The Denver Broncos’ 11-game win streak came to an end at home last week against Jacksonville. On Christmas in Arrowhead Stadium, the Broncos bounced back.
Denver’s defense held strong on fourth down late in the fourth quarter to hold on for a 20-13 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Christmas’ final NFL matchup marked unfamiliar territory for fans: the Chiefs playing a divisional rival at home late in the season without any playoff implications.
Kansas City will be watching the postseason from home but kept the current AFC No. 1 seed honest for much of the game. Broncos quarterback Bo Nix went 26 for 38 passing but managed just 182 yards as Denver chewed up clock on offense throughout the game.
His lone interception of the game set the Chiefs up in plus territory. Quarterback Chris Oladokun made his first start of the season and found rookie Brashard Smith for the Chiefs’ lone touchdown of the game. Kansas City took a 7-6 lead into halftime behind that score.
Kansas City took the opening drive of the third quarter for a field goal. Nix took it in himself on a 9-yard run to take a 13-10 lead late in the third quarter. He’d find rookie running back RJ Harvey for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
Oladokun led the Chiefs’ offense into Broncos territory in the closing minute of the game, but his fourth-down pass to Hollywood Brown fell incomplete.
The Broncos (13-3) head home to face the Los Angeles Chargers (11-4), another AFC playoff contender, to finish out the regular season. Kansas City (6-10) will finish with double-digit losses for the first time since 2012. The Chiefs finish up their season in Week 18 on the road against Las Vegas (2-13).
Here’s how the Broncos’ Week 17 Christmas win went down as USA TODAY Sports provided live updates for the last game in the holiday tripleheader:
Broncos at Chiefs takeaways from Christmas game
Oladokun bounces back: The Chiefs’ third quarterback took over for Gardner Minshew last week. With a week of preparation, Oladokun played better against a tough Denver defense. He extended plays routinely and was far from a lost cause at the position for the Chiefs.
A legend’s farewell? Kansas City won’t be in the playoffs for the first time since 2014 – Travis Kelce’s first season as a starter. The next decade saw him become one of the best tight ends in NFL history. With fiancée Taylor Swift in the booth, this may have been Kelce’s final game at Arrowhead Stadium. If so, it’s an unfortunate end to a Hall of Fame career. Kelce turned 36 years old earlier this season and would be one of the oldest players in the league if he returns in 2026.
No. 1 seed race continues: Bo Nix shook off an early interception to lead the Broncos’ offense on multiple long scoring drives. Two of them ended in field goals but the third culminated in a touchdown to RJ Harvey. This win keeps the Broncos in the driver’s seat for the top seed in the AFC playoffs with one game to go. If the Patriots beat the Jets on the road on Sunday, the No. 1 seed will go down to the season finale.
Broncos vs. Chiefs highlights
Is Travis Kelce retiring?
Kansas City’s future Hall of Fame tight end has not announced whether or not he is retiring after the 2025 season. He still managed a team-high five catches for 36 yards in this game.
Travis Kelce comments after Broncos vs. Chiefs
Broncos vs. Chiefs final score: Broncos 20, Chiefs 13
Kansas City’s final drive of regulation fell short and the Broncos kneeled out the clock to take the win.
Broncos vs. Chiefs score update: RJ Harvey scores to give Denver lead late
Denver’s offense manufactured another long drive, this time in the fourth quarter. Bo Nix found rookie running back RJ Harvey in the back of the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown pass to put the Broncos up a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
Denver went 65 yards in 14 plays to take 6:18 off the clock in the fourth quarter. Wil Lutz knocked through the extra point to give Denver a seven-point lead with less than two minutes to go.
Broncos 20, Chiefs 13
Broncos vs. Chiefs score update: Butker FG ties the game in the 4th quarter
Rookie Brashard Smith’s 44-yard punt return set the Chiefs’ offense up in plus territory. Kansas City managed 16 yards in six plays and Harrison Butker drilled a 47-yard field goal to tie the game up.
