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1 of 5 | Denver Broncos tight extremity Evan Engram (L) exchanges Christmas greetings pinch Kansas City Chiefs tight extremity Travis Kelce connected Thursday astatine GEHA Field astatine Arrowhead Stadium successful Kansas City, Mo. Photo by Jon Robichaud/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Defenders enveloped nan discourtesy for illustration quicksand, swallowing accumulation arsenic nan Denver Broncos fought for a constrictive triumph complete nan Kansas City Chiefs and maintained power of nan AFC.
The Broncos held nan Chiefs to conscionable 139 yards, including a play debased 57 done nan air, successful nan 20-13 triumph Thursday successful Kansas City, Mo.
The Chiefs totaled conscionable 10 first downs down erstwhile third-string backmost Chris Oladokun, who was forced into action owed to injuries to starter Patrick Mahomes and backup Gardner Minshew.
"We conscionable did what we had to do," Broncos backmost Bo Nix told reporters.
Kicker Wil Lutz made a 27-yard section extremity 5 minutes into nan AFC West matchup. Oladokun threw a 5-yard touchdown walk to moving backmost Brashard Smith astir 3 minutes into nan 2nd 4th for nan Chiefs' lone travel to nan extremity zone.
Lutz deed a 30-yard section extremity to trim nan Broncos shortage to 7-6 astatine halftime. Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker divided nan uprights for a 53-yard section extremity connected nan adjacent drive.
Nix gave nan Broncos their first lead pinch a 9-yard rushing touchdown pinch astir 2 minutes remaining successful nan 3rd quarter. Butker tied nan people pinch a 47-yard footwear pinch astir 8 minutes remaining.
Nix deed moving backmost R.J. Harvey pinch a 1-yard touchdown walk pinch 1:45 remaining to springiness nan Broncos their last advantage.
Veteran tight extremity Travis Kelce, who led nan Chiefs pinch 5 catches and 36 receiving yards, astir helped assistance a fourth-quarter rally. But Oladokun's last 2 walk attempts from nan Denver 26-yard statement fell incomplete.
Nix completed 26 of 38 passes for 182 yards, a people and an interception. He ran for 42 yards connected 9 carries, including his 3rd 4th touchdown run. Harvey logged 76 yards from scrimmage and a people connected 19 touches.
Kelce, who perchance played his last crippled astatine GEHA Field astatine Arrowhead Stadium, was affectional aft nan performance.
"That's nan communicative of his career," Oladokun said of Kelce. "Hopefully, it's not Travis' past year. He'll make that determination successful nan off-season. Obviously, everyone successful Chiefs kingdom would emotion to person him back. The crippled loves and needs Trav."
Kelce told reporters he will consult pinch family, friends and nan Chiefs earlier deciding connected nan adjacent way for his Hall of Fame-worthy career.
"Honestly, I've been conscionable focused connected trying to triumph shot games," Kelce said. "I'll fto that beryllium a determination that I make pinch my family, friends and nan Chiefs statement erstwhile nan clip comes."
The Chiefs (6-10), who were antecedently eliminated from playoff contention, will return connected nan Las Vegas Raiders (2-13) connected Jan. 4 successful their regular play finale.
The Broncos (13-3) will big nan Los Angeles Chargers (11-4) connected Jan. 4 successful Denver.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (C) celebrates pinch teammates aft nan Dodgers conclusion nan Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 successful 11 innings successful Game 7 to triumph nan World Series successful Toronto connected November 1, 2025. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo
