Kansas Metropolis Chiefs tight finish Travis Kelce (87) makes a catch towards Denver Broncos’ Pat Surtain II (2) in the course of the first half of an NFL soccer sport, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, in Kansas Metropolis, Mo. (AP Picture/Ed Zurga)
KANSAS CITY — Patrick Mahomes threw for 306 yards and a landing, Harrison Butker kicked 4 subject objectives, and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs held off the Denver Broncos 19-8 on Thursday evening for his or her sixteenth straight win over their longtime AFC West rivals within the NFL.
Travis Kelce had 9 catches for 124 yards for Kansas Metropolis with Taylor Swift once more cheering him on from an Arrowhead Stadium suite. However the Chiefs (5-1) leaned extra closely on their protection to close down erratic Russell Wilson and the Broncos (1-5).
Wilson was held to 95 yards passing with a landing and a pair of interceptions, and woebegone Denver completed with simply 197 yards of complete offense.
Nonetheless, the Chiefs’ incapacity to show red-zone journeys into touchdowns almost value them.
Butker’s first three subject objectives helped them to a 16-0 lead, however Wilson’s landing go to Courtland Sutton — dominated incomplete however overturned upon evaluation — with about six minutes remaining stored the Broncos alive. And when Javonte Williams bulled into the tip zone for the 2-point conversion, what had been a one-sided shutout was a one-possession sport.
The Broncos’ league-worst protection couldn’t make a cease, although. Mahomes transformed third-and-2 with a 28-yard go to Rashee Rice, and that put Butker in place for a 52-yard subject objective with 1:55 left that put the sport away.
Taylor Swift in the home for TNF 🙌 #DENvsKC pic.twitter.com/Swf7x9SuGf
— NFL (@NFL) October 12, 2023
The Broncos haven’t crushed the Chiefs since Sept. 17, 2015, the 12 months Peyton Manning led Denver to the Tremendous Bowl. That was six head and interim coaches in the past, and nothing modified with Sean Payton main them Thursday evening. In a league constructed for parity, their dropping streak is the fourth-longest for any crew towards one other in NFL historical past.
As unhealthy because the Broncos’ protection has been this season, it was Wilson and their offense that stored dragging them down. He had 37 yards passing within the first half, and the one drive Wilson led previous midfield ended on fourth down.
The Chiefs weren’t doing an entire lot higher.
Their first three forays into the purple zone netted three factors, due to an interception by Justin Simmons and a failed tush-push out of a field-goal lineup on fourth down. Mahomes, who has struggled by his requirements all season, solely discovered his rhythm as soon as within the first half, when he ended a 62-yard drive with a brief landing go to Kadarius Toney.
Butker made it 13-0 on the break when he drilled a 60-yard subject objective as time expired.
The Chiefs’ red-zone woes continued within the second half. They started by swiftly marching downfield and organising first-and-goal on the Denver 8, however that rapidly became fourth-and-goal on the 7-yard line and Butker was pressured to kick one other subject objective.
That was all Kansas Metropolis might muster till his clinching kick within the remaining minutes.
Isiah Pacheco carried 16 instances for 62 yards for the Chiefs.
SWIFT IN THE HOUSE
Taylor Swift and Donna Kelce discuss in the course of the first half of an NFL soccer sport between the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, in Kansas Metropolis, Mo. (AP Picture/Ed Zurga)
Swift watched Kelce and the Chiefs for the third time Thursday evening. The 2 started a relationship a couple of weeks in the past, when he invited Swift to a Chiefs sport after failing to satisfy her throughout her Eras Tour. Swift flew in from Los Angeles, the place she walked the purple carpet on Wednesday evening for the premiere of her live performance movie.
SACK SITUATION
Chiefs defensive deal with Chris Jones had a sack in his eighth straight regular-season sport, which trails solely his personal 11-game streak in 2018 for the longest in franchise historical past. With at the very least one in his first 5 this season, Jones broke the membership document to begin the season held by Corridor of Famer Derrick Thomas.
INJURIES
Broncos: TE Greg Dulcich, who had simply come off injured reserve, left within the fourth quarter with a hamstring harm. It’s the identical harm that landed Dulcich on IR after hurting it in Week 1 towards the Raiders.
Chiefs: S Justin Reid, who had an interception earlier within the sport, briefly left within the second half. WR Justin Watson left within the fourth quarter with an elbow harm sustained whereas attempting to make a diving catch.
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UP NEXT
Broncos: Host Inexperienced Bay on Oct. 22.
Chiefs: Host the Los Angeles Chargers the identical day.