The Kansas City Chiefs' undefeated season nearly came to an unexpected end in Week 10 as the Denver Broncos were on the doorstep of an upset victory in the final seconds. However, the Chiefs' defense stepped up on the potential game-winning field goal, blocking the attempt by Broncos kicker Will Lutz to secure the 16-14 win.
While Andy Reid's squad is riding the high of a nine-game win streak, it seems the Broncos have taken the loss especially hard.
I haven’t seen a Broncos locker room this devastated after a loss since after the double-OT loss to the Ravens in January 2013.
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) November 10, 2024
Denver Sports' Andrew Mason reported from the Broncos' locker room following the game, noting he hasn't seen the team "this devastated" since they lost to the Baltimore Ravens in double overtime in January 2023.
Head coach Sean Payton made it clear after the game he thought his guys deserved the win on Sunday, telling reporters, "I thought we outplayed them."
Sean Payton after the Broncos devastating 16-14 loss to the Chiefs.
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) November 10, 2024
“I thought we outplayed them” pic.twitter.com/jYK1DP4Wpx
Meanwhile, quarterback Bo Nix revealed all of his teammates were "hurt" by the result on Sunday, but he thinks they'll come out of this day strong because of it.
Bo Nix so poised after heartbreaking loss to the Chiefs: "It doesn't hurt you if you don't care...everybody in that locker room is hurt...eventually it's going to go in our favor... The easy thing to do is give in... But I feel like our locker room is going to respond" pic.twitter.com/YG4FJYVHST
— Romi Bean (@Romi_Bean) November 10, 2024
Chiefs fans surely have to love how Sunday played out. KC still found a way to win despite not clicking on all cylinders, and it dealt a demoralizing loss to its division rivals in the process.
That defeat makes things even more difficult for the Broncos during the second half of the season. They're now 5-5 instead of 6-4, putting them only a game ahead of the 4-6 Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals in the race for one of the two Wild Card spots.
With the Los Angeles Chargers moving to 6-3 in Week 10 as well, it's very possible Denver has to win a three-team race for the final WC berth.
Meanwhile, a loss for Kansas City would've made things closer in the chase for home-field advantage in the AFC with the Buffalo Bills moving to 8-2 on Sunday. These two squads will face off in Week 11 to decide a very important tiebreaker, but the Chiefs can avoid that being a factor by simply posting a better record.
Denver will have to wait until the regular-season finale to try and exact some revenge on Kansas City, which could still be playing for the No. 1 seed in the AFC by Week 18.
In other Chiefs news: