Watch Broncos film from their first three games and one big trend is clear.

Want to attack Denver’s defense? Hit their secondary with quick strikes and reap the rewards. Seattle totaled 298 yards passing and three scores. Oakland dropped 288 and one touchdown. Then Baltimore lit up the Broncos for 277 and another score. Opposing wide receivers all feasting on mostly short-to-intermediate routes.

“If teams want to throw the ball that quick, then we have to play closer in coverage and make some plays early,” Joseph said. “It’s a blue-print on tape now the last couple weeks — throw it quick, challenge the DBs and keep Von Miller and (Bradley) Chubb and those guys at bay.”

Help arrives in Week 4 on Monday night against the Chiefs, with two cornerbacks set to return from injury: Tramaine Brock and Adam Jones.

Brock suffered a left groin strain against the Ravens, had an MRI, and Joseph said “it looks to be OK.” Brock is expected to practice Wednesday, Thursday and then play Monday night against the Chiefs. Jones missed the week of practice leading up to Denver’s trip to Baltimore and joined the inactive list with a hamstring injury. Joseph said he is also expected to be back Monday.

Rookie Isaac Yiadom made his NFL debut as the team’s third cornerback in their absence. He was targeted often and finished the day with four tackles.

“Every game, I’ll be able to build,” Yiadom said. “I made some mistakes and made some plays. I have to fix the mistakes and go into next week and be better.”

Lindsay reaction. Joseph addressed rookie running back Phillip Lindsay’s Sunday ejection in Baltimore for throwing a punch in a scrum for a loose football.

“I saw him dive into the pile, which is illegal, so he can’t do it,” Joseph said. “There were three guys who dove into the pile. It was (Marlon) Humphrey for (Baltimore), he was the first guy, then (left guard Ron) Leary dove into the pile and then Phillip into the pile. It should have been three penalties on all three of those guys.

“I didn’t see a punch being thrown. … But we have to own the penalties.”

More expected from King. The Broncos signed former Raiders punter Marquette King with the expectation he’d consistently pin opponents deep in their own territory with booming elevation-drive distance. It has yet to materialize. After four games, King checks it at No. 23 league-wide for gross punting (44.6 yards) and No. 15 for net punting (41.6). He’s checked opponents inside their own 20-yard line six times. Related Articles 🔊 Broncos podcast: Previewing Denver’s must-win Week 3 home showdown against Tampa Bay

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“He has to simply punt better, no different than our corners have to play better in coverage, and we’ve got to block better,” Joseph said. “He’s a football player and he’s got to do his job. He’s got to punt better.”

Chiefs’ rare situation. Kansas City has been installed as a five-point favorite over the Broncos, putting it in position to be a favorite in Denver for only the third time in 30 years.

In 1991, the Broncos won 19-16 as a 1 1/2-point underdog.

In 2010, the Broncos won 49-29 as a one-point underdog.