KANSAS CITY, Mo. — What a difference a year makes.

The Broncos' last trip to Arrowhead Stadium ended in heartbreak, and the postgame scene in the visiting locker room seemed be a mix of shock and painful disappointment. And while his teammates stood up for him in the days after Denver's game-winning field-goal attempt was blocked, Alex Forsyth bore the brunt of the online criticism.

It's hard to imagine, then, a better gift for Forsyth than the game ball he received Thursday night following his first start of the season and a 20-13 Broncos win.

"This one is special," Forsyth said Thursday. "I was just kind of flooded with emotions when I came in here, so it was great to have my teammates. They've been so supportive with everything that [happened in] last year's game and supporting me after that and sticking up for me and sticking with me, most importantly."

The third-year Oregon product played every offensive snap on Thursday as he filled in for Luke Wattenberg, who was placed on injured reserve.

"I am super proud of him," quarterback Bo Nix said. "… I would say nobody prepares more in this league than he does. I think he is one of the most in-depth preparers I have ever seen. It is awesome to play behind him. I knew going into this game that he wasn't going to leave a stone unturned. He prepares like no other, and he's going to do his best to put the team in the best chance of succeeding.

"We all know what happened here last year and how much it hurt him and how much it meant to him. I think it's just sort of a god wink that he got to come back here and start, and play the full game, and we get our first win here in a long time. I think he has earned that, and he definitely is well deserving of that game ball."

Forsyth anchored an offensive line that powered Denver's offense to a dominating time-of-possession edge that included three drives of at least eight minutes and four drives of at least 14 plays. More impressively, he turned in that performance after learning Monday he would make his first start of the year.

"They were great this week, just giving me confidence," Forsyth said of his teammates. "It's not easy to get told you're starting on a Monday and going in on a short week."

Forsyth's own mental strength to rebound from last year's heartbreaking moment may be the most impressive element of Thursday's performance, and he said it was intentional to not let that play have a negative lasting impact.

"I've got to flush it and move on," Forsyth said. "I can't let a bad play ruin a career, especially not a game like this — not an important game like this. You try to put it away. Obviously, you never forget plays like that, but just try to flush it [and] just focus on the game."

Forsyth succeeded, and his resilience stood out to his teammates and coaches in a locker room that was far more excited and jovial this time around.

"I'll tell you what was pretty impressive," Head Coach Sean Payton said Thursday. "Alex came in and played really well, got a game ball. It was a tough trip home last year. It's a little life lesson, for someone like him, to come back in a starting role. That was pretty cool."

BRONCOS' ROOKIE RB CONTINUES HOT STREAK

As Bo Nix sprinted to his right, RJ Harvey settled along the back line of the end zone and made a quick cut back to his left.

That was all it took for Harvey to create the needed separation for Nix to fit the ball into him and to secure the Broncos' game-winning score. It was the second act of a go-ahead score, and it was the latest of example of Harvey's prowess for finding the end zone.

"It was a very savvy move by him," Nix said postgame of the former quarterback. "You can tell he has been in my shoes before throwing. He knows what it is like to find space. He is a really savvy football player. He does things a lot that are unteachable that he has in his toolbox. He does stuff like that all the time. It is just football savvy. It just worked where he bought some time in the end zone and made a good catch."

With his fifth touchdown catch of the season, Harvey is now just one of three rookies since 1950 to have at least seven rushing touchdowns and five receiving touchdowns in a season, joining Alvin Kamara and Hall of Famer Gale Sayers. Harvey continues to lead all rookies in scrimmage touchdowns, and his five-game streak with a touchdown is the longest in franchise history.

"Each and every week, my confidence is growing," Harvey said. "… I'm not a rookie anymore."