Monday 26 December 2016 23:09, UK
The Kansas City Chiefs scored three touchdowns in the first quarter, on the way to beating the Denver Broncos 33-10. Travis Kelce recorded 160 receiving yards and tackle Dontari Poe threw a touchdown pass late on as the Chiefs eliminated the Broncos from play-off contention.
In 140 Characters...
Chiefs dominate Broncos, scoring three touchdowns in the first quarter. Siemian struggled, and Denver defence couldn't handle Hill and Kelce combo.
MVP
Travis Kelce tied an NFL record, with six 100+ yard performances from a tight end in a single season. He will have the opportunity to make it seven, next weekend against the San Diego Chargers.
Game-changer
Tyreek Hill's 70 yard touchdown run in the opening quarter whipped the partisan crowd into a frenzy, and neither fans nor team looked like easing up all night.
Stat of the night
2003 - It has been 13 years since both Super Bowl teams from the previous year failed to make following season's play-offs (Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers).
The game
Having had their play-off place confirmed by the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier in the day, Chiefs players could have been forgiven for losing focus. However, they came out firing, and quarterback Alex Smith scored a ten-yard rushing touchdown on their first possession.
Rookie wide receiver Tyreek Hill doubled the Chiefs' lead with a 70 yard rush, peeling to the outside and accelerating down the left sideline.
Justin Forsett scored his first touchdown as a Bronco, finding the end zone from a yard out. But Kansas made it 21-7 after Travis Kelce - the most targeted tight end in the NFL - caught his fourth pass of the night to race 80 yards for a touchdown.
Denver added a field goal early in the second quarter,and had an opportunity to add another but instead tried to run a trick play. However, kicker Brandon McManus couldn't make the seven yards required and the Broncos finished the half 21-10 down.
After a scoreless third quarter, Kansas City asserted the dominance in the final period. Cairo Santos converted two field goals, and the defence stifled the Broncos attack, despite missing linebacker and talisman Justin Houston.
The Chiefs added insult to injury on their final play of the game, bringing on 6ft3, 350lb nose tackle Dontari Poe. Lining up in the 'Wildcat' formation, where the ball is snapped to a player other than the quarterback, Poe caught the snap but, instead of looking to run in the score, he tossed it over the defensive line to Demetrius Harris for a two-yard touchdown pass.
Kansas City still have a chance of finishing the regular season as the AFC's number two seed. If they beat the Chargers next week, and the Broncos can beat the Raiders, the Chiefs would swap places with Oakland, jumping three places.
Meanwhile, rumours continue to circulate regarding the future of Denver's quarterback, and with Tony Romo a possibility for next year, Trevor Siemian may find himself out of favour. In his defence, the second year QB had very little help from a poor offensive line and lack of running game, and has proved himself to be worthy of another opportunity.
Tonight's result also guarantees a play-off spot for the Miami Dolphins, who beat the Buffalo Bills in overtime on Saturday but required the Broncos to lose.
