Broncos seize AFC West lead after fourth-quarter comeback against Chiefs

Denver Broncos fans left the stadium with a division lead secured by a single defensive play. Malcolm Roach dropped Patrick Mahomes on fourth-and-goal with under two minutes remaining, preventing the Kansas City Chiefs from scoring and locking in a 28-24 win. The result moved Denver to the top of the AFC West, a position they have not held since the previous season.

The Broncos trailed 24-13 entering the final quarter. Bo Nix threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Nate Adkins to cut the deficit. He followed that score with a pass to Jaylen Waddle for a 2-point conversion, bringing the game to 24-21. The lead change set the stage for a final drive that decided the division standings.

Kansas City failed to extend its lead on a 54-yard field goal attempt by Harrison Butker. The kick went wide right in steady rain. That miss occurred one play after Alex Singleton sacked Mahomes for a 6-yard loss. The Broncos needed only two plays and 35 seconds to take the lead after that turnover.

Nix completed a 51-yard pass to rookie running back Jonah Coleman to start the drive. Coleman scored from the 5-yard line on the next play, putting Denver ahead 28-24. The Chiefs retained 1 minute and 56 seconds on the clock for their final possession.

Kansas City gained momentum late in the fourth quarter. Travis Kelce caught a 32-yard pass, and Kenneth Walker III made several long runs. Walker carried the ball 3 yards on first-and-goal to place the ball on the 1-yard line. Mahomes threw an incomplete pass on second down. Walker was stopped on third-and-goal. On the final play, Roach sacked Mahomes, ending the drive and the game.

Nix completed 20 of 32 passes for 222 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Mahomes finished 30 of 41 for 321 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Walker ran for 69 yards on 21 carries. The Chiefs dropped their second consecutive game after a loss to Seattle in the prior week.

Mahomes had not thrown a touchdown pass in consecutive games until this contest. He found Rashee Rice from 11 yards out in the first quarter. He connected with rookie Emmett Johnson for a 73-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Johnson caught the pass shy of his own 40-yard line and ran untouched the rest of the way. Mahomes threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Noah Gray in the third quarter to build a 24-13 lead.

Rice returned from a two-game absence due to a pulled right hamstring. Wil Lutz kicked field goals of 39 and 45 yards for Denver. The 45-yarder came after Denver failed to convert a third-and-3 play while using an empty backfield. The Broncos went three-and-out on all three drives in the third quarter but scored on both possessions in the fourth.

Chiefs defensive lineman Peter Woods left in the first quarter with a neck injury. Cornerbacks L'Jarius Sneed and Mansoor Delane were out with knee and shoulder injuries, respectively. Kris Fulton and Nohl Williams started at cornerback. Broncos cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine left in the second quarter with an ankle injury. Safety Brandon Jones was ruled out at halftime with a hamstring issue. Running back RJ Harvey was placed on short-term injured reserve after a knee injury in Thursday practice.

The Chiefs will host the New York Jets next Sunday. The Broncos will visit the Carolina Panthers in the same timeframe.