FULL BOX SCORE

Nick Shook’s findings:

1. Chiefs escape to remain undefeated. Offensively, the Chiefs remained the same team they have been all season, moving the football down the field slowly on drives of 10, 11 and 16 plays. But unlike in recent weeks, the Chiefs couldn’t impose their will on Denver’s defense, or when Patrick Mahomes missed an opening Travis Kelce in the end zone on third down, they had to settle for a field goal with no protection from a loss in the final second. The Chiefs stared defeat in the face in the final minute on Sunday as when they needed to make a stop to maintain their lead, they failed. Broncos rookie Bo Nix led a patient 43-yard drive that took 13 plays to get within field goal range, and with their timeouts exhausted, the Chiefs could only hope for a spectacular play to keep their winning streak alive. Their prayers were answered at the last minute, as a host of Chiefs forced their way through the interior protection in front of Denver’s field goal unit, clearing a path for Leo Chenal block Will Lutz‘game-winning effort. The play sent Mahomes into a celebratory sprint around the field at Arrowhead Stadium, where the Chiefs have repeatedly proven they are outrageously difficult to beat. Hopefully it is also a reminder that they will still have to give their best to win every week.
2. Nix, Broncos deliver performances that deserve the win. Denver jumped all over Kansas City in the first half Sunday, racing out to a 14-3 lead by stringing together two scoring drives of more than 70 yards and ending both with touchdowns. The latter of the two scores – a perfectly placed 32-yard touchdown pass from Bo Nix to Courtland Sutton — stood as a sign that the Broncos had no intention of kneeling at the feet of the defending champion Chiefs. Nix was sharp all afternoon, completing 22 of 30 passes for 215 yards and the two touchdowns, but Denver’s offense wilted in the second half and failed to shore up a Broncos defense that took advantage of the loss of the left tackle . Wanya Morrisharassed Mahomes all day (four sacks, 40.8% pressure rate) and gave Denver a legitimate chance to win. Still, Nix delivered the clutch, completing a key third-down pass to Sutton to move the Broncos into the Kansas City red zone, where they wisely drained the remaining clock and positioned themselves for a game-winning field goal. That’s where the real heartbreak came, though, as Kansas City blocked Wil Lutz’s 35-yard attempt, preserving the Chiefs’ undefeated record by the narrowest of margins. It’s hard to win games in this league, but the Broncos can be proud of their efforts on Sunday.
3. Steve Spagnuolo’s adjustments are paying off. Kansas City found itself in an unfamiliar position just before halftime, trailing the Broncos 14-3 after surrendering two shockingly efficient touchdown drives to a rookie quarterback. Everything worked for the Broncos: They averaged 6.1 yards per carry, and Nix reached halftime with a 14-of-20 passing line for 160 yards and two scores. The Chiefs needed an answer and Spagnuolo delivered, limiting Denver’s offense to 68 yards in the second half and keeping them from adding even one point to their total. This effort bought the Chiefs’ methodical offense enough time to claw its way back into the game and led two long field goals to take a 16–14 lead. All that effort was almost for naught when the same defense couldn’t stop Nix and the Broncos late in the game, allowing them to get within field goal range in the final minute. Fortunately, the special teams unit saved the Chiefs and carried them to a victory that might not have been possible had their defense not kept things on edge in the second half.

Next-Generation Broncos-Chiefs Stats (via NFL Pro): Patrick Mahomes faced pressure on 20 of 49 dropbacks (40.8%), the highest pressure rate he’s faced since Week 8, 2023 (which was also against the Broncos). Mahomes was 5 of 14 for 92 yards when pressured, leading to a CPOE of -17.8%, his lowest mark of the season. Meanwhile, his CPOE of +5.8% when not under pressure was his highest mark of the season, and from a clean pocket he was 23 of 28 for 174 yards and his only touchdown.

NFL Research: The Chiefs lead the NFL with seven single-possession wins this season. The most one-score wins by an eventual Super Bowl champion is nine for both the 2015 Broncos and 1986 Giants.