Another day, another win for the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs.
The Chiefs, however, had to go through the wringer before escaping the Denver Broncos, 16-14, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday.
Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal blocked the 35-yard field goal attempt of Broncos kicker Wil Lutz as time expired, giving Kansas City its 15th straight victory dating back to last season.
It was a grind-it-out affair, with the two teams combining for only three touchdowns. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes went 28-of-42 for 266 yards, while Broncos signal-caller Bo Nix finished 22-of-30 for 215 yards.
Despite the heartbreaking loss, Broncos coach Sean Payton felt they played better than the two-time defending champions.
“I felt like we outplayed them but we didn't finish,” said Payton in a report from the Associated Press. “That one will take a while. It'll sting.”
"I was proud of the way they fought. I thought we outplayed them. But nonetheless, you have to beat a champion and we weren't able to do it, so obviously, (it was) gut-wrenching.”
The Broncos didn't score in the second half after a 14-point second quarter.
They attempted a late-game fightback after the Chiefs wrested the lead via a field goal from kicker Harrison Butker with less than six minutes left. With Nix leading the charge, the Broncos managed to set up Lutz for the possible game-winning field goal. Unfortunately, they failed to convert.
The Broncos fell to 5-5 and will next face the Atlanta Falcons. The Chiefs, meanwhile, will look to maintain their clean slate versus the Buffalo Bills. Both games are on November 17.
