The Kansas City Chiefs vs Denver Broncos Match Player Stats from November 17, 2025, tell the story of a close AFC West contest decided by accurate kicking, defensive pressure, and missed scoring opportunities. The Denver Broncos defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 22-19, using five successful field goals from Wil Lutz and a strong defensive performance to secure the victory. Although Patrick Mahomes threw for 276 yards and Bo Nix recorded 295 passing yards, Denver found a way to win without a passing touchdown.

The final score only tells part of the story. Kansas City moved the ball through the air, Travis Kelce delivered an important receiving performance, and Kareem Hunt contributed on the ground. Denver, meanwhile, spread its passing production among several receivers, generated pressure on Mahomes, and relied on Lutz to convert drives into points.

For readers comparing quarterback performances, receiving production, rushing efficiency, defensive statistics, and special teams, this breakdown examines the supplied ESPN box score in detail. It separates the recorded numbers from their tactical implications to explain how the game unfolded and why Denver came away with a three-point win.

Table of Contents

Kansas City Chiefs vs Denver Broncos Match Player Stats: Final Score and Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

Game date: November 17, 2025 | Competition: NFL regular season | Result: Final

Denver Broncos

22

Won

22-19

Final score

Kansas City Chiefs

19

Lost

Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Total
Chiefs	3	3	7	6	19
Broncos	6	0	7	9	22

Denver’s advantage came from a productive opening quarter and a stronger fourth quarter. The Broncos scored six points in the first quarter, added seven in the third, and finished with nine in the final period. Kansas City scored three points in each of the first two quarters before adding seven in the third and six in the fourth.

The quarter-by-quarter figures reveal an important detail: Kansas City remained competitive throughout the game, but Denver finished with the better scoring output in the opening and closing quarters.

According to the supplied game data, Denver entered the contest with a 9-2 overall record and a 6-0 home record. Kansas City stood at 5-5 overall and 1-4 away. Those records provide context for the result, although the box score alone cannot establish how much those circumstances influenced individual plays.

Game Summary: Why the Broncos Won

Denver won because its scoring opportunities produced enough points to overcome Kansas City’s more productive passing attack. The Broncos did not need a passing touchdown to reach 22 points, thanks largely to Wil Lutz’s perfect field-goal performance.

Three factors stand out.

Reliable kicking: Lutz converted all five field-goal attempts, including a long kick of 54 yards, and added one extra point for 16 total points.
Defensive disruption: Denver recorded three sacks and eight quarterback hits as a team. Ja’Quan McMillian accounted for two sacks and an interception.
Balanced receiving contributions: Troy Franklin gained 84 receiving yards, Pat Bryant added 82, and Courtland Sutton recorded 59.

Kansas City had its own strengths. Mahomes threw for 276 yards and one touchdown, Kelce caught nine passes for 91 yards and a touchdown, and Hunt scored on the ground. Yet the Chiefs’ two missed extra-point opportunities, combined with Denver’s ability to turn drives into field goals, formed an important part of the scoring picture.

The central lesson is that yardage and points are not interchangeable. A team can move the ball effectively and still lose if it fails to convert enough possessions into touchdowns or gives the opponent opportunities to score consistently.

Patrick Mahomes vs Bo Nix: Quarterback Stats Compared

Quarterback production is one of the most searched parts of any NFL matchup, but passing yards alone do not explain the difference between winning and losing. The two starting quarterbacks delivered similar overall yardage, yet their efficiency figures and scoring results differed.

Passing statistic	Patrick Mahomes	Bo Nix
Completions	29	24
Pass attempts	45	37
Completion percentage	64.4%	64.9%
Passing yards	276	295
Yards per attempt	6.1	8.0
Passing touchdowns	1	0
Interceptions	1	0
Sacks taken	3	2
Sack yards lost	27	12
ESPN QBR	53.4	40.3
Passer rating	79.5	89.4

Source: supplied ESPN box-score data. Passing yards and passing efficiency are presented separately from rushing production.

Patrick Mahomes’ performance

Mahomes completed 29 of 45 passes for 276 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. His completion rate was approximately 64.4%, and his average of 6.1 yards per attempt indicates that Kansas City generated a steady volume of completed passes without consistently producing large gains.

