The Chiefs continued their perfect season with a thrilling 16-14 win over the Broncos, thanks to a last-second blocked field goal by Leo Chenal. The play came as time expired, with Chenal breaking through the middle of the Broncos’ field goal unit and getting a hand on Wil Lutz’s 35-yard attempt.
“It’s a complete shock, you know? Not much I can say about it,” Chenal said. “I was really praying for something to happen. That moment is so heavy. There’s a second on the clock, they’re going to kick a field goal and you feel the weight of the moment.”
Chiefs coach Andy Reid acknowledged that the team had spotted something in the Broncos’ field goal operation, adding that they work on special teams plays like that regularly, though it’s rare for it to work out in such a dramatic fashion.
The Chiefs had taken the lead earlier in the game with a field goal from Harrison Butker, but the Broncos quickly responded, converting several key third downs to set up their last-gasp field goal attempt. Despite their efforts, Chenal’s block sealed the win for Kansas City.
“I felt like we outplayed them but we didn’t finish,” said Broncos coach Sean Payton. “That one will take a while. It’ll sting.”
Patrick Mahomes threw for 266 yards and a touchdown, keeping the Chiefs on top of the league. They became only the fifth Super Bowl champion to win their first nine games the next season, and their 15-game win streak dating back to last year is the longest in the NFL since the Packers’ 19-game run in 2010-11.
Travis Kelce led the team with eight catches for 64 yards and a touchdown, while DeAndre Hopkins added 56 yards on four catches. Kareem Hunt also had 35 rushing yards and 65 receiving yards.
“Any way you win is good in this league,” Mahomes said. “You live for these moments. When you grow up playing football, you live for the walk-off whatever-it-is. And I’m glad we get to experience it together.”
Broncos quarterback Bo Nix passed for 215 yards and two touchdowns, including a key third-down completion to Courtland Sutton that set up the field goal attempt. Sutton finished with six catches for 60 yards and a touchdown.
“They just made one extra play. When we thought it was in our hands, it wasn’t,” Nix said. “It’s tough. And again, it’s two good football teams out there playing against each other, and one day it will go our way.”
Last year, the Broncos had shocked the Chiefs with a 21-9 victory, breaking a 16-game losing streak against them. This time, they came out strong, with the Chiefs’ offense struggling in the first half.
Denver capitalized with two long scoring drives, including a touchdown pass from Nix to Devaughn Vele and another to Sutton, giving the Broncos a 14-3 lead.
Mahomes quickly responded, leading a 7-for-7 drive that ended with a touchdown pass to Kelce, making it 14-10 at halftime. After trailing, the Chiefs fought back in the second half, with Butker’s field goal closing the gap to 14-13.
The defense forced two punts, and Mahomes led the team down the field for another Butker field goal that put them ahead 16-14.
The Broncos still had a chance to win, but time ran out before they could get into field goal range after Chenal’s game-winning block.
“I told our team I was proud of the way they fought. I thought we outplayed them,” Payton said. “But nonetheless, you have to beat a champion and we weren’t able to do it, so obviously gut-wrenching.”
