History was pounding on the front door, but Sean Payton decided he’d bolt the lock shut. Sitting at 63 sacks this season, the Denver Broncos had a chance to pursue an iconic feat: Break the all-time NFL sack record (72) set by the Chicago Bears in 1984. Payton, however, was concerned about a far more important prize.

“We couldn’t be rushing for sacks tonight,” the Broncos’ head coach said, per journalist Aric DiLalla on X. “We had to cage [rush] and keep him in the pocket. He can run and the worst place to be in football is behind the quarterback. I don’t think anyone is focused on records right now. It’s fabulous for our defense but it’s how you win each game.

And true to his word, Denver had just one sack on Oladokun throughout the whole game. Their sole sack came in the third quarter with 13:12 to go when outside linebackers Jonah Elliss and Dondrea Tillman stopped the Chiefs’ signal caller from executing a run-pass option and tracked him down for a 9-yard sack.

Overall, while Oladokun avoided turnovers, he threw for just 66 yards while completing 13 of his 22 passes. The defense’s pass rush and coverage kept him boxed throughout the game, limiting the team to just 139 total yards, with 57 through the air and 82 on the ground. Despite not forcing a turnover, Payton’s team stalled the opponent’s possessions and long gains. Their control was clearly evident after halftime as Kansas City could manage just 16 yards on its first three possessions of the second half.

More instances of Payton’s mind games also shone through late in the game.

With just around two minutes remaining and the game tied 13-13, Broncos had the ball fourth-and-2 at the Chiefs’ 9. The most expected course of action would have been to try for a field goal to take a 16-13 lead. However, that would also mean that the Chiefs would have time to tie the game again or take a lead with a touchdown. So, Payton did what he had to do: Foregoing the field goal by attempting a fourth-down conversion.

In what can be called an unusual formation, Bo Nix was sent out wide right with running back RJ Harvey moving to shotgun. The RB then lifted his leg, signaling that he wanted the snap and also seemed to be shouting the snap count. However, it was right guard Quinn Meinerz who then shouted the snap count, baiting Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones into a premature jump.

The strategy was to have Denver earn a first down and have a go at the end zone, and also have Kansas exhaust their timeouts. In simple words: That’s exactly what happened.

Andy Reid’s team utilized two of its three timeouts on the next two plays. Nix, on the other hand, found Harvey for a 1-yard touchdown to secure a 20-13 victory.

“It was at a different formation, one we’d never shown,” Payton admitted. “We were going to take the delay of game, so we didn’t have a play. It’s a unique one because you’re on the road, so it involves a heel, and then Meinerz is barking the cadence out. That changed the complexity of the clock, and that was a big play.”

But while the Chiefs’ offense couldn’t move the ball all game, they showed signs of a late comeback. The unit reached the Broncos’ 21-yard line with just 25 seconds remaining in the game, but to no avail. It’s understandable why Patrick Mahomes was dearly missed.

Kansas City Chiefs feel Patrick Mahomes’ absence once again

The Chiefs entered the Week 17 contest on Christmas Day, knowing they were once again without their offensive powerhouse. It marked the Chiefs’ second game without Mahomes this season, and the weight of his absence was hard to ignore. While Oladokun is steering the ship for now, he hasn’t been able to match the 30-year-old’s impact. And the franchise continues to reel from the harrowing knee injury that sidelined its superstar and snatched its playoff hopes. 

That mishap unfolded late in the Week 15 game against the Los Angeles Chargers. The two-time league MVP was trying to get outside the pocket before defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand tackled him. He immediately went down, clutching his left knee and grimacing in pain. The quarterback then underwent an evaluation on the sideline, with the Chiefs eventually ruling him out for the rest of the game.

Further tests confirmed Mahomes had sustained tears to both his ACL and LCL, officially concluding his 2025 season. After a successful surgery, the team’s head trainer, Rick Burkholder, shared a timeline for his return. According to him, the QB will probably require nine months to recover. It gives him a realistic chance to return around the start of the 2026 season. 

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As for the Chiefs, they are being cautious and focusing on their star player’s long-term health. Before the injury, Patrick Mahomes contributed ‌3,587 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions across 14 games. His performance kept Kansas City afloat during an uneven year. Even with ups and downs, his presence kept the Chiefs competitive, something they have been struggling with lately.