Broncos
The Denver Broncos (6-2) entered the fourth quarter with their backs against the wall. Their chances of claiming first place in the AFC West were on the line against the Kansas City Chiefs (5-2) on Sunday. Denver took a small lead early, but trailed Kansas City for most of the game. The team didn’t come alive until the fourth quarter, when it scored 15 unanswered points. Here are three takeaways from the Broncos’ win against one of their biggest division rivals.
Three Takeaways From the Broncos’ 28-24 Win Over The Chiefs
The Broncos were too focused on Kenneth Walker III
Broncos
Nov 1, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III (9) rushes the ball asc Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II (2) defends during the second half at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Kenneth Walker III played great the first time Denver played Kansas City in Week 1. He had 23 carries for 173 yards and two total touchdowns in his Chiefs debut, thanks to the Broncos’ poor tackling. However, Denver’s defense came prepared and made sure he wouldn’t repeat his previous performance.
Walker finished the game with 21 carries for 69 yards and didn’t score any touchdowns. Still, the Broncos’ intense focus on Walker came at a price. The price Denver paid was how well rookie Emmett Johnson performed.
The Broncos didn’t seem to be prepared for Johnson at all. The former Nebraska Cornhusker led Kansas City, catching five passes for 128 yards, and even scored his first NFL touchdown after gaining 73 yards on a short pass from Patrick Mahomes.
It’s not necessarily a bad thing that Denver overemphasized limiting Walker because whenever he’s not at his best, the Chiefs offense isn’t as effective. Johnson had only one carry for 15 yards, but the Broncos didn’t know how to stop him when he caught passes out of the backfield, as his second-longest reception was 38 yards.
Denver’s defense can be better at getting takeaways
When Kansas City scored its last touchdown after Mahomes connected with Noah Gray for a 4-yard touchdown with 1:43 remaining in the third quarter, Denver could have prevented it, but it couldn’t capitalize on its chances to get the ball back.
Before Gray’s touchdown, the Broncos had two chances to force a turnover. The first came when Jonathon Cooper tipped Mahomes’ pass on third-and-six but failed to bat it down and couldn’t get two hands on the ball, allowing Gray to get the first down to keep the Chiefs’ drive alive.
On the next play, Mahomes tried to throw to Xavier Worthy, but Riley Moss had perfect coverage and was in position to get an interception, but couldn’t hold on to the ball. If Denver had secured a turnover on this drive, it could have started its fourth-quarter resurgence earlier. The team also wouldn’t have had to worry about coming back from double digits if it had maximized its chances.
Injuries are hurting the Broncos on both sides of the ball
Jonah Coleman was definitely the biggest highlight for the Broncos, with 104 total yards and one rushing touchdown. However, Denver struggled on offense mainly because it was missing one of its key pieces. RJ Harvey did not play because he reportedly suffered a knee injury in practice and was subsequently placed on injured reserve.
Harvey was a big part of the Broncos’ offense, especially when catching passes from Bo Nix out of the backfield. As in previous weeks, Denver’s leading receiver was once again a running back, as Coleman caught four passes for 63 yards. The Broncos offense didn’t gain any first downs in the third quarter, but imagine how much better off they would’ve been with Harvey alongside Coleman.
Another area where Denver is suffering from injuries is the secondary, particularly at safety. Talanoa Hufanga didn’t play because he still hasn’t fully recovered from an ankle injury he suffered against the Los Angeles Chargers on Oct. 11. To make matters worse, Brandon Jones played in the first half but was ruled out for the second half with a hamstring injury.
Hufanga and Jones are the team’s leaders, and both have recorded two interceptions this season. If both safeties were fully healthy and could play the entire game, the outcome would have been completely different. One of them likely would have picked off Mahomes. Taylor Rapp couldn’t stop Jones before he scored the massive touchdown, and Jones probably wouldn’t have either, as he at times has struggled with tackling. Hufanga, on the other hand, probably could have stopped Johnson if he’d been tasked with tackling him one-on-one.
The Last Word
The Broncos now have the chance to win five straight games if they can successfully win their next matchup on the road against the Carolina Panthers (3-4) on Sunday, Nov. 8. It certainly won’t be easy for Denver as the Panthers are a young but promising team that’s looking to get back in the winning column after losing their last two games. Especially with Denver playing in this game, it will probably be close. Both teams also have a significant history, having faced each other in Super Bowl 50.
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Main Image: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images