The Denver Broncos hung on to defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs 28-24 with a late-game stand in Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season. With the win, the Broncos improved to 6-2 and moved into first place in the AFC West, marking coach Sean Payton's 200th career win.
After Denver's defense forced a punt on Kansas City's opening drive, the Broncos took a 3-0 lead on a Wil Lutz field goal on their first possession of the game. After that, the Chiefs went 69 yards on seven plays and Patrick Mahomes found Rashee Rice on an 11-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-3 lead. Lutz converted a 45-yard field goal on the Broncos' ensuing drive to cut the deficit to 7-6 early in the second quarter.
Later in the second quarter, Mahomes threw a short pass to running back Emmett
Johnson, who took it 73 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-6. Denver matched that score with a 12-play, 69-yard drive that ended in a one-yard touchdown pass to Jaylen Waddle to cut the deficit to 14-13 late in the second quarter. Kansas City added a field goal on its next possession to make it 17-13 going into halftime.
Broncos had to have it on 4th down and they got it!
— NFL (@NFL) November 1, 2026
Jaylen Waddle for 6 🐧
KCvsDEN on CBS/Paramount+
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/riETBQ5VHt
After exchanging punts to begin the third quarter, KC had an 11-play, 63-yard drive that ended with Mahomes' four-yard touchdown pass to tight end Noah Gray to increase the lead to 24-13. Later, in the fourth quarter, Nix connected on a two-yard touchdown pass to tight end Nate Adkins. After that, Nix hit Waddle on a two-point conversion to make it 24-21 midway through the fourth quarter.
Broncos QB Bo Nix hits TE Nate Adkins on 4th down. Nix then hits Jaylen Waddle on a 2-point conversion to make it 24-21 with 8:55 remaining. pic.twitter.com/WhlpKiuRJ7
— Jon Heath (@ByJonHeath) November 2, 2026
After that, the Chiefs ate up more than six minutes of clock, but kicker Harrison Butker missed a 54-yard field goal attempt, giving the ball back to Denver just past midfield. Broncos rookie running back Jonah Coleman then took a short pass 51 yards down to KC's five-yard line:
THE ROOK BREAKS FREE!
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) November 2, 2026
📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/lC66or5Z0i
One play later, Coleman scored on a five-yard touchdown run to take a 28-24 lead late in the fourth.
The rook runs it in for the lead!
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) November 2, 2026
📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/2wxfuyPQtA
The Chiefs drove all the way down to Denver's one-yard line on their next possession. With four seconds remaining on the final play of the game, a Kansas City touchdown was negated by a false start. After being backed up to the six-yard line, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was sacked to seal a 28-24 final score.
The game-winning play 🤩
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) November 2, 2026
📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/E8KcqHXL3I
On the injury front, cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine left in the second quarter and went into the team's locker room. KAD was later announced as questionable to return with an ankle injury. Broncos receiver Courtland Sutton was also shaken up in the second quarter after an 18-yard catch and went into the team's blue medical tent on the sideline. Sutton returned to the game later on that drive.
Denver safety Brandon Jones, who came into the game with a hamstring injury, was ruled out at halftime with an aggravated hamstring injury. With Talanoa Hufanga (ankle) also inactive on Sunday, Devon Key and Taylor Rapp handled safety duties in the second half.
Up next, Denver will go on the road to face the Carolina Panthers (3-4) in Week 9. After that, the Broncos will have a bye in Week 10 to rest up ahead of a playoff push in the second half of the season.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Broncos move into first place in AFC West with thrilling 28-24 win over Chiefs
