Relax, Alabama: Team Thrives With Looser Mind-set

The Denver Broncos hosted and beat the Kansas City Chiefs 38-0 securing a playoff position at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver during NFL Week 18 on Sunday, January 5, 2025. Related Articles Denver Broncos | Broncos vs. Bills kickoff time set for NFL playoffs wild-card game Denver Broncos | Broncos four downs: Sean Payton, Bo Nix solve franchise’s quarterback-coach combo, playoff drought in one season Denver Broncos | Broncos report card: No drama, just glowing grades as rookie QB Bo Nix, Denver roll to AFC Wild Card round Denver Broncos | Broncos rookie watch: Bo Nix throws four touchdowns to end Denver’s eight-year playoff drought Denver Broncos | With nothing at stake, Chiefs rest Mahomes, Kelce and several other starters against Broncos Want more Broncos news?

When Pat Surtain II learned the Broncos defense finished the regular season with a league-high 63 sacks, he asked to hear the number again. “Sixty-(three)? That’s unheard of,” Surtain said. “Credit to (the defensive line). They get after the quarterback. It makes our job in the back end much easier, knowing the guys up front generate pressures and sacks.” Denver recorded the 14th-most sacks in a single season after notching five in its 38-0 win over the Chiefs at home on Sunday.

The Broncos beat the Chiefs to finish the regular season 10-7 on Sunday and clinch the No. 7 seed in the AFC and a date with the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. The Broncos will travel to Buffalo to take on the No. 2-seeded Bills at 11 a.m.

Initial thoughts from the Broncos’ 38-0 win over the Chiefs in Week 18 at Empower Field: 1. Off to Buffalo: Will the last demon exorcised from Empower Field please turn out the lights? The Broncos’ most successful regular season since Peyton Manning hung up his six-shooter ended with a historic, and emphatic laugher.

OFFENSE — A Sean Payton had the Denver offense ready to roll from the start. He had a nifty fake reverse in his bag and deployed it perfectly as soon as the Broncos got solidly into Chiefs territory. Bo Nix started hot and stayed that way through the entire first half, plenty of time to build a comfortable lead against a Kansas City team that looked like it had turned its attention to divisional weekend before they even landed in Colorado.

A look at how the Broncos’ rookies played in their 38-0 win over the Chiefs on Sunday. Highlight: A game of hot potato in the back of the end zone led to Bo Nix’s third touchdown pass of the first half. His throw intended for tight end Adam Trautman was tipped three times before rookie wideout Devaughn Vele secured the catch to extend Denver’s lead to 21-0 with 11:05 to go in the second quarter.