The Denver Broncos beat the Kansas City Chiefs 20-13 on Christmas night at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, winning in Kansas City for the first time since September 2015 and ending a 16-game road losing streak against their division rivals. The Broncos moved to 13-3. The Chiefs fell to 6-10.
Kansas City’s quarterback room had collapsed in the two weeks before kickoff. Patrick Mahomes tore his left ACL in the fourth quarter of the Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on December 14. His replacement, Gardner Minshew, went down with a knee injury on the third play of the Week 16 loss in Tennessee and was placed on injured reserve. Chris Oladokun, a seventh-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft who had spent three seasons on Kansas City’s practice squad, started his first NFL game on Christmas night with both teams’ playoff fates long decided.
The game’s turning point came with the score tied 13-13 and Denver facing fourth-and-two at the Kansas City nine-yard line in the final two minutes. Sean Payton planned to take a delay-of-game penalty and kick the field goal. He had no intention of snapping the ball. Defensive tackle Chris Jones jumped early. The neutral zone infraction gave Denver a first down. Three plays later, Bo Nix found RJ Harvey in the back of the end zone from a yard out. The Broncos defense stopped Kansas City on the ensuing drive, and the game was over.
Table of Contents
Game Summary
Detail
Information
Date
Thursday, December 25, 2025
Kickoff
8:15 PM ET
Venue
GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO
Surface
Grass (Outdoors)
Result
Denver Broncos 20, Kansas City Chiefs 13
Denver Record
13-3 (6-2 Away)
Kansas City Record
6-10 (5-4 Home)
Attendance
73,045
Game Duration
2:45
Broadcast
Prime Video
Vegas Line
Denver -13.5
Over/Under
36.5 (Under)
Coin Toss
Kansas City (deferred)
Score by Quarter
Team
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Final
Denver Broncos
3
3
7
7
20
Kansas City Chiefs
0
7
3
3
13
Scoring Summary
Qtr
Time
Team
Play
DEN
KC
1st
6:58
Denver
Wil Lutz 27-yd FG — 14 plays, 56 yds, 8:02
3
0
2nd
12:49
Kansas City
Brashard Smith 5-yd pass from Chris Oladokun (Harrison Butker kick) — 10 plays, 35 yds, 5:04
RJ Harvey 1-yd pass from Bo Nix (Wil Lutz kick) — 14 plays, 65 yds, 6:18
20
13
Team Statistics
Category
Denver
Kansas City
Total Yards
303
139
Total Plays
71
42
Yards per Play
4.3
3.3
Avg EPA per Play
+0.105
-0.244
Net Passing Yards
175
57
Completions / Attempts
26/38
13/22
Completion %
68.4%
59.1%
Adjusted Completion %
76%
78%
Yards per Pass Attempt
4.5
2.5
Interceptions Thrown
1
0
Sacks — Yards Lost
1–7
1–9
Net Rushing Yards
128
82
Rushing Attempts
32
19
Yards per Rush
4.0
4.3
First Downs
22
10
Passing First Downs
12
4
Rushing First Downs
9
5
Penalty First Downs
1
1
Third Down Efficiency
11/18 (61%)
4/11 (36%)
Fourth Down Efficiency
1/1
1/2
Red Zone (Made / Att)
2/4
1/1
Red Zone TDs
2
1
Red Zone FGs
2
0
Avg Plays per Drive
9.1
5.8
Avg Yards per Drive
33.7
15.4
Avg Points per Drive
2.2
1.4
Total Possessions
8
8
Penalties — Yards
5–57
2–10
Turnovers
1
0
Fumbles Lost
0
0
Time of Possession
39:28
20:32
Passing
Standard Passing
Player
Team
CMP
ATT
YDS
TD
INT
SK
SK-YDS
LNG
RTG
Bo Nix
DEN
26
38
182
1
1
1
–7
23
76.9
Chris Oladokun
KC
13
22
66
1
0
1
–9
14
79.0
Advanced Passing
Player
Team
IAY
IAY/PA
CAY
CAY/Cmp
YAC
YAC/Cmp
Drops
Drop%
BadTh
Bad%
Prss
Prss%
Bltz
Bo Nix
DEN
208
5.5
82
3.2
100
3.8
4
10.8%
4
10.8%
8
18.2%
7
Chris Oladokun
KC
118
5.4
32
2.5
34
2.6
2
10.0%
4
20.0%
8
32.0%
6
IAY = Intended Air Yards | CAY = Completed Air Yards | YAC = Yards After Catch | Prss = Times Pressured | Bltz = Times Blitzed. Source: Pro Football Reference.
