KANSAS CITY, Mo. — When Alex Forsyth took the field Thursday night at Arrowhead Stadium, his mind drifted back to what happened there one year and 45 days earlier.

On Nov. 10, 2024, Forsyth was on the left side of the Broncos’ line when Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal bowled him over and blocked Wil Lutz’s 35-yard field-goal attempt on the game’s final play. That resulted in a devastating 16-14 loss by Denver.

On Monday, Forsyth learned he would start at center against the Chiefs due to a shoulder injury that led to starter Luke Wattenberg being placed on injured reserve before Thursday’s game. Forsyth then had a solid outing in the Broncos’ 20-13 win and got a game ball from coach Sean Payton.

“After a game like last year’s, it’s always tough to bounce back,’’ said Forsyth, who had played just on special teams in last year’s game at Kansas City. “But this week was a short week. … It was an emotional game. … I just kind of went into it saying I got to flush it and move on. I can’t let a bad play ruin a career and stuff, especially not a game like this, an important game like this. So 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, in his third season, played all 72 offensive snaps as the Broncos raised their record to an NFL-best 13-3. They would clinch the AFC West if the Los Angeles Chargers (11-4) lose or tie against Houston at home Saturday. The Broncos face the Chargers in the regular-season finale Jan. 3 or 4 at home and a win would secure the No. 1 AFC playoff seed.

Wattenberg was hurt in last Sunday’s 34-20 home loss to Jacksonville. Payton said he isn’t necessarily out for the season, but, after sitting out Thursday, he must also miss the finale against the Chargers and be out for the first two rounds of the playoffs.

“It’s tough for him,’’ Forsyth said. “Luke’s a good buddy of mine. I feel for him. We’re all here for him. He’s been great helping me.”

Prior to Thursday, Forsyth had gotten in for just nine offensive plays in Denver’s first 15 games this season. But last year he started four games when Wattenberg was on injured reserve with an ankle injury.

“I just think preparing each week as a starter heading into each week, I’ve tried to do that since last year,’’ Forsyth, who was a seventh-round pick by the Broncos in 2023 but didn’t get into any games as a rookie. “You never know when someone’s going to go down and you just want to have elite preparation.”

Payton said it was “impressive” how Forsyth played in his return to Kansas City.

“It was a tough trip home last year,’’ Payton said. “It’s a little life lesson, for someone like him, to come back in a starting role. That was pretty cool.”

Broncos quarterback Bo Nix agreed.

“I am super happy for (Forsyth),’’ Nix said. “I would say no one 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 coming into this game he was not going to leave any stone unturned. … We all know what happened here last year and how much it hurt him and what it meant to him. … He is well deserving of that game ball.”

The Broncos won in Kansas City for the first time since 2015, snapping a nine-game losing streak. Although the Chiefs (6-10) are assured of their first losing season since 2012 and were without injured star quarterback Patrick Mahomes and several other top players, they battled to the end.

The game’s biggest play came immediately after the 2-minute warning with the score tied 13-13. The Broncos, facing fourth-and-2 at the Chiefs’ 9, baited star defensive tackle Chris Jones into jumping offsides after running back RJ Harvey lined up in the Wildcat and Nix went out wide. Guard Quinn Meinerz got Jones to move by barking, “Hut! Hut!”

Payton said he would have taken a delay of game and attempted a field goal had the Broncos not gotten the Chiefs to jump. But after getting the first down, Nix three plays later hit Harvey with a 1-yard touchdown pass for the winning points with 1:45 left.

Meinerz called the play a “got-to-have-it.” He praised Denver’s offensive line after the game, including Forsyth for how he bounced back after last year’s game.

“Alex was ready for this moment.’’ Meinerz said. “Everybody gets scars a couple of times here and there throughout their career. … Those kind of scars are definitely hard to battle through, but Alex did a heck of a job and deserves all the credit.”

While Nov. 10, 2024, has been the lowlight of Forsyth’s NFL career, Thursday night was definitely one of the highlights.

“This one was special,’’ he said. “I was just flooded with emotions when I came in here, so it was great to have my teammates. They’ve been so supportive with everything from last year’s game and supporting me after that, sticking up for me. They were great this week just giving me confidence. It’s not easy to get told you’re starting on a Monday and going in on a short week.”

Now, Forsyth knows he will be the starter in the regular-season finale and to open the playoffs. And what happened last year in Kansas City is now more of a distant memory.