Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos secured a playoff spot following a decisive 38-0 victory against the Kansas City Chiefs, who opted to rest key starters during this matchup. The contest took place at home on Sunday, where the Broncos were faced with a win-and-in scenario. The Chiefs, resting notable players including quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce, defensive lineman Chris Jones, and cornerback Trent McDuffie among others, made the task considerably easier for Denver.

Nix put forth an impressive performance, completing 26 of 29 passes for 321 yards and four touchdowns, as well as contributing 47 rushing yards. His achievement of starting the game with 18 consecutive completions set a new rookie record. According to OptaSTATS, this marks the highest number of straight completions for any rookie to initiate a game in NFL history. In terms of receiving contributions, Nix connected for a touchdown with Courtland Sutton, who recorded five catches for 98 yards, two touchdowns with Marvin Mims Jr. (also five catches, totaling 51 yards), and another touchdown to Devaughn Vele, who caught four passes for 50 yards.

The Broncos' defensive effort was also noteworthy, as they effectively neutralized the Chiefs' offense. Backup quarterback Carson Wentz struggled to make an impact, throwing for merely 98 yards, while the team managed a meager 23 yards rushing in total. Despite Denver's successful outing, it was a disappointing outcome for the Cincinnati Bengals, who required a Bronco loss combined with a Miami Dolphins defeat to the New York Jets in order to clinch a playoff position. The Bengals ended the regular season at 9-8 after a five-game winning streak but found themselves eliminated due to a challenging start to the season, which included several narrow losses. Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins also needed a win and a Broncos defeat to secure a playoff bid, but their hopes were dashed as Nix led his team to victory. Looking ahead, the Broncos will prepare for their AFC Wild Card matchup against the Buffalo Bills, with details on the date and time yet to be determined.