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Stay here for live updates and analysis as Denver takes on the Chiefs in Denver.
Live updates
Second quarter updates
Continuing the momentum (3:06 p.m.): Bo Nix starts the second quarter with an 8-yard pass to Nate Adkins. —Nguyen
First Quarter Analysis: Broncos 14, Chiefs 0
Parker Gabriel, beat writer: Bar-Bill has the best wings in Buffalo.
Ryan McFadden, beat writer: Chiefs are playing like they don’t want Joe Burrow in the playoffs.
Sean Keeler, sports columnist: The forecast for Saturday at Niagara Falls: Cloudy at 32 degrees for a high. No snow.
Troy Renck, sports columnist: Buffalo in January isn’t like Paris in August, but it’s starting to sound pretty attractive for the Broncos. Nix is 9-for-9 for 131 yards and two touchdowns. Nix has 27 passing touchdowns. That’s the most since Peyton Manning since 2014.
Matt Schubert, sports editor: The attack makes its way through the field. The defense has zero problems with Carson Wentz. And the play-offs are yours for the taking. (Which the Chiefs seem to be fine with.)
First quarter updates
Fast Feet (3:02 p.m.): Bo Nix: Pretty fast. — Gabriel
Injury (2:58 p.m.): Broncos wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey lies on the ground being watched by trainers. —Nguyen
Another stop (2:53 PM): Denver’s defense stops KC again, this time allowing 17 yards on three plays.
Check that – 12 meters after the penalty. —Nguyen
Perfect start (2:50 PM): Bo Nix is 8 for 8 with 125 yards and two touchdowns. —McFadden
Touchdown, Broncos (2:46 p.m.): Bo Nix connects with Courtland Sutton between double coverage for the 10-yard touchdown. Broncos 14, Chiefs 0 with 4:53 to go in the first quarter. —Nguyen
Andy Reid apparently hates the idea of Joe Burrow in the playoffs more than he hates the idea of the Broncos. And hallelujah. — Kieler
Huge win (2:45 p.m.): Courtland Sutton is now officially the first 1,000-yard receiver or rusher for the Broncos since 2019 after that 47-yard deep ball from Nix. — Gabriel
Aggressive calls (2:44 p.m.): Sean Payton is aggressive again this week. Goes for it on fourth and 1 from the 39 and Nix sneaks it. — Gabriel
Broncos are looking to put this game away before halftime. —McFadden
Run Game (2:42 PM): Broncos take it straight on the Zombie Chiefs defense. Unsolicited advice: they should continue to do that. — Gabriel
Three-and-out (2:37 p.m.): Denver’s defense stops the Chiefs’ offense led by Carson Wentz. Denver gets the ball back at its own 15 after the kick. —Nguyen
Fun fact (2:35 PM): The Broncos entered Week 18 averaging 1.92 points per drive. Wearing their Orange Crush ’77 throwbacks, they get 3.15 points per ride. Lesson: KEEP THE DISPOSAL. — Kieler
Touchdown, Broncos (2:31 p.m.): Nix pretends to shake hands with Troy Franklin before throwing a short pass to Marvin Mims Jr., who scores on a 32-yard touchdown catch. Broncos are on the board. —McFadden
Marvin Mims: Pretty important for this offense. — Gabriel
The criticism of the Broncos’ offense was well-deserved at times. But it was a pleasant and welcome surprise to see Mims become a thing. — Renck
Bo Nix finds Marvin Mims Jr. for the 32-yard catch-and-run touchdown to cap off that six-play, 70-yard drive. Broncos 7, Chiefs 0 with 11:55 left in the first quarter. —Nguyen
Williams sighting (2:30 p.m.): Javonte Williams, who didn’t have a carry against Cincy, simply ran up the middle for a 10-yard gain. Denver’s offense is rolling out of the gate.
Injury (2:27 p.m.): RT Mike McGlinchey limped over after McLaughlin’s first carry of the game. — Gabriel
First play (2:27 p.m.): Nix throws to Nate Adkins for a 12-yard gain on the first play. —McFadden
Pre-game updates
Coin toss (2:24 p.m.): Kansas City won the toss and elected to postpone. Denver gets the ball first. —McFadden
Strong opening (2:22 p.m.): Great anthem. Crowd in it. It is sunny 30 degrees. Broncos are seeking their first playoff berth since 2015. — Renck
Reunion (2:08 p.m.): Former Broncos standout Derek Wolfe spent time in pregame with Travis Kelce. Wolfe, Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce were roommates at the University of Cincinnati. Wolfe is among the alumni guests. Dave Logan, former Bronco and the voice of the Broncos at KOA, will plant the flag before the game. — Renck
Game day (1:22 p.m.): Cold morning, but it is now a beautiful day here for week 18 promotion. Has there been one bad weather day at Empower Field this season? I can’t remember one. Field looks great with the retro trimmings. The Broncos will either end their playoff drought or collapse dramatically in the throwback unis. — Gabriel
Broncos inactives (13:01): QB Zach Wilson, RB Blake Watson, DL Matt Henningsen, LB Levelle Bailey, DL Eyioma Uwazurike and OT Frank Crum. —McFadden
Scouting report (10:51 am): See how the Broncos stack up against the Chiefs in Ryan McFadden’s scouting report.
