Broncos Face Crucial Christmas Clash Against Reeling Chiefs With AFC West Title in Sight
The Denver Broncos haven’t had to bounce back from a loss in three months-until now. Their 11-game win streak came to a halt on Sunday in Jacksonville, and while the 34-20 defeat stung, there’s no time to dwell on it. With everything still on the line, Denver heads into a Christmas night showdown in Kansas City as 13-point favorites against a Chiefs team that’s officially out of the playoff race and down to its third starting quarterback in as many weeks.
Yes, you read that right. The Chiefs, once the class of the AFC, are locked into their first losing season since Andy Reid took over in 2013. For Denver, though, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
“We have to respond well,” said quarterback Bo Nix after the loss. “It’s going to show a lot about our team.”
And he’s right. The Broncos are still in control of their path.
Win in Kansas City, then take care of business at home in Week 18 against the Chargers, and they’re AFC West champions for the first time in a decade. That would also lock up the No. 1 seed in the AFC, giving them home-field advantage and a first-round bye.
There’s even a scenario where Denver could wrap up the division before they even step onto the field in Week 18. If they beat the Chiefs and the Chargers fall to the Texans on Saturday, the Broncos will be able to celebrate the AFC West crown from their couches. But if both the Broncos and Chargers win this week, it sets up a winner-take-all finale in Denver to decide the division.
Still, even if the division is clinched before the regular-season finale, don’t expect Week 18 to be meaningless. The top seed is still in play, and after Sunday’s loss-and New England’s comeback win over Baltimore-the Broncos’ odds of clinching that No. 1 spot dropped to 46%, per The Athletic’s playoff simulator.
That loss in Jacksonville didn’t just end a streak-it cracked the door open for a chaotic finish. Denver could still finish anywhere from the top seed to as low as No. 6, depending on how the final two weeks shake out. That means the Broncos could either be resting during Wild Card Weekend or boarding a plane to Pittsburgh or Jacksonville as a road team.
But inside the locker room, there’s no panic. Just resolve.
“We’re a 12-win team. I’m not going to sit here and let you guys s- on our parade,” linebacker Alex Singleton said after the game. “We have two games to go to be the No. 1 seed in the AFC.”
He’s not wrong. In one of the most crowded AFC playoff races in recent memory-five teams still have a shot at the top seed-the Broncos still hold the steering wheel.
A stumble, though, and they could find themselves on a much tougher road. The projection model gives them a 73% chance to win the division, which would guarantee a top-three seed.
But there’s still a 27% chance they end up as a wild-card team, playing on the road in the opening round.
It all starts with Thursday night in Kansas City.
Sean Payton has praised his team all season for their ability to move on quickly, and they’ll need that short memory now more than ever.
“We’ve been able to, week by week, get on to the next opponent,” Payton said Monday. “The same thing has to exist, obviously, coming off a loss.
Look, this is a confident team. There wasn’t a guy in the locker room yesterday that felt like we didn’t get beat.
This wasn’t officiating. We got beat and Jacksonville was a better team yesterday.
I think our players know that.”
Denver’s confidence will be tested, especially with some key injuries piling up.
Safety Brandon Jones is out until at least the divisional round. Linebacker Justin Strnad missed Sunday’s game with a foot injury and his status for Thursday is still uncertain.
Dre Greenlaw exited late against Jacksonville with a hamstring injury, forcing undrafted rookie Jordan Turner into a bigger role on defense. And rookie wide receiver Pat Bryant is likely out for Thursday after being diagnosed with a concussion Sunday night.
He was evaluated at a local hospital and released, and Payton said he expected to meet with him Monday.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs are limping to the finish line. With their playoff hopes long gone and a carousel at quarterback, Kansas City is playing for pride-and maybe a chance to play spoiler.
But for the Broncos, there’s no time for distractions. The AFC West title, a shot at the No. 1 seed, and a potential deep playoff run are all still right in front of them.
It’s just a matter of how they respond. Thursday night will tell us a lot.