Troy Franklin #11 of the Denver Broncos reacts after a play against the Kansas City Chiefs during the third quarter at Empower Field At Mile High on Nov. 16, 2025 in Denver, Colorado.
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The score was tied with 54 seconds remaining in the Chiefs’ game Sunday against the Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
That’s when Kansas City called a timeout.
Denver had the ball on the Chiefs’ 47-yard line and lined up for a second-and-8 play, knowing a field goal would win the game. Broncos quarterback Bo Nix completed a clutch 32-yard pass to Troy Franklin.
That set up a 35-yard field goal by Wil Lutz that gave Denver a 22-19 win over the Chiefs.
It went unnoticed at the time, but should the Broncos have been called for a penalty before that Nix-to-Franklin pass? It sure seems like Franklin could have been called for a false start. Here is the video from KSHB’s Mick Shaffer.
Former Chiefs offensive lineman Mitchell Schwartz thought it was a false start. He noted Kansas City cornerback Jaylen Watson was signaling to an official about Franklin.
He wasn’t figuring out the assignment he was pointing to the ref about the false start. Before the rest of you yell at me I don’t think it changes the outcome, still think Denver gets in FG range with 2nd and 13 instead of 2nd and 8. pic.twitter.com/S55w1NHDB5
— Mitchell Schwartz (@MitchSchwartz71) November 17, 2025
The Broncos had converted a third-and-15 play earlier in the drive, so if a penalty had been called, it may have made no difference in the outcome.
This story was originally published November 16, 2025 at 7:43 PM.
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