KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - DECEMBER 25: Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs warms up prior to the game against the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium on December 25, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Eric Thomas/Getty Images)Photo: Eric Thomas / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
The Chiefs won the toss and deferred to the 2nd half.
Bo Nix and the Broncos offense started out their first drive of the night from their own 35 yard line after the touchback. Nix hit Harvey for a check down and he got 9 on the first play and then a first down on a carry by RJ on the next play. A short pass to Michael Bandy got the Broncos into Chiefs territory to the 42 yard line. Troy Franklin took a pass from Nix in the right flat down to the Chiefs 24 yard line as the Broncos continued their march. Facing a 3rd and 1 from the 15 yard line, Bo Nix with the QB sneak to gain the necessary yardage to keep the drive moving. Facing a 3rd and 5 from the Chiefs 9 yard line, Nix pass to Humphrey was incomplete. Wil Lutz came in for a chip shot 27 yard field goal. Broncos took an early 3-0 lead with 6:58 remaining in the 1st quarter. Nice 14-play drive to start the game.
Chris Oladokun and the Chiefs offense would begin their first drive of the night from their own 26 yard line. They open with 3 straight runs to get their initial 1st down of the drive. Xavier Worthy stepped out of bounds on the catch that would've been another 1st down and then on 3rd and 9, Oladokun's deep attempt fell incomplete.
Broncos offense went back to work from their own 19 yard but after a miss fire from Nix to Mims and a no gain run by Nix, Denver faced a 3rd and 10, Bo was picked off by Nick Bolton at thei Denver 35 yard line on an incredible tip play.
Chiefs worked inside the Red Zone, converting a 3rd and 6 to Travis Kelce for 11 yards. At the start of the 2nd quarter, Chiefs faced a 3rd and 3. Kelce caught a short pass on the right side but was short. Kareem Hunt converted the 4th and 1 down to the Denver 6 yard line. On 3rd and 5, Oladokun hit Brashard Smith on the right side and he broke multiple tackles to get into the end zone for the Chiefs 1st score of the game. KC lead 7-3 with 12:49 remaining in the 2nd quarter.
Now in an early hole, Broncos offense went back to work from their own 34 and quickly got a 1st down after Engram gained 8 on 1st down and then Adam Prentice gained 3 on the next play. Facing a 3rd and 8 from their own 48 yard line, Nix's pass to Sutton was just off his finger tips and fell incomplete. Broncos punt, Chiefs start from their own 18 yard line with 10:31 remaining in the 2nd quarter.
After an initial 1st down carry by Pacheco, the Chiefs aren't able to get the next 1st down and KC was forced to punt it back to Denver. Broncos would start their next drive at their 10 yard line after a holding penalty against KAD.
Facing a 3rd and 3 from the Denver 17 yard line, Courtland dove for the ball and was able to move the chains for a 7 yard gain. The Broncos offense worked into KC territory with Bo Nix legs as he gained 14 yards to move the sticks again. Facing a 3rd and 2 at the Chiefs 39 after the 2 minute warning, Jaleel McLaughlin burst through the line for a 15 yard gain to get near the Red Zone. Nix completed a pass to Trautman along the right sideline and the Broncos were in business. Sutton ALMOST came down with a touchdown on 3rd and 10 but a great play by Cook knocked the ball out. Denver settled for 3 and went into halftime trailing 7-6.
Chiefs offense started with the ball out of halftime at their own 37 yard line. A bit of bad luck as Oladokun fumbled the ball, picked it back up and was able to complete a pass to JuJu Smith Schuster for a 1st down into Denver territory. Surtain was called a 27 yard DPI and the Chiefs were in scoring range. Jonah Ellis sacked Oladokun and then a TFL on a screen would set up a 53 yard field goal attempt. Butker converted, Chiefs extend lead 10-6 with 11:42 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
Broncos offense started their first drive of the 2nd half from their own 27 yard line. Sutton caught a 6 yard pass to get the drive it's initial 1st down. A terrible OPI call went against Engram that took away another 1st down but Sutton caught a 23 yard pass down the left sideline for a big 1st down. The Broncos methodically worked into the Red Zone and eventually inside the 10 yard line. From the 9 yard line, Bo Nix ran it in to give the Broncos the lead 13-10. It was a 14-play, 72 yard drive that took 9:47 off of the clock.
The Chiefs quickly went 3 and out on their next drive including a PJ Locke TFL on a 3rd down pass that would force a KC punt as we began the 4th quarter. Broncos offense would start from their own 20 yard line after the touchback.
Marvin Mims gained 6 yards on the 1st play of the drive and then Bandy caught a 6 yard pass to move the chains. Nix was sacked on 3rd and 4 and the Broncos were forced to punt. Brashard Smith had a huge 45 yard punt return and the Chiefs were set up at the Denver 45 yard line to begin their next drive. Oladokun found Smith Schuster and then Kareem Hunt converted a short gain to get the initial first down of the drive. Facing a 3rd and 9, Broncos defense comes up with a stop and the Chiefs convert a 47 yard field goal to tie the game at 13 with 8:03 remaining in the game.
Broncos started their next drive from their 35 yard line. Facing a 3rd and 1, RJ Harvey burst around the left side for an 11 yard gain. On 3rd and 10, Bo Nix hit Lil'Jordan Humphrey for a 17 yard gain to get the Broncos into Chiefs territory. RJ Harvey got the ball inside the Red Zone with a couple of nice runs as the clock ticked down near 4 minutes. Facing a 4th and 2, RJ Harvey lined up in the wildcat and the Broncos drew an offsides penalty from Chris Jones! It was the Chiefs FIRST PENALTY OF THE GAME. RJ Harvey carried it down to the 1 yard line and on 3rd down, Bo Nix rolled to his right and hit RJ Harvey in the back of the end zone for a Broncos touchdown! Broncos go back in front 20-13 with 1:45 remaining in the game.
Chiefs started their next drive from their own 35 yard line. Chiefs worked quickly into Denver territory all the way down to the Broncos 21 yard line. Facing a 3rd and 3 with 26 seconds left in the game, KC had a delay of game making it 3rd and 8. On 4th and 8, Oladukon's pass to the end zone fell incomplete and the Broncos won 20-13!
The next broadcast will be the regular season finale on either January 3rd or 4th, depending on flex scheduling, hosting the Los Angeles Chargers.
Below are the postgame interviews with Bo Nix, Jonah Ellis and Jaleel McLaughlin