The three sacks for 27 yards also deserve attention. Sacks reduce the value of a passing possession because they push an offense backward and can make the next down more difficult. Mahomes was productive enough to keep Kansas City in the game, but Denver’s pressure made some possessions harder to finish.

His most important contribution came late in the third quarter and early in the fourth. A 61-yard completion to Tyquan Thornton moved Kansas City deep into Denver territory. Later, Mahomes connected with Travis Kelce for a 21-yard touchdown that put the Chiefs ahead 19-16.

That sequence demonstrates Mahomes’ ability to create explosive passing opportunities. However, the final outcome shows that a major passing play does not guarantee a victory when the opponent can respond with points of its own.

Bo Nix’s performance

Nix completed 24 of 37 passes for 295 yards without a passing touchdown or interception. His completion percentage of approximately 64.9% was almost identical to Mahomes’ figure, but his 8.0 yards per attempt was considerably higher.

This difference suggests that Denver generated more yardage per pass attempt. It does not, by itself, prove that Nix was the more effective quarterback in every aspect of the game. Touchdowns, interceptions, sacks, field position, and the quality of individual plays all matter.

Nix’s 89.4 passer rating exceeded Mahomes’ 79.5, while his ESPN QBR of 40.3 was lower than Mahomes’ 53.4. These ratings use different formulas and measure different aspects of performance, so they should not be treated as interchangeable scores.

Nix’s most valuable contribution was his ability to move the ball far enough for Denver to keep scoring. His 48-yard completion to Pat Bryant helped establish a scoring opportunity, while a late 20-yard pass to Courtland Sutton helped the Broncos move into position for the winning field goal.

Which quarterback performed better?

The answer depends on the metric.

Passing volume: Mahomes completed five more passes and attempted eight more.
Passing yardage: Nix finished 19 yards ahead.
Yards per attempt: Nix led with 8.0 compared with Mahomes’ 6.1.
Passing touchdowns: Mahomes threw one, while Nix threw none.
Interceptions: Nix avoided an interception, while Mahomes threw one.
Passer rating: Nix finished higher.
ESPN QBR: Mahomes finished higher.

A balanced interpretation is that Nix produced more efficient yardage per attempt, while Mahomes delivered the game’s key passing touchdown. Neither statistical profile should be reduced to one number.

Kansas City Chiefs Player Stats: Passing, Rushing, and Receiving

Kansas City’s offense relied heavily on Mahomes’ arm, with Kelce serving as the most productive receiver by both catches and receiving yards. Hunt provided a useful rushing contribution, while Thornton supplied the biggest individual receiving play.

Chiefs rushing statistics

Player	Carries	Rushing yards	Average	Touchdowns
Kareem Hunt	13	59	4.5	1
Patrick Mahomes	1	3	3.0	0
Team total	14	62	4.4	1

Kareem Hunt’s role in the offense

Hunt carried the ball 13 times for 59 yards, averaging 4.5 yards per attempt. His longest run covered 11 yards, and he scored one rushing touchdown.

His production gave Kansas City a credible alternative to throwing on every possession. An effective rushing game can help an offense stay out of obvious passing situations, keep the defense honest, and create opportunities near the goal line.

Hunt’s two-yard touchdown run in the third quarter was particularly important. It tied the score at 13-13 and demonstrated that Kansas City could finish a drive with a rushing play rather than depending on Mahomes to throw the ball into the end zone.

Even so, Kansas City’s total of 62 rushing yards came on only 14 attempts. Hunt supplied most of that production, leaving relatively little additional rushing output from the rest of the team.

Patrick Mahomes as a runner

Mahomes added three rushing yards on one carry. His rushing total was modest, but quarterback scrambles can serve a different purpose from designed running plays.

A short scramble may help recover some yardage after a passing play breaks down, while also forcing defenders to account for the quarterback as a runner. In this game, however, Kansas City’s rushing numbers show that its ground production came primarily from Hunt.

Chiefs receiving statistics

The following table presents the principal Kansas City receiving contributors from the supplied box-score data.

