Chiefs hold off Broncos, stay unbeaten

[October 02, 2018]  Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes engineered two fourth-quarter touchdown drives Monday, passing for 304 yards as the Chiefs outlasted the host Denver Broncos 27-23.

Trailing 23-13, Kansas City's flashy first-year starter sparked his first comeback as a pro, then handed to running back Kareem Hunt, who crashed in for a 4-yard touchdown with 1:39 remaining.

Although he started slowly, Mahomes went 28-of-45 passing, while adding an 8-yard touchdown rush.

The victory was the sixth straight in the series for the Chiefs (4-0), who opened a two-game lead in the AFC West while posting their 18th win in the last 19 matchups against division rivals.

Before the game-winning drive, Mahomes completed 8 of 10 passes to drive the Chiefs 75 yards, including a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Travis Kelce with 6:23 left to bring them within 23-20.

Kelce finished with 78 yards on seven catches. Hunt added 121 yards rushing on 19 carries.

On the decisive drive, the Chiefs faced second-and-30, yet Mahomes responded with a 23-yard pass to Demarcus Robinson and a 35-yarder to Demetrius Harris to get the ball to the Denver 11.

Rookie running backs Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman rushed for 69 and 67 yards, respectively, to ignite the upset bid for Denver (2-2).

Quarterback Case Keenum drove the Broncos to the Chiefs 28-yard line in the closing seconds, but an attempted catch-and-lateral on fourth down was ruled as an incomplete pass. Kansas City then took possession with 12 seconds remaining.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws a pass against the Denver Broncos in the second half at Broncos Stadium at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Keenum finished 21 of 33 for 245 yards passing with one interception.

After the Chiefs tied the score at 13 with a 21-yard field goal by Harrison Butker in the third quarter, they could not capitalize on an interception by Eric Murray, stalling on downs.

That gave the Broncos a lift as they marched 80 yards and made it 20-13 on a 1-yard plunge by Lindsay with 2:05 left in the third quarter.

Denver drove 60 yards in just more than two minutes for a 34-yard field goal by Brandon McManus as time expired in the first half. The boot gave the Broncos a 13-10 halftime lead. Kansas City managed one first-half TD drive, going 89 yards, capped by Mahomes' TD run.

--Field Level Media

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