Give the Chiefs an ‘A’ for huge special-teams moment against Broncos: Report card

A blocked field goal by linebacker Leo Chanel allowed the Chiefs to escape the Denver Broncos with a 16-14 victory on Sunday at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

Chenal’s block of Wil Lutz’s 35-yard attempt came on the final play of the game and preserved the Chiefs’ perfect record and start to the season, which stands at 9-0.

The victory also extended the Chiefs’ winning streak to 15 games, dating to last Christmas.

KC STAR OF THE GAME

Gotta be Chanel, right?

He pancaked his man and got his hand on Lutz’s attempt. This isn’t the first time Chanel changed a game with a block. He was credited with the blocked extra point in last season’s Super Bowl that kept the Chiefs’ deficit at three, enabling KC to kick a tying field goal and send it to overtime.

Next: The Chiefs travel to Buffalo and take on the Bills in a showdown of 2023 playoff teams. Kickoff is set for 3:25 p.m. (Central) next Sunday; the game will be broadcast on CBS (Channel 5 in Kansas City).

REPORT CARD

Passing offense: C

A great play dialed up on fourth-and-goal at the 2 for the Chiefs’ lone touchdown. Tight end Travis Kelce jab stepped to the outside, then cut inside and was open for his second touchdown reception of the season.

But the connection they missed haunted them. How did Patrick Mahomes not hit Travis Kelce in the back of the end zone on the Chiefs’ final drive?

Kelce started slowly this year, but he added eight receptions and a touchdown to his totals on Sunday. Kelce now has 60 receptions this season.

The pass protection was the worst of the season, and things didn’t improve when left tackle Wayna Morris went out with a knee injury.

In came rookie Kingsley Suamataia, and twice linebacker Nik Bonitto blew past the BYU product for a sack. Mahomes was sacked four times, matching a season high. Morris returned in the fourth quarter.

The Broncos kept Mahomes guessing with the pass-rushing schemes. He finished 28 of 42 for 266 yards.

Rushing offense: D

The holes weren’t there for Kareem Hunt, and when there was a bit of daylight, he didn’t seem to find it. This was a tough-sledding afternoon for the rushing game, which had been so successful with Hunt, especially between the tackles.

Credit the Broncos’ game plan with their stout defense. Denver also kept Mahomes guessing with its pass rush.

Passing defense: B

Cornerback Nazeeh Johnson was back in the lineup after missing the previous game in concussion protocol and came up with a 17-yard sack of Bo Nix. Nick Bolton added a 16-yard sack on the final play of the third quarter.

But for most of the afternoon Nix stood his ground and was excellent. He led the Broncos on a pair of TD drives in the second quarter. The Broncos were ripping off yards in chunks like Courtland Sutton’s 32-yard TD reception over Trent McDuffie.

Nix is the eighth Broncos quarterback to start against the Chiefs since 2016, and he came closest to pulling off a Denver victory in KC in that span.

Rushing defense: C

The Broncos would liked to have done more here, especially when they played with the lead, which was most of the game.

But on their final possession Audric Estime picked up a key first down to keep alive what appeared to be a game-winning drive.

Special teams: A

Chanel turned in the special-teams play of the year. That alone gives this unit an “A.” But there were other highlights, and a couple of lowlights.

Mecole Hardman put a charge into the stadium when he fielded Lutz’s long field-goal attempt at the back of the end zone just before halftime and returned it 57 yards. Nice try.

A tough day for punter Matt Araiza, who booted two in the end zone.

Harrison Butker was perfect on his three field goals, but after the third (which gave the Chiefs their final and winning points), his kickoff went out of bounds, handing the Broncos possession at the 40.