Chiefs running back Emmett Johnson hauls in a pass from Patrick Mahomes to score a touchdown during the second quarter against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

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In Week One it was new Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker. The free-agent acquisition ran for 173 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown on fourth and one, against the Denver Broncos.

In Week Eight it was new Chiefs running back Emmett Johnson. The rookie fifth-round pick had 128 receiving yards vs. the Broncos.

“Our young rookie running back obviously had a nice day,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said.

Though the Broncos limited Walker, the Chiefs’ marquee $43.05 million signing to under 3.3 yards per carry and on a crucial third-and-goal stop in the final seconds of their 28-24 victory, it was Johnson who gashed Denver.

On third and 10, the Broncos ran a zero-blitz look, and defensive back Ja’Quan McMillian nearly sacked quarterback Patrick Mahomes before Mahomes deftly floated a pass over the top to Johnson for a 73-yard touchdown pass.

“Emmett was able to get out,” Reid said. “And Pat throws a heck of a throw.”

When Johnson was 15 yards from the end zone, there was still one Broncos defender there to stop him — veteran safety Taylor Rapp who saw more time due to injuries to Brandon Jones and Talanoa Hufanga. Johnson cut back inside, started to stumble but had enough balance to regain his footing and enough speed to beat Rapp back outside.

The play, which was Johnson’s first NFL touchdown, demonstrated his elusiveness and was also a great play call. The Broncos figured Johnson would stay into block, but he instead leaked out.

It was part of a game of cat and mouse between two confidants but coaching adversaries.

Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph are close friends who regularly chat during the season. They were both Colorado teammates in 1990 and then on the same University of Colorado coaching staff in 2001-02.

Bieniemy got the upper hand there, but the Broncos had an explosive rookie running back of their own who changed the game at a more critical juncture.

With 2:31 left in the game, the Chiefs blitzed, and the Broncos beat it with a 51-yard pass to rookie running back Jonah Coleman.

In the long term, the fourth-round pick also gives the Broncos hopes to resuscitate a running game, which entered the game vs. the Chiefs ranked 24th in the NFL.

On the other end of the spectrum, the Chiefs entered Week Eight with the fifth-ranked rushing game largely due to Walker.

But even in their loss, the Chiefs may have found a way to further amplify their offensive attack with their running backs.

“Obviously, Kenneth is the guy, but you want to be able to take carries away from him so that we can have him for the full, entire season,” Mahomes said. “If Emmett can come and be a change of pace and break tackles and make plays, catch the ball and do all that different type of stuff, defenses can’t relax.”

Johnson’s touchdown was not his only big play that stressed the Broncos defense.

On the Chiefs’ ensuing possession, he had a 38-yard catch on second and seven.

And his 44-yard kickoff return with fewer than two minutes to go nearly gave the Chiefs the victory before Malcolm Roach sacked Mahomes six yards from the end zone on the game’s final play.

“(He) put us in a position on the kickoff,” Reid said, “where we could get ourselves in scoring position.”

The Chiefs fell just short, and now the AFC West is equally close with Broncos at 6-2 and the Chiefs just behind at 5-2.

“There are a few more games left,” Reid said. “So we gotta make sure we rally from this and learn from it and then move on.”

This article was originally published on Forbes.com

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