Cairo Santos' overtime field goal clinched a hard-fought 30-27 win for the Kansas City Chiefs over the Denver Broncos. It looked as through Broncos QB Trevor Siemian had won it for Denver with two fourth-quarter touchdown throws, but a late comeback, including a third touchdown for Tyreek Hill, forced the game into overtime.
In 140 Characters...
Overtime field goal wins it for the Chiefs who are now just one game back from Oakland. Tyreek Hill scored three touchdowns to force OT.
MVP
Justin Houston's return was exactly what the Chiefs needed. With 10 tackles, four of them for loss, as well as three sacks, Houston was everywhere and gave Kansas City a defensive pressure they had been missing.
Game-changer
With a minute left in overtime, Denver head coach Gary Kubiak gave his kicker Brandon McManus the nod to try a 62-yard field goal, which he pulled left. Kubiak could have run the play without fear of losing field position, or even punted away and asked his defence to make the stop. The impossibly long kick handed Kansas City the opportunity to steal the game.
Stat of the night
76 - Trevor Siemian threw the longest touchdown pass of his career, passing to Bennie Fowler for a 76-yard catch and run.
The game
It was a defensive masterclass for much of the first half as Houston and Von Miller led their respective teams to keep both offences out of the end zone.
The first points came with six minutes left in the second quarter as Siemian was sacked, fumbling in the end zone. Russell Okung dived on the loose ball, gifting a two-point safety to the Chiefs. They then scored again 12 seconds later, as Hill returned the resulting kick off 88 yards for a touchdown.
Denver got on the board with two minutes to go as Brandon McManus slotted a 33-yard field goal, and the Broncos took the lead halfway through the third quarter after Siemian evaded Houston's tackle, throwing to Jordan Taylor in the right corner of the end zone.
The Chiefs got back on top as Hill scored his second of the night, adding a three-yard rush to complete a 12-play, 75-yard drive for the visitors.
The Broncos took over for much of the final quarter, as Siemian went over 300 yards in passing, moving his team 88 yards in four plays, culminating in a 35-yard catch and run from Emmanuel Sanders.
The home side added to their lead as Siemian found Fowler for a 76-yard touchdown score, but the Chiefs fought back and with time running out, Alex Smith found Hill who fell into the end zone with 10 seconds on the clock. The officials originally called Hill short, but on review gave him the score, before Smith passed to Demetrius Harris for the two-point score to tie the game.
The teams exchanged overtime field goals, before Denver attempted a 62-yard conversion. However, Brandon McManus could only send the effort wide left, which handed Kansas City an excellent starting position at the Denver 48-yard line. Smith made no mistake, moving the Chiefs into attainable field goal position. Santos took the 34-yard kick, and the crowd watched as it bounced off the post and through, to hand the away side a 30-27 win.
Victory lifts Kansas City to 8-3, just a game behind the Oakland Raiders in the AFC West, but perhaps the most pleasing outcome was the dominant return of Houston who led the Chiefs defence throughout the night.
The Broncos could have won this game, especially given the fourth quarter rally from Siemian and his offence. However, it was the defence that couldn't find the crucial stop. The decision to attempt a 62-yard field goal seems foolish in hindsight, but Gary Kubiak will hope that his side can still turn it around, with the Chiefs and then the Raiders their last two games of the season.