could be a conditioning problem exacerbated by how few edge defenders the Broncos have been using in the rotation. He starts the game well, picking up four total pressures, with all but one in the first quarter.

After that, Bonitto disappears and doesn't do much. That trend has been consistent for the past three games now. There are still issues with his run defense, but his falloff after the first 20 minutes of the game is concerning, and the Broncos have to get to the bottom of it.

Quinn Meinerz | OG | Grade: 45.4

This was a tough assignment for Meinerz, who saw a good number of snaps vs. the All-Pro Chris Jones. Jones won consistently, no matter who he was matching up against.

Meinerz did better than he had in previous weeks and didn't show his bad habit of lunging when attacking the second level. Progress.