Chiefs Can’t Hold Fourth-Quarter Lead, Fall Short Against Broncos In 28-24 Loss

The Kansas City Chiefs lost their pivotal rematch to the Denver Broncos, 28-24, as they blew a two-score, fourth-quarter lead, then fell short on their final drive as quarterback Patrick Mahomes was sacked deep in Denver territory on the final play of the game. 

This was a  back-and forth game from start to finish, and the Chiefs took control early. They scored two touchdowns while the Broncos got a pair of field goals, with Denver scoring first on a 39-yard field goal from Wil Lutz. Kansas City countered with a scoring drive for a touchdown as receiver Rashee Rice caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Patrick Mahomes. 

The Broncos then drew closer after another drive, as quarterback Bo Nix hit receiver Courtland Sutton wiht a 23-yard strike to set up a 45-yard field goal from Wil Lutz. 

That made it 7-6, but the Chiefs responded with an unexpected big play from rookie running back Emmett Johnson, who took a soft toss over coverage from Mahomes and ran 73 yards for a score to make it 14-6. 

The Broncos finally found the end zone when Nix led a 95-yard drive that culminated in a one-yard throw to Jaylen Waddle on a fourth-down play. 

Kansas City continued the back-and forth pattern, though, as Johnson sparked another score with a 33-yard catch-and-run, and the Chiefs got slumping kicker Harrison Butker into the scoring equation with a 45-yard field goal to make the score 17-13 at halftime. 

The Chiefs extended their lead in the third quarter with a touchdown drive to open the scoring in the second half, as Mahomes led a 63-yard drive over 11 plays, with the money throw being a four-yard touchdown pass to tight end Noah Gray to make it 24-13. The Chiefs were able to shut the Broncos down, and they went into the fourth quarter with a two-score lead.

But Nix finally got untracked in the fourth quarter as he led Denver to a touchdown that came via a short throw from the two-yard line. A two-point conversion throw to Waddle made it 24–21, and suddenly the Chiefs were in trouble. 

It was Coleman who led the drive that gave Denver the lead after a key missed field goal from Butker, first with a 51-yard catch-and-run, then a touchdown run from five yards out to give Denver a 28-24 lead. 

Mahomes led the comeback drive that followed, and the Chiefs had four chances to score from inside the Denver five-yard line with the clock running down. The Broncos then mounted a goal-line stand, with Mahomes sacked on the final play by defensive end Malcolm Roach as he couldn’t find a receiver when Denver pressured him. 

The loss dropped the Chiefs to 5-2 and took them out of the AFC West lead, with Denver now atop the division at 6-2.