Chiefs-Broncos game center: Recap and highlights from Kansas City’s win over Denver
The Chiefs seek to rebound from Week 13’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals and get a good matchup against the Denver Broncos to do so.
The Chiefs (9-3) lost at Cincinnati last week but have won 13 straight games against the Broncos (3-9). And Denver’s 2022 season has been a disappointment after an offseason blockbuster trade for star quarterback Russell Wilson.
The Broncos’ offense under first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett ranks at or near the bottom of multiple categories, including points per game (32nd), net yards per game (27th), third-down percentage (30th) and red-zone touchdown percentage (31st).
Nevertheless, the Chiefs aren’t overlooking their divisional opponent.
“We get rid of the record on this thing as we evaluate them and look at them as a team and their defense is one of the top defenses in the NFL,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said.
Fourth-quarter score: Chiefs 34, Broncos 28
After a drawn-out drive, the Broncos scored again. Jerry Jeudy got his third touchdown of the day.
Following the two-minute warning, Isiah Pacheco took a handoff up the middle of the Broncos defense for 10 yards, securing the Chiefs’ 20th first down on the day and allowing the Chiefs to run out the rest of the clock. Kansas City wins, 34-28, in Denver and improves to 10-3 on the season.
Third quarter: Chiefs 34, Broncos 21
The Broncos scored to open up the second half, narrowing the Chiefs’ lead to 6. Denver’s 21 points have come without answer from KC.
The Chiefs finally responded with less than a minute left in the third quarter, on a pass from Mahomes to JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Live analysis from Chiefs game
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Second quarter: Chiefs 27, Broncos 14
The Chiefs scored their first touchdown shortly into the second quarter off a remarkable flip pass from Patrick Mahomes to Jerick McKinnon.
NO LOOK TOSS??? @PatrickMahomes who are you?!?#ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/J4jfxgn04K
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) December 11, 2022
Jerick McKinnon also scored KC’s second touchdown in the second quarter off a key block from Trey Smith.
Linebacker Willie Gay was responsible for the next touchdown when he batted down a pass and ran the ball into the end zone.
The Willie Gay Play. pic.twitter.com/IMPRfUMqW6
— Jeff Rosen (@jeff_rosen88) December 11, 2022
Denver finally got on the board with a throw to Jerry Jeudy.
The Broncos got two interceptions on Mahomes in the following plays and eventually turned them into points late in the quarter.
First quarter: Chiefs 6, Broncos 0
After receiving the football first, the Chiefs settled for a field goal on their first drive. The Chiefs forced a punt in the next possession to get the ball back and scored a 45-yard field goal.
Travis Kelce hits milestone
The Chiefs tight end made a catch in the first quarter that put him over 10,000 career yards. Travis Kelce is only the fifth tight end in NFL history to hit that mark.
Predictions for Chiefs-Broncos
Pundits from across the country are favoring the Chiefs to beat the Broncos today. Read our survey of 55 national experts to find out what they think the score will be.
What’s today’s Chiefs injury update?
The Chiefs will have a starting offensive lineman who’s missed a couple of games available for Sunday’s AFC West clash against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Left guard Joe Thuney (ankle) is active for the first time since Week 12. Thuney entered the weekend as questionable on the injury report but practiced fully the entire week.
See who else is and isn’t playing for the Chiefs on the inactives report.
How to watch the Chiefs game
Game time: 3:05 p.m. Central
TV channel: CBS (Channel 5 in Kansas City)
Radio station: WDAF (106.5 FM) or the Chiefs mobile app
Location: Empower Field at Mile High in Denver
Chiefs-Broncos history: 69-55
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Chiefs’ game in Denver will be seen by their smallest television audience this season