The Kansas City Chiefs wrapped up their regular season with a forgettable performance against the Denver Broncos on the road in Week 18. With the No. 1 seed already secured, the Chiefs opted to rest key starters, leading to a lopsided 38-0 defeat.
Despite the loss, the Kansas City Chiefs closed out its regular season with a 15-2 record and now head into the playoffs as the AFC’s top seed. Meanwhile, Denver’s impressive win propelled them into the postseason for the first time in 10 years led by a dominant performance by rookie Quarterback Bo Nix.
Denver’s Hot Start
The Broncos understood what was at stake in this game and wasted no time asserting their dominance on Kansas City’s backups. Denver’s opening drive took six plays for 78 yards and was capped off by a Nix touchdown pass. His first of four on the day, and after taking an early 7-0 lead. Denver kept it rolling in their second offensive series and returned to the end zone with a 10-play, 85-yard drive, making it 14-0 late in the first quarter.
Nix and the Denver offense were virtually unstoppable early. Nix completed his first eight passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns in the first quarter alone. Kansas City’s defense, featuring mostly backups, struggled to apply any real pressure and allowed Denver to move the ball at will.
The Chiefs’ offense fared no better, opening with a quick three-and-out in their first series. Quarterback Carson Wentz in his first start of the season faced constant pressure, and Kansas City failed to generate any meaningful momentum. By the end of the first quarter, the Broncos held a commanding two-touchdown lead. The only bright spot for Kansas City was that D.J. Humphries was on the field and looked solid in the snaps he played.
Chiefs Stumble Into Halftime
Denver did not let up into the second quarter, as they put together another clinical drive. This time, it was an 18-play, 89-yard scoring drive that ended in Nix’s third touchdown of the day. By halftime, the Broncos led 24-0, and Nix had completed an impressive 18-of-19 passes for 215 yards and 3 scores.
Kansas City’s offense remained stagnant, managing to only put together just six plays by the midpoint of the second quarter. Kansas City’s most promising drive of the day ended with a missed 51-yard field goal by Harrison Butker, keeping them scoreless through the first half for the first time in over 60 games. Wentz playing with the Chiefs’ backup offensive line was under relentless pressure, taking two sacks and multiple hits just in the first half alone.
Broncos Close the Door
Denver continued to dominate in the second half, maintaining full control on both sides of the ball. Kansas City had the ball to start the third and their opening drive of the quarter ended in another three-and-out. The Broncos responded with an 11-play, 79-yard drive to extend their lead to 31-0.
There were a few defensive players from Kansas City’s defense that showed brief flashes. Felix Anudike-Uzomah and Jaden Hicks had a strong series featuring tackles for loss which forced Denver’s first three-and-out of the day in the third quarter. However, Denver’s offense bounced right back in their next series, adding another score early in the fourth quarter to make it 38-0.
The offensive struggles persisted, and Kansas City eventually brought in third-stringer Chris Oladokun for one series, but he did not have a single completion, was sacked once, and went three-and-out. Kansas City ended the game with just 98 total yards, compared to Denver’s 479, and wrapped up their regular season resting their starters and letting their backups get some run.
Final Thoughts
While the Chiefs may prefer to forget this game, it did serve as a valuable opportunity to rest starters and evaluate younger talent. Hicks made the most of his opportunity and stood out defensively, showing promise as a potential starter next season or a possible key playoff contributor in a few weeks. Offensive Lineman D.J. Humphries also impressed in limited action, and depending on how the coaching staff feels he could end up being in at left tackle come the divisional round.
For Denver, the win not only secured their playoff spot but also showcased a career-best performance by Nix, as he heads into the first playoff game of his career. The Broncos were the better team throughout, while Kansas City focused on staying healthy for their postseason run.
The Chiefs now enjoy a first-round bye as the AFC’s No. 1 seed, giving them ample time to prepare for the divisional round. With their regular season in the books, Kansas City looks ahead to a postseason where their rested starters will aim to make another run at another Super Bowl title.
