The Chargers’ loss allowed Denver to secure its first division title in a decade and now seeks the No. 1 seed in the AFC
ENGLEWOOD (AP) — Los Denver Broncos they won their first AFC West Division title in a decade this Saturdaywhen the Houston Texans defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 20-16.
That means that the Broncos will host their first playoff game since January 2016. They can clinch the AFC’s No. 1 seed as early as Sunday if the New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills lose or tie all of their Week 17 games.
The divisional title of the Broncos It ended a nine-year reign for the Kansas City Chiefs (6-10), whose streak of seven straight appearances in the AFC Championship Game ended an injury-plagued season that included a serious knee injury for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
If the AFC’s No. 1 seed is still in play after Sunday’s games, the Broncos They can clinch first place and a bye in the first round of the playoffs if they beat the Chargers (11-5) next weekend.
Los Broncos (13-3) have lost all three games against the Chargers since Jim Harbaugh took over as their Bolts head coach last season.
On Saturday, when the Texans won, the Broncos They wrote a message on their account Xbefore Twitter“AFC West Champions” with a green check mark next to the text “Goal #1” and the message, “and we’re still climbing.”
After the Broncos clinched a playoff berth earlier this month, head coach Sean Payton insisted several times that there was nothing to celebrate yet because they hadn’t reached any of their three goals:
AFC WEST CHAMPS.
Goal No. 1 ✅
And we’re still climbing. pic.twitter.com/yHbSmyw8Ww
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) December 28, 2025
The first, the AFC West title.
The second, the best possible playoff position.
The third, Super Bowl 60.
After their 20-13 win in Kansas City on Christmas night, the coach was asked if it would be strange to clinch the division from the couch this weekend.
Payton responded, “No. It’ll be relaxing, it’ll be nice.”
The quarterback of the BroncosBo Nix, was so focused on winning in Week 18 that he swore he wasn’t paying much attention to this Saturday’s game between Houston and Los Angeles.
“In the end, none of that really matters,” Nix said after the team’s first victory. Denver in Arrowhead since 2015. “We have to play the last game, and we have to take care of that. They (the Chargers) are going to be a good team. Some other team could help us along the way, but in the end, it will come down to us against them. We are excited to have them home.”
