Arrowhead Snow Bowl: Chiefs lead Broncos 15-3 at half in winter wonderland
The Chiefs took a 15-3 lead on the Denver Broncos at halftime Sunday on Harrison Butker’s 44-yard field goal on the final paly in what might be the snowiest game in Arrowhead Stadium history.
The snow started falling early in the morning and continued throughout the first half. The tarp remained rolled up on the sideline. Groundskeepers used blowers to remove show from the sidelines, yard numbers and yard lines in five-yard increments and the end zones.
Footing was difficult. Straight line running was the best option and cutting required slowing down. Still, Tyreek Hill managed to put a move on cornerback Chris Harris Jr. and ran under Patrick Mahomes 41-yard rainbow to cap the Chiefs’ first possession with a touchdown.
It was Hill’s sixth touchdown reception of the season and Mahomes’ 22nd touchdown pass this fall.
The Chiefs followed that possession with a 12-play, 79-yard drive that reached the red zone but stalled. Butker booted a 23-yard field goal for a 9-0 lead. He later added a 24-yard field goal. He earlier missed an extra point.
The conditions didn’t bother Mahomes, who was sharp throughout the half, completing 11 of his first 12 attempts for 159 yards. His first completion to Travis Kelce went for 11 yards and gave Kelce 1,000 receiving yards for the season. He’s the first tight end in NFL history with four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.
Drew Lock, the Broncos quarterback from Missouri and Lee’s Summit High making his third NFL start, started slowly. Lock was coming off a 309-yard, three-touchdown game at Houston. But he didn’t get going untl late in the first half. His biggest play: A 43-yard strike to tight end Noah Fant on a fourth-and-1.
The play led to the Broncos only score of the first half, a 32-yard field goal by Brandon McManus.
The Chiefs didn’t get out of the half without an injury. Defensive end Alex Okafor injured his shoulder on a 9-yard sack of Lock and was out for the game.
The Chiefs get the ball to start the second half.