Broncos-Chiefs: Denver Overcome Slow Start To Top Chiefs, 24-17

In what was a very winnable game, the Chiefs lose to the Broncos 24-17. The Chiefs started out very hot, after getting a field goal on their second drive the Chiefs rookie Maurice Legget extended that lead to 10-0 after intercepting a Jay cutler pass intended for Brandon Stokely and returning it 27 yards to pay dirt.

After getting down early QB Jay Cutler answered back leading the Broncos on a 11-play drive that was capped off by a 18 yard Peyton Hillis touchdown run.

Tyler Thigpen would continue to match Jay Cutler throw for throw as he responded and led the Chiefs on another TD drive culminating in a 13-yard TD toss to Tony Gonzalez, the TD would again extend the Chiefs lead to 10 points but it would prove to be the last points the Chiefs would score for the rest of the game.

The next drive for the Broncos was probably the most important of the game faced by a 10-point deficit for the second time in the first half and eight minutes to go Jay Cutler led the Broncos on a seven minute, 14-play drive that resulted in a 12-yard TD reception by Brandon Marshall.

The score brought the Denver back within three points and gave them a obvious momentum shift going into half, 17-14 Chiefs.

The Broncos would capitalize on the momentum shift with their first drive of the second half pulling even on a 33-yard Matt Prater field goal after going 68 yards on 12 plays and chewing 6:45 off the clock.

For the first time in the game, with 8:17 left in the third quarter, the Chiefs did not have the lead and would be unable to regain it the rest of the way.

Offensive futility would dominate the remainder of the third quarter as the Broncos would move down the field only to witness Matt Prater miss a 48-yard field goal. The Chiefs would fair no better the would punt every possession away in the third quarter and were unable to gain any sort of offensive traction.

With the ball in their hand to start the fourth the Broncos would take the lead for the first time in the game, a lead they would not lose after a six yard TD pass from Cutler to Marshall, Marshall’s second TD catch of the game.

Down 24-17 in a very hostile environment Tyler Thigpen seemed unafraid and unfazed, with ten minutes left and starting from his own 24-yard line Thigpen would calmly lead the Chiefs down the field on a 12-play drive that would lead the Chiefs to the Denver five.

Facing a 4th-and-goal from the five and the game on the line Tyler Thigpen would call his own number as he scrambled up the middle but fell short after he was tackled by Dre Bly at the half yard line. It would prove to be a game saving tackle by Bly as the Chiefs were unable to stop the Broncos and Thigpen was forced to sit on the sidelines and watch the Broncos run out the clock and win the game.

In his continued evolution Double T might have learned his most important lesson today “Football is a game of inches” if Thigpen could have found another 12 inches, this game could have had a different ending.