Description
It was a perfectly executed game plan for Sean Payton, Bo Nix and the Broncos.
Nix led a final-minute drive to put kicker Wil Lutz in position for an easy, 35-yard field goal as the game would expire. But Lutz' kick appeared low and Chiefs' linebacker Leo Chenal blocked it.
The Chiefs hung on by the skin of their arrowhead again, holding to defeat the Broncos, 16-14, on a brilliantly bright and pleasant early November Sunday afternoon at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
The Broncos lost their second in a row to fall to 5-5. The Chiefs are 9-0 with seven of their wins by one score or less.
The Broncos led 14-3 in the second quarter, 14-10 at halftime and 14-13 entering the fourth quarter.
Nix was 22 of 30 for 215 yards in a valiant performance in defeat. His biggest completions in the second quarter -- a 6-yard scoring strike to rookie Devaughn Vele and a perfectly thrown deep ball to veteran Courtland Sutton for a 32-yard touchdown.
The Broncos’ rookie didn’t blink in his matchup against the great Patrick Mahomes II, who also had a terrific first half. Mahomes is 28 of 42 for 266 yards and a 2-yard touchdown bullet to tight end Travis Kelce that came on fourth and goal from 2 with 1:44 left in the half. However, Mahomes missed a wide open Kelce in the back of the end zone in the fourth quarter and the Chiefs had to settle for a go-ahead, chip shot field goal with 5:56 remaining.
Another reliable Chief, kicker Harrison Butker, then made a fatal mistake by booting his kickoff short of the landing zone, giving the Broncos' starting field position at their own 40. A couple short Nix pass completions and strong running by rookie Audric Estime moved the Broncos to the Chiefs' 31 yard line at the 2-minute warning.
The first quarter played out pretty much how the Broncos wanted as their defense came up big in forcing Mahomes and the Chiefs into two too far punts for touchbacks by Matt Araiza off their their first two possessions.
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