Broncos sack Mahomes on final play to take AFC West lead

The Kansas City Chiefs held an 11-point lead in the third quarter, but the Denver Broncos erased the deficit in the fourth. A final-play sack preserved Denver's 28-24 victory and handed the Broncos the AFC West lead.

Denver trailed 24-13 with 10 minutes remaining. Quarterback Bo Nix threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Nate Adkins. Nix then connected with Jaylen Waddle for a 2-point conversion. The score became 24-21.

Kansas City kicker Harrison Butker missed a 54-yard field goal attempt wide right in steady rain. The miss came one play after defensive end Alex Singleton sacked Patrick Mahomes for a 6-yard loss. The Broncos needed two plays and 35 seconds to take the lead.

Nix completed a 51-yard pass to rookie running back Jonah Coleman. Coleman scored from 5 yards out on the next snap. Denver took a 28-24 lead with 1 minute and 56 seconds left on the clock.

Travis Kelce caught a 32-yard pass for Kansas City. Kenneth Walker III gained yards on several runs to bring the Chiefs inside the 5-yard line. Walker ran 3 yards on first down to place the ball at the 1-yard line. Mahomes threw an incomplete pass on second down. Walker was stuffed on third down. Malcolm Roach sacked Mahomes on fourth-and-goal for the final play.

Nix finished 20 of 32 for 222 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Mahomes completed 30 of 41 passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns. The Chiefs dropped their second straight game. Walker rushed for 69 yards on 21 carries.

Mahomes threw a 73-yard touchdown pass to Emmett Johnson in the second quarter. The throw came from near Johnson's own 40-yard line. Johnson caught the ball and ran 38 yards for the score. The play gave Kansas City a 14-6 lead. Butker kicked a 45-yard field goal before halftime to extend the lead to 17-13. Nix threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Waddle on fourth-and-goal in the first half.

Rashee Rice returned from a two-game absence to catch an 11-yard touchdown pass. The Broncos went three-and-out on all three drives in the third quarter. Denver was without running back RJ Harvey, who is on short-term injured reserve. The Broncos visit the Carolina Panthers next Sunday. The Chiefs host the New York Jets next Sunday.