Nix leads Broncos to 14-10 halftime lead on Chiefs

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 to give visiting Denver a 14-10, first-half lead on the favored Kansas City Chiefs on a brilliantly bright early November Sunday afternoon at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

Nix was 14 of 20 for 160 yards in the first half  with his biggest completions 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 16 of 20 for 129 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.

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 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.