Denver Broncos vs Kansas City Chiefs Match Player Stats (Jan 05, 2025)
DENVER, CO – The Denver Broncos ended their eight-year playoff drought in spectacular fashion on January 5, 2025, demolishing the Kansas City Chiefs 38-0 at Empower Field at Mile High. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix completed an astonishing 89.7% of his passes as Denver secured the final AFC Wild Card spot with a 10-7 record.
The game’s context was crucial, as the Broncos needed this win to advance to the postseason while the Chiefs (15-1 entering the game) had already clinched the AFC’s top seed and rested most of their starters, including Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.
Table of Contents
Nix Rewrites Record Books
The rookie quarterback from Oregon put on a clinic against the Chiefs’ reserve defense:
- 26 completions on 29 attempts (89.7%) – a Broncos franchise record
- 321 passing yards
- 4 touchdown passes
- 0 interceptions
- 152.4 passer rating
- 18 consecutive completions to start the game – an NFL rookie record
This performance capped a remarkable season for Nix, who finished with 29 touchdown passes, the second-most by a rookie in NFL history. He also established a new NFL rookie record with 19 touchdown passes at home during the 2024 season.
Game Flow: Quarter-by-Quarter Dominance
First Quarter: Broncos 14, Chiefs 0 Denver started fast with Nix connecting with Marvin Mims Jr. on a 32-yard touchdown strike on their opening possession. After forcing a Chiefs punt, the Broncos drove downfield again with Courtland Sutton finding the endzone to double the lead.
Second Quarter: Broncos 24, Chiefs 0 Denver’s defense continued applying pressure, with Nik Bonitto recording his first sack. Wil Lutz added a 33-yard field goal, tying the franchise record with his 31st of the season. Devaughn Vele made an acrobatic 3-yard touchdown catch in the back corner of the endzone to extend the lead.
Third Quarter: Broncos 31, Chiefs 0 The Chiefs’ best scoring opportunity evaporated when Harrison Butker missed a 51-yard field goal attempt, his first miss in 18 career attempts at Empower Field. Mims secured his second touchdown of the day, while Jonathon Cooper recorded a sack that gave him double-digit sacks for the first time in his career.
Fourth Quarter: Broncos 38, Chiefs 0 Audric Estime punched in a rushing touchdown to complete the scoring. Jordan Jackson added a sack and forced fumble as Denver completed their first shutout of Kansas City since December 2012.
Key Play: Vele’s Acrobatic Catch
One standout moment came in the second quarter when Nix found Vele in the back of the endzone for a difficult 3-yard touchdown. The play showcased both Nix’s improvisational skills and Vele’s concentration, with game reports noting the exceptional degree of difficulty on both the throw and catch.
Receiving Corps Shows Perfect Hands
Eight different Broncos caught passes from Nix, with six players posting perfect catch rates:
- Courtland Sutton: 5 catches on 7 targets, 98 yards, 1 TD (47-yard long)
- Marvin Mims Jr.: 5 catches on 5 targets, 51 yards, 2 TDs (32-yard long)
- Devaughn Vele: 4 catches on 4 targets, 50 yards, 1 TD
- Javonte Williams: 3 catches on 4 targets, 50 yards (25-yard long)
- Lil’Jordan Humphrey: 2 catches on 2 targets, 26 yards
- Nate Adkins: 3 catches on 3 targets, 25 yards
- Troy Franklin: 2 catches on 2 targets, 12 yards
- Jaleel McLaughlin: 2 catches on 2 targets, 9 yards
The performance pushed Sutton over the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the second time in his career. Mims became the first Bronco since 2014 to record multiple receiving touchdowns in consecutive games.
Ground Game Chews Clock
Denver’s rushing attack controlled the tempo throughout:
- 158 total rushing yards on 43 attempts (3.7 avg)
- Bo Nix: 7 carries, 47 yards (6.7 avg), 27-yard long
- Jaleel McLaughlin: 16 carries, 39 yards (2.4 avg), 9-yard long
- Audric Estime: 12 carries, 34 yards (2.8 avg), 1 TD
- Javonte Williams: 5 carries, 28 yards (5.6 avg)
- Jarrett Stidham: 2 carries, 7 yards
- Michael Burton: 1 carry, 3 yards
This balanced approach helped Denver control possession for 41:49 compared to Kansas City’s 18:11.
Defense Delivers Complete Shutout
The Broncos defense suffocated Kansas City from the opening whistle:
- Held Chiefs to 98 total yards (71 passing, 27 rushing)
- Limited KC to just 5 first downs (fewest allowed by Denver all season)
- Allowed only 1 third-down conversion in 9 attempts (11.1%)
- Recorded 5 sacks for 27 yards in losses
Nik Bonitto led the pass rush with 2 sacks, reaching double-digit sacks for the season. Jordan Jackson (1.0 sack, 1 forced fumble), John Franklin-Myers (1.0 sack), and Jonathon Cooper (1.0 sack) all contributed to the relentless pressure. Cooper’s sack gave him his first career double-digit sack season.
In the secondary, Patrick Surtain II and Ja’Quan McMillian each recorded 3 solo tackles, with McMillian adding a pass defended.
Chiefs Rest Starters, Focus on Playoffs
With their playoff positioning secure as the AFC’s top seed, Kansas City chose to rest numerous starters, including Mahomes, Kelce, and several starting offensive linemen.
Carson Wentz started at quarterback but struggled against Denver’s first-string defense, completing 10 of 17 passes for just 98 yards while taking 4 sacks. Chris Oladokun briefly replaced him but was sacked once for a 5-yard loss and fumbled, though the Chiefs recovered.
