Broncos Set Missed-Tackle Yards Record in Loss
Broncos Set Missed-Tackle Yards Record in Loss
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Key Points
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Eight different Denver defenders missed multiple tackles, with breakdowns occurring across the linebackers, defensive linemen and defensive backs rather than being confined to one unit.
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Linebacker Alex Singleton recorded a team-high 15 tackles but also missed five, including several on pivotal plays; he additionally committed an unnecessary-roughness penalty that helped set up Kansas City’s final touchdown.
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Singleton said Denver’s biggest problem was allowing mistakes to snowball: “Letting one play become the next play. When one play happens, we can’t get down on it. We can’t let it carry over to the next play.”
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Patrick Mahomes finished with modest passing numbers—15 completions on 27 attempts for 184 yards, two touchdowns and one interception—but added 23 rushing yards and a touchdown; Denver recorded only two sacks against him.
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Denver’s offense briefly answered Kansas City’s early lead when Bo Nix recovered from an interception to direct a 55-yard drive that ended with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Evan Engram, but the Broncos produced little offensively afterward.
The Denver Broncos' defense collapsed spectacularly in a 31-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, setting a franchise record with 28 missed tackles and approximately 247–248 missed-tackle yards Courier Tribune. Denver's 29.8% missed-tackle rate ranked among the NFL's worst single-game performances since the league began tracking Next Gen Stats in 2018.
The loss was especially jarring for a team that ranked among the NFL's top defenses last season in run defense, total defense, and scoring defense. Kansas City's running back Kenneth Walker III exploited Denver's breakdowns repeatedly, rushing for 173 yards and a touchdown, including a 60-yard score Broncos Wire.
Tackling Breakdowns Plague Multiple Defensive Units
Denver's missed tackles didn't stem from one weak spot. Eight different defenders missed multiple tackles, creating problems across linebackers, defensive linemen, and defensive backs. Linebacker Alex Singleton led the team with 15 tackles but also missed five, including on crucial plays. His unnecessary-roughness penalty helped set up Kansas City's final touchdown Courier Tribune.
Singleton acknowledged the core problem: "Letting one play become the next play. When one play happens, we can't get down on it. We can't let it carry over to the next play." The mistakes compounded throughout the game, turning a defensive breakdown into a landslide.
Chiefs Run Game Gashes Denver's Front Seven
Kansas City's offense rushed for 220 yards and two touchdowns against a defense ranked among the league's best against the run in 2024 Broncos Wire. Kenneth Walker III's 173-yard performance included easy runs that exploited Denver's inability to finish plays. The Broncos recorded only two sacks against Patrick Mahomes, who added 23 rushing yards and a score despite modest passing numbers—15 completions on 27 attempts for 184 yards.
Denver's Offense Stumbles After Bright Start
The Broncos briefly matched Kansas City's early pace when quarterback Bo Nix recovered from an interception to lead a 55-yard drive capped by a 19-yard touchdown pass to Evan Engram. Denver's offense produced little after that touchdown, leaving the defense to carry a losing battle Courier Tribune.
Tough Schedule Ahead Tests Defensive Recovery
Denver faces Jacksonville next before a brutal stretch against the Rams, 49ers, and Seahawks. The Broncos now hold a historic distinction: they're the first team ever to lose their season opener by 20-plus points after winning at least 14 games the prior season Sportsnaut.
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