Linebacker Tanoh Kpassagnon #92 of the Kansas City Chiefs closes in for a sack of quarterback Paxton Lynch #12 of the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on December 31, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo: Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
A long and difficult season came to an end for the Denver Broncos with a 27-24 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.
Harrison Butker hit a 30-yard field goal with no time left to give the Chiefs the win. Kansas City moves on to the playoffs with a 10-6 record while the Broncos' season ends with a 5-11 mark.
Zaire Anderson's 38-yard fumble return for a touchdown brought the Broncos to within 24-17 with 6:52 to go in the fourth quarter.
After forcing a punt, the Broncos drove 62 yards in eight plays. The Broncos tied the game at 24 when Paxton Lynch hit Demaryius Thomas on a six-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-four.
The Chiefs responded behind rookie quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who engineered an 11-play, 67 yard drive to set up Butker's game-winning field goal.
Lynch finished 21-of-31 for 254 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Running back C.J. Anderson rushed for 61 yards and finished with season with 1,007. It was the first time in his career that Anderson cracked the 1,000-yards rushing mark in a season.
After the game, KOA NewsRadio Broncos Insider Mike Klis tweeted that President of Football Operations/GM John Elway will meet with head coach Vance Joseph on Monday morning and decide whether or not Joseph will return as the Broncos' head coach.
Listen to KOA NewsRadio postgame interviews with head coach Vance Joseph, QB Paxton Lynch, RB C.J. Anderson, WR Jordan Taylor and S Will Parks.