The Kansas City Chiefs suffered their first defeat to the Denver Broncos since 2015, ending a 16-game winning streak. A poor performance offensively and sloppy play were the leading reasons for the loss.
On offense, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes didn’t seem like his usual Salem self in the pocket, making uncharacteristic mistakes. The offense lacked explosive plays against the Broncos’ defense but was up for the task throughout the game. Harrison Butker’s consistency was the lone bright spot in this week’s scoring.
Defensively, the absence of Nick Bolton became blatantly evident in trying to stop Denver’s running game. Russell Wilson was able to get to his targets in big moments and took advantage of short fields following Kansas City turnovers.
The Chiefs were dominated by the Broncos’ defense, finishing the season series in a tie and leaving some hope in the division through eight games.
Here’s a look at how the stock is trending for some players after the Week 8 loss at Empower Field at Mile High:
Stock Up: Harrison Butker
The Chiefs kicker has been a consistent weapon so far this season and was the source of scoring on Sunday. Butker was successful on all three of his field goal attempts in defeat.
Stock Up: George Karlaftis
Furious George applied pressure on Russell Wilson throughout the game, collecting 2.5 sacks. The career day was a losing effort, but it is a reminder of the strength of the defensive line.
Stock Down: Patrick Mahomes
The flu virus appeared to take a toll on Mahomes as he committed three turnovers on Sunday. The interceptions and fumble hindered a heroic effort for the reigning MVP, proving how vital his play is to the team’s success.
Stock Down: Kadarius Toney
It is unclear if he’s fully recovered from injury in training camp, but Toney hasn’t had the same impact he showed last season. Many critics expected the talented receiver to be the primary target out of the room but only managed one reception for four yards on Sunday.
Stock Down: L'Jarius Sneed
It was a tough day at the office for Snead, who was penalized often on Sunday. The veteran corner was hit with four penalties during his matchup with Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton.
