Broncos Edge Chiefs 20-13 Behind Defense, Late TD/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Denver Broncos defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 20-13 with a late touchdown pass from Bo Nix and a strong defensive stand in the closing seconds. The victory moves Denver closer to clinching the AFC West. Kansas City, playing without Patrick Mahomes, suffered its tenth loss of the season.
Broncos Shut Down Chiefs With Late TD and Defensive Stop: Quick Looks
- Broncos beat Chiefs 20-13 at Arrowhead Stadium
- Bo Nix threw game-winning TD to R.J. Harvey with under two minutes left
- Nix also ran for a touchdown and passed for 182 yards
- Chris Jones’ offsides penalty gave Denver a crucial fourth-down conversion
- Broncos improved to 13-3, close to clinching AFC West
- Chiefs played without Mahomes and Minshew, both out with knee injuries
- Travis Kelce had 5 receptions in what may be his final home game
- Chiefs fall to 6-10, missing playoffs and facing uncertain offseason
- Broncos defense held Chiefs to just 66 passing yards
Deep Look: Broncos Close In on Division Title With 20-13 Win Over Short-Handed Chiefs
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Denver Broncos are one win — or one result — away from clinching the AFC West after a gritty 20-13 road victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday night.
In a game defined by tough defense, missed opportunities, and a costly penalty, Bo Nix led the Broncos to a comeback win in front of a raucous Arrowhead crowd. His go-ahead touchdown pass to R.J. Harvey with just under two minutes remaining gave Denver the lead for good. The drive was aided by an offsides penalty on Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones, who jumped early on what was supposed to be a delay-of-game play.
“We were going to take the penalty and kick the field goal,” Broncos head coach Sean Payton explained after the game. “But that offsides changed everything.”
Nix finished with 182 passing yards, one touchdown through the air, and another on the ground. It was Denver’s first win at Arrowhead since 2015 and marked their fourth victory in the last five meetings after previously losing 16 straight to Kansas City.
Chiefs’ Quarterback Problems Continue
With Patrick Mahomes and Gardner Minshew both sidelined due to season-ending knee injuries, the Chiefs were forced to start third-string quarterback Chris Oladokun. The young signal-caller completed just 66 yards through the air but managed one touchdown to Brashard Smith, his first career score.
Despite being heavy underdogs, Kansas City hung tough for most of the game. Their defense forced a turnover and kept Denver out of the end zone for the first half, even as the offense struggled to generate momentum.
“We just did what we had to do,” said Bo Nix.
Defense Dominates for Denver
The Broncos defense suffocated Kansas City for much of the second half. The Chiefs managed just 16 total yards on their first three possessions after halftime. That defensive effort gave Denver’s offense time to mount the comeback.
Nix’s nine-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter gave the Broncos a 13-10 lead, and after Kansas City tied it with a field goal, the Broncos orchestrated a methodical drive late in the fourth. That drive spanned 65 yards, included two third-down conversions, and ended with the Harvey touchdown.
Kelce’s Final Home Game?
Travis Kelce, who has hinted at possible retirement, was the emotional center of the Chiefs’ night. The Pro Bowl tight end caught five passes for 36 yards and helped spark Kansas City’s final drive in the closing seconds. He was unable to reel in a key third-down pass and watched as Oladokun’s fourth-down throw to Marquise Brown sailed just beyond the receiver’s grasp.
“I’ll let that be a decision I’ll make with my family, friends, the Chiefs organization when the time comes,” Kelce said of retirement talk.
Kelce’s performance, while modest in numbers, was one of the lone bright spots for a Chiefs team that looked nothing like the defending AFC champions.
Missed Chances and Costly Mistakes
The game’s turning point came late in the fourth quarter when Chris Jones jumped offside on what was expected to be a field goal attempt. Instead of facing fourth down, the Broncos received a fresh set of downs and capitalized three plays later with Nix’s touchdown pass.
Earlier in the game, Courtland Sutton dropped a would-be touchdown at the end of the first half, forcing Denver to settle for a second short field goal from Wil Lutz, who made both his attempts on the night.
“You’re playing the heart of a champion,” Payton said. “We have a ton of respect for this team.”
Standings and What’s Next
With the win, the Broncos move to 13-3 and can clinch the AFC West if Houston defeats the Chargers on Saturday. They also remain in the running for the AFC’s top seed and a first-round bye.
The Chiefs drop to 6-10, a disappointing mark for a franchise that had reached the Super Bowl three years in a row. With one game remaining, Kansas City faces tough questions about its future at quarterback, the offense, and whether Kelce will return for another season.
Injuries
Broncos: Center Luke Wattenberg (shoulder) was placed on injured reserve earlier in the day.
Chiefs: Receiver Nikko Remigio (knee) was placed on IR. Offensive lineman Jaylon Moore (knee) and defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi (illness) were inactive.
Up Next
Denver Broncos finish the regular season next week against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Kansas City Chiefs will wrap up their season in Las Vegas against the Raiders.
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