Rushing
Standard Rushing
Player
Team
ATT
YDS
AVG
TD
LNG
1D
RJ Harvey
DEN
14
43
3.1
0
11
3
Bo Nix
DEN
9
42
4.7
1
14
4
Jaleel McLaughlin
DEN
7
40
5.7
0
15
1
Adam Prentice
DEN
2
3
1.5
0
3
1
DEN Total
32
128
4.0
1
15
9
Kareem Hunt
KC
7
38
5.4
0
14
4
Isiah Pacheco
KC
9
32
3.6
0
13
1
Chris Oladokun
KC
2
11
5.5
0
7
0
Xavier Worthy
KC
1
1
1.0
0
1
0
KC Total
19
82
4.3
0
14
5
Advanced Rushing
Player
Team
ATT
YDS
YBC
YBC/Att
YAC
YAC/Att
BrkTkl
RJ Harvey
DEN
14
43
13
0.9
30
2.1
1
Bo Nix
DEN
9
42
33
3.7
9
1.0
0
Jaleel McLaughlin
DEN
7
40
24
3.4
16
2.3
0
Adam Prentice
DEN
2
3
2
1.0
1
0.5
0
Kareem Hunt
KC
7
38
12
1.7
26
3.7
0
Isiah Pacheco
KC
9
32
6
0.7
26
2.9
0
Chris Oladokun
KC
2
11
11
5.5
0
0.0
0
Xavier Worthy
KC
1
1
0
0.0
1
1.0
0
YBC = Yards Before Contact | YAC = Yards After Contact | BrkTkl = Broken Tackles. Source: Pro Football Reference.
Receiving
Standard Receiving
Player
Team
TGT
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
LNG
1D
YAC
Courtland Sutton
DEN
10
4
40
10.0
0
23
3
7
RJ Harvey
DEN
6
5
33
6.6
1
13
2
35
Adam Trautman
DEN
2
2
24
12.0
0
13
2
3
Lil’Jordan Humphrey
DEN
5
2
23
11.5
0
17
1
8
Evan Engram
DEN
4
4
21
5.3
0
8
0
14
Troy Franklin
DEN
4
4
17
4.3
0
6
2
8
Michael Bandy
DEN
2
2
14
7.0
0
8
1
3
Marvin Mims
DEN
4
3
10
3.3
0
7
1
21
DEN Total
37
26
182
7.0
1
23
12
99
Travis Kelce
KC
6
5
36
7.2
0
14
2
17
JuJu Smith-Schuster
KC
3
3
16
5.3
0
12
1
4
Marquise Brown
KC
3
1
7
7.0
0
7
0
0
Brashard Smith
KC
4
3
5
1.7
1
5
1
13
Noah Gray
KC
1
1
2
2.0
0
2
0
2
Xavier Worthy
KC
3
0
0
—
0
—
0
0
KC Total
20
13
66
5.1
1
14
4
36
Advanced Receiving
Player
Team
TGT
REC
YDS
ADOT
YAC
YAC/R
BrkTkl
Drop
Drop%
Passer RTG
Courtland Sutton
DEN
10
4
40
10.8
7
2.0
0
2
20.0%
52.1
RJ Harvey
DEN
6
5
33
–0.3
35
7.0
0
1
16.7%
129.2
Adam Trautman
DEN
2
2
24
10.5
3
1.5
0
0
0.0%
116.7
Lil’Jordan Humphrey
DEN
5
2
23
7.8
8
4.0
0
1
20.0%
15.0
Evan Engram
DEN
4
4
21
1.8
14
3.5
0
0
0.0%
88.5
Troy Franklin
DEN
4
4
17
2.3
8
2.0
0
0
0.0%
84.4
Michael Bandy
DEN
2
2
14
5.5
3
1.5
0
0
0.0%
95.8
Marvin Mims
DEN
4
3
10
3.5
21
7.0
0
0
0.0%
77.1
Travis Kelce
KC
6
5
36
6.7
17
3.4
0
0
0.0%
91.7
JuJu Smith-Schuster
KC
3
3
16
4.0
4
1.3
0
0
0.0%
88.9
Brashard Smith
KC
4
3
5
–3.5
11
3.7
1
0
0.0%
116.7
Marquise Brown
KC
3
1
7
11.7
0
0.0
0
1
33.3%
42.4
Xavier Worthy
KC
3
0
0
13.0
0
—
0
1
33.3%
39.6
Noah Gray
KC
1
1
2
0.0
2
2.0
0
0
0.0%
79.2
ADOT = Average Depth of Target | YAC = Yards After Catch | Passer RTG = QB rating when targeting that receiver. Source: Pro Football Reference.