Game predictions
Parker Gabriel, beat writer: Broncos 20, Chiefs 17
Maybe things will go smoothly for Denver. Their status as major home favorites will make for a festive Week 18 and a cathartic end to their play-off drought. But it’s hard to imagine Kansas City, the division’s old big brother, turning around and letting it happen so easily. Even with Patrick Mahomes in a cap. Even if other protagonists are just watching. Coach Andy Reid and DC Steve Spagnuolo do not have to take the week off. Still, Denver nails opportunity No. 3 and punches its ticket.
Ryan McFadden, beat writer: Broncos 26, Chiefs 17
The third time’s the charm, right? Denver has shown it can beat the Chiefs. A blocked field goal attempt at Arrowhead took away the Broncos’ chance to pull off their biggest upset of the season. However, on Sunday the Broncos will play some of the Chiefs’ backups. The game will be closer than expected, but the Broncos have business to take care of in front of their home crowd. If not, they will never deserve to be in the playoffs.
Troy Renck, columnist: Broncos 22, Chiefs 19
The KC bench wants nothing more than to send the Broncos to the beach. But without Patrick Mahomes, Chris Jones, Travis Kelce and Trent McDuffie, the Chiefs won’t upset the Broncos. Sean Payton will get into the swing of the run game – meaning Bo Nix will be a big part of it on RPOs – as the Broncos head into the playoffs with a white win.
Matt Schubert, sports editor: Broncos 25, Chiefs 14
As much as Kansas City wants to spoil the Broncos’ parade to the playoffs, every decision the coaching staff has made leading up to this game shows how little they actually care. It’s hard to beat a team with that kind of attitude, especially one as motivated as the Broncos, playing in front of a frothing home crowd. The postseason drought ends Sunday, with a trip to sunny Buffalo as a fitting reward after the debacle of the past two weeks.
Broncos-Chiefs NFL Week 18: Must Reads
Broncos’ Garett Bolles Courtland Sutton has “put up with a lot of crap” over the years. Has their play-off moment finally arrived?
Starting with a win against Green Bay last year, the Broncos under Payton won 16 of their next 25 games, including an expectant 9-5 start for 2024.
But now they’ve lost the last two and likely need to win against Kansas City on Sunday to finally end their playoff drought. To get to the postseason for the first time since winning the Super Bowl in 2015. To shake the albatross off the backs of Bolles, Denver’s longest-tenured Bronco, and its other elder statesman, receiver Courtland Sutton.
“They’ve taken a lot of crap over the years and it’s time we give them the opportunity to capitalize on it,” Broncos right tackle Mike McGlinchey said Wednesday. “We’re excited to do that. We talked about that today as a violation. You don’t just play for yourself. You play for your city, you play for your organization, you definitely play for the players that have been here for a long time.” Read Parker Gabriel’s full story.
Broncos HC Sean Payton Says CB Pat Surtain II Should Win DPOY: “It’s an Easy Case to Make”
No cornerback has been named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year since Stephon Gilmore in 2019. Sean Payton is convinced that Pat Surtain II should end that streak.
Surtain, Denver’s top defensive player, is currently a betting favorite to be named AP Defensive Player of the Year according to FanDuel. He is ahead of outside linebackers TJ Watt (Steelers), Myles Garrett (Browns) and Andrew Van Ginkel (Vikings) and safety Kerby Joseph (Lions).
Teammate and outside linebacker Nik Bonitto has the ninth-best odds to win the award. Read Ryan McFadden’s full story.
Renck: After twice whiffing on playoff berth, Broncos’ Sean Payton has chance for redemption against Chiefs
The Broncos needed a huge change in leadership, and owner Greg Penner realized it. Two years ago, after seeing Dalton Risner shove Brett Rypien, after seeing Randy Gregory punch a Los Angeles ram, after hearing “SpongeBob Squarepants” character Patrick Star roast Russell Wilson, Penner fired Nathaniel Hackett.
You can draw a line from that Christmas Day game to Sunday. If you win, the Broncos are in the playoffs. Penner saved the Broncos by hiring Sean Payton. He’s created a culture and created accountability, but with Denver on the block for the first time since 2015, questions remain about Payton’s mentality. Read Troy Renck’s full column.
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