Receiver	Receptions	Targets	Receiving yards	Yards per catch	TDs
Travis Kelce	9	13	91	10.1	1
Tyquan Thornton	1	2	61	61.0	0
Hollywood Brown	4	4	40	10.0	0
Rashee Rice	6	4*	38	6.3	0
Xavier Worthy	3	5	25	8.3	0
Noah Gray	2	3	9	4.5	0
Brashard Smith	2	3	8	4.0	0
Kareem Hunt	1	2	3	3.0	0
Robert Tonyan	1	1	1	1.0	0

The supplied data lists Rashee Rice with six receptions but four targets. Those figures are internally inconsistent because receptions cannot exceed targets. The reception and yardage figures are retained as supplied, but the target figure should be checked against the original box score before publication.

Travis Kelce leads Kansas City

Kelce finished with nine receptions for 91 yards and one touchdown on 13 targets. His average of 10.1 yards per catch shows that his work was not limited to very short completions.

His 21-yard touchdown reception was the defining Kansas City scoring play in the fourth quarter. The catch gave the Chiefs a 19-16 lead, placing Denver under pressure to answer before time expired.

Kelce’s contribution was valuable in two ways. First, he consistently gave Mahomes a reliable receiving option. Second, he converted a key opportunity into a touchdown when Kansas City needed a scoring play rather than another field goal.

Nine catches also indicate that Kelce was a frequent part of the passing plan. Still, a high reception count should be read alongside targets, yards per catch, and the timing of the catches. In this game, both his overall production and his touchdown were meaningful.

Tyquan Thornton’s explosive reception

Thornton recorded one catch for 61 yards on two targets. His 61.0 yards per reception was the highest figure among the listed Kansas City receivers, although the average reflects a single reception rather than a pattern of repeated production.

The long completion helped set up Hunt’s third-quarter touchdown. It showed how a single deep pass can change field position and dramatically increase the chance of scoring on a possession.

Thornton’s performance also illustrates why receiving averages require context. A player with one catch for 61 yards can lead the team in yards per reception, but a receiver with six catches for 38 yards may have contributed more consistently across multiple plays.

Hollywood Brown and Rashee Rice

Brown caught all four of his listed targets for 40 yards. That represents a 100% catch rate on the supplied figures, though the sample is small.

Rice recorded six receptions for 38 yards according to the provided data. His 6.3 yards per catch indicates a short-yardage receiving role in this particular statistical profile. Because his listed target total conflicts with his reception count, his catch rate should not be calculated until the source discrepancy is resolved.

Together, Brown and Rice offered Mahomes options beyond Kelce and Thornton. Their production helped Kansas City distribute the ball, even though neither receiver recorded a touchdown.

Xavier Worthy and the supporting receivers

Worthy caught three passes for 25 yards on five targets. Gray added two catches for nine yards, while Smith recorded two receptions for eight yards.

These totals were smaller than Kelce’s or Thornton’s, but supporting receivers can contribute through short completions, blocking assignments, route spacing, and the ability to occupy defenders. The box score records the catches and yards, not every part of a receiver’s contribution.

For statistical analysis, the key distinction is between receiving volume and receiving impact. Kelce delivered both steady volume and a touchdown, while Thornton delivered a single high-impact gain. The remaining receivers contributed smaller amounts of yardage.

Denver Broncos Player Stats: Rushing and Receiving Analysis

Denver’s offense combined an efficient passing-yardage profile with a limited rushing total. Nix led the passing attack, while Franklin and Bryant produced the two largest receiving totals. McLaughlin supplied a rushing touchdown that helped Denver build its scoring position.

Broncos rushing statistics

Player	Carries	Rushing yards	Average	Touchdowns
RJ Harvey	11	30	2.7	0
Jaleel McLaughlin	6	19	3.2	1
Bo Nix	3	8	2.7	0
Marvin Mims Jr.	1	2	2.0	0
Team total	21	59	2.8	1

RJ Harvey’s rushing contribution

Harvey led Denver in rushing attempts with 11 carries for 30 yards, averaging 2.7 yards per carry. His longest run was seven yards, and he did not score a rushing touchdown.

The numbers indicate that Denver’s ground game was not particularly explosive. Harvey handled the largest share of the listed rushing workload, but his average remained below three yards per carry.

This matters because consistent rushing gains can help an offense control the pace and create manageable passing situations. When runs produce limited yardage, an offense may need to rely more heavily on passing to move the chains.

Denver overcame this limitation by generating 295 passing yards from Nix and distributing the ball among several receivers. Harvey also contributed three receptions for 20 yards, giving him a role in the passing game beyond his carries.

