Is this year the year of the Broncos? It sure felt like it on November 16, when a defensive performance that felt reminiscent of what’s seen in Orange Crush highlight reels reared its head.

By now, OutThere Colorado readers know I’m a transplant, from Indiana but having called the Centennial State home for more than a decade. To my regret, up until this past weekend, I had never attended a Broncos home game. The drive to Denver from Colorado Springs amid gameday traffic coupled with high ticket prices always felt like a bit of a stretch. Plus, I grew up a Colts fan and while I’ve long split time cheering for them and the Broncos, I’d felt like my memories of Lucas Oil stadium were enough for me. I was wrong.

A friend had a couple extra tickets to the Broncos game against the Chiefs, and with my girlfriend in tow, I knew we had to jump at the chance to see the team live at Empower Field. After all, I had been following along with the season enough to know how crucial this game was to both teams – the Broncos seeking validation after several lackluster offensive showings as of late and the Chiefs desperate to gain some steam that could propel them to the playoffs.

With the spread set at about +4.5 in favor of a Chiefs victory, Broncos star running back Dobbins freshly out for the season, and knowing that Mahomes and company have the type of experience that always makes them a threat, I assumed a Broncos loss was all but imminent. Either way, I knew it would be fun to see them live.

As soon as the first kickoff took place, the game unfolded like a match of chess, with both teams teasing the endzone but not making it there until the third quarter. The Broncos secondary showed some major gaps starting out, with several big throws by Mahomes barely missed in a way that had fans around the stadium worried about the fate of the Broncos once connections came to fruition.

Back-and-forth field goals ultimately left the teams tied at halftime – six to six – but the hype never died.

Each time the Broncos took the field to defend their endzone, the stomping started, rumbles echoing around the stands as the stadium literally started to shake. “Disrupt their huddle” read a message on the big screen, and Broncos fans took that plea to heart. In a half that may have been considered ‘boring’ to some amid the lack of big offensive plays, all eyes stayed affixed to the gridiron, prayers undoubtedly sent toward the sky begging that somehow an orange jersey could break through a Chiefs O-line that seemed impenetrable. A Broncos team that came into the game on-track to set the all-time sack record for a single season seemed to be stopped in their tracks with Mahomes given plenty of time to throw without much pressure. Somehow, however, the Broncos held on.

“Keep it close, just keep it close,” seemed to be the hope held by all of those sporting blue and orange in the stands. And as the second half hit, the teams did just that. A Broncos late-3rd quarter touchdown pushed them up, but before the start of the 4th, the Chiefs answered back. And as the 4th quarter rolled around, the score was again stuck in a tie – 13 to 13.

Soon after the 4th quarter started, a Broncos field goal put them up again – 16 to 13, but after about three minutes ticked off the game clock, the Chiefs again answered – this time with a touchdown, and just like that, the Broncos were down for the first time in the game, 19 to 16 Chiefs after a missed PAT.

Broncos fans around the stadium seemed a bit deflated, but were hanging in there. Chiefs fans started to get even louder, a sign the game was finally turning their way and confident in their team’s ability to play under pressure.

But again, the Broncos answered back – not the touchdown fans were hoping for, but another field goal bringing the game to another tie – 19 to 19. Four minutes and change left on the clock.

And this is where the magic of Mile High really started to shine. With Chiefs in possession on a third-down play and a much needed defensive stop ahead, fans rose to their feet and rose the decibels to the roar of a jet engine. And just like that, the Broncos defense rose to the occasion and did what it does best – Mahomes sacked for an 11 yard loss on the Chiefs 15. Now fourth down with 21 yards for a first and backed up toward their own endzone, the Chiefs had no choice but to punt the ball away.

Tied at 19 to 19 with three minutes left and 74 yards to go for a touchdown, the Broncos had a shot, but they’d have to move the ball – preferably with enough game clock control to prevent the Chiefs from having a chance to answer back. And move the ball they did, particularly with a 20-yard downfield shot from Nix to Sutton on third and long from the Broncos 21-yard line – a pivotal moment in what would become a game-winning drive that’s failure would have likely led to a Chiefs’ victory.

With about a minute left, the Broncos were still stuck around mid-field – outside of field goal range and with a dwindling chance to close it out before the end of regulation. And then boom, like clockwork, another downfield shot – this one for 32 yards, caught by Troy Franklin and putting the Broncos on the Kansas City 15 – exactly where the team needed to be to call a timeout with three seconds left, setting up Wil Lutz for a 35-yard kick that would push the Broncos ahead at 22 to 19 as time expired.

As the teams lined up for the final play of the game, I expected a hush among the crowd. That wasn’t the case. The cheers continued, Broncos fans trusting their kicker to finish the job. And finish the job he did. As Lutz sent the kick sailing through the center of the uprights, the stadium exploded, the fireworks blasted off, and the Broncos had won what could prove to be their most important game of the regular season.

While the Chiefs went into the game with a less-than-remarkable record of five and four, the game felt make-or-break for both teams – the Chiefs trying to prove to the rest of the NFL that they still had a chance at greatness this season and the Broncos trying to validate their league-topping record after barely squeaking by against the Raiders and their then-two-and-six record (now two-and-seven) in what many considered to be one of the worst professional football games to ever be played the week prior.

At the edge of the endzone where the Broncos scored the winning field goal, a short message was painted on the field – “It Takes All Of Us.” And last night at Empower Field, that statement couldn’t have felt more true. The fans, indeed, become a factor at Mile High – no doubt – shaking the stadium with support in a way that’s truly electric – sure to energize the home team and serve as a distraction to opponents.

Last night, the Broncos looked like a team that could push far into the season, and with a little bit of luck on their side, an appearance at the Super Bowl feels feasible. If Nix hits a stride and limits his turnovers and if the defense stays true, there’s no doubt in my mind that the Broncos, at the least, have a shot.