The scoreboard at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium usually tells a story of heartbreak for folks from Colorado. If you’re asking "did the Chiefs beat the Broncos" regarding their most recent 2024 showdown, the answer is a resounding, somewhat miraculous, yes. They did. But honestly, saying they just "won" doesn't cover the absolute insanity of how it happened.
Leo Chenal. That's the name Denver fans are going to be seeing in their nightmares for a long time.
With seconds on the clock, the Broncos had the undefeated Chiefs exactly where they wanted them. Wil Lutz, a kicker who usually doesn't blink in those spots, stepped up for a 35-yard field goal. It was a chip shot. A literal "gimme" in NFL terms. Then Chenal happened. He surged through the line, got a hand on the ball, and preserved a 16-14 victory that felt more like a heist than a football game.
The Streak That Refuses to Die
History matters here. For a long time, the answer to "did the Chiefs beat the Broncos" was essentially a scripted event. Between 2015 and 2023, Kansas City went on a 16-game winning streak against Denver. Imagine that. An entire generation of rookies came and went without ever seeing a Broncos win over Patrick Mahomes.
It ended in October 2023. Denver finally climbed that mountain with a 24-9 win at Empower Field at Mile High. People thought the spell was broken. They thought Sean Payton had finally figured out the puzzle that is Andy Reid. But as we saw in the 2024 season, the Chiefs have this weird, almost supernatural ability to win games they have no business winning.
Statistics can be boring, but look at the yardage from that last game. Bo Nix, the rookie who’s actually starting to look like the real deal, outplayed Mahomes in several stretches. Denver’s defense held the high-powered KC offense to just one touchdown. Usually, that’s a recipe for a blowout win for the underdog. Instead, the Chiefs found a way. They always do.
✨ Don't miss: The Division 2 National Championship Game: How Ferris State Just Redrew the Record Books
Why the Chiefs Keep Coming Out on Top
It isn't just luck. It's a weird cocktail of veteran composure and the fact that Steve Spagnuolo is arguably the best defensive coordinator on the planet right now. When the offense stalls—and let's be real, the KC offense has looked mortal lately—the defense turns into a brick wall.
- Mahomes doesn't panic. Even when he's limping or throwing into double coverage, he keeps the defense honest.
- The "Spags" Factor. Bringing pressure from places Bo Nix didn't even know existed.
- Special teams depth. Most teams treat the field goal block unit as a secondary thought; Dave Toub treats it like a science.
The rivalry has shifted. It used to be a lopsided beating. Now, it's a chess match where Denver keeps getting the Chiefs into "Check," but can't quite find the "Mate."
Breaking Down the 2024 Heartbreaker
If you watched the game, you saw a Broncos team that looked superior for 58 minutes. They bullied the Chiefs' offensive line. They kept Travis Kelce relatively quiet—well, as quiet as you can keep a Hall of Famer. But the final two minutes of an NFL game are a different dimension.
Kansas City’s 16-14 win was statistically ugly. Mahomes finished with 266 yards and one touchdown. For him, that’s a "bad" day at the office. But the Chiefs are currently operating on a "win by any means" philosophy. They aren't trying to be the Greatest Show on Turf anymore. They're trying to be the toughest guys in the alley.
Denver fans were rightfully livid. There were questions about the blocking schemes on that final kick. There were debates about whether Sean Payton should have tried to score a touchdown instead of settling for the field goal. But that's the thing about playing the Chiefs—they force you into these second-guessing spirals.
🔗 Read more: Por qué los partidos de Primera B de Chile son más entretenidos que la división de honor
The Bo Nix Evolution
We have to talk about the kid. Bo Nix is the first Broncos QB since Peyton Manning who doesn't look terrified of the Arrowhead crowd. In the most recent matchup, he showed a level of pocket presence that made the Chiefs' pass rush struggle. He didn't turn the ball over. In a rivalry where the answer to "did the Chiefs beat the Broncos" usually comes down to a Denver turnover, Nix stayed clean.
That’s what makes the loss even harder to swallow for the Mile High faithful. You played the "perfect" game and still lost to a blocked kick.
Examining the All-Time Series
Total games played between these two? Over 130. The Chiefs lead the series, but it hasn't always been this way. During the Elway years and the Manning era, Denver was the bully. Now, the roles have completely flipped.
Since Patrick Mahomes took over the starting job in 2018, he has dominated this matchup. But the games are getting closer. The margin of victory is shrinking. We are seeing a defensive resurgence in Denver that matches up perfectly with the "Championship Pedigree" of Kansas City.
Is it still a rivalry if one team wins almost every time? Yes. Because the hatred is real. You can see it in the way Travis Kelce talks to the Denver secondary. You can see it in the way the Broncos celebrate every sack on Mahomes.
💡 You might also like: South Carolina women's basketball schedule: What Most People Get Wrong
Recent Results Table (Prose Version)
In the 2023 season, they split the series. Kansas City took the first one 19-8 in a defensive slog. Then, Denver shocked the world with that 24-9 victory. Moving into 2024, the Chiefs took the first meeting 16-14. Every single one of these games has been defined by defense. The days of 45-40 shootouts between these two seem to be in the rearview mirror.
What This Means for the AFC West
The Chiefs aren't just beating the Broncos; they're gatekeeping the entire division. As long as the answer to "did the Chiefs beat the Broncos" remains "Yes," the path to the playoffs for Denver remains a massive uphill battle.
To win the AFC West, you have to go through Kansas City. Denver has proven they can compete. They’ve proven they can frustrate Mahomes. But they haven't proven they can close the door when it matters most.
Next Steps for Denver:
They need to fix the interior protection on the kicking unit. It sounds small, but it cost them a win against an undefeated rival. They also need to find a way to get the run game going against Spagnuolo’s light boxes.
Next Steps for Kansas City:
The offense needs to find its rhythm again. Relying on blocked field goals and defensive stands is a dangerous way to live, especially when you head into the postseason. They need to find a way to protect Mahomes better, as the Broncos' edge rushers spent way too much time in the KC backfield.
If you’re looking for a takeaway, it’s this: The gap is closing. The Chiefs might still be winning, but they’re sweating. The next time these two meet, don't just look at the spread. Look at the trenches. That’s where this rivalry is being decided.
To stay ahead of the curve on this rivalry, watch the injury reports for the next matchup, specifically regarding the Chiefs' offensive line. Their struggles there are the only reason Denver stayed in the game. Also, keep an eye on Bo Nix’s completion percentage on third downs; his growth there is the biggest threat to the Chiefs' dominance in the AFC West. If he continues to improve, the answer to "did the Chiefs beat the Broncos" might start looking very different in the coming years.