Arrowhead Pride
On the Kansas City Chiefs’ first play from scrimmage against the Denver Broncos, quarterback Patrick Mahomes connects with wide receiver Hollywood Brown for a huge 38-yard gain to flip the field. Mahomes follows it up by hitting wide receiver Rashee Rice over the middle, moving Kansas City inside the red zone at the 20-yard line.
The Chiefs work their way to a first-and-goal from the three. But disaster strikes when a handoff to running back Kareem Hunt is blown up by a Denver defender, forcing a fumble that the Broncos recover near the goal line.
Quarterback Bo Nix quickly gives Denver breathing room, taking a direct snap and rushing 29 yards to get out of the shadow of its own end zone. Denver gives the ball right back when linebacker Nick Bolton strips running back RJ Harvey. Defensive end George Karlaftis falls on the loose ball for Kansas City.
Hunt makes sure to secure the ball this time around. He plays a key role on the ensuing drive, catching a couple of passes — including a screen from Mahomes at the 3-yard line — for the touchdown to give the Chiefs an early lead.
End of first quarter: Chiefs 7, Broncos 0
For the first time in the game, Denver manages to cross midfield into Chiefs territory. Rookie wide receiver Pat Bryant II hauls in a slant pass from Nix, taking the Broncos all the way to the Kansas City 2-yard line.
With their backs against the wall, the Chiefs’ defense stands tall. Nix tries to scramble his way into the end zone but is stopped at the 1-yard line. A handoff to Harvey goes nowhere, and backup running back Tyler Badie fares no better, getting stuffed at the line of scrimmage. On fourth down, Nix keeps it on an RPO, but defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi reads it perfectly and drags him down for a 2-yard loss.
Denver is forced to settle for a short Will Lutz field goal, cutting into Kansas City’s lead.
Kansas City wastes no time answering back. Mahomes quickly finds Rice for another big gain, setting the Chiefs up inside the red zone. Facing third-and-seven, Mahomes takes off himself, scrambling 15 yards before being stopped at the Denver 3-yard line. The Chiefs go back to what worked earlier — another screen to Hunt. He bulldozes through a defender at the goal line and powers in for his second touchdown of the day.
With under twenty seconds left in the quarter, Nix launches a deep shot downfield that finds wide receiver Troy Franklin in stride. Franklin nearly breaks free but is tackled just short of the end zone at the 1-yard line as the clock expires.
End of second quarter: Chiefs 14, Broncos 3
Denver’s opening possession takes an early turn when Chiefs linebacker Drue Tranquill goes down with an injury.
The Broncos’ offense leans heavily on wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr., who is targeted multiple...
