Broncos Rally Past Chiefs, Payton Hits 200 Wins

Denver overcame a 24-13 third-quarter deficit to beat Kansas City 28-24 and move into first place in the AFC West.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Football

Broncos Rally Past Chiefs, Payton Hits 200 Wins

The Denver Broncos defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 28-24 after trailing 24-13 in the third quarter, moving into first place in the AFC West. Coach Sean Payton earned his 200th career win, counting the playoffs, and his 300th regular-season game.

Why it matters

The victory avenges a Week 1 loss to Kansas City, 31-10, and gives Denver sole command of the AFC West lead. It also places Payton among the fastest NFL coaches to reach 200 wins.

Denver's 28-24 win came after a 24-13 third-quarter deficit, and Payton reached 200 wins in his 320th game, behind only Don Shula's 286 games for the quickest path to that mark. The remaining schedule will determine whether the Broncos hold their new AFC West lead.

The players

Sean Payton

The veteran NFL head coach led the Broncos to this win and has coached multiple teams, including the New Orleans Saints, where he won a Super Bowl.

Denver Broncos

The Denver-based franchise is a longtime AFC powerhouse that competes in the AFC West division.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City-based franchise is a perennial AFC contender and the Broncos' division rival.

The details

Sean Payton wrote 48 on the grease board before the game, marking 48 days since Kansas City's Week 1 win over Denver. The Broncos overcame a 24-13 third-quarter hole to secure the victory.

Week 1: Kansas City defeated Denver 31-10 in the season opener.
2012: The NFL suspended Payton for the season over the Saints' bounty scandal.
2021 season end: Payton stepped away from New Orleans.

Season Trajectory

Payton reached 200 wins in his 320th game, placing him sixth-fastest in NFL history and trailing Don Shula's 286-game benchmark. The win also gives Denver a first-place standing in the AFC West that shapes the division race.

The result puts Denver in first place in the AFC West, so the next divisional games carry direct weight for playoff seeding. Fantasy managers tracking Broncos players should watch how the team's schedule shapes its remaining production.