Final Play Sack: Roach Ends Chiefs' Drive to Secure AFC West Lead

Malcolm Roach sacked Patrick Mahomes on fourth-and-goal on the final play of Sunday’s game, securing a 28-24 victory for the Denver Broncos. The stop preserved a late comeback and moved Denver to first place in the AFC West. The result ended the Kansas City Chiefs’ win streak and gave the Broncos the division lead.

The Broncos, now 6-2, trailed 24-13 in the third quarter. Bo Nix threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Nate Adkins to close the gap. Denver then successfully converted a 2-point attempt with a pass to Jaylen Waddle, narrowing the deficit to 24-21. This sequence set the stage for the final minute of regulation.

Kansas City missed a 54-yard field goal attempt by Harrison Butker in steady rain. The miss followed a 6-yard sack of Mahomes by Alex Singleton. The Broncos needed only two plays to take the lead. Nix completed a 51-yard pass to rookie running back Jonah Coleman, who scored from the 5-yard line on the next snap to put Denver ahead 28-24.

The Chiefs recovered possession with under two minutes remaining. A 32-yard reception by Travis Kelce and runs by Kenneth Walker III brought Kansas City inside the 5-yard line. Walker carried the ball 3 yards on first down to place the ball at the 1-yard mark. Mahomes threw an incomplete pass on second down, and Walker was stopped on third down. Roach generated the final sack on fourth down.

Mahomes finished 30 of 41 passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns. Nix completed 20 of 32 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns. Both quarterbacks avoided interceptions. Walker finished with 69 rushing yards on 21 carries. The Chiefs dropped their second consecutive game after a loss to Seattle the prior week.

Mahomes had not thrown a touchdown pass in back-to-back games before this matchup. He connected with Rashee Rice for an 11-yard score in the first quarter. A 73-yard touchdown throw to rookie Emmett Johnson gave Kansas City a 14-6 lead in the second quarter. Mahomes also found Noah Gray for a 4-yard touchdown in the third quarter as the Chiefs built a 24-13 advantage.

Injuries affected both rosters. For the Chiefs, defensive lineman Peter Woods left in the first quarter with a neck injury. Cornerbacks L’Jarius Sneed and Mansoor Delane were out. The Broncos lost cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine with an ankle injury and safety Brandon Jones with a hamstring issue. Running back RJ Harvey was placed on short-term injured reserve.

The Chiefs will host the New York Jets next Sunday. The Broncos will visit the Carolina Panthers at the same time.