NFL roundup: Broncos edge Chiefs to retain AFC's No. 1 spot

Field Level Media|published: Fri 26th December, 24:07 2025

Dec 25, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) after the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Bo Nix tossed a 1-yard scoring pass to RJ Harvey with 1:45 remaining and the Denver Broncos played keepaway while notching a 20-13 victory over the host Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday night.

Nix completed 26 of 38 passes for 182 yards and one interception and rushed for 42 yards and a touchdown on nine carries as Denver (13-3) won for the 12th time in 13 games. The Broncos possessed the ball for 39:28 during the Christmas night contest and limited the Chiefs (6-10) to 42 offensive plays and 139 total yards.

Denver maintained possession of the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoff chase over the New England Patriots (12-3). Denver will clinch its first AFC West title since 2015 if the Los Angeles Chargers (11-4) lose to the Houston Texans on Saturday.

Chris Oladokun completed 13 of 22 passes for 66 yards and one touchdown in his first NFL start with Patrick Mahomes (knee) and Gardner Minshew (lower leg) both done for the season. Travis Kelce caught five passes for 36 yards in what might have been his final home game for the Chiefs.

Vikings 23, Lions 10

Jordan Addison broke free for a 65-yard rushing touchdown late in the fourth quarter, and Minnesota pulled away for a win over eliminated Detroit in Minneapolis.

Aaron Jones Sr. also rushed for a touchdown for Minnesota (8-8), which won its fourth game in a row. Max Brosmer completed 9 of 16 passes for 51 yards in place of No. 1 quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who missed the game because of a hairline fracture in his right hand.

Jared Goff completed 18 of 29 passes for 197 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions for Detroit (8-8). The loss removed the Lions from playoff contention and secured a postseason berth for the Green Bay Packers.

Cowboys 30, Commanders 23

Dak Prescott completed 19 of 37 passes for 307 yards and two touchdowns, and Dallas held off Washington in Landover, Md.

The Cowboys rushed for 211 yards, including 103 by Malik Davis, and KaVontae Turpin scored an 86-yard receiving touchdown to help Dallas (7-8-1) snap a three-game losing streak.

Rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt rushed for 105 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries for the Commanders (4-12). Josh Johnson, 39, Washington's third-string quarterback, completed 15 of 23 passes for 198 yards in his 10th NFL start.

--Field Level Media

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