The Kansas City Chiefs fell to the Denver Broncos, 22-19, on Sunday afternoon to drop to 5-5 on the season.

Here are some quick notes from the loss.

1. Sunday's game came down to missed opportunities.

The Chiefs overcame a variety of miscues on Sunday to take the lead in the fourth quarter when quarterback Patrick Mahomes found tight end Travis Kelce for a 21-yard touchdown. It was the culmination of a resilient performance by Kansas City, which faced multiple deficits through the first three quarters of the game.

Unfortunately, while the Chiefs then had opportunities to either extend or re-claim their lead as the game neared its conclusion, Kansas City couldn't seize the moment. First, following Kelce's touchdown, the Chiefs forced a Denver punt and had the ball – with a three-point lead – with just over eight minutes remaining in the game. It was a tremendous chance to either effectively end the game or at least add to its advantage, but a quick three-and-out instead provided the Broncos with another opportunity, and they didn't waste it.

Still, despite that sequence, the Chiefs then had the ball in a tie game with just over four minutes to go. A clock-churning drive and a potential game-winning field goal felt inevitable, but Kansas City went three-and-out again, sending the ball back to Denver, and the Chiefs wouldn't see it again.

These are opportunities the Chiefs have routinely maximized for years, but it just wasn't the case on Sunday.

"[We] had an opportunity at the end of the game, and [we didn't] come through. Getting the ball back with four minutes [left], and all we needed was a field goal – that's a spot that we've been in a lot, and we've been able to do that," Mahomes said. "[We have] to be better in that scenario. That's what you want, you want that opportunity at the end of the game, and I didn't come through."

Remarkably, the Chiefs still had a shot to get the ball back on Denver's final possession, forcing the Broncos into a 3rd-and-15 deep in their own territory. The Broncos converted, however, and the rest is history.

Kansas City is now 5-5 on the year following the loss, which includes three losses by three or fewer points. The Chiefs are clearly evenly-matched with all of the teams they've fallen to, it's just been a matter of making a critical play or two at the end of these games, and that has to be the focus moving forward.

2. Tight end Travis Kelce broke another franchise record.

Despite the result on Sunday, it's important to recognize that Kelce continues to re-write the Chiefs' record books. His 21-yard touchdown grab early in the fourth quarter marked the 84th regular-season score of his storied career, breaking a tie with Priest Holmes for the most in franchise history.

Kelce now owns the Chiefs' records for total touchdowns (84), receptions (1,045) and receiving yards (12,691). He's simply one of the greatest players to ever take the field for the red and gold.

3. Wide receiver Tyquan Thornton hauled in a 61-yard catch that kept the Chiefs in the game.

The game appeared to turn when Mahomes – facing a third down – found Thornton for 61 yards deep down the field. It was a great catch by Thornton, who hauled in the full-extension grab despite the presence of a nearby defender.

Thornton's efforts set up a game-tying touchdown by tailback Kareem Hunt, and while it wasn't enough in the end on Sunday, Thornton certainly did his part.

4. The defense turned in a strong performance on Sunday until the very end.

Football can be cruel, and Sunday's result – in contrast to how the game played out – is a great example of that reality.

The Chiefs' defense, in particular, generally played well on Sunday. Specifically, Kansas City held Denver to a 1-for-5 mark in the red zone, including on a series where Denver began its drive at the Chiefs' 11-yard line. That performance kept Kansas City in the game and provided the Chiefs with a window to later take the lead in the fourth quarter.

Kansas City also turned in a shutdown series following the Chiefs' go-ahead score, quickly forcing a Denver punt that gave the Chiefs a chance to seal the result.

Unfortunately, despite all of that, the game came down to a 3rd-and-15 for Denver, and to the Broncos' credit, they managed to make a few more plays than Kansas City on Sunday.

5. The Chiefs will need to quickly turn the page with another critical matchup on deck.

The Chiefs' goals are still in front of them, but they'll need to get back on track in a hurry. Kansas City is now three games back of Denver (in the loss column) in the AFC West and finds itself in a crowded field of teams fighting for positioning in the Wild Card race, setting up a crucial game with the Indianapolis Colts this upcoming weekend.

This certainly isn't where the Chiefs expected to be, but if there's a silver lining, it's that the Chiefs are no stranger to overcoming adversity. The final seven games of the season will be a challenge, but Kansas City is more than up for it.

"We've dealt with adversity [before], and [we've] gotten better from it," Mahomes said. "This is something that we haven't dealt with so early in the season, but at the same time, I know the guys in that locker room, and how they're going to respond. All we can do is stick together, push ourselves to be even better, and do what we can to win this next week."