AFC West: Denver Broncos take division lead after Malcolm Roach sacks Patrick Mahomes on final play

Denver Broncos defensive end Malcolm Roach sacked Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes on fourth-and-goal with 12 seconds remaining. The sack ended the Chiefs' final possession and preserved a 28-24 victory for Denver. This win moved the Broncos to the top of the AFC West standings.

The Broncos trailed 24-13 entering the fourth quarter. Kansas City built that lead through a combination of passing and rushing plays. Mahomes threw three touchdown passes during the game. He completed a 73-yard strike to rookie running back Emmett Johnson in the second quarter. That play gave the Chiefs a 14-6 lead. Mahomes also connected with Rashee Rice on an 11-yard pass in the first quarter and tight end Noah Gray on a 4-yard pass in the third quarter.

Denver quarterback Bo Nix responded with two touchdown drives in the fourth quarter. He first threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Nate Adkins. Nix then completed a 2-point conversion pass to Jaylen Waddle. That sequence reduced the Chiefs' lead to three points. Later in the quarter, Nix threw a 51-yard pass to rookie running back Jonah Coleman. Coleman caught the ball and ran into the end zone from the 5-yard line to put Denver ahead 28-24.

The Chiefs drove into Denver territory late in the game. Kenneth Walker III carried the ball 21 times for 69 yards. Walker rushed for 3 yards on first-and-goal to place the ball on the 1-yard line. Mahomes threw an incomplete pass on second down. Walker was stopped short of the goal line on third down. On the final play, Mahomes was sacked by Roach while under pressure.

Kansas City kicker Harrison Butker had a chance to tie the game earlier. He missed a 54-yard field goal attempt that sailed wide right. The miss came in steady rain conditions. It occurred one play after Alex Singleton sacked Mahomes for a 6-yard loss. The failed attempt forced the Chiefs to start their final drive from a longer distance.

Nix completed 20 of 32 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns. He did not throw an interception. Mahomes completed 30 of 41 passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns. He also went without an interception. This was the first time in Mahomes' career that he went two consecutive games without a touchdown pass before this game, though he broke that streak by throwing three scores in Sunday's contest.

The Broncos' defense limited the Chiefs in the final minutes. Denver went three-and-out on all three of its drives in the third quarter. However, Nix directed efficient offensive plays in the fourth quarter. The team converted on key downs to maintain field position. The win improved the Broncos' record to 6-2. The Chiefs fell to 5-2, dropping their second straight game.

Several players were sidelined due to injury. For the Chiefs, defensive linemen Peter Woods exited in the first quarter with a neck injury. Cornerbacks L'Jarius Sneed and Mansoor Delane were out with knee and shoulder issues, respectively. For the Broncos, cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine left with an ankle injury. Safety Brandon Jones was ruled out at halftime with a hamstring issue. Running back RJ Harvey was placed on short-term injured reserve after hurting his knee in practice.

The two teams return to action next Sunday. The Chiefs will host the New York Jets. The Broncos will travel to face the Carolina Panthers. The result of Sunday's game shifts the balance of power in the AFC West. Denver now holds the division lead based on its recent performance.