Broncos at Chiefs third quarter recap

The Denver Broncos head into the final quarter up 14-13 over the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Kansas City Chiefs secured a gift of a five-yard penalty that saved their second quarter drive and led to a touchdown to keep it a one score affair against the Denver Broncos. Getting the ball first in the second half, they looked to turn that gift into their first lead of the game.

Denver’s defense had other ideas. They converged on Patrick Mahomes on third and long with a John Franklin-Myers sack to force a three-and-out to start the second half.

Marvin Mims Jr. fielded the 62-yard punt and returned it 27 yards to give Bo Nix and the Broncos offense excellent field position to start their first second half drive.

The officiating crew came out in force on the Broncos next drive immediately negating a huge run by Audric Estime. On second and 17 from their 36-yard line, Nix was almost sacked and ran it out of bounds for two yards. That penalty cost them bigly and they’d be forced to punt it away.

A Nik Bonitto sack helped force the Chiefs into a third and 13. Mahomes did Mahomes things to escape and found Samaje Perine for a huge gain for a 32-yard gain into Broncos territory.

Another third down conversion at the Broncos 20 set Kansas City up for another touchdown opportunity. However, the Broncos defense came up big where Jonathon Cooper chased Mahomes down to force a fourth and one. They’d go for it again and got the first down for a first and goal at the 10.

After an incompletion, Mahomes had his throw read perfectly by Zach Allen who almost intercepted the ball. Then on third and goal, Mahomes went to the end zone where it flew out of bounds to force a field goal.

Broncos 14, Chiefs 13.

From their own 30-yard line, Audric Estime took the first down handoff for three yards. Bo Nix then found Lucas Krull on a deep out for a 10-yard gain to the 43-yard line. Another Estime handoff netted six yards on back-to-back rushes. On third and four, Nix looked to Devaughn Vele for the first down. The ball was behind Vele, but he contorted his body to make the catch over the defender.

Two plays later with the third quarter winding down to an end, the Broncos faced a third and 11. Nix faced an all-out blitz by Kansas City and could not escape for a massive loss.