The momentum shift was significant late in the first half with the Kansas City Chiefs seizing all of it to take the lead, while the Denver Broncos offense racked up four straight three-and-outs to end the half.
Getting the ball first, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense were slowed early in their first drive. On third and seven, Mahomes hit Rashee Rice just shy of the first down marker. They would go for it inside their own 40 and would pick it up easily with Kenneth Walker bouncing it outside for a 60 yard touchdown run to blow the game wide open.
The Chiefs running game had out-paced Denver by a mile a game. So finally JK Dobbins broke one outside to basically double the Broncos rushing yards on one play to get Denver across midfield on the first play of the next drive. The drive would again be derailed by themselves after a Delay of Game penalty pushed them back on a third and what was going to be a short three that would turn into a fourth down and yet another punt.
A fantastic punt by Jeremy Crawshaw pinned the Chiefs at their own two yard line. On their first play, Mahomes fired a deep pass over the middle that was intercepted by Brandon Jones who returned it all the way back to the Chiefs’ five yard line.
An immediate holding call would push them back to the 15 yard line followed by a near fumble six by Bo Nix. He was fortunate the Chiefs player being out of bounds when he touched the football. Denver was lucky to escape this drive with a field goal attempt.
The Chiefs keep the big plays going as Denver’s defense couldn’t tackle the broadside of a barn in this game. A 59-yard catch and run by Travis Kelce setup a first and goal and a GG for Denver.
The defense would clamp down from there sacking Mahomes to bring out the field goal unit for the Chiefs.
The third quarter would come to an end with Denver finally committing to the ground game - probably too little too late - but picked up a first down and got near midfield. An offensive pass interference call on Troy Franklin sucked all the wind out of that drive and on third and forever the pass rush would get to Bo Nix and knocked the ball loose where Chris Jones would recover.
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