Broncos defense still in need of repair

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It would be easy enough to chalk this one up as a fluke, a combination of inscrutable Arrowhead Stadium mojo and a sloppy day at the office.It would also be a mistake.The Denver Broncos have now given up 30 or more points in their last three games. It was possible to rationalize the first two based on the quality of the opponents. San Diego and New Orleans have two of the best offenses in the NFL.This was different. Kansas City came into Sunday's game 30th in the league in scoring. In their first 12 quarters of football, they scored 32 points. In four against the Broncos, they scored 33.A team averaging 258 yards of offense per game rolled up 370. A team averaging 10.7 points scored three times that many. It is getting harder each week to claim that the Broncos have repaired the defensive problems that plagued them a year ago.Having led through most of their first three games, the Broncos appeared to have improved their run defense, mainly because opponents had to pass. In a game in which they surrendered 213 rushing yards, they looked a lot like the defense that got Jim Bates fired a year ago."We gave up the big run quick and then it looked like we got back on track, and then at the end they had a couple big runs," said Mike Shanahan following the 33-19 loss. "So, again, back to the drawing board."Despite self-destructive tendencies that produced four turnovers, Shanahan's offense still had a chance to pull this one out, which is some testimony to its firepower. The last time the Broncos committed four turnovers and won was eight years ago.All four turnovers were by the team's top playmakers -- two interceptions of Jay Cutler and fumbles by Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal."Bad decisions," Cutler said of the picks."I'm just embarrassed," Marshall said. "We didn't do a good job of coming out with the fire. Myself and my teammates, we were just flat the whole day."Even off its game, the offense rolled up 446 yards, 352 of them through the air. After scoring 41, 39 and 34 points the first three weeks, Sunday's sloppiness brought it back to Earth.If there is a cause for concern on that side of the ball, it is the template the Chiefs established for other teams. Play the conservative Tampa Two defense, keep everything in front of you and test Cutler's patience."Once they got ahead, they wanted to run the ball and keep everything in front of them and make us check it down and dink it down the field and they did a good job, you've got to give them credit," Cutler said.This was the book on Cutler coming into the season -- keep him from using that big arm and he'll get frustrated and try to force things. With the originators of the Tampa Two coming to town next week, you can count on Shanahan making Cutler work those checkdowns all week.But the fundamental question about the Broncos is on the other side of the ball."They just had too many big plays, man," defensive end Elvis Dumervil said of the Chiefs. "We've got to tackle better."If that rings a bell, it's probably from last season.By my unofficial count, the Chiefs had 12 plays from scrimmage of 10 yards or more, which is like 25 for anybody else. Larry Johnson's 65-yard jailbreak on his second carry set the tone. He also had runs of 17, 34 and 16 yards, the last one accounting for the game-icing touchdown, on his way to 198 for the game.Nor could the special teams put together a complete game, surrendering a backbreaking 51-yard kickoff return midway through the fourth quarter just after the Broncos had pulled within a touchdown.Of course, if the offense can provide a big lead every week, it can prevent opponents from running the ball 33 times, as Kansas City did."The only way you can run effectively is if you don't get behind," Chiefs coach Herm Edwards pointed out.Even with all their mistakes, the Broncos had opportunities to climb back into the game in the fourth quarter. Their last turnover came in the third. Twice in the final period they pulled within a single score, needing only a defensive stop to get the ball back with a chance to tie. Each time, the defense gave up a scoring drive to one of the weakest offenses in the NFL."To be good in this league, you have to try to hold teams to under 20 points," said cornerback Dre Bly.The Broncos will point out the Chiefs' average field position to start a drive Sunday was their 46-yard line. All four turnovers gave Kansas City the ball in Denver territory.Still, if they can't stop the Chiefs in that situation, the question is whether the Broncos can stop anybody.(Contact Dave Krieger of the Rocky Mountain News at kriegerd(at)rockymountainnews.com.)