Stick right here for stay updates and evaluation as Denver takes on the Chiefs in Denver.
Reside updates
Second-quarter updates
Ahead lateral (3:38 p.m.): Like my Leicester FC Foxes, Broncos are achieved in by a VAR assessment. Offside. — Keeler
Bo Nix has nonetheless accomplished each ahead cross he has thrown on this sport. — Schubert
Missed FG (3:35 p.m.): Harrison Butker misses the 51-yard field-goal try. Denver will get the ball again with 1:04 to go within the half. — Nguyen
Casa Bonitto (3:34 p.m.): One other sack for Nik Bonitto. He has 13.5 on the season. — Nguyen
Sacked (3:32 p.m.): The Broncos now have two double-digit sack males after Jonathon Cooper’s second-down sack. — Schubert
Jonathon Cooper reaches double figures with 10.5 sacks after crushing Carson Wentz. — Renck
Broncos have two gamers to file double digit sacks in a season for the primary time since Von Miller and Bradley Chubb in 2018.
- Jonathon Cooper: 10.5
- Nik Bonitto: 12.5
— McFadden
Driving (3:29 p.m.): An appropriately lengthy Chiefs drive on the finish of the second quarter. Simply preserve them out of the top zone and the Broncos can relaxation simple within the second half. — Schubert
Fourth-down conversion (3:28 p.m.): Carson Wentz throws a catch-and-run to Samaje Perine for a 13-yard achieve on fourth-and-4. — Nguyen
Landing, Broncos (3:18 p.m.): Bo Nix finds Devaughn Vele ultimately zone after it was deflected twice. Nix is an ideal 17-for-17 to start out the sport. Broncos 21, Chiefs 0 with 6:46 to go within the second quarter. That drive went 11:05 with 18 performs for 89 yards. — Nguyen
That’s how you retain a streak alive. Bo Nix has 18 passing TDs at dwelling, a brand new NFL rookie file. He has 28 general, second most by a rookie behind Justin Herbert (31). And he has 17-for-17, three shy of Hugh Millen’s membership file of 20 straight set in 1994. Aside from that. — Renck
Chiefs are allegedly staying the evening b/c of the shutdowns at KC Worldwide. Do they get invited to the Broncos’ playoff occasion? — Keeler
I’m hitting reset on Madden after a landing like that. — Schubert
Staying excellent (3:15 p.m.): Broncos’ Bo Nix on a heater 14-for-14 to start out the sport. That might be the perfect in workforce historical past. Broncos are efforting to test it out. — Renck
Transformed (3:13 p.m.): Bo Nix dives proper for the primary down. — Nguyen
Staying aggressive (3:12 p.m.): Exhausting to get nearer to a primary down than that. If the Broncos rating right here, Sean Payton will get the luxurious of pondering when he needs to drag his starters. — Schubert
Persevering with the momentum (3:06 p.m.): Bo Nix begins the second quarter with an 8-yard cross to Nate Adkins. — Nguyen
First-quarter evaluation — Broncos 14, Chiefs 0
Parker Gabriel, beat author: Bar-Invoice’s received the perfect wings in Buffalo.
Ryan McFadden, beat author: Chiefs are taking part in like they don’t need Joe Burrow within the playoffs.
Sean Keeler, sports activities columnist: The forecast for Saturday at Niagara Falls: Cloudy at 32 for a excessive. No snow.
Troy Renck, sports activities columnist: Buffalo in January isn’t like Paris in August, however it’s beginning to sound fairly interesting for Broncos. Nix is 9-for-9 for 131 yards and two touchdowns. Nix has 27 passing touchdowns. That’s the most since Peyton Manning since 2014.
Matt Schubert, sports activities editor: The offense is chunking its method down the sector. The protection is having zero issues with Carson Wentz. And the playoffs are proper there for the taking. (Which the Chiefs appear to be completely advantageous with.)
First-quarter updates
Fast toes (3:02 p.m.): Bo Nix: Fairly quick. — Gabriel
Damage (2:58 p.m.): Broncos extensive receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey is down on the bottom and being checked out by trainers. — Nguyen
One other cease (2:53 p.m.): Denver’s protection stops KC once more, this time permitting 17 yards on three performs.
