Broncos complete the AFC Playoff Picture, knock out the Bengals and Dolphins with a huge win over the Chiefs

Broncos eliminate Bengals, Dolphins with Chiefs shutout win.

The Denver Broncos secured the AFC’s final playoff spot with a commanding 38-0 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. Playing against a Chiefs team missing several starters, including Patrick Mahomes, the Broncos capitalized on the opportunity to clinch the No. 7 seed. They now face the No. 2 Buffalo Bills in the wild-card round.

Nix shines in a breakout performance

Rookie quarterback Bo Nix delivered a career-best performance, completing 26 of 29 passes for 321 yards and four touchdowns. His precision and poise were evident throughout the game. The Broncos’ defense also dominated, stifling Chiefs backup quarterback Carson Wentz and his supporting cast.

With the Broncos' win, the Bengals and Dolphins have been eliminated from playoff contention pic.twitter.com/MQ323RUQrm
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 6, 2025

Denver’s win came after two missed chances to clinch their playoff berth earlier in December, with losses to the Chargers and Bengals. This time, they left no room for doubt, punching their ticket to the postseason and ending an eight-year playoff drought.

Playoff implications for the Broncos and Bills

Denver’s victory finalized the AFC playoff picture. With a 10-7 record, the Broncos locked in the No. 7 seed and will travel to face the 13-4 Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. The game is set for Sunday, Jan. 12, at 1 p.m. ET and will air on CBS and Paramount+.

Buffalo, led by Josh Allen, enters as the No. 2 seed and a heavy favorite. If the Bills advance, their next opponent will depend on results from other wild-card matchups. Possible divisional-round opponents include the Ravens, Texans, or Chargers.

Wild-card schedule and matchups

Saturday, Jan. 11
Los Angeles Chargers at Houston Texans, 4:30 p.m., CBS
Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens, 8 p.m., Prime Video
Sunday, Jan. 12
Denver Broncos at Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m., CBS
Green Bay Packers at Philadelphia Eagles, 4:30 p.m., FOX
Washington Commanders at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8 p.m., NBC
Monday, Jan. 13
Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Rams, 8 p.m., ESPN/ABC

Broncos build on a solid foundation

Under head coach Sean Payton, Denver rebounded from a rough 1-5 start to finish the season strong. Nix, who replaced Russell Wilson earlier this year, overcame early struggles to post impressive numbers. In his last nine games, Nix completed nearly 68% of his passes, throwing 20 touchdowns to seven interceptions.

The Bengals watching the Chiefs, Broncos game: pic.twitter.com/KCuZIcvIK4
— Patrick Allen (@RPatrickAllen) January 5, 2025

Denver’s defense also played a crucial role, allowing the team to win seven of its final 11 games. The Broncos now face a formidable challenge in Buffalo, where they’ll look to replicate their upset win from last season, a narrow 24-22 victory over the Bills.

What’s next?

The Broncos aim to continue their Cinderella run, starting with their wild-card matchup in Buffalo. With momentum from Sunday’s dominant win and a young quarterback hitting his stride, Denver could prove to be a dangerous underdog in the playoffs.

Image: Instagram (Bo Nix)

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Natasha Bose

I write about sports because, well, it brings in the big bucks! I’m not some lifelong analyst or stats guru, truth being told, you’ve probably never heard of me!—I just know how to research, write, and make things sound good. That’s the job!
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