Broncos sack Mahomes on final play to secure 28-24 win
A false-start penalty and a defensive stop ended a wild AFC West game, extending Denver's dominance in close contests.
By Ricardo Alvarez ·
The NFL has seen 71 games decided by a single score this season, a figure that ties the record for the most such contests through Week 8 since the 1970 merger.
This milestone was reached Sunday afternoon in Denver, where the Broncos defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 28-24. The final margin reflects a trend of tight competition across the league, but the specific sequence of events in this matchup provided a particularly dramatic conclusion.
Trailing by four points with four seconds remaining, the Chiefs possessed the ball at the Denver one-yard line. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw a pass intended to put Kansas City ahead. Receiver Rashee Rice caught the ball, but a flag for a false start by offensive tackle Jaylon Moore negated the touchdown. The penalty moved the Chiefs back five yards, leaving them with one final play to secure a win.
On that last attempt, Mahomes dropped back to pass. Denver defenders rushed him, and the sack ended the game. The result improved the Broncos' record to 6-2 and dropped the Chiefs to 5-2.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid defended his team's execution despite the visible movement. "I didn’t see it," Reid said. "I saw him move his head, but I didn’t see" a penalty. The loss also intensified scrutiny on kicker Harrison Butker, who had missed a 54-yard field goal attempt earlier in the fourth quarter.
Butker has seen his accuracy decline since signing a four-year contract in 2024. His career field goal percentage stands at 82%, with a 9-for-19 record on attempts of 50 yards or more. The Chiefs signed veteran Justin Tucker to their practice squad last week to increase competition for the position.
Denver's coach Sean Payton credited his team's experience in high-pressure situations. "It has to come from we’ve done it before," Payton said. The Broncos hold a 16-2 record in one-score games over the past two seasons, the best mark in the league. This victory marked the 35th game this season featuring a game-winning score in the final four minutes of the fourth quarter or in overtime.
