Bolton’s fumble return sparks comeback victory
DENVER — Nearly stumbling heading into the playoffs, Nick Bolton and the Kansas City Chiefs gathered themselves just in time to thunder into the postseason with an AFC-best 12 wins.
They’ll learn Sunday if that’s enough to get them a first-round bye.
“We’re ready to go wherever and against whomever,” Patrick Mahomes said after the Chiefs (12-5) rallied for a 28-24 win Saturday over the Denver Broncos, their 13th straight win over Denver powered by Bolton’s 86-yard fumble return midway through the fourth quarter.
They need Houston to upset Tennessee on Sunday to get the pole position; otherwise, they’re the second seed and will host a wildcard game next weekend in their quest to reach a third consecutive Super Bowl.
Wide receiver Tyreek Hill injured a heel in pregame warmups and was held to one catch for 2 yards.
With Hill hurt, Mecole Hardman stepped up with eight catches for 103 yards.
“No one is Tyreek,” Mahomes said. “He’s a special player that has never been seen in this league. But Mecole is pretty close. … He was prepared for this moment.”
The Broncos (7-10) were ahead 21-20 and driving for another touchdown when Ingram sped past tight end Noah Fant and blew up the play just as Drew Lock handed the ball to Gordon.
Bolton, a rookie linebacker, scooped up the loose ball and rumbled 86 yards to give the Chiefs their biggest lead, and Mahomes’ keeper on the two-point conversion made it 28-21.
Lock and the Broncos quickly got into scoring position again, but coach Vic Fangio, who fell to 19-30 as Denver’s coach, decided on a field goal on fourth-and-9 from the 13 as the crowd booed the decision.
Brandon McManus nailed the 31-yarder, but the Broncos still trailed by four and would need a touchdown.
The Broncos took a 14-10 lead into halftime thanks to Lock’s touchdown scrambles of 5 and 23 yards, making him the first Broncos quarterback to with two touchdown runs in a game since Tim Tebow in 2011.