The Kansas City Chiefs walked out of Sunday’s Week 11 matchup against the Denver Broncos with another narrow loss. The Chiefs’ 22-19 defeat on a walk-off field goal by the Broncos’ placekicker Will Lutz left Kansas City frustrated — not because it was thoroughly outplayed, but because it once again had chances to win and didn’t capitalize.
These included failed opportunities to score before halftime, an interception on the first possession of the third quarter and 10 penalties (totaling 69 yards) throughout the matchup. The Chiefs continued their alarming trend of beating themselves in close games — a pattern that has appeared in each of their five losses this season.
“Whenever you’re playing good teams — whether it’s myself making a call or the players playing — you’ve got to do the right things,” head coach Andy Reid said in his postgame press conference. “Put guys in the right position, then guys have to make plays when given an opportunity — on both sides of the ball and special teams.”
But despite all the miscues, Kansas City still held a 19-16 fourth-quarter lead — thanks to a 21-yard touchdown pass to tight end Travis Kelce. But from there, the Chiefs just couldn’t close. The offense went three-and-out on its final two possessions, while the defense allowed two field goals — including the one that ended the game.
“Denver played a good game — and it got us today,” noted Reid. “On our side, we had to make sure that we [didn’t] go three-and-out with those last couple of offensive series. Then there were a variety of things that went on — that we all contributed to — on both sides of the ball and special teams.”
While quarterback Patrick Mahomes finished with a solid performance, completing 29 of 45 passes for 276 yards and a touchdown, he admitted the final possession will be the moment that stays with him.
With about four minutes remaining — and the game tied 19-19 — the Chiefs got the ball back. It was the kind of situation in which Mahomes has thrived throughout his NFL career. But this time, the drive stalled immediately, resulting in another one-possession loss — a sharp contrast to the 2024 season, when Kansas City went 11-0 in such games.
“[I’ll remember] having an opportunity at the end of the game — and not coming through,” Mahomes told reporters after the final gun. “We’ve been able to do that — but obviously on the first play, I tried to get a completion to [Travis Kelce], but I probably should’ve just hung in there; I think Hollywood [Brown] would have opened up down the field. So [it’s about] just being better in that scenario.
“There are things here and there, but I think that’s the biggest one. You want to get that opportunity at the end of the game. I didn’t come through.”
For Mahomes, the main issue continues to be inconsistency — both for himself and his teammates. The Chiefs haven’t been able to string together the clean, composed stretches that defined their championship seasons.
“I think it starts with me,” he said. “There are times where I’m firing. I’m throwing the ball and we’re moving the ball down the field with ease. But at the same time, there are times where we go through spurts where I miss a throw like I did, or a protection call or whatever that is.
“So it’s about being more consistent. That’s what this league is — and we haven’t been consistent enough to win football games. It starts with me.”
Kansas City left Denver knowing that it had multiple chances to take control, finish drives and close out the final minutes. But those moments slipped away — and the Broncos made the Chiefs pay.
Kansas City’s chance to win its 10th straight AFC West title is slipping away. To make the playoffs, the team probably cannot afford more than one or two additional losses. As far as Mahomes is concerned, there’s only one way to proceed.
“Obviously, it’s going to be tough to get back in the division race,” he acknowledged. “But at the end of the day, the goal is to get into the playoffs and try to make a run at it.
“All you can focus on is next week. We have to learn from this one as much as possible — knowing that we’re going to get a great opponent coming into Arrowhead this next week. We’re at that point where we have to find a way just to win football games. We have to keep moving forward. That’s what this league is all about.”
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