The Broncos didn’t need a lot of sacks to fluster Patrick Mahomes.

The Broncos entered Sunday’s game against Kansas City at Empower Field averaging a staggering 4.6 sacks per game. They had just three in the 22-19 win but still bothered the Chiefs quarterback throughout the game.

“He’s always a legendary player but he just turns into a different player when the play is extended and we kind of knew that,’’ said defensive tackle Malcolm Roach. “We just got to chase (Mahomes). You get in case mode. … That’s what (defensive coordinator Vance Joseph) preached to us (Saturday) night. Just chase. You got to chase. You got to be dogs.”

The Broncos didn’t give Mahomes much time in the pocket to scramble and they had eight quarterback hits. He completed 29 of 45 passes for 276 yards with one touchdown and one interception and had a mediocre passer rating of 79.5.

“That’s a good defensive line at all five positions,” Mahomes said.

Outside linebacker Nik Bonitto said the Broncos were “relentless all night” in going after Mahomes.

“We definitely pressured him in the pocket and made him feel uncomfortable,’’ said outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper.

Bonitto leads the Broncos with 9.5 sacks and Cooper has 7.5 but neither had one Sunday. Denver got two sacks as well as an interception from cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian and nose tackle D.J. Jones had the other sack.

“We’re getting tired of JMac getting all these wide-open free sacks when when we have to take on these double teams,’’ Bonitto said with a laugh about McMillian now having four this season. “In all seriousness, I’m happy for JMac. He’s a big-time playmaker.”

The Broncos’ three sacks did up their season total to 49, and they remain on pace to break Chicago’s 1984 record of 72 in a season.

“The fact we’re still on pace is great but at the end of the day, it’s about winning games,’’ said defensive tackle Zach Allen.

The Broncos are on pace to finish with 76 sacks in the 17-game season. However, since the Bears played a 16-game season in 1984, Dan Hampton, a Hall of Fame defensive tackle from that team, has said any record set in the 17^th game should get an asterisk. The Broncos are on pace for 71 sacks in 16 games.

“It’s something that we want to do, but we just got to take it week-by-week,’’ Bonitto said of breaking the record.

Replacing Dobbins

Broncos coach Sean Payton had little to say about the Broncos on Saturday having placed star running back J.K. Dobbins on injured reserve with a left foot injury.

“No updates,’’ he said.

Dobbins has had surgery to repair ligament damage and is likely out for the season. He had entered Week 11 fifth in the NFL in rushing with 772 yards.

The Broncos had just 59 yards rushing on 21 carries Sunday, with running backs getting 49 yards on 17 attempts. Starting Sunday was rookie RJ Harvey, who had 11 carries for just 30 carries.

Jaleel McLaughlin, who had been inactive for nine of the first 10 games, came off the bench to have six carries for 19 yards. He did have a 4-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to put Denver up 13-6.

Despite the meager totals, the Broncos expressed optimism about the running game. Payton said it was “good enough” Sunday.

“I’m confident in the backs we have,’’ said tackle Mike McGlinchey. “I think RJ is going to continue to get better the more experience he gets. Jaleel has proven he can be successful for us in this league (in his previous two seasons) and he’s been champing at the bit for his shot. … And Tyler (Badie) has done a great job.”

Harvey also had a passing stat Sunday. He threw an incompletion in the first quarter to quarterback Bo Nix on first-and-10 at the Chiefs 12. Nix had to break up the pass to avoid an interception.

“In practice, it was more open than that,’’ Nix said the play. “I tried to show off my DB skills. But at the same time, you know, those plays are gimmicky. It’s either there or not.”

Broncos up lead in AFC West

At 9-2, the Broncos increased their lead in the AFC West over the Los Angeles Chargers (7-4), who lost 35-6 at Jacksonville, and the Chiefs (5-5), who have won nine straight division titles.

“There’s a lot of football left to be played,’’ McGlinchey said. “We’ve done a great job to this point but we can’t take our foot off the gas because you’re 9-2. There are a lot of other stuff to play for than just the division.”

The Broncos head into their bye week and don’t play again until Nov. 30 at Washington.

“It’s really important just to have this type of lead (in the AFC West),’’ Bonitto said. “Obviously, we don’t want to be able to relax but we can breath a little bit now.”

Roach said the Broncos want to be “number one (in the NFL) in February.”

Briefly

McGlinchey lauded the leadership of Nix, the second-year man who had faced criticism over some recent lackluster showings. “He’s the toughest dude on our team I think, having to deal with the pressure of being a starter at such a young age,’’ McGlinchey said. “He’s the leader of this football team.” … Rookie Pat Bryant led the Broncos with five catches for 82 yards. He left briefly with an upper body injury in the fourth quarter before returning. … Wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey, who returned to the Broncos when being plucked Wednesday off the New York Giants’ practice squad, played but did not have a target. … Inactive for Denver were cornerback Pat Surtain, linebacker Alex Singleton, outside linebacker Jonah Elliss and tight end Nate Adkins, all ruled out Friday with injuries, defensive linemen Jordan Jackson and Sav’ion Jones and tackle Geron Christian.