The Denver Broncos overcame an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs 28-24, moving to 6-2 and taking first place in the AFC West. The win marked Denver's fourth consecutive victory after a challenging early schedule that included two games against the Chiefs as well as matchups against the Jaguars, Rams, 49ers, and Seahawks.
Bo Nix's fourth-quarter surge
Quarterback Bo Nix struggled through three quarters, completing 15 of 26 passes for 153 yards with only seven first-down throws. In the final quarter, Nix went 5-for-6 for 84 yards, capitalizing on coverage breakdowns to throw touchdowns to Nate Adkins and Jonah Coleman. Since entering the NFL in 2024, Nix has recorded 15 game-winning drives and 12 fourth-quarter comebacks, both the most in a quarterback's first three seasons. The Broncos have averaged 8.1 points per fourth quarter under Nix, the highest rate for any starting quarterback since at least 1950.
Improved run defense
Denver's run defense showed significant progress. In Week 1, Kenneth Walker III rushed for 173 yards against the Broncos; in Week 8, Walker managed just 69 yards with 2.1 yards per carry after contact compared to 7.8 in the opener. Over the first four weeks, Denver allowed 4.8 yards per rush, 11 explosive runs, and 4.1 yards after contact per rush. In weeks 5-8, those figures improved to 4.2, 8, and 3.1 respectively.
Andy Reid's questionable late-game decisions
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid faced criticism for conservative play-calling. Leading by three with under three minutes remaining, Reid opted for a 54-yard field goal attempt on fourth-and-8 from the Denver 36-yard line. Harrison Butker missed wide right; he is now 2-for-7 on kicks of 50-plus yards this season. Analysts noted that going for the first down would have been more prudent, especially given Mahomes' career 50% conversion rate on fourth-and-8 to fourth-and-12.
Patrick Mahomes excels but lacks downfield support
Mahomes completed 30 of 41 passes for 321 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions, posting a 0.16 EPA per dropback — his best since Week 3. However, the Chiefs' receiving corps struggled to stretch the field. Running back Emmett Johnson led the team with five catches for 128 yards, while Travis Kelce added five for 67. Wide receiver Rashee Rice had seven catches for only 53 yards, and the team has not completed a pass of 20-plus yards downfield in three games since Tyquan Thornton's injury.
Rookie running backs make impact
Broncos rookie Jonah Coleman led Denver with 11 carries for 41 yards and 63 receiving yards, including the game-winning touchdown. Chiefs rookie Emmett Johnson contributed 128 receiving yards, a 15-yard rush, and a 44-yard kick return, also scoring a 73-yard touchdown. Both players have earned expanded roles beyond their initial complementary projections.
