Question: Should Broncos coach Vance Joseph take defensive play-calling away from Joe Woods?

Kiz: Broncos Country now knows the bitter taste of what it was like to be a Chiefs fans for all those years. In the fourth quarter of a 27-23 loss, Denver got rocked and shocked by a gunslinger with no fear. Not saying Patrick Mahomes is John Elway 2.0, but how many quarterbacks can lead a game-winning TD drive on the road from a second-and-30 situation? And how much blame does defensive coordinator Joe Woods deserve for the Broncos’ collapse?

O’Halloran: The issue of defensive play-calling when the head coach has a defensive background is always a guessing game. How much is Joseph involved? How much does he overrule or strongly suggest in-game adjustments to Woods? Are other members of the defensive staff, chiefly the secondary coaches, culpable as well? When it became apparent Mahomes would be fine facing a four-man rush, Woods and Co. should have dialed up some blitzes. I charted the Broncos with 12 plays of at least five rushees in 53 Mahomes drop-backs. Related Articles Jackson: How much does it matter that Jeff Driskel is Broncos’ starting quarterback Sunday? Probably less than you think.

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Kiz: Woods was the up-and-coming defensive coach that made Wade Phillips expendable to the Broncos. Woods is personable and obviously relishes working one-on-one with players in the teaching aspect of his job. But his coordination of the defense has been shaky, at best. Cornerback Chris Harris Jr. was ticked after the losses to Baltimore and Kansas City. Tough question: Is Woods over his head in the role of D.C.?

O’Halloran: The old-and-current NBA saying is something like, “Your world changes when your slide over one seat from assistant to head coach.” The same kind of thing in the NFL. Woods’ job changed significantly last year when he was promoted from position coach to coordinator. Over his head? Tough call, but the statistics suggest he is.

Kiz: After the season spiraled out of control in 2017, Joseph admitted he waited too long to fire offensive coordinator Mike McCoy. Joseph also hired a new special teams coordinator prior to this season. So it would be very awkward to fire Woods, not to mention a poor reflection on Joseph’s judgment in shaping a staff. But I think it’s time for Joseph to declare he’s going to fix the team’s defensive issues by taking responsibility for the play-calling on that side of the ball.

O’Halloran: We’re getting close to the time (if not there) for Vance to call his final “Hail Mary” as Broncos coach and calling the defensive snaps would qualify. Had Kansas City embarrassed the Broncos on Monday night, the key question to Joseph on Tuesday would have been about taking over the play-calling. But on a short week before the Jets game, the guess is he will wait. Joseph won’t fire Woods – if Joseph begins to call the plays, he’ll need Woods to serve as the Monday-Saturday coordinator in terms of organizing the defensive staff.