If Denver wins and L.A. loses, the Broncos could also clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC if the New England Patriots (12-3), Buffalo Bills (11-4) and Jaguars (11-4) also lose. New England, Buffalo and Jacksonville will face the New York Jets (3-12), Philadelphia Eagles (10-5) and Indianapolis Colts (8-7), respectively.

Denver Broncos' coach starting to get plenty of buzz as a head coaching candidate originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. The Denver Broncos may have multiple coaches on their sideline being considered for head coaching gigs in 2026.

"Quietly, the Broncos defense has slipped in a big way. Through the first 10 weeks of the season, Denver ranked third in defensive EPA per play. Since then, it ranks 26th. A get-right game awaits, though, against quarterback Chris Oladokun and the Chiefs on Thursday," Josh Kendall and Chad Graff write. See the full rankings.

The Chiefs are already eliminated from playoff contention, so they have nothing to play for when they host the Broncos on Christmas Day. Denver, on the other hand, could clinch the AFC West and the No. 1 seed in the conference as early as this weekend (if they get some help from other teams ).

The Denver Broncos rolled into Week 16 against the Jacksonville Jaguars riding an 11-game win streak with visions of clinching the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs. The Jaguars had other ideas. Sparked by another big game from quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the Jaguars steamrolled the Broncos' vaunted defense in Denver to secure a 34-20 win.

Denver Broncos receiver Pat Bryant, a Jacksonville native, was carted off at the end of the Jaguars' win over the Broncos. Here's what we know.

Elsewhere on the ex-Bronco front, guard Netane Muti was cut from the Detroit Lions ' practice squad, the Los Angeles Chargers signed running back Royce Freeman to their practice squad and the New England Patriots cut practice squad offensive lineman Sebastian Gutierrez.

Safety Talanoa Hufanga was conspicuously absent from the list of Denver Broncos selected to the 2026 Pro Bowl. The Broncos co-led the NFL in the most Pro Bowl selections this year, and when you count the players selected as alternates, 13 Mile-High players received consideration for the league's All-Star Game.