The Kansas City Chiefs' visit to play the Denver Broncos in Week 8 was shaping up to be the game of the week in the AFC coming in, with divisional supremacy on the line for two contending teams. The rivalry showdown lived up to the billing, with the Broncos avoiding a last-minute goal-line gasp from the Chiefs for a 28-24 victory.
This game will be talked about for a long time for myriad reasons, including the odd way things ended for the Chiefs after watching Jaylon Moore get oddly flagged for a false start at the 1-yard line on a Rashee Rice touchdown catch. From there, Patrick Mahomes was sacked on the game's final play and the Chiefs lost their second consecutive game.
This game says a lot about the Chiefs in the bigger picture, and we'll sort all of that out over time. But let's at least get some immediate takeaways.
EMMETT JOHNSON WOULD BE A BIGGER DEAL ANY OTHER YEAR
The Kenneth Walker signing has been one of Brett Veach's greatest moves ever, even after just a single half-season. But it's also true that the shadow cast by Walker has made it tough for us to properly appreciate Emmett Johnson—that is, until he broke through in a big way on Sunday against the Broncos.
Johnson finished the game with 143 yards from scrimmage on only 6 touches and 1 touchdown, with one highlight play after another. There was the 73-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter. The 38-yard gain helped K.C. grab a field goal before halftime for a 17-13 lead. The 44-yard kickoff return gave K.C. the ball near midfield with just over a minute left.
After years of watching Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt lead the Chiefs in rushing yards, it feels safe to say that Johnson would have been a much bigger star in the backfield if he'd been the lone acquisition at running back. As it stands, the Chiefs have two exciting talents instead of one after such a sensational night from Emmett Johnson.
THE CHIEFS CAN'T GET OUT OF THEIR OWN WAY
The stats speak for themselves: 11 penalties for 105 yards.
Yes, Denver is a tough place to play. Yes, the referees made some truly horrible calls. (Did you see that holding on Trey Smith, for instance?) But by and large, the Chiefs were guilty of playing sloppy, or emotional, or sloppy and emotional for four quarters. Another botched snap from Creed Humphrey. A Kristian Fulton whiff trying to jam Courtland Sutton. Major penalties on Jack Cochrane, Fulton, and Drue Tranquill. Even Travis Kelce got in on the flag action.
Watching Alohi Gilman, who was heralded as the veteran leader the secondary needed this offseason, rack up an unnecessary roughness call in the fourth quarter in an emotional exchange is just the sort of silliness that will sink this ship. The Chiefs have to clean this up.
WHY GO AWAY FROM THE GROUND GAME LATE?
The Chiefs had the Broncos on the ropes. They were driving in the final minutes of the fourth quarter with a three-point edge, 24-21. Kenneth Walker was eluding first contact in the rain and eating minutes off the clock in the process. Then suddenly, the Chiefs started leaning on the passing attack.
Instead of riding Walker to the end (and a likely win), a short pass goes to Rashee Rice for two yards. Walker himself catches a short toss and somehow gains six. Then Mahomes gets sacked looking for another target on third down, which pushes them into long field-goal range. Suddenly, the entire tide of the game turns, and Broncos' running back Jonah Coleman reverses the field and puts Denver up late.
RASHEE RICE IS A REAL DIFFERENCE-MAKER
No one should overlook the issues that accompany Rashee Rice. He just spent 30 days in jail this spring, so yeah, we're aware of the availability concerns. He's also not going to get Jaxon Smith-Njigba money that he once publicly said he was chasing when he becomes a free agent this offseason.
That said, Rice is most certainly an offensive difference-maker for the Chiefs offense. After sitting out the last two games with a hamstring injury, Rice returned to the lineup and instantly became a trusted volume target for Patrick Mahomes, giving him a reliable outlet in a sea of untrusted pass catchers. Not only was Rice able to put up 7-53-1 on the afternoon, but he kept others from having to shoulder greater loads that they're not ready to handle.
On a day when the offense didn't really look all that great, the Chiefs still put up 24 points and should have had several more.
AVAILABILITY IS THE CHIEFS' BIGGEST CONCERN UP FRONT
Just when the Chiefs get a starter healthy again, another went missing along the team's offensive line. Such has been the case all season.
The Chiefs were glad to get right tackle Jaylon Moore back in the fold after a concussion suffered in Week 6 on Sunday. However, when the offense took the field for the first time, the Chiefs were missing left guard Kingsley Suamataia in the starting lineup. In his place was Mike Caliendo, a veteran with a clearly lower ceiling than the man he was supplanting.
While K.C. waits for answers as to Suamataia's benching, the primary takeaway for now is that availability has been the primary concern all season long for the offensive line. From Josh Simmons to Kingsley Suamataia to Jaylon Moore, the Chiefs have had an impossible time fielding a healthy or ready starting five.
CHIEFS HAVE REAL SOLUTIONS AT SLOT CORNER
The Chiefs placed L'Jarius Sneed on injured reserve in recent days, which forced Steve Spagnuolo to reconsider his options in nickel packages. As it turns out, the internal answers were likely better all along.
Chris Roland-Wallace was the favorite to take over for Sneed after having done so a week ago. Not only did he look good in place of Sneed for most of the reps defending slot receivers, but rookie Jadon Canady also got an opportunity to show what he can do after sitting as a healthy inactive a week ago. He looked good as well, especially when taking down Marvin Mims on a short route to force a Broncos punt just after halftime. Letting the young kids play here is the way to go in the second half of the season.
THE KICKING CONVERSATION WILL CONTINUE FOR ANOTHER WEEK
If you were tired of hearing about kickers in Kansas City, you should go ahead and silence your social media apps for the next week. Watching Harrison Butker miss a 54-yard field goal wide right is only going to fuel further speculation about his job security, especially since the Chiefs are using a practice squad spot on veteran Justin Tucker and seem okay dealing with the PR nightmare that he brings to the franchise. Fair or not, given the distance and weather conditions, Butker's gotta face the music and that means more kicker controversy.
Add us as a preferred source on Google