The Denver Broncos face the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day in a key Week 17 matchup with major playoff implications. With a 12-3 record, Denver can secure the AFC West title for the first time since 2015 with a win and a Los Angeles Chargers loss. The Chiefs, at 6-9 and eliminated from contention, will be without quarterback Patrick Mahomes due to an ACL injury.
The NFL's Christmas Day schedule features three divisional rivalries, but the prime-time clash between the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs stands out for its stakes in the AFC playoff picture. Scheduled for Thursday, December 25, at 6:15 p.m. MT in Kansas City, the game will air exclusively on Amazon Prime Video nationally, with local broadcasts on KMGH (ABC Denver7) in Denver and KSHB (NBC Channel 41) in Kansas City.
Denver enters as heavy favorites, listed at -12.5 points with an over/under of 36.5, reflecting their dominant 12-3 record and hold on the AFC's No. 1 seed. A victory over the rival Chiefs, combined with a Chargers defeat or tie against the Houston Texans on Saturday, would clinch the AFC West for the Broncos and end Kansas City's nine-year division reign. The Broncos could also lock up the conference's top seed and lone bye with additional losses or ties from the New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Buffalo Bills, though that scenario requires significant help.
For the Chiefs, the game marks a stark contrast to recent seasons. At 6-9, they have been eliminated from the playoffs for the first time in over a decade, snapping their streak of nine straight AFC West titles. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes is sidelined after tearing his ACL in Week 15, altering the team's outlook dramatically. Tight end Travis Kelce's participation raises questions about whether it could be his final home game in front of Chiefs fans.
If the Broncos win but the Chargers beat the Texans, a Week 18 showdown in Denver would decide the division, where head-to-head records and conference marks could factor into seeding tiebreakers. The Broncos lead the Chargers 11-4 in the standings, but Los Angeles holds the season head-to-head edge. This matchup underscores the Broncos' push for a deep postseason run while highlighting the Chiefs' challenging transition into offseason evaluations.
