The Kansas City Chiefs clinched a 16-14 victory over the Denver Broncos on Sunday when they blocked a 35-yard field goal attempt on the final play of the game (and, yes, it was a legal play).
Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal was credited with the block. After the game, Chenal revealed to Mike Florio of NBC Sports that he had identified a weakness in Denver offensive lineman Alex Forsyth’s stance on kicks earlier in the game.
“Chenal said that the earlier field goal attempts and extra points showed him that the guy assigned to him was, ‘Light on his toes,’ and the bull rush would work,” Florio said during “Football Night in America” on Sunday night.
The Chiefs bull-rushed Forsyth and broke through the line to block the kick.
After the game, the Broncos’ lineman accepted blame for the play.
“I have to be stouter,” Forsyth told The Denver Post. “They had four guys on that side. But it didn’t surprise us. I have to be stouter.”
As Andrew Mason of DenverSports.com has pointed out, Forsyth has been forced off his feet on eight of the team’s last ten kicks. The last play of Sunday’s game was the most egregious, and it will undoubtedly spark a correction (or at least an attempt to correct it).
Kansas City timed the snap perfectly and penetrated the line of scrimmage immediately.
Talked with Leo Chenal after his game-saving blocked field goal for the Chiefs. Here’s a quick summary of the call. pic.twitter.com/nFi78oRm8V
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) November 11, 2024
Florio also reported that Chiefs defenders considered allowing the Broncos to score a touchdown to give KC’s offense a chance with the ball, but defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo ruled out that scenario.
It seems safe to assume that Forsyth won’t be light on his toes going forward.
