Chiefs ralled to take first lead, 16-14, on Broncos late in fourth quarter

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Maybe, just maybe, Bo Nix and the Broncos are for real.

Nix, the Broncos’ ever-improving rookie quarterback, threw two touchdown passes in the first half but Patrick Mahomes led the Kansas City Chiefs to a second-half comeback that now has the home team leading visiting Denver 16-14 with about 6 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter on a brilliantly bright and pleasant early November Sunday afternoon at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

The Broncos led 14-3 in the second quarter, 14-10 at halftime and 14-13 entering the fourth quarter.

Nix was 21 of 29 for 202 yards as this well-played, exciting game reached the 2-minute warning. His biggest completions in the second quarter — a 6-yard scoring strike to rookie Devaughn Vele and a perfectly thrown deep ball to veteran Courtland Sutton for a 32-yard touchdown.

The Broncos’ rookie didn’t blink in his matchup against the great Patrick Mahomes II, who also had a terrific first half. Mahomes is 28 of 42 for 266 yards and a 2-yard touchdown bullet to tight end Travis Kelce that came on fourth and goal from 2 with 1:44 left in the half. However, Mahomes missed a wide open Kelce in the back of the end zone in the fourth quarter and the Chiefs had to settle for a go-ahead, chip shot field goal with 5:56 remaining.

Another reliable Chief, kicker Harrison Butker, then made a fatal mistake by booting his kickoff short of the landing zone, giving the Broncos’ starting field position at their own 40. A couple short Nix pass completions and strong running by rookie Audric Estime moved the Broncos to the Chiefs’ 31 yard line at the 2-minute warning.

The first quarter played out pretty much how the Broncos wanted as their defense came up big in forcing Mahomes and the Chiefs into two too far punts for touchbacks by Matt Araiza off their their first two possessions.

While the Broncos also had trouble moving the ball on their first two possessions – Nix was caught taking a 17-yard sack to kill one drive – they started moving the ball on their third possession thanks to a running back mix of Marvin Mims Jr. and Audric Estime.

Mims, a receiver by trade, took two handoffs from the tailback position and gained 18 yards. Estime ran twice for 14 yards as head coach Sean Payton unveiled his new Mr. Outside-Inside rushing weapons.

The big play came with less than a minute left in the first quarter when Nix hit tight end Adam Trautman on a short middle pass. Trautman was so wide open he rambled for 34 yards to the Chiefs’ 11.

Two plays later, on third down, Nix hit rookie receiver Devaughn Vele for a 6-yard touchdown pass. Vele was wide open while sliding across the middle.

The Broncos were up 7-0 seconds into the second quarter.

The Chiefs drove downfield on their next possession but the Denver D stiffened and held the home team to a 36-yard field goal by Harrison Butker.

Nix and Mahomes then exchanged touchdown passes. Nix used play-action to freeze the Chiefs’ defense a tick before he calmly raised up and delivered to Sutton, who easily beat his man on a left side go route for a touchdown. It was 14-3 Broncos with 6:39 left in the first half.

But the 8-0 Chiefs weren’t about to go down easily. Chiefs’ head coach Andy Reid opened up the passing game for Mahomes, who started throwing strike after strike.

Nix completed three passes to move the Broncos into long field goal position in the final 1:44 of the half, but a penalty made it too long and Wil Lutz’ 60-yard attempt was short.

Nix’s whirly escapes from sacks were well-scouted by the Chiefs and safety Nazeeh Johnson caught him for a 17-yard sack in the first half and linebacker Nick Bolton got him for a 16-yard sack that knocked the Broncos out of field-goal range on the final play of the third quarter. …

The Chiefs lost left tackle Wanya Morris to a sprained knee early in the game and Broncos’ outside pass rusher started abusing backup Kingsleyu Suamataia. Bonitto had one sack and Mahomes slipped under another to convert and third-and-13 with a running completion to running back Samaje Perine, the former Bronco who gained 34 yards to set up a field goal. …

Jonathon Cooper and Zach Allen also had sacks on Mahomes. Allen returned to his dominant self after he was held without a play on the tackle sheet last week at Baltimore.