The Denver Broncos' 11-game winning streak is officially over, courtesy of the Jacksonville Jaguars. And while the loss stings - no doubt about it - Denver’s built enough cushion to absorb it without hitting the panic button.
At 12-3, they’re still sitting atop both the AFC West and the entire AFC, with the inside track to a first-round bye. The math is simple now: win the final two games, and the Broncos lock up home-field advantage and a week off to heal up - something that’s becoming more and more valuable as the injury bug starts to nibble at this roster.
Next up is a Week 17 matchup against a Kansas City Chiefs team that may be rolling out its third-string quarterback. That alone should tilt the odds heavily in Denver’s favor.
But the real headline might be what's looming in Week 18 - a potential AFC West title-deciding clash with the Los Angeles Chargers. And that game just got a whole lot more intriguing.
Chargers Linebacker Denzel Perryman Suspended for Final Two Games
The Chargers will be without one of their most physical defensive presences down the stretch. Linebacker Denzel Perryman has been suspended two games without pay for repeated violations of the NFL’s player safety rules - including infractions committed during Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys.
That means Perryman is done for the regular season. He’ll be eligible to return for the playoffs, but his absence in Weeks 17 and 18 is a significant loss for a Chargers defense that relies more on structure and discipline than overwhelming star power.
Perryman, now 33, is in his second stint with the Chargers and has played in 10 games this season. He’s logged 47 total tackles, four tackles for loss, and three passes defended - solid numbers that underscore his role as a steady, downhill linebacker who brings physicality to the middle of the field.
He’s not the kind of player who’s going to flash with highlight-reel interceptions or sideline-to-sideline range, but he sets the tone. He’s the kind of guy offenses have to account for - especially in the run game.
And that’s exactly why his suspension is such a blow to the Chargers’ chances. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter has done a commendable job turning this unit into a cohesive, tough-minded group, but the reality is, this defense thrives more on scheme and effort than elite individual talent. Losing a veteran like Perryman - especially heading into a high-stakes matchup with Denver - takes away one of the few enforcers they have in the front seven.
For the Chargers to still have a shot at the division, they’ll need to win out. That means taking care of business in Week 17 and then heading into Denver for what could be a winner-takes-the-West showdown.
But doing it without Perryman? That’s a tall order.
His absence shifts the pressure onto the rest of the front seven, and it could open up opportunities for Denver’s ground game to find some traction - especially if the Broncos want to control tempo and keep their banged-up roster from getting into a shootout.
Bottom line: the Broncos are still in the driver’s seat, but the Chargers aren’t out of it just yet. And with Perryman sidelined, the chessboard just tilted a little more in Denver’s favor heading into what could be a defining moment in the AFC playoff picture.