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Denver Broncos, Bo Nix Clinch NFL Playoffs With Win Over Kansas City Chiefs

The Denver Broncos are playing a must-win game against the Kansas City Chiefs if they want to make the playoffs. Former Oregon Ducks quarterback Bo Nix can lead Denver to the postseason with a win over Kansas City. The Cincinnati Bengals clinch if the Broncos lose.

Charlie Viehl

Dec 19, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) warms up prior to the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium.
Dec 19, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) warms up prior to the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium. / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
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The Denver Broncos clinched berth in the playoffs on Sunday with a 38-0 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. After the Cincinnati Bengals beat the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday night, Denver's game against the Chiefs became a must-win game.

The Broncos have ended a eight-year playoff drought with with a rookie in quarterback Bo Nix, the former Oregon Ducks passer. Denver now holds the final spot in the AFC Wild Card race, and a loss to the Chiefs would have given the Bengals the No. 7 seed while the Broncos missed out on the postseason entirely.

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) warms up prior to the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium.
Dec 19, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) warms up prior to the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium. / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Kansas City has already clinched the No. 1 seed and home field advantage throughout the playoffs, and the Chiefs have made it clear they will rest key starters like quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce, defensive tackle Chris Jones, and others by listing them has doubtful for the Broncos game.

While some players like Mahomes and Jones have official injury designations, others like Kelce are simply listed as NIR, meaning "not injury related." Denver needs a win in order to make the postseason, but the Broncos are resting star defensive lineman Zach Allen according to the team's injury report.

Before Saturday, the Broncos could have snuck into the playoffs with losses from both the Bengals and Miami Dolphins. However, the Miami game was no longer relevant to Denver fans after Cincinnati took care of business against Pittsburgh.

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The only way into the postseason for Cincinnati was a loss from Denver and Miami. Quarterback Joe Burrow and the Bengals gave themselves a chance by beating the Steelers, but they still need some help from the Chiefs.

At one point in the season, Nix began to play his way into the conversation for the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, but Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels seems to have run away with the award. Led by Daniels, the Commanders are 11-5 and have clinched a spot in the playoffs on the NFC side of the bracket before the final week of the regular season.

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) throws a pass against the Kansas City Chiefs
Nov 10, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) throws a pass against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. / Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Many criticized the Broncos and Denver coach Sean Payton for selecting Nix with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but the former Oregon Duck and his coach have already reached levels that some never expected.

Competing in the playoffs with a rookie quarterback would certainly sound ahead of schedule to most Broncos fans. Denver secures the No. 7 seed with a win over Kansas City, the Broncos will face the Buffalo Bills on the road in the first round of the playoffs.

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Charlie Viehl
CHARLIE VIEHL

Charlie Viehl is a 23-year old Boston College graduate and is an Oregon Ducks and USC Trojans beat reporter for On SI. A native of Pasadena, California, he covered sports across Los Angeles while at Loyola High School and edited the Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program’s magazine at BC. While pursuing a career in sports journalism, he is also a lifelong musician. He is excited to bring his passion for storytelling and sports to fans of college athletics.

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