Nobody beats the Denver Broncos 17 times in a row. Certainly not after the Broncos ended a 16-game losing streak in a 24–9 victory against their division rival, the Kansas City Chiefs. The victory also ended Patrick Mahomes’ NFL record 16 straight divisional away victories.
As a Denver native, it’s hard to overstate the significance of this win for the Broncos. Now a college freshman, I was 10 years old the last time the Broncos won against the Chiefs. Not a single player on Denver’s current roster was part of that 2015 team that last defeated Kansas City and went on to win Super Bowl 50. Among current players, none earned this win more than safety Justin Simmons, who has five interceptions all-time against Patrick Mahomes, the most of any defensive player in the league.
The win also brings some light into what seemed like a hopeless season for the Broncos. They’re now coming off two straight victories, and three in the last five games, after a 0–3 start. Apart from record, this game marks the first time the Broncos have put together a complete game, after alternating between offensive and defensive struggles (look at the 19–8 loss to the Chiefs two weeks ago and the 70–20 loss to the Miami Dolphins earlier in the season respectively).
The defense became the first unit to hold the Chiefs to zero touchdowns this season, and quarterback Russell Wilson threw for three touchdowns. The Broncos also forced five turnovers, intercepting Mahomes twice, forcing two fumbles and taking advantage of a muffed punt by Mecole Hardman.
Though Denver very well could settle back into their rut coming out of their upcoming bye week (especially with a daunting schedule to follow), this game at least gives them a format for how to win big games, something that’s been near impossible for them for years. Additionally, their historically bad defense has allowed an average of only 15 points per game over the past three games.
As for the Chiefs, it’s not panic time, but this game showcases a pattern of inconsistency that has characterized most of the top teams in the NFL this season. The Chiefs’ loss to the Detroit Lions in week one, and narrow win against a mediocre New York Jets team in week four, along with this week’s loss to Denver, show how vulnerable the defending champs really are. Mahomes has eight interceptions, tied for second most in the league, and the weak receiving core has consistently dropped passes and failed to fill the hole left by Tyreek Hill’s departure to the Dolphins.
Mahomes’ issues against Denver are likely due to his fighting the flu during the game, so I’d be surprised to see a game that bad from him again, but the Chiefs’ inconsistency clearly runs deeper than that.
The hope that has been injected into the Broncos is clear. As Sean Payton stated after the game, “We’re going to play in bigger games than that.” While that may still be down the road for a Broncos team that’s still developing, a culture of winning has finally returned after breaking down this historic barrier.
