A proud Broncos defense unravels: 28 missed tackles fuel a 31-10 loss at Arrowhead

Engelwood, Colo. (AP) — In a devastating 31-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, Denver Broncos' defense was utterly ineffective, missing 28 tackles, which is one of the worst performances since 2018. The Chiefs' Kenneth Walker III led the charge, amassing 173 rushing yards for the game. The Broncos' 29.8% missed tackle rate was the third-worst in an NFL game since 2018, while their 247 missed tackle yards allowed ranked as the highest by any defense during that period, according to Next Gen Stats.

Defensive tackle Sean Payton described the performance as "a slap in the face," emphasizing that the team must learn from the loss and move forward. Offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey echoed this sentiment, stating that the team "still has those (championship) aspirations and one game doesn't define our season or who we are." He added that the group would address the issues in practice, expressing confidence that they would improve.

The offensive line suffered as well, with quarterback Bo Nix fumbling three times, getting sacked on his first snap, and getting intercepted on his first pass. New play-caller Davis Webb had his debut marred by a lackluster performance, with just a handful of runs called before halftime. Quarterback Nix's return from a broken right ankle was not up to par, while Davis' play-calling proved to be unbalanced, even when the game was close.