The Denver Broncos Are Inevitable

Last week, the Kansas City Chiefs got thoroughly dominated by the Seattle Seahawks 20-3. It was reasonable to expect Patrick Mahomes and company to bounce back in a big way. On Sunday, they did. 

The Chiefs came out aggressively at Mile High. They opened the scoring 14-6 midway through the second quarter. Mahomes was surgical with the football as he averaged more than 10 yards per attempt in the first half. Andy Reid was calling a great game as one of his calls got the rookie Emmett Johnson a 73-yard touchdown reception to push the lead to 14-6. 

It was no secret that Kansas City came out more focused and sharp to begin the game. That, however, didn’t faze Denver. The Broncos came right back and answered with a touchdown drive of their own. Bo Nix found Jaylen Waddle for a one-yard touchdown to close the game to 14-13. 

The Chiefs answered with a field goal before halftime, extending their lead to 17-13. Denver’s offensive struggles became even more apparent in the third quarter. The Broncos had three possessions in the third quarter and failed to pick up one first down. 

Kansas City, meanwhile, methodically drove down the field and scored in a drive that lasted over five minutes. The end of the third quarter came, and the Chiefs were up 24-13 with the ball. It was desperation time for the home team. 

The Broncos forced a punt two minutes into the fourth quarter. They then did what they do best: put on a show in the fourth quarter. After not getting a single first down in the third quarter, Nix and company drove down 80 yards in just over four minutes to close the game to 24-21. 

On their next possession, the Chiefs milked 6:24 off the clock and set up Harrison Butler for a 55-yard field goal. He pushed it wide right, and Denver started around midfield. In an instant, Denver drove 56 yards in two plays to take the lead. Jonah Coleman accounted for every yard of that drive, delivering one of the game’s biggest plays. 

The game, of course, is never over with Mahomes. After a good return, the Chiefs began their next drive on their own 44-yard line. They had 1:56 remaining to get a touchdown. 

It only took 1:21 for Kansas City to get to the Denver four-yard line. The Chiefs had 35 seconds remaining and two timeouts, giving them enough time to mount one final drive. Kenneth Walker then went for three yards on the next play. 

The Denver defense then stiffened up and forced an incompletion on second down and stuffed Walker on third-and-goal from the one. It came down to a fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line, and the Chiefs scored! 

That touchdown, however, was negated by a controversial false start, so Kansas City had to start from the six-yard line. Mahomes would end up getting sacked on the play, and that was the ballgame. It felt like whenever the Chiefs had momentum, the Broncos buttoned up and stood tall. 

It was truly a game of withstanding punches. Mahomes finished the game with 321 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions with a 120.1 passer rating. The Chiefs as a whole had nearly 400 yards of offense. They certainly gave their best punch on the road after a disappointing week, and Denver won anyway. 

The Broncos are inevitable, and they showed it.

Game Balls

Three Denver players deserve a game ball. First and foremost, the quarterback Nix deserves some flowers for his game. It wasn’t perfect, but he’s continuing to improve week by week. 

Last week, Nix had a 62-yard touchdown run that seemed to jolt his confidence. That seemed to carry over against Kansas City, as he had 222 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions, with a season-high 103.9 passer rating. 

The third-year quarterback continues to find ways to win, even when the offense isn’t operating at its best. Nix now has the most wins by a QB these last two years with 20. He deserves the first game ball. 

The second game ball goes to Jonah Coleman. He accounted for every yard on Denver’s go-ahead drive, finishing the game with 104 total yards and a touchdown. The rookie finished the game with 104 total yards and a touchdown as he continues to prove that the moment is never too big for him.

The final game ball goes to backup safety, JL Skinner. He was thrust onto the field after Brandon Jones suffered a hamstring injury. He played sound football and avoided any big mistakes. 

In addition to that, Skinner made one of the biggest plays of the game. He was the one who stuffed Walker on the third-and-goal from the one-yard line in the final moments of the game. 

End Of My Broncos Are Inevitable Rant

The Broncos are inevitable, and those who disagree have not fully experienced a game day with this franchise. They have now won 15 straight regular-season one-score games. That ties the 2008-2009 Peyton Manning-led Indianapolis Colts.

Nix now has 13 career 4th-quarter comebacks, including the playoffs, which is the most by any player in their first three seasons. It certainly comes off as hyperbolic, but it’s truly a feeling. The Broncos are inevitable.