DENVER — Wil Lutz delivered a message as soon as he got in the locker room.
In the moments after his fifth game-winning kick of the season, Lutz found Special Teams Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach Darren Rizzi amid the celebration.
"Special teams changed that game," Lutz told Rizzi.
In nearly every element of special teams, that proved true in the Broncos' 22-19 win over the Chiefs.
Lutz drilled all five of his field-goal attempts in the win, including a 54-yarder to tie the game and a 35-yarder to seal the victory. The veteran earned a game ball following the performance and said he's been "waiting for a game like that" after the 16-point performance.
"He had a great night," Head Coach Sean Payton said. "I saw it in New Orleans. That's why he's here."
Denver was similarly impressive in the return game. Wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr., in his return to game action, recorded a career-long 70-yard punt return to set up Denver's second field goal of the afternoon. On the game-tying drive, he delivered a 24-yard return to kick-start Denver's offense.
"We created short fields for our offense, and that's huge," Lutz said. "Marv's a two-time All-Pro. We're happy to have him back."
From a coverage unit perspective, Denver pinned the Chiefs back on several possessions. Rookie Jeremy Crawshaw averaged 52.8 yards per punt — including a 58 yarder — and pinned the Chiefs inside their 20-yard line on three occasions. Following four punts, the Chiefs began their drives at their own 11-, 10-, 24- and 12-yard line.
"It's tough to come back when you come back from a game like last week, when you have a little bit of a mishit earlier in the game," Lutz said of Crawshaw. "To be able to stay levelheaded and come back from that is impressive. That's when you know you have the right guy in the room. I'm proud of Jeremy for sticking with it."
Denver's kickoff coverage was also solid, as the Chiefs started all of their possessions short of the 35-yard line. Five of the six drives following kickoffs started shy of the 30-yard line, which helped give the Broncos a field-position advantage.
The most impactful special teams moment, though, may have come from offensive tackle Frank Crum. The 6-foot-7 player blocked Kansas City's extra-point attempt following a go-ahead touchdown to keep Denver within a field goal of the lead.
"Frank Crum stepping up and blocking that PAT was insane," Lutz said. "Quite honestly, five field goals is great, but that changed the game."
The special teams unit, as a whole, contributed in nearly manner — and it led the Broncos to a critical division win.