Jaleel McLaughlin’s touchdown

McLaughlin rushed six times for 19 yards, averaging 3.2 yards per carry. His longest run was five yards according to the supplied figures, and he scored one touchdown.

His four-yard touchdown run in the third quarter completed a long Denver possession and gave the Broncos a 13-6 lead. The touchdown was especially useful because it converted a drive into seven points instead of another field goal.

McLaughlin’s rushing average was not high, but the touchdown was the most important part of his individual contribution. This is a useful reminder that a running back’s value in a single game cannot be assessed from yards per carry alone. Short runs near the goal line can have a major effect on the final score.

Denver receiving statistics

Receiver	Receptions	Targets	Receiving yards	Yards per catch	TDs
Troy Franklin	4	8	84	21.0	0
Pat Bryant	5	6	82	16.4	0
Courtland Sutton	4	8	59	14.8	0
Evan Engram	4	5	33	8.3	0
RJ Harvey	3	3	20	6.7	0
Adam Prentice	1	2	14	14.0	0
Adam Trautman	1	1	8	8.0	0
Tyler Badie	1	1	0	0.0	0
Jaleel McLaughlin	1	1	-5	-5.0	0

Troy Franklin’s downfield impact

Franklin caught four passes for 84 yards, averaging 21.0 yards per reception. His longest catch covered 35 yards, making him Denver’s leading receiver by total yardage in the supplied statistics.

An average of 21 yards per catch suggests that his receptions produced substantial gains. It does not establish that every route was a deep route, but it highlights how much yardage Denver gained from his four catches.

Franklin’s contribution helped stretch Kansas City’s defense and gave Nix a receiver capable of turning a completion into a meaningful change in field position. Denver did not need Franklin to score a touchdown for his yardage to matter.

Pat Bryant’s productive outing

Bryant finished with five receptions for 82 yards on six targets. His 16.4 yards per catch placed him close to Franklin in receiving efficiency, and his longest reception covered 48 yards.

Bryant’s 48-yard gain was one of the most significant plays in Denver’s passing production. Big completions help an offense advance quickly without requiring a long series of short passes.

Bryant also recorded more receptions than Franklin, showing that he contributed both in terms of total yardage and catch volume. When two receivers produce nearly identical yardage through different reception patterns, their performances should be compared using both figures rather than total yards alone.

Courtland Sutton’s late-game importance

Sutton caught four passes for 59 yards, averaging 14.8 yards per reception. His longest listed reception covered 21 yards.

His most important contribution came late in the fourth quarter. With the score tied 19-19, Nix completed a 20-yard pass to Sutton on a critical third-down play during Denver’s final drive. That completion helped the Broncos keep possession and continue moving toward field-goal range.

The importance of this play extends beyond Sutton’s final yardage total. A completion on a long third down can preserve a drive, consume time, and prevent the opposing offense from getting another possession.

In a game decided by three points, that type of situational contribution can be more important than several routine receptions.

Evan Engram and the supporting cast

Engram recorded four catches for 33 yards on five targets. Harvey added three receptions for 20 yards, while Prentice had one catch for 14 yards and Trautman finished with one catch for eight yards.

Badie recorded one reception without gaining a yard, while McLaughlin had one reception for minus-five yards. Negative receiving yardage can occur when a receiver catches a pass behind the line of scrimmage and is tackled before reaching the original spot.

Denver’s receiving production was spread across multiple players. Franklin led in yards, Bryant led in receptions, and Sutton delivered an important late-game conversion. This distribution made it possible for Nix to find different targets throughout the contest.

Defensive Player Stats: Chiefs vs Broncos

The defensive numbers help explain why Denver won despite Kansas City’s passing touchdown and explosive completion to Thornton. Denver recorded more total tackles, more sacks, more passes defended, and more quarterback hits in the supplied team statistics.

Defensive statistic	Kansas City	Denver
Total tackles	64	68
Solo tackles	41	36
Sacks	2	3
Tackles for loss	6	4
Passes defended	3	4
Quarterback hits	5	8
Interceptions listed in supplied data	0	1

These figures show different strengths. Kansas City recorded more solo tackles and tackles for loss, while Denver produced more sacks and quarterback hits. Those distinctions matter because tackles for loss and quarterback pressure can interrupt offensive timing, even when they do not immediately create a turnover.

