The Denver Broncos' tackling efforts in a 31-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday weren't just bad. They were historically bad.
The Broncos missed 28 tackles on Monday Night Football, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. Seven players missed multiple tackles, with linebackers Alex Singleton (five) and Justin Strnad (four) leading the way.
"We didn’t tackle well on defense and then the game became one-dimensional," coach Sean Payton said after the loss. "It is really the antithesis of how you beat a good team on the road. It is that simple.”
Denver's defense surrendered 248 missed tackle yards, which is the highest total recorded in the NFL NGS era. And the unit's 29.8% missed tackle percentage was the third-worst in a single NFL game since 2018.
SūmerSports credited the Broncos with 24 missed tackles, the most since their 70-20 humiliation against the Miami Dolphins in 2023. Payton was asked after the game if it's expected for defenders to initially struggle to adjust to tackling after a summer of limited contact.
“Not like that, though, I would not say that," the coach said.
Story of the game tonight for the Denver defense
— Ben Linsey (@benlinsey_) September 15, 2026
Most missed tackles in a game since Miami dropped 70 on them in 2023 pic.twitter.com/8ZMUKGmqyu
The good news is that tackling is a teachable, correctable skill.
“We will look at the technique," Payton said.
Expect Denver's staff to put a lot of emphasis on tackling this week as the club prepares to host the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-0) in Week 2.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Broncos' missed tackles vs. Chiefs were historically bad
