Let's face it. The Kansas City Chiefs did not play their best game of the year. They were up 27-0 and ended up allowing 21 straight points. So, I think you could blame both sides.

On the defense, well, they gave up 21 straight points. Yeah, they locked up to start the game and didn't allow a single point until the 21 straight, but, they did allow the 21 straight and the last touchdown by the Broncos.

Yeah, the offense did score 27 straight points, and, well, scored more than the Broncos. However, while the Broncos went on their streak, the Chiefs were throwing interceptions, punting, and just not scoring points.

But who was it to close the game out? Yeah, the offense scored one more time, but the defense, they were the one who held it down. I think everyone recognized that too.

“It was huge. They came out of the half and gave up a screenplay for 70 yards for a touchdown even though I thought the defense was playing good," Mahomes said.

Yeah, well, that part wasn't so good.

"Denver called a perfect play versus the perfect blitz. That is what happens when everyone is NFL-caliber players and coaches. For them to respond, us to go three-and-out real quick and the defense to go right back on the field. 

"Tommy [Townsend] flips the field and we go right back on the field and get a stop. That gave us a chance to get that touchdown drive there at the end of the third quarter. The guys stepped up. I did not play my best football, especially at certain points in the game. But guys stepped up around me and we won as a team.”

Mahomes had a strong message for the defense. I think he knows that as long as they are doing their job, they won't lose. The offense, even when it's not all the way there, is still one of the best in the league. The defense makes them one of the best teams in the league.

The last two defensive possessions of the game for the Chiefs were a forced punt and an interception. In the second half, the Chiefs' defense forced three punts and a turnover.

This defense has been huge this year when they need to be. Yeah, they have had bad stretches during a game, but when they need to anchor down and get a stop in the second half or even right before halftime, they have been able to.

The Chiefs will need that more and more as the season goes on. We saw a similar stretch in 2019 when the defense started turning things up at the end of the playoffs and into the Super Bowl. Hopefully, we see the same thing.

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