Ja’Quan McMillian leads Denver’s defensive pressure

McMillian’s listed statistics include:

Six total tackles, including five solo tackles.
Two sacks.
Two tackles for loss.
One pass defended.
Two quarterback hits.
One interception for 16 return yards in the supplied data.

His two sacks were a major individual contribution. Sacks can turn a promising possession into a difficult third-down situation, force a punt, or push a kicker out of a comfortable range.

The fourth-quarter sack on Mahomes was particularly important to Denver’s defensive effort. With the score tied, pressure on the quarterback limited Kansas City’s ability to answer the Broncos’ late field goal with another scoring drive.

McMillian’s combination of tackling, pressure, and coverage statistics also demonstrates why defensive impact cannot be judged by tackles alone. A player who creates negative plays and disrupts passing opportunities may influence a game in ways that are not fully represented by the total tackle count.

Justin Strnad’s tackling performance

Strnad led Denver in total tackles with 10, including four solo tackles. He did not record a sack or tackle for loss in the supplied statistics.

His total reflects consistent involvement in defensive plays. However, tackle totals should be interpreted carefully. They do not automatically indicate that a defender played better than a teammate with fewer tackles, because the number of opportunities varies with the opponent’s play selection and the defender’s assignment.

Strnad’s role can be assessed more accurately when tackle counts are considered alongside film, coverage responsibilities, missed tackles, and the situations in which the plays occurred.

Chris Jones and Kansas City’s defensive effort

Jones recorded two tackles, one solo tackle, one sack, one tackle for loss, and two quarterback hits.

Although his tackle total was modest, his pressure statistics show that he disrupted Denver’s passing game. A defensive lineman can influence an offense by collapsing the pocket or forcing a quarterback to release the ball early, even when the play does not end in a sack.

Kansas City’s team total of two sacks confirms that its defense did create pressure. Denver’s offense nevertheless generated 295 passing yards from Nix, and its receivers produced several large gains.

Chamarri Conner and Nick Bolton

Conner recorded eight tackles, including five solo tackles, one sack, one tackle for loss, and one quarterback hit. Bolton recorded six tackles, five of them solo, along with one pass defended.

Conner’s sack gave Kansas City a defensive contribution beyond routine tackling. Bolton’s pass defense showed activity in coverage, while his tackling helped the Chiefs respond to Denver’s passing and running plays.

Together, their numbers reflect a defense that created some negative plays but did not prevent Denver from generating enough offense to win.

What the defensive comparison tells us

Denver’s eight quarterback hits compared with Kansas City’s five suggest that the Broncos were more active in disrupting the opposing passer. That difference is especially relevant because the game was close enough for a single sack or forced incompletion to affect the result.

However, pressure totals should not be treated as a complete measure of defensive quality. The numbers do not reveal how quickly the pressure arrived, whether the quarterback had an open receiver, or how much protection the offensive line provided.

The strongest supported conclusion is narrower: Denver recorded more sacks and quarterback hits, and its defense helped keep Kansas City’s scoring total below Denver’s final score.

Special Teams Stats: Wil Lutz Makes the Difference

Special teams were central to the outcome. Denver’s five successful field goals supplied 15 points, and Lutz added an extra point. Kansas City’s Harrison Butker converted two field goals but missed an extra-point attempt that was blocked.

Kicking comparison

Kicker	Field goals	FG percentage	Longest field goal	Extra points	Total points
Wil Lutz, Denver	5/5	100%	54 yards	1/1	16
Harrison Butker, Kansas City	2/2	100%	31 yards	1/2	7

Lutz’s performance was the clearest statistical difference between the teams’ kickers. He converted five field goals from different distances, including a 54-yard kick and the 35-yard attempt that won the game as time expired.

Butker was also perfect on field goals, making both of his attempts. The difference came in the extra-point category, where one of his two attempts was blocked.

That blocked kick mattered because the game ended with Denver ahead by three points. It would be misleading to claim that one missed extra point alone explains the loss, but it was a meaningful scoring event in a contest with such a narrow margin.

Why Lutz’s five field goals mattered

Denver did not score a passing touchdown, but it consistently converted possessions into points. Lutz’s kicking gave the Broncos a way to benefit from drives that advanced the ball without ending in a touchdown.

