Third Quarter
The Chiefs had to use their first timeout of the second half within the first minute of the third quarter because the play clock was running low.
On 3rd-and-9, Mahomes escaped pressure and threw to one of their other tight ends for a 24-yard gain. The Broncos continued to hold Travis Kelce without a catch, asking different players to cover the tight end. It was a very interesting game plan.
Kansas City was at Denver’s 32-yard line and with Mahomes back to pass, he scrambled forward to the line of scrimmage and released the ball. It looked as if it was an illegal forward pass, but apparently not.
It was very close, but it sure looked like Mahomes was completely past the line of scrimmage. The pass was to Kelce and he was stopped at the three-yard line.
Von Miller wrapped up Kareem Hunt behind the line for a loss. On the next play, Mahomes threw to the back of the end zone. Cornerback Adam Jones knocked the ball away and the Chiefs had to settle for a field goal.
With 9:16 left in the third quarter, Keenum attempted a pass to tight end Jeff Heuerman but it was a 50-50 ball in the hands of both Heuerman and Chiefs cornerback Eric Murray. It was ruled an interception.
At 6:55, the crowd noise got to the Chiefs, as offensive lineman Eric Fisher was penalized for a false start. On 3rd-and-17, Mahomes was pressured and scrambled to the right, throwing an incompletion.
Luckily for the Broncos, one of the Chiefs’ players rushed down the field on the punt but was unable to stop the ball from rolling into the end zone.
Denver pulled out a unique play. While receiver Emmanuel Sanders was in motion, the ball was snapped and Keenum gave the ball to his receiver in the backfield. It went for an 18-yard pickup.
Tight end Jeff Heuerman reached for a pass that looked to be intended for Emmanuel Sanders. Heuerman did not catch it, forcing a 3rd-and-10.
Keenum again looked for Courtland Sutton in the end zone. It was incomplete but Orlando Scandrick was called for a touchdown. Broncos ball at the five-yard line.
Running back Phillip Lindsay produced another nice run, getting the ball to the 1-and-a-half yard line, where he again got the football and took it in for a touchdown.