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Leading the unbeaten division leaders, the Broncos needed the kind of clock-draining, point-producing drive they executed to end the first half.

Denver led Kansas City by 3 points and only 6 minutes, 27 seconds stood between the Broncos and the type of win Monday night that quiets the public roars into whispers and turns a season around.聽Instead, the Broncos went three-and-out and another lousy Marquette King punt handed the Chiefs field position (their 40) and time (4:35).

It was all Kansas City needed to improve to 4-0.

Overcoming penalties that created a second-and-30 and getting away with a delay-of-game call to convert a third-and-7 with a 35-yard Patrick Mahomes rabbit-out-of-his-helmet completion, Kansas City escaped with a 27-23 win on Kareem Hunt抖阴ap six-yard touchdown run with 1:39 remaining.

After Hunt抖阴ap touchdown, the Broncos had 75 yards to go and 1:39 of game clock. Quarterback Case Keenum converted a fourth-and-11 (12-yard pass to ) with 56 seconds remaining.

On the next play, Keenum hit tight end down the middle for 36 yards, to the Chiefs 28. Three plays later, Keenum overshot an open down the right sideline that would have been the go-ahead touchdown.

On fourth-and-10, the Broncos tried a trick play — a catch by , whose backward lateral for Emmanuel Sanders was recovered by the Chiefs with 12 seconds remaining. (The play ended up being ruled an incompletion).

“I thought we were in good shape until the last play,” Broncos coach Vance Joseph said. “Case had shown he could win games late for us.”

Said Keenum: “This is a tough one. It stings.”

The Broncos led 23-13 with 12:47 remaining, but couldn鈥檛 finish.

What a setback.

And, at the season鈥檚 quarter pole, the Broncos are 2-2, fitting because teams at .500 are equal parts average and flawed. They do enough good things to win at home, but don鈥檛 do enough good things to win as an underdog.

“I told the guys to keep fighting,” Joseph said of his post-game message. “We came out with the right mindset, we had a great week of prep and the guys played good football tonight. We鈥檒l win games like this. I love our team鈥檚 grit. We gave up some plays late and that hurt us.”

The Chiefs鈥� premier players were better than the Broncos鈥� best players. Mahomes time and time gave himself more time by escaping the pocket and throwing downfield. It took more than three quarters, but tight end emerged in a big way. And Hunt plowed his way to 121 yards.

Keenum was 21-of-33 passing for 245 yards. Mahomes was 28 of 45 for 304 yards.

“We couldn’t get him on the ground,” Joseph said of Mahomes.

One of Mahomes’ biggest plays was one he got away with — television replays showed the play clock at “0” before he received the snap at the 2-minute mark.

“I did (ask) and (the referee) said, 鈥楬e looked up, it was zero and the ball was gone,鈥�” Joseph said. “I disagreed.”聽 Broncos player were furious over the non-call.

After doing most everything right in the first half to lead 13-10, the Broncos鈥� demise appeared to be imminent early in the third quarter.聽Kansas City used gains of 24, 15 and 29 yards to move to the Broncos鈥� 3-yard line. But the Chiefs settled for a 21-yard Harrison Butker field goal to tie the game.

Potential turning point No. 2 came on the next play from scrimmage when Keenum was intercepted on a pass targeted for Heuerman. Two-plus quarters in, the Broncos had finally blinked. The Chiefs would surely take the lead and cruise to a win, right? No. They moved into Broncos territory but stalled thanks to two penalties and Mahomes being pressured into a third-down throwaway.

The Broncos answered with 10 consecutive points. Phillip Lindsay capped an 80-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown. Courtland Sutton drew a pass interference penalty to convert a third-and-10. After a Chiefs three-and-out, the Broncos went back to work. gained 10 yards (breaking two tackles) to end the third quarter, followed by 鈥檚 long catch. The Broncos had to settle for 鈥� 46-yard field goal and a 23-13 lead with 12:47 remaining.

Kansas City cut the lead to 23-20 with 6:27 remaining on Kelce鈥檚 two-yard touchdown catch.

A lousy three-and-out by the Broncos set up Kansas City鈥檚 winning drive.

Both teams started the game with field goal drives. The Broncos moved to the Chiefs鈥� 24, including gains of 11 (Heuerman catch), 18 (Freeman rush) and 17 (Lindsay rush) yards to open the game. Lindsay allowed a sack by Dee Ford, though, to stall the possession.

The Chiefs answered with a 10-play, 60-yard drive, the big play a 27-yard catch and run by Hunt. On the next play, Mahomes fumbled the snap.

Kansas City took its first lead on an 89-yard march that was the longest allowed this season by the Broncos鈥� defense. Hunt gained 45 when at least two Broncos missed tackles and Mahomes converted a third-and-4 with an eight-yard throw to receiver Demarcus Robinson. On third-and-goal, Mahomes scrambled left for an eight-yard touchdown.

The Broncos answered, needing only five plays to move 78 yards. Sutton made a fine 42-yard catch and three plays later, on third-and-1, Freeman scored on a 28-yard touchdown when he received the toss well behind the line of scrimmage then weaved his way through traffic and broke two Chiefs tackles inside the 10-yard line.

On their next drive, the Broncos did two things: They scored and left no time left for Kansas City. McManus鈥� 34-yard field goal gave the Broncos a 13-10 halftime lead.

The Broncos now face a short week and trip to face the New York Jets.

“Obviously, you hate not winning, but we’re finding an identity as a team, we’re building our character … and there is no quit at all in that locker room,” Keenum said. “Everybody is hurting now, but I know they’re going to show up (Tuesday) ready to work.”

KC’s QB wonder

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes broke Peyton Manning’s NFL record last week for most touchdown passes through three games when he tossed his 13th. He added one more Monday night against the Broncos, and his athleticism helped Kansas City post a fourth-quarter comeback.