The scoring sequence shows how his production accumulated:

Two field goals in the first quarter.
A 38-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
A 54-yard field goal that tied the game at 19-19.
A 35-yard field goal as time expired to secure the win.

This is a useful example of the difference between offensive yardage and scoring efficiency. A team does not need a large number of touchdowns to win if it consistently reaches field-goal range and converts its attempts.

Punting statistics

Punter	Punts	Total punt yards	Average	Inside the 20	Longest
Matt Araiza, Kansas City	4	238	59.5	0	66 yards
Jeremy Crawshaw, Denver	4	211	52.8	3	58 yards

Araiza averaged 59.5 yards per punt, compared with Crawshaw’s 52.8. Araiza also recorded the longest punt at 66 yards.

Crawshaw, however, placed three punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, compared with none for Araiza in the supplied data. Punting distance and punt placement measure different things.

A longer punt can move the ball farther downfield, but a punt that lands inside the 20 can force the receiving team to start closer to its own end zone. The figures suggest that Denver’s punting offered more precision in terms of field position, while Kansas City’s produced greater average distance.

Neither statistic should be considered in isolation from return yardage and the starting field position of the next possession.

Kick returns and punt returns

Return category	Player	Returns	Yards	Average	Longest
Chiefs kick returns	Tyquan Thornton	3	85	28.3	33
Chiefs kick returns	Nikko Remigio	3	72	24.0	28
Broncos kick returns	Tyler Badie	3	79	26.3	28
Chiefs punt returns	Nikko Remigio	2	19	9.5	12
Broncos punt returns	Marvin Mims Jr.	3	101	33.7	70

Mims’ 70-yard longest punt return stands out as a potentially important field-position contribution. His three returns produced 101 yards, an average of 33.7 yards per return.

Return yardage can change a game without appearing in the passing or rushing leaderboards. A long return can give an offense a shorter field to navigate, improving its chance of reaching scoring range.

The supplied data lists Thornton and Remigio with strong kick-return totals for Kansas City. These figures show that the Chiefs also gained meaningful yardage on returns, even though Denver ultimately won the field-position and scoring battle.

Key Moments That Decided the Game

The box score becomes more useful when individual numbers are connected to the order of events. The following moments explain how Denver built its lead, how Kansas City moved ahead, and how the Broncos recovered to win.

1. Denver establishes an early lead

Lutz converted field goals of 29 and 24 yards in the first quarter. Kansas City responded with a 31-yard field goal of its own, leaving Denver ahead 6-3 at the end of the period.

The Broncos’ early points helped them establish a lead without needing a touchdown. Kansas City stayed close, but the opening quarter set the pattern for Denver’s eventual reliance on its kicker.

2. Both teams trade touchdowns in the third quarter

McLaughlin scored on a four-yard run to give Denver a 13-6 advantage. Kansas City then responded with a 61-yard Mahomes-to-Thornton completion that set up Hunt’s two-yard rushing touchdown.

The Chiefs’ touchdown tied the score at 13-13. This was an important swing because it showed that Kansas City could exploit a defensive opening with a single explosive pass, then finish the possession with a short run.

Denver’s touchdown drive and Kansas City’s response illustrated two different scoring approaches: Denver relied on a sustained possession, while Kansas City used a big passing gain to accelerate its drive.

3. Kelce puts Kansas City ahead

In the fourth quarter, Mahomes found Kelce for a 21-yard touchdown. The Chiefs took a 19-16 lead, and the blocked extra-point attempt left them with 19 points rather than 20.

Kelce’s touchdown was a major offensive success, but the missed extra point became more significant as the final score approached. In close games, extra points can shape the range of outcomes a team can reach with a later field goal.

4. Lutz answers from 54 yards

Denver responded with a 54-yard field goal to tie the score at 19-19. The long kick demonstrated Lutz’s ability to convert from distance and removed the Chiefs’ advantage.

This play also showed the importance of avoiding negative outcomes on late possessions. Denver did not need a touchdown to get back into the game. It needed to reach a workable kicking distance and execute.

5. McMillian pressures Mahomes

Kansas City’s next possession failed to generate a scoring response. Denver’s defensive pressure, including a sack credited to McMillian, helped force another punt.

The sack was important because it disrupted Kansas City’s opportunity to move into scoring range. At 19-19, either team could have won with a field goal, so preventing the opponent from advancing the ball was just as important as creating offense.