The Denver offense will take over with 8:03 left to go in the fourth quarter.
Broncos 13, Chiefs 13
Broncos vs. Chiefs score update: Bo Nix scrambles for go-ahead TD
Denver had its third drive of at least 14 plays on offense but finally broke through for a touchdown. Bo Nix took a sneak for a yard to convert a fourth-and-1 in the red zone and scrambled left for a 9-yard touchdown run a play later to give the Broncos the lead.
Broncos 13, Chiefs 10
Broncos vs. Chiefs score update: Denver narrows lead ahead of halftime
The Broncos got back on the board before the break with another Wil Lutz field goal to cap off a long drive. Denver’s offense marched 79 yards on 16 plays but Bo Nix couldn’t connect with Courtland Sutton on third-and-10 from the Chiefs’ 11-yard line.
Sutton couldn’t hold on in the end zone through contact and Denver settled for another field goal.
Chiefs 7, Broncos 6
Broncos vs. Chiefs score update: Kansas City takes the lead
Kansas City capitalized on Bo Nix’s interception to punch the ball in from five yards out for the first touchdown of the game. Quarterback Chris Oladokun found running back Brashard Smith and the rookie powered through tacklers to cross into the end zone.
Harrison Butker’s extra point is good to give the Chiefs their first lead of the game with 12:49 to go in the first half.
Chiefs 7, Broncos 3
Broncos vs. Chiefs update: Chiefs in red zone as first quarter end
Bo Nix’s second interception in as many games gave the Chiefs’ offense the ball back at the Denver 35. Kansas City’s offense has gone 22 yards in the next five plays to set up in the red zone.
The Chiefs will be facing 3rd and 3 from the Broncos’ 13-yard line to start the second quarter. Denver still leads 3-0.
Broncos vs. Chiefs score update: Denver notches first points with FG
The Broncos’ offense took its time in the opening drive of the game to march 56 yards in 14 plays over more than eight minutes of game time. Quarterback Bo Nix couldn’t connect with Lil’Jordan Humphrey on third-and-goal from the 9-yard line and Denver settled for a field goal.
Wil Lutz knocked it through from 27 yards out to take the early lead.
Broncos 3, Chiefs 0
What TV channel is the Chiefs-Broncos game?
TV channel (national): N/A
TV channel (Denver market): NBC 9
TV channel (Kansas City market): NBC 41
The Chiefs-Broncos matchup on Thursday night will not air on a channel nationally. Viewers in local markets can tune to their local NBC affiliates for the matchup.
What time is the Chiefs-Broncos game on Christmas?
Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET | 7:15 p.m. CT | 6:15 p.m. MT
The Chiefs and Broncos are scheduled for kickoff at 8:15 p.m. ET on Thursday night, the customary start time for ‘Thursday Night Football.’
Chiefs-Broncos stream
Live stream: Amazon Prime Video
The Chiefs vs. Broncos Christmas matchup will air on Prime Video for a national audience.
Watch the Chiefs vs. Broncos Christmas Day matchup with Prime Video
Chiefs vs. Broncos prediction, picks
Here’s how the NFL experts at USA TODAY feel the Chiefs vs. Broncos matchup will shake out:
Jarrett Bell: Broncos, 27-10
Nick Brinkerhoff: Broncos, 31-13
Chris Bumbaca: Broncos, 27-7
Nate Davis: Broncos, 24-13
Tyler Dragon: Broncos, 27-16
Mike Middlehurst-Schwartz: Broncos, 28-12
Chiefs vs. Broncos odds, moneyline, O/U
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 9:16 a.m.
Moneyline (ML): Denver -800 (Bet $800 to win $100) | Kansas City +550 (Bet $100 to win $550)
Against the spread (ATS): Denver -13 (-115) | Kansas City +13 (-105)
Over/Under (O/U): 36.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)