It looked like more Mahomes magic. Then the Broncos won a nail-biter game
Context:
Denver staged a dramatic upset as Kansas City’s late-game comeback failed at Mile High, mirroring a familiar script of Mahomes-era close calls. The Chiefs lost 28-24 after a false-start penalty negated a would-be go-ahead TD, sealing a defeat that dropped them to 5-2 while Denver rose to 6-2. The loss comes amid a season-wide pattern of one-score games, contributing to debates about kicking reliability amid Kansas City’s evolving special-teams situation. The outcome underscores Denver’s knack for late-game resilience and sets up ongoing questions about personnel and strategy for both teams. Momentum remains fluid as the season progresses toward the midseason stretch.
Dive Deeper:
In a high-drama finish, Kansas City trailed 28-24 with 4 seconds left and had the ball at the 1-yard line, signaling a potential Mahomes-led miracle comeback.
A late chain of events included a touchdown pass for a potential go-ahead score being nullified by a false-start penalty on an O-line flinch, pushing Kansas City back and leaving no time for another play.
Denver’s defense then forced a game-ending sack on Mahomes, ending the Chiefs’ drive and leaving the Broncos with a victory that improved their record to 6-2.
The loss kept Mahomes in his typical late-game drama, but it also highlighted Kansas City’s kicking uncertainty, as veteran kicker Harrison Butker had a shaky stretch and was later backed by the team bringing in Justin Tucker to practice squad duties.
The game added to a remarkable season-wide trend: 71 games had been decided by one score or less through Week 8, tying a historical record since the 1970 merger.
Denver had previously demonstrated one-score-game proficiency, possessing a 16-2 mark in such contests over the past two seasons, a statistic coaches cited as a foundation for belief in late closings.
Coach Sean Payton emphasized that Denver’s success in tight finishes stems from proven past performance, even as regulators and fans debate the implications for Kansas City's kicking and overall execution.