6. Sutton helps Denver extend the final drive

With the game tied and little time remaining, Nix completed a 20-yard pass to Sutton on third-and-long. That conversion helped Denver retain possession and move toward the winning field goal.

The play illustrates why situational statistics matter. Sutton’s four receptions and 59 yards tell us how much he produced overall, but the timing of the 20-yard gain tells us why his contribution was particularly valuable.

7. Lutz wins it as time expires

Denver advanced into field-goal range and Lutz converted a 35-yard attempt as time expired. The kick made the final score 22-19 and completed his perfect five-for-five field-goal performance.

The result was a three-point victory, but the route to that result involved passing efficiency, defensive pressure, return yardage, and reliable kicking. No single statistic explains the entire contest.

Statistical Comparison: Which Team Had the Edge?

The following comparison brings the most relevant supplied numbers together.

Category	Kansas City Chiefs	Denver Broncos	Advantage
Final score	19	22	Denver
Passing yards	276	295	Denver
Passing touchdowns	1	0	Kansas City
Interceptions thrown	1	0	Denver
Rushing yards	62	59	Kansas City
Rushing touchdowns	1	1	Even
Team receiving yards	276	295	Denver, as supplied
Total tackles	64	68	Denver
Sacks	2	3	Denver
Quarterback hits	5	8	Denver
Field goals made	2	5	Denver
Punt returns	19 yards	101 yards	Denver

The Broncos had a narrow advantage in passing yards and a small disadvantage in rushing yards. They also recorded more defensive pressure and converted more field goals.

The table should not be read as a complete measure of every phase of the game. For example, total tackles depend partly on how often an opponent runs plays, while receiving yardage does not show how much time a team spent on each drive. Still, the figures explain why Denver’s win was supported by more than the final score alone.

The importance of the field-goal margin

Denver made three more field goals than Kansas City. Because each successful field goal is worth three points, that difference represents nine additional points from field goals before accounting for the rest of the scoring.

This does not mean the three extra field goals alone created the final three-point margin, because both teams also scored touchdowns and extra points. Instead, it highlights how often Denver successfully turned possessions into points through its kicking game.

Efficiency versus total volume

Mahomes attempted 45 passes, eight more than Nix. Nix nevertheless finished with 19 more passing yards and a higher yards-per-attempt average.

This is a straightforward example of why efficiency metrics can reveal details hidden by volume totals. A quarterback who throws more often may finish with more completions, but another quarterback can generate more yards per attempt with fewer passes.

At the same time, Nix’s lack of a passing touchdown shows that yardage efficiency does not automatically translate into passing scores. Denver’s offense depended on both his yardage production and its ability to score through rushing and field goals.

What These Player Statistics Mean for Future Matchups

Individual box-score numbers can help readers understand team tendencies, but a single game should not be treated as proof of a permanent trend. The matchup offers several useful areas to watch when the teams meet again.

Kansas City’s passing efficiency

Mahomes’ 276 yards and 6.1 yards per attempt provide a starting point for evaluating the Chiefs’ passing attack. Future analysis should examine whether Kansas City can generate more explosive gains while reducing sacks and turnovers.

Kelce’s nine catches and Thornton’s 61-yard reception show that the offense had the capacity to produce important passing plays. The question is whether those plays can be combined with more consistent scoring across the full game.

Denver’s ability to finish drives

Denver’s five field goals demonstrate the value of reliable kicking, but field goals are not always a substitute for touchdowns over a larger sample of games. Future matchups should be evaluated by looking at touchdown conversion, red-zone performance, penalties, and the ability to sustain drives.

Nix’s 295 passing yards without a passing touchdown make this distinction especially clear. Denver moved the ball effectively, but its scoring came through a combination of rushing touchdowns, field goals, and the extra point.

Defensive pressure and protection

Denver’s three sacks and eight quarterback hits suggest that its pressure was an important part of the win. A future matchup analysis should examine whether Kansas City’s offensive line allows Mahomes enough time to work through his progressions.

On the other side, Kansas City’s two sacks show that its defense also created pressure. Denver’s ability to gain nearly 300 passing yards despite that pressure is an important part of the statistical picture.

Special teams as a deciding factor

Lutz’s perfect field-goal record was central to the result. In future games, kickers’ accuracy, punt placement, return efficiency, and extra-point execution should be evaluated together.

