4 winners and 2 losers from KC Chiefs’ shocking win over Broncos in Week 10

Officially, the Kansas City Chiefs were winners. It’s too bad they felt like losers for the majority of Week 10.

The Chiefs hosted the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium for their first game of two scheduled contests this season. In Week 10, the Broncos had the lead for most of the game and the ball near their own goal line with only seconds to play. Instead of heading home victorious, the Broncos were left scratching their heads over what went wrong.

The Chiefs are 9-0 after the 16-14 win at home against their rivals. Let’s run through some winners and losers on the afternoon.

If we’re going to make any game from this mostly miserable game on the part of the Chiefs, we have to begin with the one guy responsible for sending everyone at Arrowhead home happy—and that’s Leo Chenal.

Chenal has turned into a very interesting defender for the Chiefs, someone who can do several things well on defense which allows Steve Spagnuolo to use him in a number of ways. He’s a devastating blitzer and terrific run-stopper whose plays is directly proportional to the importance of the game.

The Broncos are going to have a hard time shaking this defeat knowing how close they were to victory. They did everything right on the game’s final drive and still came away the losers despite only needing a chip shot of a field goal to win. Chenal’s game-winning block was the stuff of legends.

Winner: Travis Kelce

Despite the recent burst of midseason production, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce still had (and perhaps has) his detractors on the field. After a slow start to the season, at least statistically speaking, a number of excuses were thrown out—from his age to a distracted mindset to a declining athleticism. Now at the season’s midpoint, Kelce is looking as useful as ever to this Chiefs offense.

One week after setting a career mark with 14 receptions in a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kelce was back with another solid game against the Broncos with 8 catches, 64 yards, and 1 score. At approximately the halfway point through the season, Kelce has 60 catches for 499 yards and 2 touchdowns—including 254 yards in his last three games.

As Mark Twain once famously wrote, “Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.”

This one hurts—and in more ways than one.

Second-year tackle. Wanya Morris came into the game as the starting left tackle over the last seven games, but was taken out in the second quarter after taking a hit in the knee that ultimately led to him leaving for the team’s locker room. The Chiefs would later designate him as questionable to return and would keep him on the sidelines until the fourth quarter. Fortunately, he came back in but his condition is something to watch.

Rookie left tackle Kingsley Suamataia was the starting option coming into the season but was replaced by Morris in Week 2 when it was clear he was in over his head. A return to the field in Week 10 against the strong Denver defense proved that was still true, although it had to be tough for Suamataia to be thrown to the wolves like that.

Still it’s his job to be ready (and for his coaches to get him there) and the Chiefs were without answers to the Broncos edge rushers all day on Sunday afternoon. Even Jawaan Taylor needed some help and that’s where the lack of anyone else on the roster hurts. Maybe Ethan Driskell can step in and surprise, but we woudn’t be shocked to see the Chiefs sign a veteran for some assistance in the next few days..

Winner: Chamarri Conner

The Chiefs have been feeling the heat in the secondary a bit more than normal ever since Jaylen Watson hit injured reserve with a fractured ankle. After being able to replace one bright young corner after another over the last few years with a draft-and-develop system that’s proven to be second-to-none, the Chiefs have struggled since losing Watson.

While they’re still sorting things out between Joshua Williams, Nazeeh Johnson (who had a good day), and others, the good news is that Chamarri Conner continues to blossom with each passing game. In fact, the second year defensive back is turning into the team’s best tackler not named Bolton.

Conner made multiple impressive stops on Sunday against the visiting Broncos, including a textbook open-field stop of Marvin Mims that saved the defense in a big way. Conner is the next great Chiefs DB and this is his breakout season.

It feels lazy to write the word “groan” here in capital letters but that’s just about all that should be said about the Chiefs’ inability to do anything when facing the goal line these days.

Every run in the red zone felt like it was stuffed at the line of scrimmage or shortly thereafter. Every pass felt like it sailed overhead. Every dropback felt like a challenge to just get a play off. In the end, the Chiefs converted just one of four red zone opportunities, leaving a ridiculous amount of points on the board in one of the closest games of the year.

The play has to better. The playcalling has to be better. Everyone is at fault here.

Winner: Broncos’ credibility

Win or lose, the Broncos came into the game with a winning record overall (5-4) against a fairly easy schedule. While the Broncos were obviously better than they were 12 months before, there were suspicions about their ability to compete with better teams or how Bo Nix would fare against stiffer competition—especially after losing to the Baltimore Ravens the week before.

As it turns out, Sean Payton and company have a lot of reasons to feel proud. Vance Joseph’s defense is very, very good and the team’s pass rush is among the NFL’s best. Nix looks the part even as he’s still learning a few things (don’t run back so far if you’re getting sacked, for one) and the team has a clear direction forward.

Given how things are also looking up in L.A., the AFC West should be a tighter race going forward than it has been in a long time.

Related Posts

🚨 BOMBSHELL: Green Bay Packers predicted to sign a former All-Pro defensive tackle — and the projection has fans imagining a completely different tone in the trenches. What started as speculation is now gaining traction among league insiders who believe the fit makes too much sense to ignore. If this move materializes, the NFC North might be bracing for a far more physical Green Bay front.. 👇👇👇

Green Bay Packers Predicted to Sign Former All Pro Defensive Tackle Calais Campbell in Pivotal 2026 Offseason Move 4 The Green Bay Packers are entering one of…

🚨 BOMBSHELL: Patrick Mahomes just dropped in an all-time QB ranking after a disastrous season — and the reshuffle is igniting fierce debate across the NFL landscape. What once felt untouchable is suddenly being reexamined under a harsher lens, with critics pointing to recent struggles as justification. If redemption doesn’t come fast, the legacy conversation could grow louder than ever.. 👇👇👇

Patrick Mahomes Drops to No. 4 in Latest All-Time QB Rankings After Turbulent 2025 Season 4 For years, Patrick Mahomes has been viewed as the only quarterback…

🚨 BOMBSHELL: Fans rally around Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith with heartfelt messages of “praying for comfort and peace” — and the outpouring of support is showing just how deep his impact still runs in Dallas. What began as concern has turned into a powerful wave of unity across Cowboys Nation. In moments like this, football fades and legacy takes center stage.. 👇👇👇

Fans Rally Around Emmitt Smith With Messages of Comfort and Faith After Heartfelt Tribute to His Late Father 4 NFL fans across the country are sending prayers…

🚨 BOMBSHELL: Vikings insider labels Mac Jones the best trade fit to push J.J. McCarthy — and the endorsement is turning a quiet quarterback debate into a full-blown offseason storyline. The logic isn’t about replacing the young signal-caller, it’s about sharpening him through real competition and veteran pressure. If Minnesota pulls the trigger, the QB room dynamic could shift overnight.. 👇👇👇

NFL Rumors: Mac Jones Emerges as the Most Logical Trade Fit If Vikings Pivot from J.J. McCarthy 4 The Minnesota Vikings are entering a defining stretch of…

David DeCastro Slams Steelers For Trashing Ben Roethlisberger

IMAGE: Dec 16, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers helmet on the field before the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium. The Cowboys won 27-24…

SAN FRANCISCO SHOCKER: 49ers Just Got SLAMMED With a Brutal Insider Warning – Stay FAR Away From Colts Star Alec Pierce!

The San Francisco 49ers will have roughly $41 million in cap space to spend this offseason, per Over the Cap. Although head coach Kyle Shanahan and his…