Examine that — 12 yards after the penalty. — Nguyen
Excellent begin (2:50 p.m.): Bo Nix is 8 for 8 with 125 yards and two touchdowns. — McFadden
Landing, Broncos (2:46 p.m.): Bo Nix connects with Courtland Sutton between double protection for the 10-yard landing. Broncos 14, Chiefs 0 with 4:53 to go within the first quarter. — Nguyen
Andy Reid hates the concept of Joe Burrow within the playoffs greater than the concept of the Broncos, apparently. And hallelujah. — Keeler
Large achieve (2:45 p.m.): Courtland Sutton now formally the primary 1,000-yard receiver or rusher for the Broncos since 2019 after that 47-yard deep ball from Nix. — Gabriel
Aggressive calls (2:44 p.m.): Sean Payton again to aggressive this week. Goes for it on fourth and 1 from the 39 and Nix will get it on a sneak. — Gabriel
Broncos try to place this sport away by halftime. — McFadden
Run sport (2:42 p.m.): Broncos are operating it proper on the Zombie Chiefs protection. Unsolicited recommendation: They need to preserve doing that. — Gabriel
Three-and-out (2:37 p.m.): Denver’s protection stops the Carson Wentz-led Chiefs offense. Denver will get the ball again at its personal 15 after the punt. — Nguyen
Enjoyable truth (2:35 p.m.): The Broncos went into Week 18 averaging 1.92 factors per drive. Whereas carrying their Orange Crush ’77 throwbacks, they’re getting 3.15 factors per drive. Lesson: KEEP THE THROWBACKS. — Keeler
Landing, Broncos (2:31 p.m.): Nix fakes the hand off to Troy Franklin earlier than throwing a brief cross to Marvin Mims Jr., who scores on a 32-yard landing catch. Broncos are on the board. — McFadden
Marvin Mims: Fairly essential to this offense. — Gabriel
The criticism of Broncos offense has been well-deserved at occasions. However seeing Mims turn into a factor has been a pleasing and welcomed shock. — Renck
Bo Nix finds Marvin Mims Jr. for the 32-yard catch-and-run landing to cap off that six-play, 70-yard drive. Broncos 7, Chiefs 0 with 11:55 to go within the first quarter. — Nguyen
Williams sighting (2:30 p.m.): Javonte Williams, who didn’t have a carry vs. Cincy, simply ran up the center for a 10-yard achieve. Denver’s offense is rolling out of the gates.
Damage (2:27 p.m.): RT Mike McGlinchey got here up limping after McLaughlin’s first carry of the sport. — Gabriel
First play (2:27 p.m.): Nix throws to Nate Adkins for a 12-yard achieve on the primary play. — McFadden
Pre-game updates
Coin toss (2:24 p.m.): Kansas Metropolis received the toss and elected to defer. Denver will get the ball first. — McFadden
Sturdy opening (2:22 p.m.): Terrific nationwide anthem. Crowd into it. It’s sunny 30 levels. Broncos aiming for his or her first playoff berth since 2015. — Renck
Reunion (2:08 p.m.): Former Broncos standout Derek Wolfe hung out in pregame hanging out with Travis Kelce. Wolfe, Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce had been roommates on the College of Cincinnati. Wolfe is a part of the alumni visitors. Dave Logan, former Bronco and the voice of the Broncos on KOA, will plant the flag earlier than the sport. — Renck
Gameday (1:22 p.m.): Chilly morning but it surely’s now a fantastic thing about a day right here for Week 18 motion. Has there been a single day of unhealthy climate at Empower Subject this season? Can’t keep in mind one. Subject seems nice with the retro trimmings. The Broncos will both finish their playoff drought or collapse in dramatic style carrying the throw-back unis. — Gabriel
Broncos inactives (1:01 p.m.): QB Zach Wilson, RB Blake Watson, DL Matt Henningsen, LB Levelle Bailey, DL Eyioma Uwazurike and OT Frank Crum. — McFadden
Scouting report (10:51 a.m.): Try how the Broncos match up with the Chiefs in Ryan McFadden’s scouting report.
Sport predictions
Parker Gabriel, beat author: Broncos 20, Chiefs 17
Possibly it’ll find yourself being easy crusing for Denver. The standing as an enormous dwelling favourite will make for a festive Week 18 and a cathartic finish to the playoff drought. But it surely’s exhausting to think about Kansas Metropolis, the longtime divisional huge brother, rolling over and letting it occur that simply. Even with Patrick Mahomes in a ball cap. Even with different key gamers solely watching. Coach Andy Reid and DC Steve Spagnuolo don’t must take the week off. Nonetheless, Denver makes good on likelihood No. 3 and punches its ticket.
