Handing out game balls from the Chiefs' astonishing victory over the Broncos

Wow. Just wow.

The Kansas City Chiefs were well on their way to their first loss against the Denver Broncos on Sunday for the first time since Christmas Day against the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023. With just seconds left to play, the Broncos had an easy field goal with time expiring and a chance to take the lead for good at Arrowhead. Suddenly, the last play of the game was a huge one by the Chiefs' special teams to give them their 15th victory in a row.

While the team struggled, we still have some game balls to be handed out with most of them going to unlikely heroes that may not be household names in their own right.

Game Ball #1: Leo Chenal

Although Mike Danna was originally credited with the block on ESPN, a closer look at the replay sees Chenal get immediate pressure over the line and in perfect position to block the ball in the backfield. With that said, Chenal has had himself a season. Check out his handiwork below:

Chenal not only preserved the Chiefs' perfect season at 9-0, but he added four tackles to his total this season. His excellent play in the heart of the defense has been exactly what this defense has needed given some of the inconsistent play from others.

Game Ball #2: Nazeeh Johnson

Nazeeh has had some up-and-down games this year but the matchup against the Broncos proved he is one of the most reliable young stars under Spagnuolo's reign as defensive coordinator. Johnson not only led the Chiefs in tackles (10) but ended up with the most tackles of anyone in the game including a huge sack in the first quarter for SEVENTEEN yards.

Johnson's sack would eventually lead to a punt, and his coverage on some of the Broncos' best receivers proved essential all game long as McDuffie was scorched by Courtland Sutton and the rest of the secondary found themselves on ice skates throughout most of the game.

Game Ball #3: Kareem Hunt

Kareem Hunt has certainly been enjoying his second stint in Kansas City but Sunday was simply a pound-and-ground game that needed his ball security and ability to stay poised.

While a stat line of 14 carries for 35 yards isn't great—in fact, it's just 2.5 yards per carry—Hunt's 7 receptions yielded a team-high 65 yards, including a huge 26-yard catch-and-run at the beginning of the fourth quarter.

No matter which way Reid likes to use him, Hunt has proven to be a shrewd acquisition and just what the Chiefs offense needed to keep the chains moving each week.