Broncos Beat Chiefs 22-19 on Lutz's Last-Second 35-Yard Field Goal

The Denver Broncos stunned the Kansas City Chiefs 22-19 on Sunday, November 16, 2025, at Empower Field at Mile High — not with a Hail Mary, not with a defensive stop, but with a simple, cold-blooded 35-yard field goal as time expired. Wil Lutz, Denver’s steady-handed kicker, didn’t flinch. The ball sailed through the uprights. The stadium erupted. The Broncos’ win streak hit eight games. And the AFC West turned upside down.

A Game of Inches, Not Grand Designs

It wasn’t pretty. Not by NFL standards. Both quarterbacks — Bo Nix of the Broncos and Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs — struggled early. Passes sailed. Routes were covered. Turnovers were avoided, but so were big plays. The first half ended 6-6, a rare stalemate between two of the league’s most explosive offenses. Denver scored two field goals. Kansas City matched them with two of their own. No touchdowns. No fireworks. Just grit.

The Fourth Quarter That Broke the Chiefs

Then came the fourth quarter — a rollercoaster wrapped in tension. At 12:50 left, Lutz nailed a 42-yarder to give Denver a 13-16 lead. The Chiefs responded with a 12-play, 78-yard drive capped by a dart from Mahomes to Travis Kelce — a quiet, clutch catch that put KC up 19-16 with 9:57 to go. Denver’s offense, methodical but never explosive, marched down the field. No big runs. No deep bombs. Just five completions, three first downs, and another Lutz field goal — this one from 38 yards — to tie it at 19-19 with 4:10 left.

And then, silence.

The Chiefs got the ball back. Three plays. Two incomplete passes. A sack. A punt. Denver got the ball back with 1:15 left. No timeouts. 35 yards from victory.

Lutz walked onto the field. The crowd held its breath. The snap. The hold. The kick.

“I couldn’t help but think back to last year at Kansas City, when my kick was blocked,” Lutz told the Associated Press after the game. “This time, I just tried to forget the noise. Just the ball. Just the uprights.”

The Streak, The Standings, The Statement

With the win, the Broncos improved to 9-2 — a perfect 6-0 at home. They now lead the AFC West by two games over the Chiefs (5-5), who’ve dropped three of their last four. The Chargers (7-4) sit in second, but Denver’s home dominance and late-game poise make them the division’s clear favorite. Their 257 points scored are the most in the AFC. Their 192 allowed? The fewest.

Meanwhile, Kansas City’s 1-4 road record is a growing red flag. Mahomes threw for 287 yards and two touchdowns, but the Chiefs’ defense — once the league’s best — gave up 22 points and couldn’t stop a kicker.

Why This Matters Beyond the Division

This isn’t just about home-field advantage. It’s about identity. For years, the Chiefs have owned the AFC West. Mahomes has been the face of the league. But now, Denver has a quarterback who doesn’t need miracles — just execution. Bo Nix, the former Auburn star, has quietly become one of the most efficient passers in football. He didn’t throw a touchdown Sunday. He didn’t need to. He managed the game. He trusted his team. And when it counted, he trusted Lutz.

The Broncos’ eight-game streak is their longest since 2015. They’ve won by defense. By special teams. By clutch kicking. By refusing to panic. That’s not luck. That’s leadership.

What’s Next?

Denver’s next three games: at Las Vegas, home against Cincinnati, at Houston. All winnable. The Chiefs? They face Buffalo, then travel to Los Angeles. Two tough road tests. If Kansas City wants to stay in playoff contention, they’ll need to fix their road woes — fast.

The AFC West is no longer a Chiefs coronation. It’s a battle. And Denver’s not backing down.