Week 11 was always going to be a difficult one for the Kansas City Chiefs. Mile High is a tough place to play. The Denver Broncos were 8-2 and held a two-game divisional lead. The Chiefs were coming out of the bye needing to put one in the win column to avoid falling further out of the playoff picture. Things were even harder than anyone imagined on Sunday.
The Broncos managed to put the Chiefs away in a 22-19 contest that gives them a three-game lead over the defending champs. Even worse, the Chiefs shot themselves in the foot time and again with sloppy play that looked more like Week 1 than Week 11. The Chiefs had two weeks to get ready for Denver and instead looked like they were playing on a short week with multiple penalties, odd playcalling, and poor execution by nearly every player on both sides of the ball—and special teams.
Bright spots could be found on Sunday, but K.C. mostly made themselves and everyone in Chiefs Kingdom miserable. Here's our list of winners and losers from an unexpectedly poor showing in Denver.
Winner/Loser: Patrick Mahomes
Patrick Mahomes is the best quarterback in the game. The Chiefs are lucky to have him. Let's just get those disclaimers out of the way. The truth is that Mahomes did not play very good football on Sunday. He missed receivers deep and had multiple turnover-worthy throws. The timing felt off on multiple occasions, and the Chiefs' offense looked scared for most of the game. That's a playcalling issue as well, but Mahomes' shoulders are big enough to handle some blame. It's safe to assume even he will agree in his post-game comments.
Winner: Travis Kelce
Travis Kelce has played better than most casual fans likely realize all season long, but on Sunday, the future Hall of Famer proved he can still carry an offense when called upon. Kelce led the Chiefs with 9 catches for 91 receiving yards and an impressive 21-yard touchdown in which he slipped through the grasp of Talanoa Hufanga on Sunday. He also set the Chiefs regular-season record for most touchdowns in a career (84) in the process, breaking a tie with former running back Priest Holmes.
Winner: Josh Simmons
Jaylon Moore did an admirable job filling in at left tackle for the last month, so there's no slight intended when we mention just how nice it is to see Josh Simmons back as the starting left tackle. His first week back after missing four games was his toughest assignment yet, going against Nik Bonitto and the Broncos' pass rush, and yet Simmons absolutely looked the part of a franchise tackle. The Chiefs have been searching for a long-term answer as Patrick Mahomes' blindside protector, and they've found their man, without question.
Loser: Confidence in the ground game
Speaking of playcalling, it feels right to jump on Andy Reid while we're venting some frustrations. Specifically, the Broncos had no respect for the Chiefs' ground game and yet Reid decided to avoid the use of it at the most pivotal points in the game. Kareem Hunt had room to run, and K.C. has the maulers up front, but the Chiefs shot themselves in the foot and played right into what the Broncos expected them to do. Light boxes were left there for the taking and Reid decided against it for reasons unknown.
Loser: Special teams
Miscues aplenty for Dave Toub's units. Harrison Butker had an extra kick blocked. He also kicked the ball out of bounds early in the game to give Denver solid field position. Kevin Knowles had a costly penalty (even if it's rarely called) while covering a return. Nikko Remigio's odd decision to field punts unnecessarily. Marvin Mims had a monster return (negated by penalty). While Matt Araiza had a nice day and Butker did convert all of his field goal attempts, it was a not-so-special day for special teams.
Winner: Tyquan Thornton
On a day where deep shots were emphasized, the chemistry wasn't there, especially early, as Mahomes kept overthrowing his targets. But in a moment when the Chiefs absolutely had to answer the Broncos, Mahomes not only made a Herculean throw, but he found the one vertical threat who has been there all along in 2025 in Tyquan Thornton.
TYQUAN DOING WHAT HE DOES BEST. pic.twitter.com/8aaiHDPMCZ
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) November 16, 2025
Thornton was already a good story coming out of camp as a former Patriots draft bust trying to find a new home. But he's become a trusted target for Mahomes, who should be a much bigger part of any game plan going forward—even with such a crowded WR room.
Loser: Officials
We don't want to say too much here, because talking about officiating is a losing proposition—win or lose. But it deserves to be said that the refs were horrible in this game and both fan bases should feel that way.
Loser: Chiefs' chances
A rival playing without the reigning Defensive Player of the Year just put the Chiefs away while already having a two-game lead in the division. The Chiefs now have a 5-5 record and more questions than answers ahead of them. The Indianapolis Colts await the Chiefs and then a short week with a Thanksgiving showing against the Dallas Cowboys. Kansas City already had a tough road ahead, but now their backs are against the wall with seven games to go.