Judging biggest overreactions for NFL Week 11 games - ESPN

DENVER — The Chiefs and Broncos spent the first half circling each other like prizefighters, fully cognizant of the stakes and being careful not to make the devastating mistake. It was 6-6 at halftime — two field goals apiece, nothing to indicate which way it would go.

In the second half, they started throwing haymakers. And scoring touchdowns. They ended up delivering a classic rivalry game that turned on a sack by Broncos defensive back Ja'Quan McMillian — his second of the game, to go with an interception — and ended when Broncos kicker Wil Lutz made a 35-yard field goal as time ran out for a 22-19 Denver victory.

Coincidentally, it was the same length field goal attempt by Lutz that was blocked as time ran out in Kansas City last year to deliver the Broncos their most heartbreaking loss of the 2024 season. But this isn't last year. The Broncos were 1-6 in one-score games last season. They're 7-2 in them this year. The Chiefs were 11-0 in one-score games last season. They're 0-5 in them this year.

«I'd be lying if I didn't say it was a big win,» Broncos coach Sean Payton said when it was over. It's maybe the biggest any team had in Week 11 when you factor in the history and the circumstances.

The Broncos now head into their bye week with a two-game division lead over the Chargers and a 3.5-game advantage over the Chiefs, who have won the AFC West nine years in a row, with six games left in their season. So while we sort through the Week 11 overreactions to try to figure out which ones might hold up and which ones are mirages, it seems right to start things in Denver.

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