Denver's 28-24 Win Hinges on One Safety's Career-Defining Tackle
JL Skinner stopped Kenneth Walker III at the goal line to preserve a victory where other starters struggled.
By Kwame Silva ·
The Denver Broncos defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 28-24 on Sunday, a result secured largely by a defensive play that defied the team's statistical norms. JL Skinner, a safety who had played only two defensive snaps earlier in the season, stopped Kenneth Walker III at the goal line to prevent a tie-breaking touchdown. The win ended a period where the home crowd had booed the team at halftime, replacing that noise with a quiet walk back to the locker room for the players.
Skinner, a sixth-round pick in 2023, had recorded just 56 defensive snaps in his NFL career before the game. He entered the contest after Brandon Jones was injured just before the break. With the game on the line and one-on-one against Walker, Skinner used precise technique to drive his legs through the play. He kept the running back from crossing the plane, a move that preserved Denver's lead. "I wake up ready to tackle," Skinner said after the game.
The offensive line provided a different picture of performance. Garett Bolles, the 34-year-old left tackle, did not surrender a pressure in 35 pass sets against Kansas City. According to Next Gen Stats, he is the only left tackle in the NFL who has avoided a pressure in three separate games this season. His stability stood in contrast to the struggles of Mike McGlinchey, who was pushed into quarterback Bo Nix's lap several times. Chiefs edge rusher George Karlaftis beat McGlinchey with bull rushes, disrupting passing lanes on multiple attempts.
Head coach Sean Payton acknowledged the protection problems in a postgame statement. "There were some protection issues, technique issues that put a guy right into his face that we have to clean up," Payton said. He noted that the Chiefs' defensive line was also a factor, but the Broncos' interior line failed to clear the pocket effectively at key moments.
On offense, rookie Jonah Coleman recorded 104 yards from scrimmage, the first time a Broncos runner has exceeded 100 yards in that category this season. His game-winning sequence included a 51-yard catch followed by a 5-yard touchdown run. Troy Franklin contributed by drawing a pass interference penalty and blocking for Coleman, while his rub route freed Jaylen Waddle for a 1-yard score. These plays contrasted with the performance of J.K. Dobbins, who lost 8 yards on a rushing attempt and appeared slower than his rookie counterpart.
Defensive coordinator Sean Payton's trust in younger players was evident in the coverage of Ja'Quan McMillian. McMillian switched onto Xavier Worthy during a critical second-and-goal play, forcing Patrick Mahomes to throw the ball away. This play began the goal-line stand that Skinner finished. Meanwhile, linebacker Justin Strnad was beaten by rookie Emmett Johnson on a 38-yard reception, a play that highlighted the unit's inconsistency despite the final score.
The final score of 28-24 reflects a team that relied on individual brilliance to overcome unit-level flaws. Bolles and McMillian delivered elite performances in their respective positions, while Skinner made a career-defining impact. The Broncos' offensive line, however, remains a point of concern as they look to maintain consistency in upcoming weeks.
