Itap hard to discover weaknesses on the Broncos’ defense, but tight ends found one last season, racking up 1,015 yards against Denver — .
That susceptibility will be tested immediately. The Broncos will face arguably the greatest tight end of this generation in Week 1: Chiefs star Travis Kelce.
Kelce has had the Broncos number throughout his career, , the most against any opponent. He led the Chiefs in receiving in both games against Denver last season, recording 91 yards on nine catches in the Nov. 16 contest and 36 yards on five catches in the Christmas game.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Kelce’s connection rivals any quarterback-receiver pairing in the league. Coach Sean Payton said the duo’s improvisation on routes and concepts makes them extremely difficult to defend.
“Players with real good, savvy IQ like Kelce, those guys flourish with understanding areas that the quarterbacks are going to be in or want him to be in with a play that has moved into its second element,” Payton said. “You build up that chemistry over time, and you begin to think alike.”
Kelce’s not the same player he once was. He’s entering his 14th season at 36-years-old, but the seven-time All-Pro remains Mahomes favorite target. Expect a variety of different defenders to guard Kelce on Monday, including cornerback Jahdae Barron, nickelback Ja’Quan McMillian, linebackers Alex Singletonc and Justin Strnad in zone coverage and safety Talanoa Hufanga.
When asked if it is easier to guard Kelce in man or zone coverage, Payton said itap more important for the defense to limit the prolonged plays that require the secondary to cover for a lengthened time.
“A lot of it depends on the type of defense you’re playing, but if you’re in match coverage, then it ends up playing like man. I think itap important you understand how to rush certain quarterbacks to avoid maybe six or seven of those plays that get extended,” Payton said.
Denver’s defense will want to avoid those plays as much as possible, particularly if it leaves their linebackers in coverage for too long. Singleton and Strnad can struggle to defend the middle of the field, and Mahomes will certainly be looking for Kelce in those situations.
In last season’s Week 11 game, Kelce defeated several Broncos in man-to-man coverage. He caught a 10-yard pass on a zig route against Barron, beat linebacker Dre Greenlaw on a drag route for 17 yards and caught a 21-yard-touchdown pass against Hufanga. Barron recorded the only pass breakup on a dig route over the middle.
The second-year defensive back might be the Broncos’ best option against the tight end. In that November contest, he matched up against Kelce six times in man coverage, allowing two catches on three targets for 14 yards, according to The Denver Postap charting.
After that game, Barron posted a swatting the ball away from Kelce with the caption: “Tell Swift put me on a song RIGHT NOW,” in reference to Kelce’s wife, pop star Taylor Swift.
He eventually deleted the post, and Swift didn’t write a song about him. But if the rookie ends up drawing a big share of the Kelce assignment, he’ll announce himself to a primetime audience Monday night.
