The Broncos beat the division-rival Chiefs to improve their record to 2-0 today in Denver. But it wasn’t easy.
Although Denver took an early lead and appeared ready to cruise against an injury-depleted Kansas City team, it was the Chiefs who stormed back in the second half and drove deep into Denver territory, poised to score a game-tying touchdown. But the Chiefs fell just short and the Broncos hung on to win 24-17.
Peyton Manning was his usual Peyton Manning self, completing 21 of 26 passes for 242 yards, with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Emmanuel Sanders had a big day, with eight catches for 108 yards, and Montee Ball had a few big plays, including a run of 23 yards on third-and-24 that set up his own one-yard run on fourth-and-1 on the next play.
But Alex Smith engineered some long second-half drives to keep the Chiefs in the game. Smith went 26-for-42 for 255 yards, and he ran for 42 yards as well. He played well even though the Chiefs lost Jamaal Charles to a first-quarter ankle injury, but he couldn’t get Kansas City across the finish line.
And so the Chiefs, last year’s surprise turnaround team, are now 0-2 and staring up in the standings at the Broncos. And now Denver prepares for next week’s Super Bowl rematch in Seattle, one of the marquee games of this NFL season.