Broncos Rally Past Chiefs to Take AFC West Lead

The Broncos scored twice in the fourth quarter, then stopped Patrick Mahomes on the Chiefs’ final possession to secure a 28-24 win on November 1. Denver improved to 6-2 and moved ahead of Kansas City, which fell to 5-2 after its second straight loss.

Denver trailed 24-13 entering the final quarter. Bo Nix threw a short touchdown to Nate Adkins, and Jaylen Waddle caught the two-point conversion to make it a three-point game. After Kansas City kicker Harrison Butker missed from 54 yards in the rain, Nix connected with rookie Jonah Coleman for a 51-yard gain. Coleman scored on the next play, putting Denver ahead with 1:56 left.

The Chiefs drove to the Denver 1-yard line late in the game. Kenneth Walker III was stopped on a run, and a false-start penalty erased a Mahomes touchdown pass to Rashee Rice. On the final play, Malcolm Roach sacked Mahomes to end Kansas City’s chance to win.

Nix completed 20 of 32 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns, while Mahomes went 30-for-41 for 321 yards and three scores. Walker ran for 69 yards. Denver’s defense had limited him to far less than his 173-yard rushing performance against the Broncos in the teams’ season opener.

After the game, Nix told Mahomes, “I was scared to death when you got the ball back.” Denver visits Carolina next, while Kansas City hosts the New York Jets.