Communication Breakdown

I learned a valuable lesson today. In fact, I learned a few.

In watching the Denver Broncos slowly grind their way to a dismantling of what may be the worst team in the NFL today, I realized there are times when numbers mean nothing.

Consider these statistical facts from today’s game.

1) Knowshon Moreno rushed for more yards (86) than Matt Cassel threw (84), and those two players finished four points apart in the touchdown/turnover ratio (two scores for The Know, two interceptions – with no touchdowns – for Cassel… and he nearly added a fumble).

2) Quinten Lawrence earned more yards today than any other Chiefs player on the roster… taking six kickoff returns for 126 yards (and there were three other kicks fielded by others).

3) Tamba Hali put forth one of the best individual defensive efforts you will see this season – the kid took Ryan Clady to task for three sacks with 10 total tackles, including nine of the solo variety – and put Kyle Orton in check… but the Broncos ran the ball 45 times for 5.4 yards per, giving the team one of the most dominating wins of the season.

Watching the Broncos struggle and excel in the ways they did today… it was completely out of character. The Broncos, regardless of the opposition, have been taught to pass early and often with sprinkles of the dual rushing threat. Nothing substantial, but enough to keep it honest. They wanted to pass the football, even when the pass wasn’t the best idea on the day (see Week 11). The pass defense was as stout as ever (not that the Chiefs brought any talent to challenge them), and that’s been a fairly consistent theme throughout. The Chiefs may not have owned the commodities to test ‘em with the run (especially after Jamaal Charles got dinged). That’s nothing new.

Today, with 45 rushing attempts – including 21 for Knowshon at 4.1 per and an impressive 9.4 yards per for Correll Buckhalter, racking 113 yards on just 12 carries – McDaniels showed us an ability to adjust and to adjust with results. That’s been the primary complaint this season, and today he shut us the f*@k up (is that getting old yet, the jokes on Josh’s language… I like to think it is more of a license to push buttons).

I also realized the numbers, as you may have noted above, are insane. How many times do you see a rusher lapping the QB? How many teams in the league marked their kick return man as the most efficient weapon on the field today? The Broncos posted four receivers that averaged double-figure yardage per catch on the day (Marshall, Royal, Graham, Scheffler). That defense, with the exception of Hali, was atrocious. On every level. A total nightmare. As bad, if not worse, than Detroit last season (one player may be the difference).

I’m watching the game right now, and it’s as surreal as the experience watching live… you don’t feel comfortable at any point. When they were struggling to get out front in the first half, only to see the Chiefs just give it all up over and over and over again… it’s like watching an emotional and physical violation, or a Tool video, or the chapters of the “Faces of Death” video series.

The results satisfied, but the experience of watching it unfold was painful. I have a few tweets from the Orange and Blue nation that summed it all up properly.

@PostBroncos My friend (a Bronco fan) drove into KC today and bought a ticket in the 5th row for $25.

@DaveKrieger All week we asked those silly questions about how loud Arrowhead is. Forget about it. Place is about half full.

@broncotalk Eddie Royal tallied his 124th career reception Sunday, setting a #Broncos franchise record in a player’s first two seasons.

@DaveKrieger #Chiefs are officially the sorriest team I’ve seen this year. And I saw Cleveland. No wonder Scott Pioli doesn’t talk to the press.

@PostBroncos The Chiefs ran down Denver’s throat all drive. And then throw twice from inside the 5?

@playstub 7th dropped pass today leads to another #Chiefs punt. (wow, that was quick). http://bit.ly/7NHjwc

@Denver_Broncos Dumervil’s 10 third-down sacks, tie him for the second most in NFL history.

@PostBroncos Broncos center Casey Wiegmann, who played in KC for years, described the current state of the Chiefs as “unfortunate.”

@broncotalk Up 21, Josh McDaniels shows signs of his '07 Patriots days, going for it on 4th and 1. Broncos get that and more – touchdown!

@DaveKrieger Matt Cassel’s rushing average (5.7) is now higher than his passer rating (3.2).

@fs3142 41 points is the most ever scored by the Broncos at Arrowhead.

@PostBroncos Sack No. 15 for Dumervil. Needs one more to tie Simon Fletcher for team record.

@MileHighReport Yes, the Broncos are going to win….big…but this has been an ugly performance

@DaveKrieger So Todd Haley has a chance to accept a holding penalty that would give the #Broncos 3rd-and-19 at Chiefs 36. He declines, Prater kicks FG.

@MileHighReport Even on TV, I could hear “Take the damn penalty dumba$$” coming from the Arrowhead stands

@broncotalk McDaniels on any bittersweet feelings on Matt Cassel’s play, to whom he is close: (smiling) “I want to win. I’m a Bronco.”

I had a few of my own…

@bpdouglass If we learn anything about Josh/Nolan, they can evaluate defense. Andra, Haggan, Woodyard, Goodman: all contribute.

@BroncosStable Andra Davis = one of the most underrated moves this offseason.

 @bpdouglass CBS just dedicated 30 seconds to a clip of Jamaal Charles limping around between plays from 20 minutes ago. Just about sums it up.

@BroncosStable The NFL is going to consider giving the KC offensive line an assist on the #Denver sack by Dumervil, as they should.

@bpdouglass Dear CBS: Who do I blow to get Matt Millen on a Broncos game? #NFL #Denver #DanFoutsIsDrivingMeInsane

@BroncosStable What’s worse? The plague, killing puppies, Tiger’s marriage, or the KC rush defense?

And that’s all I’ve got… I’ll be up early to shovel. Enjoy the win. We’ll start looking forward tomorrow night.

Thanks for stopping in.

Tags: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Week 13 Review