KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe took issue with the officials after Sunday’s 30-23 loss to Kansas City for not enforcing the illegal offensive linemen downfield rule.
The Chiefs use RPO (run/pass option) as one of their offensive staples. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes takes the snap and either hands off to a running back or, after the fake, throws quickly. Wolfe felt the Chiefs’ offensive linemen were getting a head start to block downfield.
“Five yards down the field, six yards down the field, they’re still trying to hold on to me,” Wolfe said. “I’m wondering when they were going to call the penalty.
“How is that OK? Itap a rule in the game of football that you can’t have a (lineman) downfield. I guess the rules are changing.”
The NFL rule is a lineman can’t be more than five yards downfield before the pass is thrown. The Chiefs have not been called for that penalty this season.
“How do we fix that? I don’t know,” Broncos coach Vance Joseph said. “We have to figure this out and thatap on tape. I’ve seen it.”
Wolfe also had an issue with a non-call on Chiefs running back Kareem Huntap 24-yard touchdown on fourth down via a shovel pass that extended the Chiefs’ lead to 30-14.
“The offensive guard jumped offside,” Wolfe said. “I went to stand up thinking they were calling to call it and boom, the ball is snapped.”
On replay, it appeared right guard Andrew Wylie flinched before the snap. A false start penalty would have pushed the Chiefs back five yards, likely meaning a field goal to make it 26-14 instead of a 16-point lead.
“The refs are supposed to pay for that mistake,” Wolfe said. “I just want a fair game called. I want to go out there and know I’m not going to get (worked) over by the refs. All of our jobs are hard. Who holds them accountable for the calls they miss or don’t make? Nobody holds them accountable.”
What didn’t help on Huntap touchdown was five Broncos were in position to tackle Hunt but didn’t: Defensive end Shelby Harris, linebacker Todd Davis, cornerback Bradley Roby and safeties Will Parks and Justin Simmons.
Marshall injured. Linebacker Brandon Marshall has been battling a knee injury since Week 1 and it finally forced him out of a game. Marshall initially thought the injury was tendonitis and tried to play through it. But turns out it is a bone bruise.
“A bone bruise, shoot, you just have to let it rest,” Marshall said. “It is serious. I’ve been able to get by, but I haven’t been able to excel because of my knee. Itap unfortunate because I thought it was tendonitis for the longest time, but a bone bruise won’t get better while you’re playing.”
Footnotes. Linebacker Shane Ray (ankle) missed his second consecutive game. … Receiver Emmanuel Sanders on the possibility that teammate Demaryius Thomas may be traded by Tuesday’s deadline: “I don’t want to answer no questions about DT.” Asked if he was worried about Thomas’ potential departure, Sanders said: “Itap none of my business.” … Kansas City failed to score on its first possession for the first time this year. … The Broncos had five cornerbacks active for the first time this season. … Punt returner Isaiah McKenzie sustained a hip injury during the game.
