Some of these Thursday night games are real eyesores. It's especially true when one of the clubs is a sleepwalking shell of a team like the Broncos, led by a frustrated coach and a washed-up quarterback. If you're looking for sugarcoating, no need to read this.
QUARTERBACKS
Not the prettiest outing for Patrick Mahomes. Threw a touchdown, passed for over 300 yards, ran a little, those are good things. But also threw a ridiculous lollipop interception at the goal line and another wild prayer that was erased by a penalty (hopefully he knew it was a free play). Another red-zone series ended with Kansas City trying a tight end sneak on 4th and 2 and a half, which was kind of weird -- going for it was a great idea, going for it with a sneak was questionable. Kind of looked like Kansas City wasn't taking the game too seriously, not like it seemed they needed to. Fantasy-wise, it would have been nice to have a few more touchdowns, which they were surely capable of. So kind of disappointing.
Disappointing doesn't begin to cover Russell Wilson throwing for 95 yards, with a touchdown, 2 interceptions and 4 sacks. It was one of the ugliest performances by a veteran, once-capable quarterback that I can ever remember seeing. I may need to slightly revise my assessment of Nathaniel Hackett (Sean Payton may too). Seattle Seahawks decision-makers have to be yukking it up at the price they coaxed from Denver for this disastrous shell of a formerly great player who can't move and can't seem to process information or make decisions quickly enough to avoid brutal, untimely sacks to kill drives.
For the first month of the season, Wilson looked better than last year. But maybe we were slightly fooled by him playing a couple of lousy defenses in that group. If last night was representative of where Wilson is at these days, we'll definitely see Jarrett Stidham in the lineup by midseason. Denver won't win another game with quarterback play like this.
RUNNING BACKS
So Isiah Pacheco has clearly taken over the backfield, and it's not overly surprising. Clyde Edwards-Helaire had his chance in the past but if Pacheco stays healthy, we won't see much of CEH, who played 9 snaps. Pacheco didn't score with Kansas City getting a little too cute near the goal line and settling for a bunch of field goals, but catching 6 passes for 36 yards made up for it somewhat. I think Jerick McKinnon will be usable in games more competitive than this one; if it seems Kansas City will be playing from behind, or in a shootout at least. This had more of a preseason atmosphere, so McKinnon didn't do much. I heard a quote during the broadcast saying Pacheco runs like he's angry at the ground. Good quote.
Javonte Williams looked really good, carrying 10 times for 52 yards. Spun out of a tackle early to pick up a first down, ran with energy against a defense that's played the run well. Too bad it was a pretty even timeshare with Jaleel McLaughlin, who also ran pretty well, and that the team gave Samaje Perine nearly 20 percent of the work for no apparent reason. McLaughlin was great when Javonte was out, and maybe there will be matchups where both he and Javonte are usable. But if they keep also using Perine, it's going to be really tough to start any one of these backs.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Rashee Rice is clearly emerging as the top guy. Played a little less than Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Skyy Moore, but that shouldn't be the case much longer. I guess they've got their snap packages and routes and so forth. But Rice is the startable one. Justin Watson picked up an elbow injury, so maybe that will be a positive factor for the other guys. But Kadarius Toney is still around for his situational, red-zone role that pays off OK if he scores but not when he doesn't.
Sean Payton doesn't seem to like any of Denver's wide receivers, and probably they don't like him. Any one of them is theoretically a trade candidate -- he's definitely going to blow things up -- but the veterans (Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton) are the ones who might be moving. Not that they've shown much to bring a haul, but I think either could be pretty good in a better-looking offense than this one (which is most of them). Sutton had a pretty great touchdown grab late. I can't imagine either of these guys wouldn't love to be dealt almost anywhere else. One tidbit, the Broncos release Lil'Jordan Humphrey on Wednesday, added him to the practice squad, and then elevated him to play about a third of the time (without having a pass thrown his way) in this game. I have no idea what they're doing.
TIGHT ENDS
It was the Travis Kelce show, with him repeatedly getting wide open in the middle of Denver's zone and catching all 9 passes thrown his way for 124 yards. Whatever the defensive approach was that the Broncos were employing against him should be immediately burned.
Greg Dulcich returned from a hamstring injury, caught 1 pass for 3 yards, and left with a hamstring injury. No further comment.
MISCELLANEOUS
These are all NFL players and Denver did hold Kansas City to just one touchdown, so I can't say that they weren't playing hard. But there was definitely a lack of energy with the season already over and just an embarrassing offensive display. Denver will certainly be eating the picks and contract they spent on Wilson. I don't imagine they'll be moving on from Payton, having given up a first-rounder for him, but the front office can't be thrilled with what they're seeing. Maybe Payton himself will retire in disgust or defeat or something.
All that can be said is that it's going to continue to be rough watching Broncos games this year.