Vic Fangio can learn something from the Bucs game plan against KC

Here’s hoping Vic Fangio was watching Super Bowl LV. If he was, perhaps he picked up on the formula for defeating the Broncos nemesis, a team that has beaten them 11 consecutive times.

On Sunday, the Buccaneers dominated the Chiefs, winning 31-9 in a game not as close as the score would indicate. How did they pull the upset? By not being intimidated by Kansas City.

To some extent, Patrick Mahomes and company win on the gridiron in much the same way Mike Tyson used to win in the ring. The opponent is so intimidated that they’re running scared from the opening kickoff or bell. Land an early punch, the opposition starts to backpedal and the onslaught is on.

That’s why the Broncos have tried to take a conservative approach when facing the Chiefs under Fangio. They’ve played a bend-but-don’t-break defense, trying to prevent the big play and hoping to avoid an embarrassing, blowout loss.

It’s hasn’t been effective. During his two seasons at the helm, Denver’s head coach is 0-4 against Kansas City. The average score of those games has been 29.5-10.25.

To some, that’s a victory. Heck, the Broncos 22-16 loss at the Chiefs this season was trumpeted as reason for a parade by the team’s apologists.

But clearly, the formula isn’t working. Denver hasn’t been close to beating Kansas City under Fangio.

In 2019, they lost 30-6 at home. After Mahomes started the game 10-of-11 passing, he was injured and replaced by Matt Moore. It didn’t matter. The game was a rout.

Later that season, the Chiefs barely broke a sweat, beating the Broncos 23-3 in a blizzard at Arrowhead Stadium. Mahomes sat in the pocket all day, threw for 340 yards and cruised to a win.

This year, the results were much the same. Kansas City rolled into Denver, didn’t play well and still won 43-16.

That was followed up by the 22-16 win, where Mahomes threw for 318 yards. Had the Chiefs not settled for five field goals, that game would’ve been another lopsided affair, as Kansas City had 447 yards of offense to Denver’s 330.

Tampa Bay took a different approach, however. Instead of sitting back on their heels, waiting for Mahomes to land a haymaker or two, they attacked Kansas City. From the outset, they came after the Chiefs MVP-caliber quarterback.

And it worked. Throughout the night, Mahomes was running for his life. As a result, he was off schedule, off rhythm and off target. He finished the night 26-of-49 for 270 yards, zero touchdowns and two interceptions. The Chiefs scored nine points.

That’s how to deal with a bully. Don’t wait for them to hit first. Don’t cower in the corner, hoping to be ignored.

Instead, hit them right in the mouth. Strike first, surprise them and hope to knock them off their game.

That’s what happened to Tyson in February 1990. For the first time in his career, his opponent didn’t run scared. Instead, James “Buster” Douglas stood tall, threw some punches and knocked the champ on his butt.

Much like Tyson, the Chiefs didn’t know how to respond. When their high-octane offense had a wrench thrown in the gears, they didn’t know what to do.

Tyson scurried on the canvas, searching for his mouthpiece. Kansas City players griped to the refs, got flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and quarreled amongst themselves on the sidelines.

They were frustrated. They were flustered. They were flummoxed.

Why? Because for the first time in three years, their opponent wasn’t on their heels. They weren’t afraid of what the Chiefs could do to them.

Bruce Arians is the type of head coach who is going to go down swinging. Todd Bowles is a defensive coordinator who likes to dial up the blitz. The decided to throw the kitchen sink at Mahomes.

And it worked.

Now, people will say it’s because the Chiefs had to shuffle their offensive line. With Eric Fisher sidelined due to a torn Achilles’ tendon, Kansas City had a makeshift group upfront.

Maybe that’s the case. It certainly had something to do with Mahomes being under siege all day. But the Chiefs had two weeks to prepare. And other teams have certainly had to overcome bigger losses heading into a big game.

This wasn’t a matter of personnel. It was a matter of personality.

The Buccaneers were in attack mode. If they were going to lose, it was going to be because Mahomes could stand in there, take hit after hit, and still deliver accurate passes.

The Broncos need to take the same approach. It’s the only hope they have to beat the Chiefs.

On occasion, it’s going to backfire. But they’re already losing to Kansas City by an average of nearly 20 points per game under Fangio anyway. It’s not as though the current, conservative approach is working.

Letting Mahomes sit in the pocket, comfortably surveying the field is a recipe for disaster. At best, it’s death by papercut, as the quarterback will slowly carve up Denver’s defense.

Throw some haymakers. Attack the bully. See if they’re ready to absorb a few shots coming their direction.

That’s what Tampa Bay did on Sunday and they’re Super Bowl champs. Here’s hoping Vic Fangio was taking notes.

Follow @jamesmerilatt