Kansas City’s rushing attack found no room to operate, gaining just 27 yards on 11 attempts (2.5 avg). Carson Steele led their ground game with 8 carries for 25 yards.
Defensively, linebacker Cam Jones was the standout performer with 12 tackles (8 solo, 4 assists) and a tackle for loss. Safety Nazeeh Johnson added 9 tackles (7 solo, 2 assists).
Full Statistical Breakdown
Quarterback Comparison
| Player | Comp/Att | Yards | TD | INT | Rating | Sacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bo Nix (DEN) | 26/29 (89.7%) | 321 | 4 | 0 | 152.4 | 0 |
| Carson Wentz (KC) | 10/17 (58.8%) | 98 | 0 | 0 | 75.1 | 4 |
| Chris Oladokun (KC) | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 |
Team Stats Comparison
| Statistic | Broncos | Chiefs |
|---|---|---|
| Total Points | 38 | 0 |
| Total Yards | 479 | 98 |
| Passing Yards | 321 | 71 |
| Rushing Yards | 158 | 27 |
| First Downs | 27 | 5 |
| 3rd Down Conv. | 10/14 (71.4%) | 1/9 (11.1%) |
| Time of Possession | 41:49 | 18:11 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Sacks | 5 | 0 |
Denver Receiving Stats
| Player | Targets | Catches | Yards | TDs | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Courtland Sutton | 7 | 5 | 98 | 1 | 47 |
| Marvin Mims Jr. | 5 | 5 | 51 | 2 | 32 |
| Devaughn Vele | 4 | 4 | 50 | 1 | 32 |
| Javonte Williams | 4 | 3 | 50 | 0 | 25 |
| Lil’Jordan Humphrey | 2 | 2 | 26 | 0 | 17 |
| Nate Adkins | 3 | 3 | 25 | 0 | 12 |
| Troy Franklin | 2 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 7 |
| Jaleel McLaughlin | 2 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 6 |
Special Teams Contributions
The Broncos special teams units complemented the offensive and defensive dominance with solid execution:
- Wil Lutz: Perfect 1/1 on field goals (33 yards) and 5/5 on extra points
- Riley Dixon: 2 punts, 88 yards (44.0 avg), no returns allowed
- Jaleel McLaughlin: 3 kick returns, 78 yards (26.0 avg), long of 31
- Marvin Mims Jr.: 3 punt returns, 29 yards (9.7 avg), long of 14
- Tremon Smith: 1 kick return, 24 yards
Lutz’s field goal was particularly notable as it was his 31st of the season, tying the Broncos’ single-season franchise record.
Playoff Drought Ends
This victory secured Denver’s first playoff berth since their Super Bowl 50 championship season, ending an eight-year postseason absence. The Broncos finished the regular season 10-7 and advanced to face the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round.
For context on how Denver performed against other playoff contenders, check out our Las Vegas Raiders vs Denver Broncos match player stats breakdown from earlier in the season.
Chiefs Maintain Focus On Postseason
Despite the lopsided score, Kansas City’s 15-2 final record secured home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. This strategic rest game had no impact on their postseason positioning or their ultimate goal of defending their Super Bowl title.
For a better representation of the Chiefs at full strength, review our analysis of the Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles match player stats from their November matchup.
AFC West Rivalry Context
This victory marked several significant milestones in the divisional rivalry:
- Denver’s first shutout win over KC since December 2012
- The Broncos’ largest margin of victory against the Chiefs since 1998
- Denver’s first 10-win season since 2016
- First time the Chiefs had been shut out in any game since December 16, 2012
The 76,125 fans at Empower Field witnessed the end of KC’s streak of 196 consecutive games scoring at least one point, which had been the NFL’s longest active streak.
FAQs About Broncos vs Chiefs Week 18 Stats
Which Chiefs players sat out this game?
The Chiefs rested several key starters including QB Patrick Mahomes, TE Travis Kelce, DT Chris Jones, and multiple starting offensive linemen. This decision came after they had already secured the AFC’s top seed.
What records did Bo Nix set?
Nix set the NFL rookie record for consecutive completions to start a game (18) and the Broncos franchise record for completion percentage in a game (89.7%). He also established an NFL rookie record with 19 touchdown passes at home during the 2024 season.
How rare was this shutout?
This was the Chiefs’ first shutout loss since December 16, 2012, ending a streak of 196 consecutive games scoring at least one point, which had been the NFL’s longest active streak.
Which Broncos reached milestones?
Courtland Sutton surpassed 1,000 receiving yards for the second time in his career. Both Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper reached double-digit sacks for the season, with Cooper achieving this milestone for the first time.
How did Denver’s time of possession affect the game?
The Broncos controlled the ball for 41:49 (to KC’s 18:11), keeping their defense fresh while preventing the Chiefs’ offense from establishing any rhythm.
Did this result impact playoff seedings?
Only for Denver, who needed this win to clinch the final AFC Wild Card spot. Kansas City had already locked up the AFC’s top seed regardless of this outcome.
Was this Nix’s best game of his rookie season?
Statistically, yes. His 89.7% completion rate and 152.4 passer rating were both season highs, and he managed four touchdown passes without a turnover in a high-pressure, must-win scenario.
The Denver Broncos vs Kansas City Chiefs match player stats from January 5, 2025, show a team peaking at the perfect moment. For Broncos fans throughout Colorado, this emphatic victory not only ended their playoff drought but potentially signaled the beginning of a new competitive era in the AFC West.
