The Denver Broncos had their fate in their hands and they made sure on Sunday, clinching the last team ticket drafted in the AFC for the playoffs.
They handed the Kansas City Chiefs a crushing 38-0 defeat, just their second this year, being shut out for the first time since 2012, 220 games. As their place had already been assured for a long time at the top of the association, with a first-round bye, quarterback Patrick Mahomes was not at his post, like several of his teammates including Travis Kelce, Chris Jones and Isiah Pacheco.
This is the Broncos’ first playoff appearance since winning Super Bowl 50 in February 2016. It was the longest active drought in the NFL after a conquest.
They needed a win or tie to confirm their status, or a loss or tie from Miami and Cincinnati. The latter two have therefore suffered and will find themselves on vacation.
Rookie quarterback Bo Nix set an NFL record with an 18th touchdown pass to the house in a season. He threw four today in the victory, including two to Marvin Mims.
Nix led his team to a comfortable 24-0 halftime lead by throwing three touchdown passes. Marvin Mims started things off with his third touchdown in two games during a sequence where Nix completed all four of his passes.
Nix then went for a first down on fourth-and-1 on a sneak to close out the possession with a touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton.
In the second quarter, Devaughn Vele increased the lead by catching a pass that bounced into the opponent’s hands in the end zone.
Wil Lutz completed the half with a 33-yard field goal.
Mims scored his second major of the game on a short 7-yard pass from Nix in the third quarter. Audric Estime finished the job on a run in the last quarter.
In relief of Mahomes, Carson Wentz was overwhelmed. He completed 10 of 17 passes for 98 yards.
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