Nfl Playoff Picture Broncos Move Closer To Afc West Title And Keep

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Dec 28, 2025, 1:26 PM

nfl playoff picture broncos move closer to afc west title and keep

The Broncos entered the 2025 campaign with high hopes. It's hard to imagine they could have fathomed things going as well as they have thus far. Through 16 games, Denver sits atop the AFC. It hasn't been the prettiest of rides for the Broncos, who have endured a fair few close calls along the way. But winning has always been an elixir. And as the season draws to a close, there isn't a team more used to winning this year than Sean Payton's bunch, who landed another victory in tight circumstances against the Chiefs on Christmas...

Kansas City huffed and puffed, showing resilience throughout the fixture. But Bo Nix's last-gasp touchdown was enough to give the Broncos a 20-13 win, moving them one step closer from an AFC regular season crown. Here's a look at Denver's playoff outlook after its latest victory. MORE: Updates on the chase for the AFC's top seed Here's how the NFL playoff picture looks through the first three games of Week 17 on Christmas: The Detroit Lions were eliminated from playoff contention with a loss to the Minnesota Vikings, enabling the... And the Denver Broncos kept pace in the AFC for the No.

1 seed and inched closer to the AFC West title. The NFC playoff field is all set except for one slot: the NFC South champion, which is currently on pace to be the Carolina Panthers, but could still end up the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 1. Seattle Seahawks (12-3)*: Remaining schedule — at Carolina Panthers, at San Francisco 49ers Seahawks win + Rams loss or tie + 49ers-Bears tie Seahawks win + Rams loss or tie + 49ers loss or tie, OR

Broncos. We break down how they can clinch the AFC West, and the No. 1 seed, in the 2026 NFL Playoffs in Week 17. Update (Saturday): The Broncos have clinched the AFC West title. The Chargers lost 20-16 to the Texans on Saturday, which officially clinched the division title for Denver. They could clinch the top seed with some more help on Sunday, but for now they’re guaranteed a top three seed in the 2026 NFL Playoffs.

Update (Christmas night): Denver’s win over the Chiefs on Christmas night keeps both of their scenarios alive for Week 17. The Broncos will clinch the AFC West with a Chargers loss or tie to the Texans on Saturday night. Denver can also clinch the No. 1 seed in the conference with a Patriots loss to the Jets, a Chargers loss or tie to the Texans, a Jaguars loss or tie against the Colts, and a Bills loss or tie... The Denver Broncos travel to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Christmas night to take on the Kansas City Chiefs. And the Broncos can make it a wonderful Christmas for themselves and their fans with a win over their division rivals, and a little bit of help from around the rest of the league.

Denver can clinch both the AFC West, and the No. 1 seed in the AFC, here in Week 17. Every week for the duration of the 2025 regular season, USA TODAY Sports will provide timely updates to the NFL's ever-evolving playoff picture – typically starting Sunday afternoon and then moving forward for the... And, when the holidays roll around, we'll be watching then, too). What just happened? What does it mean?

What are the pertinent factors (and, perhaps, tiebreakers) prominently in play as each conference's seven-team bracket begins to crystallize? All will be explained and analyzed up to the point when the postseason field is finalized Sunday, Jan. 4. Here's where things stand with Week 17 underway: x − 1. Seattle Seahawks (12-3), NFC West leaders: Splitting their season series with the Rams in Week 16's classic means they'll wind up with the No.

1 seed if they win their final two games. Remaining schedule: at Panthers, at 49ers y − 2. Chicago Bears (11-4), NFC North champions: Green Bay's loss Saturday night was doubly sweet, wrapping up the division title for Da Bears, who are still in play for the No. 1 seed, too. Remaining schedule: at 49ers, vs.

