Streak over: Broncos stun Chiefs to end NFL-worst 16-game skid in rivalry
The United States has seen three different presidents in office, songs like Desiigner's "Panda," Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You" and Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" hit the Billboard charts and streetwear's ascent into high fashion in the time the Kansas City Chiefs built the longest active win streak against a single team in the NFL.
And now it is over.
The Denver Broncos upended their AFC West foe 24-9 at Empower Field at Mile High on Sunday to snap their 16-game losing streak to Kansas City.
The Broncos last beat the Chiefs in 2015, a 31-24 victory in Week 2. Per the CBS Sports broadcast, it had been 2,965 days since that game.
Patrick Mahomes battled illness and winter weather as he went 24-of-38 for 241 yards and two interceptions. He was sacked three times. The Denver defense forced five turnovers, which, according to the CBS broadcast, tied the most giveaways by the Chiefs since 2018, when they gave up five in a game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Justin Simmons intercepted Mahomes on fourth-and-22 with 4:45 on the clock, putting Russell Wilson and the offense on the Kansas City 20-yard line. The Broncos turned it into a 28-yard field goal with 31 seconds in the game before stopping Mahomes a final time as the clock ran out. Denver scored 17 points off the turnovers.
Jonathon Cooper, who had one of the three fumble recoveries, said beating Kansas City was an important achievement for Simmons, the longest-tenured Bronco.
“I’m so happy for him," Cooper said. "To finally get over that hump and beat this team I think is huge for us and it’s just gonna, we’re going to carry this momentum into the bye week and to when we play these Bills.”
.@jsimms1119 will take that. 😤
📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/WXDmgzKaQc— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) October 29, 2023
The defeat marked Mahomes' first ever road loss within the division. He was also held without a passing touchdown, ending a 29-game streak.
Wilson was 12-of-19 for 114 yards and three touchdowns, which ties his high with the Broncos. He also fumbled the ball twice, losing it once.
Kansas City beat Denver 19-8 in their first matchup this season. The Broncos trailed the whole game and didn't score until the fourth quarter.
Last year, the Broncos almost beat the Chiefs in their home game of the series as they were up 17-13 before Mahomes rallied his team for two touchdowns.
Denver heads into its bye week while Kansas City travels to Frankfurt to take on the Miami Dolphins in one of the NFL's five international games this season.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Broncos stun Chiefs, end NFL-worst 16-game losing streak in rivalry