Chiefs stay perfect after rallying past Broncos

DENVER — Patrick Mahomes rallied the unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs back from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter for a 2723 win over the Denver Broncos on Monday night.

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

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.

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

Mahomes overcame a couple of flags that put Kansas City in a second-and-30 hole from their 31 and completed a 35-yard pass to Demetrius Harris down to the Broncos’ 11 at the twominute warning.

The play should never have counted because the play clock expired before the snap, but referee Craig Wrolstad’s crew missed it.

After the Chiefs took the lead, the Broncos reached the Kansas City 28, but Case Keenum overthrew an open Demaryius Thomas near the goal line racing down the right sideline. Then rookie Courtland Sutton caught a firstdown pass but overhanded it back on a failed hook-and-ladder that resulted in a turnover on downs with five seconds left.

Phillip Lindsay’s one-yard TD run broke a 13-13 tie late in the third quarter, and Brandon McManus extended the lead to 10 with a 46yard field goal.

Kelce’s TD catch got the Chiefs within three with 6:27 remaining. Denver’s three-and-out and shanked punt gave the Chiefs the ball at their 40 and brought the Broncos’ exhausted defenders right back onto the field with 4 1/2 minutes remaining.