DENVER (AP) The only thing the Denver Broncos do really well is win close games.
They extended their one-game winning streak to 15 over the past two seasons by edging past the Kansas City Chiefs 28-24 on Sunday and bringing Patrick Mahomes to 80-3 in his career as he led by double digits in the fourth quarter.
“It’s obviously a big win,” Denver coach Sean Payton said after his 200th career win. “And I’m proud of the courage.”
Malcolm Roach sacked Mahomes on fourth base on the final play, preserving Denver’s victory that moved the Broncos (6-2) into first place in the AFC West, a half-game ahead of Kansas City (5-2), which lost its second straight.
The Broncos trailed 24-13 early in the fourth quarter, but Bo Nix threw a 2-yard TD pass to tight end Nate Adkins and found Jaylen Waddle for the 2-point conversion to bring Denver within 24-21.
After Kansas City kicker Harrison Butker missed right on a 54-yard field goal attempt in a steady rain with 2 1/2 minutes remaining — one play after Alex Singleton sacked Mahomes for a 6-yard loss — the Broncos needed just two plays and 35 seconds to take the lead.
Nix, whose 13 career fourth-quarter returns are the most in the NFL since his debut in 2024, hit rookie running back Jonah Coleman for a 51-yard gain on first down. Coleman ran for a 5-yard touchdown on the next snap.
“It’s always fun to run short and they run long,” Nix said.
That left Mahomes with just under 2 minutes to stage his own comeback.
A 44-yard kickoff return by Emmett Johnson, who scored on a 73-yard reception in the first half, and a 32-yard catch by Travis Kelce, along with several big runs from Kenneth Walker III, helped the Chiefs get inside the Denver 5-yard line with 35 seconds remaining.
Patrick Surtain II stopped Walker at the 1 after a 3-yard run on first down.
Mahomes was pressured by Que Robinson and threw an incomplete throw on second down.
On third down, third-string safety JL Skinner stuffed Walker for no gain.
On fourth-and-goal from the 1, Mahomes threw what he thought would be the game-winner to Rashee Rice over the middle, but the play was negated by a false start penalty on right tackle Jaylon Moore.
“If you could concretely point to a public victory,” that was it, Payton said. “The false start, I mean, it’s just from the perspective of the player calling, 1 out of 6 and you’re in another zip code with games. It was huge.”
Mahomes said: “I mean, at the end of the day, you have to choose what it’s called. But a lot of times in these big moments, the little things don’t get called that.”
On the restart, Mahomes took over with 4 seconds left, but Roach crossed the line alongside Nik Bonitto and smothered Mahomes for a 6-yard loss before he could get the throw.
“They have a good defensive line,” Mahomes said. “I wish I had done a better job of getting the ball out, giving somebody a chance.”
Nix was just as nervous as the 76,831 fans in attendance watching Denver’s goal line.
“Fourth down was another crazy play by our defense,” Nix said. “And I’m very grateful for the illegal change that allowed them to take it again. And it’s just an incredible position to be in with them. They just fought and fought down that road and came out on top.”
Mahomes also blamed himself for taking the sack before Butker’s miss.
“I can’t put him in that position,” Mahomes said.
The Broncos went three-and-out on their three third-quarter drives, but Nix led touchdowns on both of Denver’s fourth-quarter possessions.
Nix finished 20 of 32 for 222 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Mahomes was 30 of 41 for 321 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions after struggling last week in a loss to Seattle.
Walker rushed for 69 yards on 21 carries after rushing for 173 yards against Denver in the opener.
Chiefs: DL Peter Woods (neck) was injured in the first quarter.
Broncos: CB Kris Abrams-Draine (ankle) left in the second quarter and S Brandon Jones (hamstring) was ruled out at halftime.
Chiefs: Host the New York Jets next Sunday.
Broncos: Visit the Carolina Panthers next Sunday, where they hope to improve their third-down conversion rate. In their last four games, all wins, the Broncos are just 10-for-48 on third down.
—
See the AP’s full NFL coverage here
Copyright 2026 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and the Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
Gn sports
