With the clock winding down, Denver’s Bo Nix launched a go-ahead touchdown that sealed a 20-13 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. The play came after a controversial offsides penalty that gave the Broncos a fresh set of downs on fourth down inside the Chiefs’ 10-yard line.
The Decisive Fourth-Down Play
On Thursday night, Broncos coach Sean Payton had his offense line up on fourth down with less than two minutes remaining. The ball was inside the Chiefs’ 10-yard line. Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones jumped early, triggering the offsides penalty. The penalty gave Denver a new set of downs and set the stage for Bo Nix to throw a 20-yard pass to R.J. Harvey for the winning score. The play was the final moment before the Broncos made a last stop in the closing second at their end of the field.
Game Flow and Early Dominance
Earlier in the game, Kansas City had given up a 14-play drive that soaked up more than half the first quarter, which netted the Broncos a field goal. The Chiefs managed just 16 yards on their first three possessions of the second half, while the Broncos churned through 72 yards in nearly 10 minutes, and Nix finished by scrambling nine yards for the score. The Broncos tried to answer with another 8-plus minute drive late in the half, but Courtland Sutton dropped a would-be touchdown toss in the closing seconds, and Wil Lutz had to kick his second chip-shot field goal to make it 7-6 at the break. The defense put its top two cornerbacks on injured reserve this week, managed to pick off Nix, setting up a short field that Oladokun converted into his first career touchdown throw. It also happened to be Brashard Smith’s first career touchdown catch. The Broncos were nearly two-touchdown favorites, according to BetMGM, yet the Chiefs may have been inspired by hearing about the Vikings, who earlier in the day knocked off the favored Lions behind their defense and their own third-string quarterback.
Payton’s Strategy and Post-Game Comments
“We were going to take the delay-of-game,” Payton said afterward. “Obviously that changed the complexion of the clock, and that was a big play. We were going to take the penalty and kick the field goal. That was the plan.” Now the Broncos (13-3) are one step closer to locking up the AFC West, which they can do while watching at home if Houston beats the Chargers on Saturday. They also have a chance to still land the No. 1 seed and first-round playoff bye. “It would be relaxing,” Payton said of clinching this weekend. “It would be nice.”
Nix’s Dual Threat Performance
Nix also ran for a touchdown while throwing for 182 yards as the Broncos beat the Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium for the first time since September 17, 2015. They have won four of the last five in the series following a string of 16 consecutive losses. “It’s great to get that win,” Payton said. “You always have to remember this: You’re playing the heart of a champion, Andy Reid and this team. I don’t care who comes out of that locker room. This is a team that basically has been at the top of our league for the better part of this century, and there’s a ton of respect we have for what they’ve been able to accomplish.” “We just did what we had to do,” Nix said.
Chiefs’ Late-Game Attempts and Key Absences
Third-string quarterback Chris Oladokun and tight end Travis Kelce tried to give Kansas City a chance in the final seconds, driving quickly down field after the Broncos had taken the lead. But a third-down pass at the Denver 26 was just out of Kelce’s reach, and Oladokun overthrew Marquise Brown in the end zone on fourth down to seal the outcome. The Chiefs (6-10) were missing Patrick Mahomes and backup quarterback Gardner Minshew, both of whom tore ligaments in their knees in back-to-back weeks, and were left to watch the game together from a suite. They also were missing Rashee Rice and several players on both sides of the ball that had been so crucial to their three straight Super Bowl trips. Oladokun wound up with 66 yards passing. Kelce had five catches for 36 of those yards in what might have been the last game played by the Pro Bowl tight end at Arrowhead Stadium – he plans to announce soon after the season whether he is retiring.
Injury Updates and Upcoming Games
Injuries: Broncos: C Luke Wattenberg (shoulder) was placed on injured reserve earlier in the day. Chiefs: WR Nikko Remigio (knee) was placed on IR. OL Jaylon Moore (knee) and DT Derrick Nnadi (illness) were inactive. Up next: Denver wraps up the regular season next week against the Chargers. Kansas City finishes its season next week in Las Vegas.
Key Takeaways
- Broncos (13-3) close to AFC West title, still in contention for No. 1 seed.
- Bo Nix’s 20-yard touchdown to R.J. Harvey sealed 20-13 win.
- Chiefs missing key players; third-string quarterback and tight end unable to mount comeback.
The 20-13 victory at Arrowhead Stadium not only broke a long drought for Denver but also set the stage for a thrilling finish to the season as both teams head into their final games.