Defense
Tackles, Sacks and Pass Breakups
Player
Team
TOT
SOLO
AST
SACKS
TFL
PD
QB HTS
Nick Bolton
KC
12
6
6
0
0
1
0
Chamarri Conner
KC
10
7
3
0
0
0
1
Drue Tranquill
KC
9
7
2
0
0
0
0
Nohl Williams
KC
8
7
1
0
3
0
0
Bryan Cook
KC
8
4
4
0
0
1
0
Charles Omenihu
KC
5
3
2
0
0
0
1
Ashton Gillotte
KC
4
1
3
0
0
0
0
Kristian Fulton
KC
3
2
1
0
0
3
0
Cooper McDonald
KC
3
0
3
0
0
0
0
Chris Jones
KC
2
1
1
1.0
1
0
4
George Karlaftis
KC
2
1
1
0
0
0
0
Jeffrey Bassa
KC
2
1
1
0
0
0
0
Jaden Hicks
KC
2
1
1
0
0
0
0
Jerry Tillery
KC
2
0
2
0
0
0
0
Cole Christiansen
KC
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
Mike Edwards
KC
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
Mike Pennel
KC
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
Joshua Williams
KC
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
Patrick Surtain II
DEN
5
4
1
0
0
0
0
D.J. Jones
DEN
5
3
2
0
0
0
0
Malcolm Roach
DEN
5
2
3
0
0
0
0
Alex Singleton
DEN
4
2
2
0
0
0
0
Jahdae Barron
DEN
4
2
2
0
0
0
0
P.J. Locke
DEN
4
2
2
0
1
0
0
Riley Moss
DEN
3
2
1
0
0
0
0
Eyioma Uwazurike
DEN
3
1
2
0
0
0
0
Talanoa Hufanga
DEN
2
1
1
0
0
0
0
Jonah Elliss
DEN
2
1
1
0.5
1
0
2
Dondrea Tillman
DEN
2
1
1
0.5
0
0
2
Zach Allen
DEN
1
1
0
0
0
0
2
Nik Bonitto
DEN
1
1
0
0
0
1
0
Jonathon Cooper
DEN
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
Adam Prentice
DEN
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
JL Skinner
DEN
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
Reese Taylor
DEN
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
Devon Key
DEN
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
Tyler Badie
DEN
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
Interceptions
Player
Team
INT
YDS
TD
LNG
PD
Nick Bolton
KC
1
0
0
0
1
Coverage Statistics
All data from Pro Football Reference. TGT = passes thrown into a defender’s coverage zone. TD = touchdowns allowed in coverage.
Player
Team
TGT
CMP
CMP%
YDS
TD
INT
PD
Passer RTG
DADOT
Chamarri Conner
KC
10
8
80.0%
56
0
0
0
90.0
3.2
Bryan Cook
KC
9
5
55.6%
58
1
0
1
112.3
9.6
Kristian Fulton
KC
5
1
20.0%
4
0
0
3
39.6
13.4
Nohl Williams
KC
4
4
100%
18
0
0
0
85.4
3.8
Nick Bolton
KC
3
3
100%
15
0
1
1
47.9
1.3
Charles Omenihu
KC
1
1
100%
8
0
0
0
100.0
0.0
Michael Danna
KC
1
1
100%
7
0
0
0
95.8
–4.0
Jaden Hicks
KC
1
1
100%
6
0
0
0
91.7
5.0
Drue Tranquill
KC
1
1
100%
6
0
0
0
91.7
1.0
Zacch Pickens
KC
1
1
100%
4
0
0
0
83.3
–5.0
Kevin Knowles
KC
1
0
0.0%
0
0
0
0
39.6
17.0
Jeffrey Bassa
KC
1
0
0.0%
0
0
0
0
39.6
0.0
Patrick Surtain II
DEN
4
3
75.0%
22
0
0
0
87.5
9.8
Riley Moss
DEN
4
2
50.0%
19
0
0
0
63.5
5.5
P.J. Locke
DEN
4
2
50.0%
0
0
0
0
56.2
8.5
Ja’Quan McMillian
DEN
2
0
0.0%
0
0
0
0
39.6
9.0
Jahdae Barron
DEN
2
2
100%
18
0
0
0
104.2
3.5
Alex Singleton
DEN
2
2
100%
10
1
0
0
127.1
0.0
Jonah Elliss
DEN
1
1
100%
–5
0
0
0
79.2
–5.0
Talanoa Hufanga
DEN
1
1
100%
2
0
0
0
79.2
–3.0
DADOT = Defender Average Depth of Target. Source: Pro Football Reference.
