The Kansas City Chiefs traveled to Denver to take on the Broncos on Thursday Night Football in what turned out to be a dominant defensive performance that led the Chiefs to a 19-8 victory.
The Chiefs got off to a fast start, scoring on their opening possession. Patrick Mahomes led a 7-play, 75-yard drive that was capped off with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Travis Kelce. Kelce found space in the middle of the field and Mahomes hit him in stride for the easy score. It was a promising start for the Chiefs offense, led by the Mahomes to Kelce connection.
However, that would be the lone touchdown of the half for Kansas City. Both defenses clamped down after that opening score. The Broncos had opportunities to answer but struggled in the red zone. They drove inside the Chief's 20-yard line on two separate possessions in the first half but came away with only field goals. Brandon McManus knocked through kicks from 33 and 27 yards to keep Denver within striking distance at 7-6.
The Chiefs were able to add to their lead just before halftime thanks to a clutch 53-yard field goal by Harrison Butker as time expired in the second quarter. He drilled the long kick through the uprights to extend the KC lead to 10-6 at the break. The Chiefs left some points on the board with an inability to cash in on red zone opportunities of their own during the first half. But the defense was stout in keeping Denver out of the end zone.
Any hopes of a Denver comeback were quickly dashed in the third quarter. On the Broncos' first possession of the second half, Patrick Surtain II came up with an acrobatic interception while laying out to snag a Russell Wilson pass intended for Courtland Sutton. It was a momentum-shifting play that put the ball right back in the hands of the Chiefs offense.
Kansas City took advantage, going 71 yards in 10 plays with Isiah Pacheco capping it off with a 1-yard touchdown plunge. It was Pacheco's first career rushing touchdown and extended the lead to 17-6 after the extra point. He showed great vision and burst on the drive.
The Broncos offense continued to sputter throughout the third quarter. They struggled to sustain drives and Wilson was under constant pressure from the Chiefs defensive front. Late in the period, Denver drove into Kansas City territory but came up empty as McManus missed a 57-yard field goal attempt, keeping the score at 17-6 heading to the 4th.
Any last gasps of a comeback were ended when Chris Jones stripped-sacked Wilson early in the 4th quarter. Jones knocked the ball loose and Willie Gay recovered it, giving KC possession in Denver territory once more. A few plays later, Butker booted a 54-yard field goal to make it a 19-6 ballgame with over 11 minutes left.
From there the Chiefs' defense slammed the door shut. They held Denver to just 54 total yards in the second half and sacked Wilson 5 times over the final two quarters. Blitzes from nickel cornerback L'Jarius Sneed were particularly effective in getting to the QB.
Denver would mount a couple of drives into Chiefs territory down the stretch but came up empty both times. McManus missed another long field goal attempt from 56 yards, and Denver turned it over on downs on their final possession as Kansas City ran out the clock.
When it was all said and done, the Chiefs defense shined brightest in the 19-8 victory. They forced three turnovers, held Denver to just 248 total yards, and came up with crucial stops and sacks throughout the game. Patrick Mahomes and the offense did just enough, with Mahomes finishing 23-37 for 199 yards and the TD toss to Kelce. Isiah Pacheco was a pleasant surprise with 62 yards on the ground as well
For the Broncos, it was another disappointing result in what has been a frustrating season. Russell Wilson struggled under pressure and the offense failed to sustain any consistency against a tough KC defense. They fell to 3-8 on the year with the loss while the Chiefs improved to 9-2 and look like strong AFC contenders once again thanks to this defensive showing on Thursday Night Football in Denver..
