Broncos vs. Chiefs: Best Games at Mile High

Dec 29, 2013; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan during the game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

#3- December 7^th, 2008

Perhaps one of the closest games to have ever been played between these two teams at Mile High was one that took place in 2008. Football is a game of inches and that was proven in this game towards the end.

Led by quarterback Jay Cutler, the Denver Broncos entered this game at 7-5 and in prime position to take control of the AFC West with a win against the Chiefs. This also coupled with the Broncos avenging their first loss of the season that year to them at Arrowhead Stadium in which they suffered a 33-19 defeat in the fourth game of the season.

The Broncos had also had a fair share of close games this season. In their first seven wins, five of them were decided by four points or less. The only two games that were not was a 41-17 and a 34-17 beatdown on the Oakland Raiders and New York Jets respectively.

Former Bronco kicker Connor Barth was kicking for the Chiefs on this day and got the scoring started for the game as he connected on a 26 yard field goal. A Cuter pick six extended the lead to 10-0.

Peyton Hillis would open up the scoring for the Broncos as he ran for a 18 yard touchdown to cut the lead to three points as the first quarter was coming to an end.

The Chiefs got the 10 point lead back as one of the greatest tight ends of all time Tony Gonzalez scored his only touchdown of the game on a Tyler Thigpen pass. That would be the last time the Chiefs would score the rest of the game.

The Broncos would go on to score 17 unanswered points. Including two touchdown connections from Cutler to Brandon Marshall and a Matt Prater field goal.

However, the Chiefs would not give up as the drove down the field late in the fourth quarter. The biggest play came on a fourth and goal from the Denver five yard line. Thigpen scrambled in order to play hero and tie the game up. However, he was stopped by the Broncos defense just one yard short of the end zone and the Broncos would take over on downs.

The Broncos never relinquished possession of the ball and held on to the 24-17 victory and have a good hold on the AFC West division.

However, it would prove to be the final win for the Broncos the entire year as they suffered a huge meltdown and lost the remaining three games of the year against the Buffalo Bills and Carolina Panthers. During that time, the San Diego Chargers were winning and managed to steal the AFC West crown from the Broncos with a convincing 52-21 victory in the final game of the season.

This would be Mike Shanahan’s final season as the Broncos head coach as he was fired one day after the San Diego loss. So, this game against the Chiefs was Shanahan’s last win as a Bronco.

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