Redemption in the Trenches: Alex Forsyth Steps Up as Broncos Sweep Chiefs for First Time in 11 Years
The Denver Broncos came into Arrowhead on Christmas night and walked away with more than just a 20-13 win over the Kansas City Chiefs - they left with a statement. Now sitting at 13-3, Denver not only locked in a hard-fought divisional win, but also completed their first season sweep of the Chiefs in over a decade. And for one player, this victory meant a whole lot more than just a notch in the standings.
Let’s rewind to last season. The Broncos were on the verge of snapping their long-standing struggles against the Chiefs.
They had driven deep into Kansas City territory, set up for a short, game-winning field goal. But in a moment that haunted Denver fans - and one offensive lineman in particular - Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal bulldozed through Broncos rookie Alex Forsyth, blocked the kick, and sealed the win for Kansas City.
It was a gut punch, plain and simple.
Fast forward to this week. Starting center Luke Wattenberg was ruled out with a shoulder injury and placed on injured reserve.
That opened the door for Forsyth, who had been waiting in the wings since being drafted in the seventh round back in 2023. Given the history, it would’ve been easy to question whether Forsyth was ready for the moment - especially returning to the very stadium where his most painful NFL memory had played out.
But Forsyth didn’t just hold his own. He answered the call.
The young center anchored the middle of the line against a Chiefs front that, while missing some key players, still brought pressure and physicality. He kept things clean for Bo Nix, helped pave the way for a balanced offensive attack, and played with the kind of poise that doesn’t always show up on the stat sheet - but certainly showed up on the tape.
After the game, head coach Sean Payton handed Forsyth the game ball. A small gesture?
Maybe. But for a player who had every reason to carry the weight of last season’s misstep, it was a symbol of redemption - and resilience.
“Can’t let a bad play ruin a career,” Forsyth said afterward. “Obviously never forget plays like that, but just try to flush it and focus on winning.”
That’s the kind of mindset you want from a guy in the middle of your offensive line - especially one who’s now expected to be the starter for the rest of the season, and potentially deep into the playoffs.
It’s worth noting that Forsyth isn’t just some plug-and-play backup. He’s a former Oregon teammate of Bo Nix, and while he didn’t win the starting center job outright last year, the Broncos kept him around for a reason.
They saw something in him. And now, with Wattenberg sidelined, Forsyth has an opportunity to prove that belief was well-placed.
This was more than just a win for the Broncos. It was a full-circle moment for a player who got knocked down - literally - and got back up to help his team take a major step forward. If Denver’s going to make a serious push in the postseason, they’ll need more performances like this from their young contributors.
And if Forsyth keeps playing like this, that blocked kick might just turn out to be the start of something - not the end.