Ryan McFadden, beat author: Broncos 26, Chiefs 17
Third time’s the attraction, proper? Denver has proven it might beat the Chiefs. A blocked area objective try at Arrowhead took away the Broncos’ likelihood of pulling their largest upset of the season. On Sunday, nonetheless, the Broncos might be taking part in in opposition to a bunch of the Chiefs’ backups. The sport might be nearer than anticipated, however the Broncos ought to deal with enterprise in entrance of their dwelling crowd. If not, they by no means deserved to be within the playoffs to start with.
Troy Renck, columnist: Broncos 22, Chiefs 19
The Ok.C. bench would love nothing greater than to ship the Broncos to the seaside. However with out Patrick Mahomes, Chris Jones, Travis Kelce and Trent McDuffie, the Chiefs will not be upsetting the Broncos. Sean Payton will discover himself in rhythm with the run sport — that means Bo Nix is an enormous a part of it on RPOs — because the Broncos advance to the playoffs with a white-knuckle win.
Matt Schubert, sports activities editor: Broncos 25, Chiefs 14
As a lot as Kansas Metropolis would possibly wish to spoil the Broncos’ parade to the playoffs, each resolution its teaching employees has made main into this one signifies simply how little they really care. It’s exhausting to beat a workforce with that type of posture, particularly one as motivated because the Broncos taking part in in entrance of a frothing-at-the-mouth dwelling crowd. The postseason drought ends Sunday, with a visit to sunny Buffalo a becoming reward after the debacle that was the final two weeks.
Broncos-Chiefs NFL Week 18: Should-reads
Broncos’ Garett Bolles, Courtland Sutton have “put up with quite a lot of rubbish” over time. Is their playoff second lastly about to reach?
Starting with a win in opposition to Inexperienced Bay final 12 months, the Broncos beneath Payton received 16 of their subsequent 25 video games, together with an expectation-blasting 9-5 begin to 2024.
However now they’ve misplaced their previous two and certain must win Sunday in opposition to Kansas Metropolis to lastly put that playoff drought to mattress. To get to the postseason for the primary time since successful the Tremendous Bowl in 2015. To shake the albatross off the again of Bolles, Denver’s longest-tenured Bronco, and its different elder statesman, receiver Courtland Sutton.
“They’ve put up with quite a lot of rubbish over time and it’s time we give them the flexibility to money in,” Broncos proper sort out Mike McGlinchey mentioned Wednesday. “We’re excited to do this. We talked about that as an offense at present. You’re not simply taking part in for your self. You’re taking part in on your metropolis, you’re taking part in on your group, you’re actually taking part in for the gamers which have been right here for a very long time.” Learn Parker Gabriel’s full story.
Broncos HC Sean Payton says CB Pat Surtain II ought to win DPOY: “It’s a straightforward case to make”
No cornerback has been named the NFL’s Defensive Participant of the Yr since Stephon Gilmore in 2019. Sean Payton strongly believes Pat Surtain II ought to finish that streak.
Surtain, Denver’s star defensive again, is at the moment a betting favourite to be named the AP Defensive Participant of the Yr, in keeping with FanDuel. He’s forward of outdoor linebackers T.J. Watt (Steelers), Myles Garrett (Browns) and Andrew Van Ginkel (Vikings), and security Kerby Joseph (Lions).
Teammate and outdoors linebacker Nik Bonitto has the ninth-best odds to win the award. Learn Ryan McFadden’s full story.
Renck: After whiffing twice on playoff berth, Broncos’ Sean Payton has likelihood for redemption in opposition to Chiefs
The Broncos wanted a seismic change in management, and proprietor Greg Penner realized it. Two years in the past, after watching Dalton Risner shove Brett Rypien, after watching Randy Gregory punch a Los Angeles Ram, after listening to “SpongeBob Squarepants” character Patrick Star roast Russell Wilson, Penner fired Nathaniel Hackett.
You possibly can draw a line from that Christmas Day sport to Sunday. Win, and the Broncos are within the playoffs. Penner rescued the Broncos by hiring Sean Payton. He established a tradition and created accountability, however as Denver sits on the doorstep of its first postseason look since 2015, questions persist about Payton’s mindset. Learn Troy Renck’s full column.
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