Broncos steal AFC West lead from Chiefs in rainy 28-24 comeback
A fourth-quarter surge and a missed field goal sealed Denver’s victory, moving the Broncos into first place while Kansas City fell to 5-2.
By Lucas Navarro ·
The AFC West standings shifted on Sunday afternoon when the Denver Broncos defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 28-24 at home. The win moved Denver into first place in the division. Kansas City dropped to second place with a record of 5-2.
The Broncos trailed 24-13 entering the fourth quarter. They erased the deficit in under ten minutes. The lead changed hands three times in the final period. The game ended with a sack on fourth down.
Denver closed the gap on a fourth-and-goal play. Quarterback Bo Nix threw a two-yard touchdown pass to tight end Nate Adkins. Jaylen Waddle caught the two-point conversion pass. The score became 24-21. The Chiefs failed to extend their lead on the next possession.
Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker missed a 54-yard field goal attempt wide right. The miss occurred in steady rain. One play earlier, Alex Singleton had sacked Patrick Mahomes for a six-yard loss. The Broncos capitalized on the turnover with two quick plays.
Bo Nix completed a 51-yard pass to rookie running back Jonah Coleman. Coleman scored from the five-yard line on the next snap. That touchdown put Denver ahead 28-24. Patrick Mahomes had one minute and 56 seconds remaining to respond.
The Chiefs drove into Denver territory on the final drive. Kenneth Walker III ran for 69 yards on 21 carries during the game. His 3-yard run on first down put the ball at the one-yard line. Mahomes threw an incomplete pass on second down. Walker was stopped on third down. Malcolm Roach sacked Mahomes on the final play of the game.
Bo Nix finished the game 20 of 32 for 222 yards. He threw two touchdown passes and no interceptions. Patrick Mahomes completed 30 of 41 passes for 321 yards. He threw three touchdown passes and no interceptions. The Chiefs lost their second straight game.
Mahomes threw a 73-yard touchdown pass to Emmett Johnson in the second quarter. That score gave Kansas City a 14-6 lead. Johnson caught the ball near his own 40-yard line and ran untouched to the end zone. The Chiefs built a 17-13 lead at halftime after a field goal by Butker.
Rashee Rice returned from a two-game absence with a pulled right hamstring. He caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes in the first quarter. The Broncos were without running back RJ Harvey, who was placed on short-term injured reserve after hurting his knee in practice. The teams meet again next Sunday when Denver visits Carolina and Kansas City hosts New York.
