While most NFL teams were playing on Christmas weekend, the Denver Broncos were relaxed, watching the results after their game earlier that day. Their Christmas gift came on the team’s day off with a Los Angeles Chargers loss to the Houston Texans that Saturday afternoon. With that loss, the Denver Broncos were officially crowned AFC West champions for the first time in a decade.

After reaping the rewards of a mini Bye, having played in a Thursday game on a short week, the Broncos now face that same Chargers team with a first-round playoff Bye on the line. That would rank the Broncos No. 1 in the AFC and give them home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Denver is the first team in the AFC to win its division this year and the second team in the NFL to do so.

With a 14-3 record, they would also have the best record among all 32 teams, with the tiebreaker over New England. Should the Broncos lose their final regular-season game, they could still be eligible for the No. 1 seed if the New England Patriots lose their final game at home against the Miami Dolphins and the Jacksonville Jaguars lose.”

To gain control in the season’s final week, the Broncos defeated the Chiefs in Kansas City, completing a sweep. The 2013 victory took place on Christmas Night during the nationally televised Thursday Night Football game on Prime Television. The Chiefs played with their quarterback, Patrick Mahomes.

It wasn’t pretty, but the Denver Broncos did what they needed to do to keep their house in order by any means necessary. It should have been more like taking candy from a baby, but the Chiefs were the babies that fought back. With 18 players on injured reserve, half of them starters, the Chiefs were relegated to starting their third-string quarterback. And, although the Broncos were dominating the game by most measurable standards, the only stat that mattered was the scoreboard. With 1:55 left in the game, the score was still tied 13-13.

But in the true meaning of the 2025 Broncos’ brand of football, they had the Chiefs right where they wanted them. A late Broncos’ touchdown still gave the Chiefs just enough time to march down the field to mount their own comeback. Newly minted Chiefs’ quarterback Chris Oladokun led the Chiefs down the field into scoring position. A fourth-and-eight pass into the end zone was just outside the reach of wide receiver Hollywood Brown, resulting in an incomplete pass to end the game for the Chiefs, 20-13.

“It doesn’t have to be pretty to be effective. That’s what matters,” said Broncos Head Coach Sean Payton. “Our players knew we’d get their best shot. We watched for fake punts and end zone runs on deep kicks. We prepared for anything to create points.”

The win moved the Broncos to 13-3, with one regular-season game left. It also put Payton second to Bill Belichick for most 13-win seasons in NFL history.

If the Broncos win their final home game, they will clinch the top playoff seed, ensuring all AFC playoff games go through Denver. Regardless of the outcome, the AFC champion will be the home team at Super Bowl 60 in Santa Clara, California, on February 8, 2025.

Another holiday gift for six of the Denver Broncos was a selection to the 2025 Pro Bowl roster. Along with three other teams, the Broncos had the most in the NFL. Getting a nod to the Pro Bowl for the first time is OT Garrett Bolles. Also from the offense are OG Quinn Meinerz and wide receiver Courtland Sutton. Three players from the defense who made the Pro Bowl include DT Zach Allen, OLB Nik Bonitto, and CB Pat Surtain II.

This represents the most Broncos players selected to the Pro Bowl since the 2016 team, which also had six selections. Pro Bowl snubs from the Broncos include quarterback Bo Nix from the offense and leading tackler Alex Singleton from the defense.

Each selected player will wear a Pro Bowl decal for the rest of the season, marking their 2025 distinction. Selections are based on votes from fans, coaches, and players. For the second straight year, Travis Kelce led fan voting.

Since the original Pro Bowl game was discontinued, the Pro Bowl Games have taken its place. Events include a skills competition and a 7-on-7 flag football game, set for Feb. 3 at Moscone Center in San Francisco, 6:30 pm ET on ESPN.

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