Renck vs. Keeler: Does Broncos’ loss mean it is time to buy into Chiefs conspiracy theories?

Troy Renck: On the biggest field goal attempt of the season, the left side of the Broncos’ offensive line couldn’t block anyone on Twitter. So, they woke up Monday angry, disappointed and stunned. The kick to the gut also led many on social media to put on tinfoil hats. Do the Broncos deserve blame or were they again unsuspecting marks in the Chiefs long con game with officials? There were a few calls that raised eyebrows that worked against the Broncos. So, Sean, is Monday a time for self-reflection about a Broncos team that appears ready to turn the corner? Or is it time to buy into the Chiefs conspiracy theories?

Sean Keeler: Blucifer is not The Cursed Horse of the Apocalypse. The head of Walt Disney isn’t chilling in a freezer underneath the Magic Kingdom. Martians don’t have a timeshare in Roswell, N.M. And the NFL isn’t going out of its way to make sure Andy Reid wins every darn weekend. Although, gotta say: Morning after? Watching that “phantom” contact flag tossed at Brandon Jones? Yikes. You wonder. You really, really, really do. Hey, refs are human, too. (Mostly.) Mistakes happen. But when a mistake wipes out a Nik Bonitto sack and keeps a Chiefs TD drive alive, that’s when the tinfoil comes out, my friend.

Renck: The illegal contact call on safety Brandon Jones was ridiculous. It led to the Chiefs’ only touchdown, bailing them out on a third-down sack. Here is the issue with the Chiefs: It’s not that they get all the calls. It just seems, partly because they are on national TV frequently, that they get the calls or non-calls when they need them the most. The NFL created a point of emphasis on illegal formations and false starts because of Kansas City right tackle Jawaan Taylor, but somehow he consistently avoids enforcement. It is about perception. And it wasn’t helped when down judge Sarah Thomas was face-timing her family as she stood with pop star Taylor Swift before Sunday’s game. It does not mean it compromised her integrity, but her actions, at the very least, come across as inappropriate.

Keeler: Nor is it helped when a hot mic catches Patrick Mahomes asking the nearest official to “let me know if he gets if he’s close,” for all of that national TV audience to hear. And rewind. And hear again. Muskwitter went nuts immediately, and depending on your worldview, the Magic Man was either asking about a.) the proximity of Broncos defenders; or b.) Taylor’s (ahem) unique alignments. It was probably the latter, but let’s get real, huh? Stars get calls. It’s what drives you nuts about the NBA, and what drives some stars nuts when they don’t get them. The Chiefs with Mahomes, Kelce, Reid and Taylor Swift is an eyeball-grabbing, money-printing monolith. In a world of moral grays, the most important color to the NFL has never, ever changed. It’s green.

Renck: While I understand some frustrated fans want to believe the fix is in, for me Sunday’s loss was not about the refs, but the Broncos’ roster. It was a reminder that they still need better players, especially on offense. They totaled 10 yards in their first three drives after halftime and were shut out in the second half for the second straight week. They need more playmakers. Starting rookie Audric Estime helped. Now, coach Sean Payton must remain true to his word, and keep expanding the roles of Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims Jr. until Josh Reynolds returns. The loss stung. But the Broncos need to use it as a reason to jump in a foxhole together not get lost down a rabbit hole of excuses.

Keeler: Look, Sarah Thomas didn’t knock Alex Forsyth on his keister. Taylor Swift didn’t make those cutesy play-calls on second and third down in the third quarter. The Illuminati doesn’t have a collective $10.5 million parlay riding on the Chiefs starting 10-0 and the Buffs winning the Big 12. (Although, now that you mention it …) The Broncos, as we both predicted, came out focused and fired the heck up after that Baltimore stinker. But they got out-schemed in the second half by defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and outfoxed on the game’s final play by longtime special teams wizard Dave Toub. You can’t complain that the fix is in until you’ve fixed your own house first.

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