Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos came so close to not only knocking off the NFL’s last undefeated team, but picking up their first win in Kansas City in nearly a decade.
The Chiefs, however, just can’t seem to lose.
The Chiefs kept their undefeated streak alive on Sunday afternoon after they blocked what would’ve been a game-winning field goal from Will Lutz as time expired. That left the Broncos stunned and sparked a wild celebration at Arrowhead Stadium.
With the 16-14 win, the Chiefs have now won 15 straight games dating back to their Super Bowl run last season. They’ve won nine straight games trailing by seven points or more, too, and hold a perfect 9-0 record.
After falling down by two points late in the fourth quarter after a Harrison Butker field goal, Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix mounted what easily would have been his best drive of the season. Nix led the Broncos on three consecutive third-down conversions, including one that led to a 13-yard gain from Courtland Sutton to put them into field-goal range. They then ran out the clock and set Lutz up perfectly in the middle of the field for what was eventually his failed 35-yard field-goal attempt.
The Broncos led nearly the entire way on Sunday, thanks to a pair of touchdown passes from Nix in the second quarter. He first hit Devaughn Vele for a 6-yard score to put the Broncos on the board first early in the period, and then he found Sutton for a deep 32-yard touchdown on their next drive.
The Chiefs responded with a 2-yard touchdown from Travis Kelce right before halftime, and then kicked a pair of field goals in the second half to take a 2-point lead. They could have gone up by a full touchdown, too, but Mahomes missed a wide-open Kelce in the end zone. But, thanks to a huge block, the Chiefs’ undefeated run is alive and well.
Mahomes went 28-of-42 for 266 yards and a touchdown in the win for Kansas City. Kareem Hunt led them both on the ground and through the air. He had 35 rushing yards on 14 carries, and 65 receiving yards on seven catches. Kelce finished with 64 yards and a touchdown on eight catches.
Bo Nix went 22-of-30 for 215 yards and two touchdowns. Audric Estime had 53 rushing yards on 14 carries, and Sutton had 70 yards and a score on six catches. The Broncos, who have lost back-to-back games, now sit at 5-5.
The Chiefs’ perfect run is sure to come to an end eventually. After all, only two teams have actually completed an undefeated regular season in league history. And the Chiefs will take on the Buffalo Bills next weekend in New York in what’s sure to be a great matchup between Mahomes and Josh Allen, who has the Bills at 8-2 after a 30-20 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday afternoon.
For now, though, the Chiefs keep finding ways to win, even if it takes a last-ditch field goal block.