Final-Play Sack Hands Broncos Division Lead After Comeback
Malcolm Roach’s late pressure preserved a 28-24 victory that moved Denver ahead of Kansas City in the AFC West.
By Elijah Fitzgerald ·
Denver Broncos fans left the stadium on Sunday with their team in first place in the AFC West. The division lead arrived after a final-second sack by safety Malcolm Roach preserved a 28-24 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
The outcome hinged on the final seconds of the game. With 56 seconds left, quarterback Patrick Mahomes stood on the Denver 1-yard line on fourth down. Running back Kenneth Walker III had moved the ball to the 1-yard mark on first down, but the Chiefs failed to score on the next two attempts. On the final play, Roach brought Mahomes down before he could throw, sealing the victory.
The game was not always close. Kansas City built a 24-13 lead in the third quarter. Bo Nix, the Denver quarterback, responded in the fourth quarter with two touchdown drives. He first found tight end Nate Adkins for a 2-yard score, then converted on a 2-point play with Jaylen Waddle. Denver later took the lead when rookie running back Jonah Coleman scored from 5 yards out after a 51-yard gain.
Kansas City kicker Harrison Butker missed a 54-yard field goal attempt in the rain, giving Denver the opportunity to take the lead. The Chiefs also lost momentum when Mahomes threw three incomplete passes late in the game. Although he finished 30 of 41 for 321 yards and three touchdowns, the Chiefs dropped their second consecutive game.
Nix finished 20 of 32 for 222 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. His performance snapped a streak where Mahomes had not thrown a touchdown in two games prior to this week, a career first for the Kansas City quarterback until he found Rashee Rice for 11 yards in the first quarter.
Both teams left the field with injuries. Chiefs defensive end Peter Woods exited with a neck issue, while cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine left with an ankle injury for Denver. Brandon Jones was ruled out with a hamstring problem. The Chiefs host the New York Jets next Sunday, and the Broncos travel to Carolina to face the Panthers.
The win improved Denver to 6-2 on the season. Kansas City fell to 5-2. The result places the Broncos on top of the AFC West standings ahead of next week's matchups.
