The Denver Broncos didn’t just beat the Kansas City Chiefs — they broke their heart. On Sunday, November 16, 2025, at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Wil Lutz drilled a 35-yard field goal as time expired, sending the crowd into absolute bedlam and extending the Broncos’ win streak to eight games. The final score: 22-19. The stakes? Everything. This wasn’t just another AFC West clash. It was a statement. And the Chiefs? They’re starting to look vulnerable.
The Game That Broke the Chiefs’ Streak
For the first time in over a year, the Kansas City Chiefs lost a game decided by one score. Their record in such contests this season? 0-5. Last year? 12-0, including playoffs. The contrast is staggering. When Patrick Mahomes connected with Travis Kelce for a 21-yard touchdown — Kelce’s 84th career TD, breaking Priest Holmes’ franchise record — it felt like the Chiefs were back in control. But then came the block. Frank Crum, an offensive tackle lined up on special teams, leapt over the line and swatted Harrison Butker’s extra point. A 19-13 lead became 19-16. One play. One mistake. One shift in momentum.Bo Nix’s Quiet Mastery
You won’t find flashy stats from Bo Nix. No touchdowns. No miracles. Just 24-of-37 for 295 yards, two sacks absorbed, and a passer rating of 89.4. He didn’t need to be perfect. He needed to be patient. And when the Broncos needed a drive to set up Lutz, Nix delivered. A 32-yard strike to Troy Franklin — jersey 19 — moved the ball to the Chiefs’ 15-yard line with 58 seconds left. No timeouts. No panic. Just execution. The offense didn’t light up the scoreboard, but it didn’t have to. The defense did the heavy lifting.Defense Wins Championships — Again
The real story? Denver’s defense. Ja’Quan McMillian (jersey 29) didn’t just make plays — he made history. One interception, six tackles, two for loss, a sack on third-and-10 from the Chiefs’ 36-yard line with under a minute to go. That sack? It wasn’t just a stop. It was the final nail. The Broncos were playing six defensive backs on that drive. Six. Against Mahomes. In the final minutes. It was risky. It was brilliant. And it worked.
Wil Lutz’s Redemption
Last year, at Arrowhead Stadium, Lutz lined up for a similar kick — game on the line — and it was blocked. The image haunted him. He didn’t talk about it publicly. But you could see it in his eyes Sunday. The snap. The hold. The kick. Clean. True. The ball sailed through the uprights. No drama. No doubt. The crowd erupted. His teammates mobbed him. And for the first time since that missed kick, he could breathe. "It’s not about revenge," he told reporters afterward. "It’s about trust. Trust in the line. Trust in the holder. Trust in the process."What This Means for the AFC West
The standings tell the story. The Denver Broncos are now 9-2, leading the division with a 257-192 point differential. The Los Angeles Chargers sit at 7-4. The Chiefs? 6-6. And they’ve lost three of their last four. With six games left, Kansas City’s playoff path just got exponentially harder. They’ve blown leads. They’ve missed kicks. They’ve lost close ones. And now, they’ve lost confidence. Meanwhile, Denver’s eight-game streak is the longest in the NFL this season. They’re not just winning — they’re building something.
Behind the Scenes: Chaos and Coincidence
Oddly enough, the game’s drama didn’t end on the field. CBS News reported a tense air traffic control incident over Denver earlier that day — a pilot and controller reportedly locked in a disagreement over landing patterns. No planes crashed. No delays. But the timing? Unsettling. Fans joked on social media: "The sky was chaotic. The field? Just business." Meanwhile, YouTube highlights revealed a curious error: safety Justin Simmons was misidentified as "Bonitto" in the transcript. A small mistake. But it’s the kind of thing that slips through when the stakes are this high.What’s Next?
The Broncos head to Las Vegas next week, facing a 2-9 Raiders team that’s been outscored by 112 points this season. A win there would make it nine straight — their longest streak since 2015. The Chiefs? They host the Buffalo Bills, a team that’s won three straight and is playing with terrifying momentum. If Kansas City loses again, their playoff hopes could slip into desperation territory. No team in NFL history has made the playoffs after starting 6-6 and losing five one-score games. The Chiefs are staring at that reality.Frequently Asked Questions
How does Wil Lutz’s game-winning kick compare to other clutch kicks in NFL history?
Lutz’s 35-yarder was the 14th walk-off field goal of the 2025 NFL season — the most in a single year since 2018. But its significance lies in context: it ended a five-game losing streak in one-score games for the Chiefs, snapped Denver’s own three-game road losing streak to Kansas City, and came after a blocked extra point that shifted momentum. Only three kickers in the past decade have converted a game-winner after missing a similar kick the previous year under identical pressure.
Why is the Chiefs’ 0-5 record in one-score games so alarming?
Last season, the Chiefs were 12-0 in games decided by eight points or fewer — including the Super Bowl. This year, they’ve lost five such games by a combined 17 points. Their offense is still elite, but their defense has allowed 17+ points in seven straight games. The special teams — once a strength — have now missed or blocked three kicks in the last three weeks. It’s not luck. It’s a pattern.
What role did Frank Crum play in changing the game?
Crum, a 6’4”, 320-pound offensive tackle, was lined up on the extra point unit as a surprise move by Chiefs coach Andy Reid. He jumped the snap and blocked Butker’s kick — the first time a lineman had blocked an extra point since 2022. The play didn’t just cost two points — it shattered Kansas City’s composure. After that, Mahomes looked frustrated. The Chiefs never recovered.
How has Bo Nix’s performance evolved since Week 1?
In Week 1, Nix threw three interceptions against the Raiders. Since then, he’s thrown just two picks in nine games, with a 91.7 passer rating over his last five. He’s learned to trust his receivers, especially Troy Franklin and Jerry Jeudy. His QBR has jumped from 54.1 to 78.3. He’s no longer the rookie — he’s the leader. And Denver’s offense now runs through him, not around him.
What does this loss mean for Patrick Mahomes’ MVP candidacy?
Mahomes still has 3,100 yards and 24 touchdowns, but his 10 interceptions — tied for the most in the league — and the Chiefs’ 0-5 record in close games hurt his case. Voters now see him as a high-risk, high-reward player rather than a consistent winner. With the Broncos winning eight straight and the Chiefs faltering, the narrative has shifted. If Kansas City misses the playoffs, Mahomes won’t win MVP — even if he throws for 5,000 yards.
Can the Broncos win the Super Bowl with this kind of offense?
They don’t need to score 40 points. Their defense ranks fifth in the NFL, allowing just 192 points all season. They’ve won six games by seven points or fewer. Their strength is control: time of possession, third-down stops, and clutch kicks. If they keep playing like this — especially with McMillian and Lutz firing on all cylinders — they’re one of the most dangerous teams left in the playoffs. Super Bowl? They’re not just dreaming. They’re building it.