DENVER, COLORADO - JANUARY 05: Bo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos warms up before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Empower Field At Mile High on January 05, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)Photo: Justin Edmonds / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
The Denver Broncos absolutely drummed the Kansas City Chiefs 38-0 to punch their ticket to the postseason! Below is the recap and postgame interviews:
Chiefs won the coin toss and deferred to the 2nd half.
Bo Nix and the Broncos offense started with the ball and Nix quickly hit Nate Adkins for the initial first down of the drive. Completions to Troy Franklin and Devaughn Vele got them quickly into KC territory. Javonte Williams got the offense to the 32 yard line and on the very next play, Nix hit Marvin Mims for a screen that the speedy WR took 32 yards TO THE HOUSE! Broncos take an early 7-0 lead with 11:55 remaining in the 1st quarter.
Carson Wentz and the Chiefs started their first drive of the game from their 30 yard line. After a couple of runs by rookie RB Carson Steele, Wentz 3rd down and 3 pass was behind the receiver and incomplete. Broncos offense back out on to the field starting from their own 15 yard line with 10:28 remaining in the 1st quarter.
The Broncos offense got an initial first down pass to Lil'Jordan Humphrey on 3rd and 3. Bo Nix with a QB sneak to get a 1st down on 4th and 1 from their own 39 yard line and on the very next play, Nix hit Sutton for a 47 yard pass over the middle and the Broncos were quickly in the Red Zone. Two plays later, Nix hit Sutton in the end zone for a 10 yard touchdown and the Broncos with a fantastic start to the game, leading 14-0 with 4:53 remaining in the 1st quarter.
The Chiefs offense went back to work from their own 30 and got an initial first down on a DPI called against Pat Surtain. Chiefs drive reached midfield but a 3rd and 14 pass came up short and KC punted it back to the Broncos offense who would start their next drive at their own 11 yard line with 2:51 remaining in the 1st quarter.
Denver's offense went immediately to the ground game between McLaughlin, Estime and Williams. On 3rd and 2, Bo Nix scrambled for 11 yards to the Broncos 43 yard line as the 1st quarter wound down. Broncos worked into KC territory with a short completion to Nate Adkins. On 3rd and 14, Nix found Javonte Williams for a 13 run that came up JUST short but Bo Nix was able to QB sneak for another 1st down to the Chiefs 36 yard line. Javonte caught another pass for 12 yards and the Broncos were near the Red Zone. Nix was red hot as the offense inched closer to the end zone. On 1st and goal from the 3 yard line, Nix targeted Adam Trautman in the back of the end zone and the ball bounced up in the air twice before Devaughn Vele came down with it for a touchdown! Broncos extend the lead 21-0 with 6:46 remaining in the 1st half. Nix is 17-17 for 183 yards and 3 touchdowns to start the game.
Chiefs get their second 1st down of the game on a 23 yard completion to Nikko Remigio and KC was now in Denver territory. The Chiefs were forced to go for it on 4th and 4 at the Denver 41 and Samaje Perine caught a pass in the flat for 13 yards as KC worked close to the Red Zone at the 2 minute warning. Jonathon Cooper and Nik Bonitto had back-to-back sacks leading to a Harrison Butker FG attempt that missed from 51 yards out.
Broncos offense got the ball back and Bo Nix scrambled into Chiefs territory, lateraling the ball to Javonte for an additional 23 yards but it was ruled an illegal pass. Bo scrambled inside the 10 but Quinn Meinerz was called for a hold. Then, Nix hit Sutton for 32 yards down the right sideline and ALMOST got Javonte on the next play for a walk in touchdown but the ball hopped to him. Broncos settled for 3 and took a 24-0 lead into halftime.
Chiefs offense started with the ball out of halftime at their 30 yard line and got their initial 1st down on a pass to Peyton Hendershot for 15 yards but that was about all they were able to do on that drive as John Franklin-Meyers sacked Carson Wentz on 3rd down and KC punted the ball back to Denver.
Broncos offense went back to work from their 20 yard line after the touchback. The offense got their initial first down on a completion to Devaughn Vele for 10 yards at the 30 yard line but that's about all they could do as McLaughlin was tackled for a 4 yard loss and they were forced to punt a couple plays later. Chiefs get the ball back, trailing 24-0, at their 32 yard line with 10:01 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
Chiefs quickly went 3 and out after only gaining 5 yards...after the punt, Broncos offense went back to work at their own 21 yard line with 9:04 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
Bo Nix and the Broncos offense executed a perfect 11 play drive that took 6:15 off the clock and from 7 yards out, Bo hit Marvin in the right flat and he took it the rest of the way for his second touchdown of the game, extending the lead 31-0 with 2:49 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
Kansas City worked into Denver territory and facing a 4th and 7 at the Denver 42 yard line, Nik Bonitto sped around the corner for his 2nd sack of the game! Broncos offense takes over at their 49 yard line as we came to the end of the 3rd quarter.
The Broncos took the ball from midfield and moved it efficiently down the 1 yard line and Audric Estime punched it in to make it 38-0 with 9:40 remaining in the game. The Broncos are headed back to the postseason!
The next broadcast will either be on Saturday or Sunday as the Broncos will travel to Buffalo to face the Bills in the Wildcard Round of the NFL Playoffs.
Below are postgame interviews with Sean Payton, Bo Nix, Nik Bonitto and Marvin Mims