Mahomes shows skill with both arms as Chiefs rally to beat Broncos

DENVER A suddenly ambidextrous Patrick Mahomes rallied the unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs back from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter for a 27-23 win over the Denver Broncos on Monday night.

Thanks in part to a left-handed throw from the right-handed Mahomes in the final minutes as he was about to get sacked on third-and-5 at midfield, the Chiefs (4-0) took a two-game lead over the Broncos (2-2) in the AFC West with their sixth straight win over their rivals.

Down 23-13, Mahomes directed a 12play, 75-yard drive that ate up more than six minutes and culminated with a 2-yard TD toss to tight end Travis Kelce, then added a 60-yard touchdown drive, handing off to Kareem Hunt for the 4-yard score with 1:39 remaining.

On that last drive, Mahomes was getting dragged down by Von Miller when he shifted the ball to his left hand and threw it to Tyreek Hill for a first down.

“I didn’t know he threw it with his left hand,” Miller said. “He’s a great quarterback.”

“Patrick worked real hard on that lefthanded throw,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid cracked. “Some amazing plays there. We’ve seen it in practice but not under those conditions.”

It was the first time since 2004 that the Broncos blew a 10-point fourth-quarter lead at home.

In between Kansas City’s scoring drives, the Broncos, who had run roughshod over the Chiefs all night — a 7.2-yard average per run — suddenly abandoned their ground game in favour of three-wide receiver sets that resulted in a quick three-and-out that sent Denver’s exhausted defenders right back out.

“We ran the ball to control the game,” Joseph said, “but you throw the ball to score.”

After the three-and-out, struggling Broncos punter Marquette King shanked a 35-yarder out of bounds, giving the Chiefs the ball at their 40 with 4:35 left.