In a season already filled with heart-stopping finishes, the Kansas City Chiefs pulled off perhaps their most improbable victory yet. With just one second remaining and the Denver Broncos lining up a chip-shot field goal to steal the win, Chiefs rookie linebacker Leo Chenal burst through the line to get a hand on the kick, preserving Kansas City’s unblemished record and sending Arrowhead Stadium into euphoria.
Defying the Odds, Week After Week
Amazingly, this marked the fourth time this season that Andy Reid’s red-hot squad has won a game on the final play. The cardiac Chiefs had already notched walk-off wins over the Ravens, Bengals, and Buccaneers, but even gunslinger Patrick Mahomes admitted he wasn’t feeling great about their chances this time:
Obviously you’re worried. It’s out of your control, but at the same time, I’ve trusted my teammates that they’re going to go out there and make a play.
Patrick Mahomes on the final play
Mahomes’ faith was rewarded by the second-year pro from Wisconsin. Chenal, who also blocked a PAT in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LVIII win, crashed through the middle of Denver’s line to reject the attempt with the heel of his hand. The big linebacker, nicknamed “John Cena” by Mahomes for his weight-room prowess, felt the gravity of the moment:
The moment is heavy. You feel the weight of the moment.
Leo Chenal
Unbeaten, But Far From Unblemished
Though the Chiefs remain the league’s lone undefeated team at 9-0, Sunday’s narrow escape underscored that they’re far from invincible. The underdog Broncos controlled the game most of the way, taking an early 7-0 lead and putting Kansas City on the ropes until Harrison Butker’s go-ahead field goal late in the 4th quarter.
It was a familiar script for these rivals, as the Chiefs managed just one touchdown in their two low-scoring wins over Denver last season. The Broncos’ mix of airtight coverage schemes and relentless pass rush repeatedly frustrated Mahomes and the normally-explosive KC attack.
They play extremely hard. They’re well coached. They do a good job of mixing coverages and then they make you execute throughout the entire field.
Mahomes on the Broncos’ stingy defense
Living For the Pressure
While the Chiefs would certainly prefer more breathing room, Mahomes says there’s nothing like the thrill of winning in the clutch. “You live for these moments,” the former MVP said. “When you grow up playing football, you live for the walk off, whatever it is.”
They’ll look to summon more of that magic next week in a mammoth AFC clash at Buffalo. The Bills will be hungry for payback after being on the wrong end of 13 Seconds, the unforgettable divisional round classic from two seasons ago.
No matter how that plays out, with a smothering defense and a flair for the dramatic, these Chiefs have already shown they’ll be a tough out come January. As Chenal put it, this young team has a knack for seizing the moment, however heavy:
A lot of times they’ll go out there and leave openings down the middle. We’ve been talking about it for awhile and we did it in a big moment.
Chenal on his game-saving block
In a league where parity reigns and margins are razor-thin, the Chiefs keep finding ways to make the big plays when they matter most. How long can they keep snatching victory from the jaws of defeat? The road ahead is daunting, but betting against Mahomes and crew has been a fool’s errand so far.