Lions Week 16 is one of the highest-leverage weeks of the 2025 NFL season, and there have already been results with huge playoff implications Following Thursday night's classic NFC West battle -- during which the Seahawks beat the Rams to move atop the division and the NFC -- the drama continued Saturday evening. The Eagles clinched the NFC East by beating the Commanders, while the Bears took control of the NFC North after a miraculous comeback victory over the Packers. On Sunday, there are three more matchups that feature massive swing potential in the playoff picture: the Buccaneers (7-7) facing the Panthers (7-7), the Steelers (8-6) taking on the Lions (8-6) and the 49ers... Playoff odds reflect each team's chances with a win vs.

a loss, per SportsLine. Elsewhere, the Patriots (11-3) can tighten their grip on the top of the AFC East on "Sunday Night Football" against the Ravens (7-7) -- a game the Ravens desperately need to keep pace with... Game update: With their 41-24 win on Saturday night, the Baltimore Ravens remain alive in the race for a playoff spot. Baltimore is now 8-8, but can be eliminated with a Steelers win or loss on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. The loss means the Packers are eliminated from NFC... Uncorking one of those Bill Simmonsisms because I think there’s a real debate to be had about this.

It was the Chiefs with a bullet for a while, but they also didn’t exactly lose because of injuries or bad luck (that was only at the very end). It was wack, but was it really a complete disaster? A local and dedicated foster-based dog rescue in Massachusetts, Great Dog Rescue New England (GDRNE), would like you to meet Sugar Bear, a tiny young puppy who has been with them since the first... While the details on how their momma ended up in rescue were not given, Sugar and her siblings were born in rescue care. They have grown up in their foster home, where they have been shown love since day one. Game results: Let’s recap every game of the 2025 NBA Christmas slate:.

New York Knicks 126, Cleveland Cavaliers 124: The Knicks came back from 17 points down in the fourth quarter to wrestle away the win. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 34 points, while Jordan Clarkson added 25 points off the bench. Mitchell Robinson’s eight offensive rebounds were key for New York in the victory, as was Tyler Kolek, who finished with 16 points. Read the recap from our Knicks blog Posting and Toasting. Liverpool FC will host Wolves tomorrow at Anfield, in the first meeting between the two English clubs Diogo Jota played for since his passing. According to numerous reports including Paul Joyce of The Times, Jota’s sons Dinis and Duarte will be accompanying the matchday mascots out onto the field to mark the occasion.

The Broncos will have plenty to celebrate if they can lock up the AFC's top playoff seed. Ron Chenoy / Imagn Images If there was any doubt as to how Broncos coach Sean Payton felt about clinching a playoff berth Sunday following a win against the Packers, he erased it during a conference call Monday morning. The gist from Payton: The Broncos haven’t accomplished anything yet. “I said it yesterday, and I thought I was pretty clear. We have three goals,” Payton said.

“Win the division. The first goal is not (to) make the playoffs. What I said yesterday is the first goal is to win the division. Goal 2: best seed. Goal 3: Super Bowl. None of those goals have been accomplished.

We’re focused on Jacksonville.” The Broncos (12-2) can accomplish their first goal in Week 16 with a victory against the surging Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4) and a loss by the Los Angeles Chargers on the road against a Dallas... If those results go the other way — a Denver loss to the Jaguars and a Chargers win in Dallas — the Broncos would see their lead in the AFC West trimmed to one... Still, Denver in that scenario would have another chance to clinch the division in Week 17 with a victory on Christmas night in Kansas City against a Chiefs team that will play without injured... The Denver Broncos (12-3) still control their playoff fate despite Sunday's loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4). If the Broncos win out, they will win the AFC West.

If they win one game and the Los Angeles Chargers (11-4) lose at least one game, Denver would win the division. The Broncos would also clinch the No. 1 seed in the conference if they win out. If Denver loses a game, the team's seeding would depend on the results of the remaining games for the Chargers, New England Patriots (12-3), Buffalo Bills (11-4) and Jags. The simplest path to the No. 1 seed for the Broncos would be to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs (6-9) in Week 17 and the Chargers in Week 18.

It gets more complicated if Denver loses one of those contests. If the Broncos beat the Chiefs on Christmas Day, Denver could clinch a division title if the Chargers lose to the Houston Texans (10-5) on Saturday. With a win and an L.A. loss, the Broncos could also clinch the No. 1 seed if the Patriots, Bills and Jags lose in Week 17. Week 15 is nearing its conclusion and we had some wild games and major developements in the AFC postseason picture.

Nfl Playoff Picture Broncos Move Closer To Afc West Title And Keep

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