The Denver Broncos moved to 13-3 on Thursday Night Football after beating the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day. Bo Nix and RJ Harvey delivered coal to Chiefs with a late touchdown to cap off the evening.
Denver Broncos offense scores late as Bo Nix, RJ Harvey deliver coal to Chiefs
On paper, the Denver Broncos dominated the Kansas City Chiefs statistically, but the score was much closer than it should have been on a weird Christmas night in Missouri.
Kansas City was down to Chris Oladokun, their third-string quarterback, but Denver’s defense had moments where they couldn’t get stops against him, and Thursday’s game came down to a 4th and 8 on the Broncos’ 26-yard line. Oladukon’s pass sailed too high with Ja’Quan McMillian in coverage to seal the game.
But on the previous drive, it was RJ Harvey and Bo Nix who delivered coal to the Chiefs, with Nix finding the rookie for a touchdown inside the final two minutes to put the Broncos up 20-13.
Denver finished the night with 303 yards of offense and dominated the time of possession 39:28 to Kansas City’s 20:32. Nix and the offense converted on 11-of-18 third-down attempts on the evening and collectively rushed for 128 yards behind Nix’s 42 yards, Harvey’s 43, and Jaleel McLaughlin’s 40. The Broncos’ only touchdowns of the evening came from Nix on the ground and his late fourth-quarter pass to Harvey.
Nix’s first-quarter interception set up an early Chiefs scoring drive, which ultimately gave them some life against the Broncos’ defense. Despite Denver’s defense holding the Chiefs’ offense to 139 yards, the Broncos had spurts in this game where bad tackling or extended plays from Oladokun with his legs led to sustained drives.
The win sends Denver to 13-3, and they can lock up the AFC West crown on Sunday if the Houston Texans beat the Los Angeles Chargers. Denver can clinch the #1 seed next week against the Chargers with a win, so regardless, Week 18 has high stakes.