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DENVER — Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos racked up another signature win Sunday over Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
In what was billed as the most important football game in Denver in quite some time, the Broncos and Chiefs were locked in a defensive battle until Denver took control of the ball late in the 4th quarter. A 32-yard strike from Bo Nix to Troy Franklin set up a 35-yard walk off field goal for Will Lutz that gave the Broncos a 22-19 win.
It’s 8-straight wins for the 9-2 Broncos.
Here’s what stood out throughout the game.
Bo Nix tops Patrick Mahomes
Leading up to Sunday’s high-profile game, Bo Nix stated he lives for games where he gets to go up against elite quarterbacks.
Against Patrick Mahomes, the second-year quarterback stepped up and delivered.
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Despite numerous dropped passes in the first half, Nix maintained his confidence and composure to go off in the third quarter. Nix had two big-time passes to get the team in scoring range. The first was a dime to Troy Franklin.
That led to a touchdown.
On the next drive, Nix delivered another dime, this time to Pat Bryant for 48 yards.
In the third quarter, Nix turned it on, going 7-for-8 for 131 yards with a 118.8 passer rating.
Seconds before the two-minute warning in the fourth, tied at 19, Nix hit Corutland Sutton for a 20-yard completion on 3rd-and-15. First down. Chains moving. Broncos drive continued.
Then, Nix delivered the pass of the year. On 2nd-and-long, Nix hit Franklin for 32 yards, which put the Broncos in field goal range. Two plays later, Wil Lutz hit the game-winning field goal.
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Ja’Quan “MVP” McMillian
The best defense in the NFL proved they are the best in the league once again.
Not only did they hold the Chiefs out of the end zone for the entire first half, they made the game-changing play. Against the Chiefs, a new star emerged.
With the Chiefs driving and in a position to take the lead, Ja’Quan McMillian picked off Patrick Mahomes.
That not only prevented a Chiefs score, it led to Denver’s first touchdown of the game. McMillian’s interception was at least a 10-point swing in the game.
When it mattered the most, McMillian came up big again.
On third-and-long with just over three minutes left, Vance Joseph sent Ja’Quan McMillian on on a blitz. No. 29 got home and took down Mahomes to force a punt.
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That gave Denver’s offense the ball for their final game-winning drive.
No J.K, no run game
RJ Harvey got his first NFL start on Sunday after J.K. Dobbins was placed on injured reserve.
Sean Payton wanted to make it a memorable one too. Once the Broncos entered the red zone on their first drive, Payton dialed up a play for Harvey to pass it to Bo Nix. But Harvey, a former quarterback, wasn’t able to get the ball to Nix in time, and instead nearly resulted in an interception. Fortunately for Payton, Nix batted the pass down.
Denver’s run game was nearly as ineffective as their running back‘s passing attack against the Chiefs.
In the Broncos’ first three drives, they had 11 rushing yards on six carries. A very underwhelming 1.8 yards per carry.
At the end of the first half, Bo Nix was Denver’s leading rusher with nine yards on two carries. In the team’s first half without Dobbins, Denver had 20 rushing yards on a 2.5 yards per carry.
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Saying that, the run game came through when it mattered the most. Facing a 2nd-and-goal from the four-yard line, Jaleel McLaughlin, with the help of his offensive line, powered into the end zone to give Denver the 13-6 lead.
Denver’s rushing attack did just enough to get the win, but only averaged three yards per carry. It will have to improve for the Broncos down the stretch with Dobbins likely out the season.
Riley Moss penalties
Filling in as the No. 1 cornerback with Pat Surtain II sidelined for a second-straight game, Riley Moss had a vintage Riley Moss game.
No. 21 was great in coverage, outside of two back-breaking defensive pass interference penalties.
The first was a 40-yard penalty that got the Chiefs into the red zone. Denver’s defense held firm and kept the Chiefs to a field goal.
The next, in the fourth quarter, counted for a 46-yard penalty and landed the Chiefs at the Broncos’ 25 yard line. Three plays later, Travis Kelce was in the end zone for a go-ahead touchdown.
Three of Kansas City’s biggest plays on offense were Moss penalties.
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