Arrowhead Pride
In the NFL’s Week 11, the Kansas City Chiefs lost their second straight game to one of the AFC’s top teams, falling to 5-5 with a 22-19 loss to the division-leading Denver Broncos on Empower Field at Mile High. The loss doesn’t mathematically eliminate the Chiefs from winning their 10th straight AFC West title, but the Broncos’ win gives them a 9-2 record that makes them nearly unassailable at the top spot. To make the postseason, Kansas City will now almost certainly need to secure a Wild Card spot — and it’s looking harder and harder for the team to make that happen.
The Chiefs won the coin toss and deferred. Harrison Butker’s kickoff found the end zone, starting the Broncos at their own 35-yard line. On the game’s first play, safety Chamarri Conner came off the blitz to drop Broncos quarterback Bo Nix for a six-yard loss. Nix would make short completions on the next to plays, however, to move the chains. The next set of downs started with running back R.J. Harvey being tackled for a one-yard loss. Nix was then incomplete deep to Troy Franklin. On third-and-11 from the Denver 45, Nix found Courtland Sutton for 21 yards to the Kansas City 34. Nix eluded pressure from Chris Jones for an eight-yard completion to tight end Evan Engram, and running back Jaleel McLaughlin moved the chains — and then started the next set of downs with a six-yard carry. Wide receiver Pat Bryant caught his second pass of the drive to set up a first down at the 12. After an ill-advised trick play nearly saw Harvey throw an interception, Engram caught a seven-yard pass to set up third-and-3 from the five-yard line. Jones got to Nix this time for a six-yard sack. Will Lutz came on for a 29-yard field goal to give the Broncos a 3-0 lead.
Nikko Remigio took Lutz’ kickoff in the end zone and returned to the Kansas City 28-yard line to start the drive. Patrick Mahomes connected with wideout Rashee Rice on the first play for an 11-yard gain. On the next play, Mahomes badly overthrew Xavier Worthy deep — who would have scored had the two connected. Mahomes then could not connect with tight end Noah Gray to set up third-and-10. Mahomes was incomplete on a third-straight throw, this time deep to Tyquan Thornton. Matt Araiza came on to punt. Marvin Mims returned the punt back 68-yards, and a rare blocking penalty on the kicking team gave Denver 15 more yards to start their drive at the Kansas City 11-yard line.
Harvey started the short-field drive with a four-yard gain before gaining only a yard on his next carry. On third-and-5 from the six-yard line. Leo Chenal batted Nix’s pass and nearly intercepted it. Lutz was true on a 24-yard field goal to extend Denver’s lead to 6-0.
Remigo took the kickoff on a hop and ran the ball 20 yards to start Kansas City on their...
