Broncos’ Champ Bailey benched late in game
By Mike Dyce
The Denver Broncos had a 14-point lead in the second half at one point, but the Kansas City Chiefs narrowed the gap and were driving late in the fourth quarter down by just seven points. As the Chiefs were driving, Broncos veteran defensive back Champ Bailey wasn’t on the field.
“We knew we weren’t going to try to play him 80 snaps on the first day back,” Broncos interim coach Jack Del Rio said, via The Denver Post. “The plan was to rotate him through and not have him play too much in the first game back in (six) weeks.”
The Chiefs had a total of 67 plays in the game. Bailey has missed nine of 11 games this season and it would have been ridiculous to expect him to go a full game. While he was on the sideline, they played veteran Quentin Jammer and rookie Kayvon Webster.
“I’ve got to get my mind back right, got to get my body back right,” Bailey said. “That combination, plus being 35, it’s tough. It’s a tough game. It’s a young man’s game.