Chiefs block Broncos' FG to win fourth game on walk-off play
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — With one second remaining, Patrick Mahomes wasn't overly optimistic the Kansas City Chiefs would block a field goal attempt by the Denver Broncos that could have decided Sunday’s game at Arrowhead Stadium.
However, Mahomes took comfort in knowing the Chiefs had already won three games this season on the final play.
"If any team’s going to do it, it’s this one with a designed rush or a way to get a hand on it," Mahomes said. "You’re worried because it’s out of your control, but I trust my teammates to make the play."
Sure enough, linebacker Leo Chenal came through, blocking Wil Lutz's 35-yard attempt to secure the Chiefs' 16-14 victory and maintain their undefeated season. The Chiefs now head to Buffalo with a 9-0 record for a game against the Bills on Nov. 17.
Chenal’s heroics didn’t surprise his teammates. He previously blocked a point-after attempt in Super Bowl LVIII, which the Chiefs won in overtime. Reflecting on Sunday’s play, Chenal said, "The moment is heavy. You feel the weight of it."
The Chiefs’ defensive strategy focused on drawing attention to teammate Justin Reid, who rushed from the edge, creating an opening for Chenal and others to break through the middle. Chenal blocked the kick with the palm of his left hand.
"A lot of times they leave openings down the middle," Chenal noted. "We’ve been discussing it for a while, and we executed it in a big moment."
Chiefs coach Andy Reid, in his 26th year as an NFL head coach, remarked on the rarity of winning with a blocked kick on the final play. "We practice that block often, but it rarely works like that."
Chenal, a third-round draft pick in 2022, has taken on multiple roles for the Chiefs, contributing as a linebacker, defensive lineman, and offensive blocker. Mahomes praised his strength, noting, "You don’t want to be near him in the weight room. We call him John Cena."
Despite the dramatic win, the Broncos outplayed the Chiefs for much of the game, taking a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter. Kansas City didn’t gain the lead until Harrison Butker’s third field goal made it 16-14 with six minutes left.
"We outplayed them," Broncos coach Sean Payton said, a sentiment Mahomes acknowledged. The Chiefs had previously faced tough, low-scoring battles against Denver, scoring only one touchdown in two games last season.
"They play hard and are well-coached," Mahomes said. "They make you work for every yard, and if you don’t execute, drives stall."
In addition to this game, the Chiefs have won in walk-off fashion against the Ravens, Bengals, and Buccaneers this season. Mahomes admitted the team would prefer more comfortable victories but thrives on the thrill of close wins.
"These moments are what you live for," he said. "When you grow up playing football, you dream of the walk-off wins."
Post a Comment