The Denver Broncos beat the Kansas City Chiefs 13-20 on Thursday to confirm their status as the best team in the American Football Conference (AFC) in Week 17, the penultimate game of the NFL season.
The Broncos have 13 wins and 3 losses. They can finish first in the AFC, which would allow them to rest the first week of the playoffs and host all their games at home. They only need to win their last game against the Chargers next Sunday or that the New England Patriots, their chasing team, lose one of the two remaining games.
A duel marked by absences
The Chiefs, who will not play in the playoffs for the first time since the 2014 season, have a 6-10 record.
Kansas City was without Patrick Mahomes and Gardner Minshew, its quarterbacks one and two, who are injured.
Chris Oladokun was at the controls.
In the first half the Broncos took a 0-3 lead on a 27-yard field goal by Wil Lutz.
The Chiefs’ defense spurred the comeback in the second quarter with a Nick Bolton interception, which the offense turned into a Brashard Smith touchdown on a Chris Oladokun pass to take a 7-3 lead, which Denver cut to 7-6 before halftime on another 3-point kick by Lutz.
Kansas City struck first in the third quarter on a 53-yard field goal by Harrison Butker.
Denver responded with a touchdown carry by Bo Nix that turned the score to 10-13.
Denver strikes at the end and takes the win
Halfway through the final period, the Chiefs brought the score back to 13-13, thanks to Harrison Butker, who kicked his second field goal of the game.
The Broncos’ offense took the 13-20 victory in their final series, which ended with Bo Nix’s touchdown pass to RJ Harvey.
Week 17 will continue this Saturday.
The Los Angeles Chargers will face the Houston Texans and the Green Bay Packers will host the Baltimore Ravens.
Sunday’s schedule features the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns, as well as the Indianapolis Colts vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Week 17 will close on Monday with the Los Angeles Rams visiting the Atlanta Falcons.
With information from EFE
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