Chiefs report card: Mistakes in pass defense, special teams were crushing
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Chiefs lose 22-19 on final 35-yard field goal, AFC West streak likely over
- Travis Kelce breaks franchise touchdown record with 84th score, 9 catches
- Pass defense and special teams errors allowed Broncos game-winning drive and field goal
The Chiefs fell to the Denver Broncos 22-19 Sunday on Wil Lutz’s 35-yard field goal on the game’s final play.
With the loss the Chiefs can pretty much bid farewell to their streak of AFC West championships. It’s likely to end at nine.
The Chiefs are 5-5. The Broncos improved to 9-2.
Here’s more analysis from KC’s defeat, including our weekly report card and a look ahead to next week’s game:
KC STAR OF THE GAME
Travis Kelce started slowly but came on strong in the second half.
The Chiefs tight end finished with nine receptions for 91 yards and a 21-yard touchdown reception. He became the franchise’s all-time career leader in total touchdowns with 84, breaking a tie with Priest Holmes.
Next: The Chiefs face the AFC South-leading Indianapolis Colts on Sunday at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Kickoff is noon, and CBS (Channel 5 in Kansas City) will broadcast the game.
REPORT CARD
Passing offense: D
Tyquan Thornton made one catch, but it was a big one, a 61-yard reception on third-and-7 that set up a Chiefs’ first touchdown.
Until then, the Chiefs didn’t have a play go for more than 18 yards.
The touchdown pass to Travis Kelce was terrific individual effort. There are moves left in that 36-year-old body.
Two pass-interference penalties, one for 40 yards another for 45, contributed to a pair of Chiefs’ scoring drives.
Maybe the biggest disappointment in the offense was the Chiefs’ final possession. With the game tied at 19-19, Patrick Mahomes threw a pair of incompletions and was sacked. The Chiefs punted and never got the ball back.
Drops were a problem at the end of the first half. The Chiefs might have had a shot at a late first-half field goal if Rashee Rice had held on to a great pass from Mahomes. Kelce had a chance on the next attempt but couldn’t pull it in.
And the interception to open the second half. That was a killer.
Rushing offense: B
Kareem Hunt was the workhorse, powering his way to 59 yards and 4.5 yards per carry. His 2-yard touchdown run was his team-best sixth score on the season.
Without Isiah Pacheco, the Chiefs don’t have a second running back they can count on, so Hunt carries the load.
Passing defense: F
Chamarri Connor came close to ending the Broncos’ first possession when he snuffed a throwback pass to Bo Nix. But Nix broke up the interception.
Conner started the game with a sack of Nix. Chris Jones followed with one to force a field goal to end the first drive.
A big moment: Nix’s 20-yard completion to Courtland Sutton on third-and-15, just before the two-minute warning. The Chiefs didn’t blitz and Nix had the time he needed to make the play.
Even bigger: Nix’s 32-yarder to Troy Franklin in the final minute to set up the game-winning field goal. Nix finished with 295 passing yards.
Kristian Fulton made his first start for the Chiefs and appeared in his first game since Week 2. It did not go well.
Rushing defense: B
The Broncos were at a disadvantage with J.K. Dobbins out with injury. The Chiefs bottled up the running game with Charles Omenihu and Drue Tranquill coming up with tackles for loss.
Denver mustered a mere 59 rushing yards.
Special teams: F
Kicking to Marvin Mims Jr. is never a good idea. He returned a punt 70 yards, and with a penalty on Kevin Knowles tacked on, the Broncos started their second possession from the KC 11.
The threat of Mims also was an issue. Harrison Butker’s first kickoff went into the end zone and the second didn’t reach the landing zone.
A blocked extra point after Kelce’s touchdown came from up the middle and kept the Chiefs’ lead at three.
Matt Araiza got off pair of tremendous punts, 61 and 67 yards, in the thin Denver air.
This story was originally published November 16, 2025 at 6:53 PM.