DENVER -- A goal-line stand in the final 35 seconds of a win over their biggest division rival forced the Broncos to call in higher powers, search for good-luck charms and, for some, just avoid eye contact on the game's final play in a 28-24 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
"Maybe it's OK we defy logic,'' Broncos tackle Mike McGlinchey said. "... I did say a few Hail Marys, and our defense did what our defense does. It's not conventional. We just closed it out.''
Kansas City got the ball to the Denver 4-yard line with 35 seconds to play but was held out of the end zone on five straight plays. The Broncos, who won their 15th straight one-score game and improved to 6-2, earned a season split with the Chiefs (5-2) and moved into first place in the AFC West.
But the Broncos didn't make it easy.
"It's our defense. I've seen them come out of crazy situations, and that was one there,'' Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. said. "Games like this, sitting there watching them do this, it's going to take some years off of my life because my heart is just going, going, going."
Added Broncos left tackle Garett Bolles: "I don't know if I was actually watching. My head was in my helmet ... that it's our turn, please, please, let us prevail.''
Trailing 24-13 in the fourth quarter, Denver scored two touchdowns in 4 minutes, 53 seconds of possession time to take a 28-24 lead. But with 1:56 left, the Chiefs' Emmett Johnson returned the ensuing kickoff 44 yards to Kansas City's 44. The Chiefs ran four plays to move to the Broncos' 4 with 35 seconds to play.
Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and the reigning Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III were staring at a Denver defense trying not to allow the go-ahead score.
"Hall of Fame quarterback, Hall of Fame tight end, Hall of Fame coach and the running back is on his way, too,'' Broncos defensive tackle Malcolm Roach said.
Walker took it to the 1 on first down. Mahomes threw an incompletion on second down. And then Broncos backup safety JL Skinner stopped Walker for no gain on third down.
On fourth-and-goal from the 1, Mahomes initially believed he had thrown the winning touchdown pass to Rashee Rice, but the play was blown dead because Chiefs right tackle Jaylon Moore was flagged for a false start.
"It didn't surprise me or catch me, so it couldn't have been big,'' Mahomes said. "It was called. You have to go with whatever's called. But a lot of times, in those big moments, the little stuff doesn't get called like that.''
It was one of 11 penalties for 105 yards for Kansas City. Chiefs coach Andy Reid, however, didn't think it deserved a flag.
"I didn't see [a penalty]; that's one man's opinion," he said. "I saw him move his head, but I didn't see a false start.''
That set up the game's final play from the Denver 6 with four seconds left. Mahomes was pressured by Broncos outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper and then sacked by Roach as he tried to escape.
"If you can do your job at a high level for six seconds [every play],'' Roach said. " ... The small victories lead to big wins.''
ESPN Chiefs reporter Nate Taylor contributed to this report.