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Broncos at Chiefs Open Thread/Live Blog | Week 15
The time has come. Drew Lock returns home as a Denver Bronco hoping to snap his team's eight-game losing streak to the Kansas City Chiefs. One more loss and the Broncos won't be able to avoid finishing this year sub-.500.
A win not only shocks the NFL world, but gives the Broncos a shot at finishing 8-8 this season, which would be a marked improvement over last season. Needless to say, if the Broncos win, the Lock hype rocket will blast through the stratosphere and deep into outer space.
Join us as we live-blog and discuss DENvsKC here in our weekly Open Thread. Dive into the conversation — it's easy — by simply going to the top of the site and in the bottom righthand corner of the Mile High Huddle logo, click the follow button.
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What to Watch For
• TE Noah Fant needs one touchdown to tie Tony Schefler (2006) for the most receiving touchdowns by a rookie tight end in team history, needs eight receiving yards to be the 30th rookie tight end in NFL history to reach 500 receiving yards, needs two receiving yards to pass Arthur Marshall (1992) into seventh place and 34 yards to pass Ashley Lelie (2002) into sixth place on the team's all-time receiving yardage list for a rookie pass catcher.
• CB Chris Harrs, Jr. needs one interception to join Mike Harden as the only Broncos with multiple interceptions in eight consecutive seasons.
• LB Von Miller needs one sack to pass Kevin Carter and Neil Smith into sole possession of 27th place on the NFL's all-time sack list, needs two sacks to pass Elvis Dumervil for 26th place on the NFL's all-time sack list.
• S Justin Simmons needs two interceptions to tie Steve Atwater (12) for the third-most interceptions among Broncos safeties through their first four professional seasons.
• WR Courtland Sutton needs 60 receiving yards to become the third Bronco to reach 1,000 receiving yards in a single season by his second year (Brandon Marshall, 2007; Lionel Taylor, 1960).
Inactives
Analysis: I remained hopeful that Dre'Mont Jones would be a go today but he's been ruled out. Everyone else we saw coming.
First Quarter
Chiefs win toss. Defer. Broncos to receive.
12:43: On 3rd-&-7, Lock can't get the snap off. Delay of game. Brings up 3rd-&-12.
12:15: Lock connects with Royce Freeman for three yards. Punt.
11:51: Colby Wadman drops the snap, picks it up and manages to get the punt off but due to his delay, Broncos got an illegal man downfield penalty. Five yards added on to the end of the punt.
11:42: Mahomes throws incomplete on first down but Shelby Harris flagged for roughing the passer after clubbing the QB in the face. Broncos have now given Chiefs 20 yards of field position since the punt.
9:50: Mahomes goes deep to Tyreek Hill for a 41-yard touchdown strike. Harris, Jr. beaten in coverage and Simmons fails to recognize the route, allows Hill to get behind him. Ensuing extra point try is muffed.
Four plays, 79 yards.
Chiefs 6, Broncos 0
5:42: On 3rd-&-5, Lock is sacked by a free-running Okafor, after RT Elijah Wilkinson barely gets a paw on him. 10-yard loss and punt to follow.
3:17: On 3rd-&-4, Broncos relinquish an 11-yard reception to Travis Kelce.
3:00: Mahomes picks up 20 yards with his legs on the ensuing play. Two fouls (one on each team), negates the gain. Replay first down.
2:21: Isaac Yiadom penalized for pass interference. Didn't get his head around and was exploited by the back-shoulder pass. 20 more penalty yards.
:51: On 3rd-&-7, Broncos relinquish the 10-yard completion to Mecole Hardman.
End of quarter
Chiefs 6, Broncos 0
Second Quarter
13:44: Broncos stuff Mahomes on 3rd-&-Goal. Chiefs have to settle for a field goal. It's good.
Chiefs 9, Broncos 0
12:02: Wilkinson flagged for false start. Takes a manageable 3rd-&-5 and makes it 10 to go.
12:02: Lock fires off-target to DaeSean Hamilton. Chiefs S Juan Thornhill injured on the play .
Broncos are now 1-for-4 on third down and only one of the opportunities have been a manageable distance. Six first-half penalties.
11:48: Shelby Harris sacks Mahomes for an eight-yard loss.
6:35: Chiefs drive but Broncos get them off the field again on third down in the red zone. Mahomes' pass to Robinson incomplete.
6:27: 24-yard field goal is good by Butker.
Chiefs 12, Broncos 0
3:46: On 4th-&-1 from their own 48-yard line, Lock hits Noah Fant for a 43-yard gain.
2:00: Broncos can't get the ball in the end zone, after Freeman is bottled up for a three-yard loss on first down. Brandon McManus pounds through the 32-yard field goal.
Chiefs 12, Broncos 3
:15: Shelby Harris gets his second sack on Mahomes, this time on 3rd-&-10. Got a little help from Von Miller on it.
:02: Buker hits from 44 yards, Chiefs head to the locker room with a two-score lead.
Chiefs 15, Broncos 3
Third Quarter
Chiefs to receive.
12:48: On 3rd-&-4, Mahomes completes to Hill. Vic Fangio challenges the catch. Call upheld after review. First down.
9:50: Mahomes hits Hill for a five-yard TD. Chiefs are rolling. Broncos defense completely dominated on that drive. Completion after completion. Pitch and catch. Chiefs go for two. Miller has Mahomes, but the QB side-steps and fires a strike to Sammy Watkins.
Chiefs 23, Broncos 3
7:08: On 3rd-&-9, Broncos tackle Spencer Ware short of the sticks. On their sixth possession of the day, the Chiefs will punt for the first time on the day.
2:33: Lock makes ill-advised throw under pressure, picked off by Thornhill in the end zone. Fant was the target.
Fourth Quarter
13:37: Simmons picks off Mahomes on the 1-yard line. Lock gets the ball on the goal-line. In the snow. Down 20 points.
9:40: 4th-&-13, Lock hit as he threw. Incomplete. Broncos O-line cannot protect Lock. Turnover on downs.
4:57: On 4th-&-10, Lock hit as he threw, incomplete to Hamilton. Fangio throws the challenge flag hoping for a PI-non call. Fails. Second failed challenge of the day means Fangio is out of challenges.
2:00: 2nd-&-5, Ware picks up three yards.
:33: Chiefs go victory formation. Game over.
Chiefs 23, Broncos 3
