Broncos Edge Chiefs 28-24 in Officiating Controversy
Denver beat Kansas City in a second meeting this season that featured multiple disputed calls and a nullified late touchdown.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Football
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The Broncos defeated the Chiefs 28-24 on Sunday in the second meeting between the teams this season. The game was marked by lengthy officiating delays and several penalties that changed possessions and scoring.
Why it matters
The final stretch of the game turned on a false start penalty that erased a late Chiefs touchdown, drawing criticism from CBS analyst J.J. Watt over NFL officials' handling of the game. The result also moved Denver to the top of the AFC West.
Denver is now 6-2, and Kansas City is 5-2 after Week 8, with the Chiefs' Week 8 record used as the comparator for the standings shift. The source does not describe any league review of the disputed calls.
The players
J.J. Watt
Former Houston Texans defensive end turned CBS analyst who criticized NFL officials for delays and disputed calls during the game.
Patrick Mahomes
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback whose late touchdown pass to Rashee Rice was nullified by a penalty.
The details
Kansas City was flagged on a third-and-six at the start of the fourth quarter, and the referee took nearly a minute to signal an ineligible downfield pass on Jaylon Moore. Denver declined the penalty, forcing the Chiefs to punt on fourth and two, and a false start on Moore later nullified a late Rashee Rice touchdown.
Timeline
Sunday: Broncos defeat Chiefs 28-24
Week 8: Broncos move to the top of the AFC West at 6-2
Season Trajectory
The result leaves Denver atop the AFC West at 6-2 while Kansas City falls to 5-2, reshaping the division race. Officiating disputes in a second meeting between the two clubs put pressure on how the league handles contested late-game calls.
Denver's move to 6-2 at the top of the AFC West affects playoff positioning and division standings for the rest of the season. Fantasy managers rostering Broncos or Chiefs players should note the officiating-related scoring changes from this game when evaluating upcoming matchups.
The takeaway
Late-game penalties can reverse a game's outcome in seconds, so tracking official rulings and standings changes together gives a clearer picture of a season than the final score alone.
Further reading
For more on the local team's season, see Denver Football.
Source note: This article includes information reported by EssentiallySports.
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