Denver Broncos

Watch Cairo Santos bank in unbelievable winner off upright as Chiefs stun Broncos in OT

Published Dec. 9, 2016 12:58 p.m. ET

Nunzio Ingrassia

The Kansas City Chiefs appeared to have the game in control as kicker Cairo Santos lined up his 34-yard field goal attempt with five seconds left in overtime. It appeared to be a mere formality that the Chiefs would send the Broncos home in disgust after Denver kicker Brandon McManus failed to convert a 62-yarder four plays earlier.

But one thing we’ve learned this season is nothing is automatic when it comes to making field goals. Santos did make the relative chip shot, but only after it hit the upright and ricocheted through for one of the most improbable field goals, lifting the Chiefs to a 30-27 win.

The Chiefs move a game ahead of the defending champs, who likely are kicking themselves for attempting the 62-yarder with 1:08 left in overtime that eventually gave Kansas City the field position it needed to pull off the victory.

McManus never doubted he could make the kick that eventually missed wide left.

"That's still well within my range. I just kind of hit the ground," McManus told reporters after the game. "From that distance, everything kind of needs to be perfect just because of how far you are away. It didn't happen for me."

Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak took full blame for the decision to attempt the long field goal.

"It's on me," Kubiak said. "We didn't have any doubt that he could get the ball there. The thought process was on the other end: if we do punt, do we get the ball back?"