The 22-19 final score shows why special teams deserve a separate section in player-stat analysis. A game can be close enough that kicking accuracy and field position matter as much as passing or rushing totals.

How to Read NFL Match Player Stats Correctly

For readers researching the Kansas City and Denver matchup, understanding the terminology makes the figures more useful.

Completions and attempts: Completions count successful passes, while attempts include passes thrown that qualify as attempts under official scoring rules.
Completion percentage: Completions divided by attempts, multiplied by 100.
Yards per attempt: Passing yards divided by pass attempts. This helps compare yardage efficiency across different passing volumes.
Passer rating: A standardized NFL passing statistic based on completion percentage, yards per attempt, touchdown rate, and interception rate.
QBR: ESPN’s separate quarterback metric, which is not calculated using the same formula as passer rating.
Yards per carry: Rushing yards divided by rushing attempts.
Yards per reception: Receiving yards divided by catches.
Sacks: Plays in which a quarterback is brought down behind the line of scrimmage under the official scoring rules.
Tackles for loss: Defensive plays that stop a ball carrier or quarterback behind the line of scrimmage, excluding sacks in the relevant separate category.
Passes defended: Recorded defensive plays that disrupt a pass without necessarily resulting in an interception.

These definitions help prevent misleading comparisons. A high completion percentage does not necessarily mean a quarterback generated many yards, and a high tackle count does not automatically mean a defender had the strongest overall performance.

Why official box scores matter

NFL statistics can be updated after a game as scoring decisions are reviewed. A reliable article should therefore use an official box score or a recognized statistics provider as its reference point.

The supplied data contains a few figures that warrant checking before publication, including Rashee Rice’s receptions and targets. The receiving-yard totals also require careful interpretation because passing statistics, receiving statistics, and sack yardage can be reported under different conventions.

For the final score, quarter-by-quarter scoring, and the primary player statistics, consult the ESPN game box score. Using one consistent source helps readers verify the numbers and makes future updates easier.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who won the Kansas City Chiefs vs Denver Broncos game on November 17, 2025?

The Denver Broncos defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 22-19. Denver secured the victory with a 35-yard field goal by Wil Lutz as time expired.

2. How many passing yards did Patrick Mahomes have against Denver?

Patrick Mahomes completed 29 of 45 passes for 276 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He also took three sacks for 27 yards.

3. What were Bo Nix’s stats against the Kansas City Chiefs?

Bo Nix completed 24 of 37 passes for 295 yards, with no passing touchdowns or interceptions. He recorded an 89.4 passer rating and an ESPN QBR of 40.3.

4. Who was the leading receiver in the Chiefs vs Broncos matchup?

Travis Kelce led Kansas City with nine receptions for 91 yards and one touchdown. Troy Franklin led Denver with 84 receiving yards on four catches.

5. How many field goals did Wil Lutz make in the game?

Wil Lutz made all five of his field-goal attempts, including a 54-yard kick and the 35-yard game-winning field goal. He finished with 16 points.

6. Which team had more sacks in the game?

Denver recorded three team sacks, while Kansas City recorded two, according to the supplied statistics. Ja’Quan McMillian led Denver’s listed defenders with two sacks.

Conclusion

The Kansas City Chiefs vs Denver Broncos Match Player Stats show how Denver won a tightly contested AFC West game through dependable kicking, defensive pressure, and timely offensive execution. The Broncos finished with a 22-19 victory, despite recording no passing touchdowns.

Patrick Mahomes threw for 276 yards and connected with Travis Kelce for a key fourth-quarter touchdown. Bo Nix produced 295 passing yards, while Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant led Denver’s receiving attack. Kareem Hunt and Jaleel McLaughlin each contributed a rushing touchdown, keeping both offenses competitive.

The most decisive difference came from special teams. Wil Lutz converted five field goals and an extra point, finishing with 16 points. Denver also recorded three sacks and eight quarterback hits, helping limit Kansas City’s chances to respond late in the game.

The final result demonstrates why player statistics are most useful when evaluated together. Passing yards show offensive production, rushing numbers reveal ground contributions, defensive statistics help explain pressure, and kicking figures clarify how drives became points. Taken as a whole, these numbers provide a clearer understanding of Denver’s three-point victory than any single performance metric could offer.