Pass Rush
Source: Pro Football Focus.
Player
Team
TPR
SK
HT
HU
PRSH
PR%
Chris Jones
KC
7
1
1
5
26
26.9%
George Karlaftis
KC
4
0
0
4
32
12.5%
Charles Omenihu
KC
3
0
0
3
25
12.0%
Zacch Pickens
KC
1
0
0
1
10
10.0%
Mike Danna
KC
1
0
0
1
15
6.7%
Dondrea Tillman
DEN
3
1
1
1
7
42.9%
Jonah Elliss
DEN
2
0
0
2
8
25.0%
Nik Bonitto
DEN
2
0
0
2
17
11.8%
Zach Allen
DEN
1
0
1
0
18
5.6%
Jonathon Cooper
DEN
1
0
1
0
17
5.9%
TPR = Total Pressures | SK = Sacks | HT = QB Hits | HU = Hurries | PRSH = Pass Rush Snaps | PR% = Pressure Rate. Note: PFF credits Tillman with 1.0 sack; PFR splits the same sack 0.5 each between Tillman and Elliss.
Source: Pro Football Focus. Initial grades, subject to review. (R) = Rookie.
Player
Team
Position
Grade
Snaps
Quinn Meinerz
DEN
G
92.0
72
D.J. Jones
DEN
DI
91.1
20
Alex Forsyth
DEN
C
88.6
72
Jonah Elliss
DEN
ED
85.9
12
Nohl Williams (R)
KC
CB
83.4
72
Bryan Cook
KC
S
81.5
72
P.J. Locke
DEN
S
78.3
43
Bo Nix
DEN
QB
77.3
72
Marcedes Lewis
DEN
TE
76.6
15
Garett Bolles
DEN
T
74.6
72
Officials and Game Information
Role
Official
Referee
Bill Vinovich
Umpire
Scott Walker
Down Judge
Dale Keller
Line Judge
Tripp Sutter
Back Judge
Todd Prukop
Side Judge
Jimmy Buchanan
Field Judge
Aaron Santi
Injury notes: Denver C Luke Wattenberg (shoulder) was placed on injured reserve earlier in the day. Kansas City WR Nikko Remigio (knee) was placed on IR. OL Jaylon Moore (knee) and DT Derrick Nnadi (illness) were inactive for the Chiefs.
Two days after the game, the Houston Texans beat the Los Angeles Chargers 20-16, and Denver clinched the AFC West title without leaving home. The division title was the Broncos’ first since 2015, ending Kansas City’s nine-year hold on the AFC West and the Chiefs’ run of seven consecutive AFC Championship Game appearances. Denver went on to finish 14-3, tying the franchise record for wins in a single season, claimed the AFC’s top seed, and hosted playoff football at Empower Field at Mile High for the first time since January 2016.
Kansas City closed the 2025 regular season at 6-11, their first losing record since 2012. Travis Kelce, who finished with five catches for 36 yards and said afterward that any retirement decision would come in conversations with his family and the organization, was appearing in what became his final game at Arrowhead Stadium as a Chief.
The Broncos made a legitimate run at the Super Bowl. They beat the Buffalo Bills 33-30 in overtime in the Divisional Round at Empower Field at Mile High before the New England Patriots ended it with a 10-7 win in the AFC Championship Game. For a franchise that had not hosted a playoff game since January 2016, the Christmas night win in Kansas City was where that run began.
Cornelia Lindqvist is a Swedish-American sports journalist with 4 years of experience covering professional athletics. She previously worked at Sports Illustrated before joining Newzire. Cornelia reports on the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, international football, and cricket, covering game results, roster moves, trade deals, playoff standings, and player statistics. Her sports analysis background helps readers understand the strategies and numbers behind wins and losses.
