© 2026 ALLCITY Network Inc.
All rights reserved.
DENVER — For the first time in his career, Bo Nix beat the Los Angeles Chargers. For the first time since Jim Harbaugh took over the Chargers, Sean Payton beat Los Angeles.
And what perfect timing it was for the Payton, Nix and the Denver Broncos to take down their division rival and secure the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
Nix passed for just 141 yards but ran for another 50. The Broncos jumped out to a 10-0 1st quarter lead and let their defense take over. The Broncos recorded 4 sacks, 1 interception, and 1 fumble on the way to a 19-3 win.
Here’s what stood out throughout the game.
Broncos’ defense outscores their offense
Sean Payton and Vance Joseph have been very pleased with the Broncos’ defensive performance throughout much of the season outside of one category. The one area Denver’s coaching staff has wanted to see improve is takeaways.
Entering Sunday, the Broncos’ were tied for the fifth-fewest takeaways in the NFL.
Don't like ads?
On Denver’s second defensive possession, they did their best to improve their takeaway numbers.
With the Chargers facing a 3rd-and-5, Trey Lance‘s pass bounced off KeAndre Lambert-Smith’s hands and right into Ja’Quan McMillian‘s. No. 29 took off, followed his blockers and made it into the end zone for a 45-yard pick six.
At halftime, Denver’s defense (7) had outscored the Broncos’ offense (3) and the entire Chargers team (3).
That single takeaway was crucial to the Broncos’ victory over the Chargers as Denver’s offense struggled mightily throughout the game.
At halftime, Bo Nix and the offense had 118 yards of offense. They were responsible for only three points of their own at half.
In the second half, Denver’s defense came up with another takeaway.
Don't like ads?
Flying off the left side of the offensive line, Nik Bonitto forced a strip sack on Lance. Sai’vion Jones jumped on the ball. Denver’s ball.
While Denver’s defense didn’t take this one to the house, it led to another Wil Lutz field goal to extend the Broncos’ lead to 16-3.
The 10 points that Denver’s defense was responsible for was plenty for the Broncos’ to secure their 14th win of the season.
Clinched No. 1 seed
The Denver Broncos officially clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC with their win over the Chargers.
Entering the final game of the season, Sean Payton said getting the No. 1 seed “Historically speaking, [is] extremely important.”
The last time the Broncos were the No. 1 seed, they went on to win Super Bowl 50 with Peyton Manning, Von Miller, Demaryius Thomas and DeMarcus Ware, just to name a few of the stars.
Don't like ads?
With 14 wins, the Broncos also tied the franchise record for most wins in a season, joining the 1998 team who went 14-2 and won Super Bowl XXXIII.
The team has now accomplished two of Sean Payton’s three goals for the season. A week ago, they clinched the AFC West, checking off Payton’s first goal. The head coach’s second goal was to secure the best possible seed in the playoffs. Grabbing the No. 1 seed secures that.
Payton’s final goal is to “win a World Championship.” The Broncos turn their attention to that goal now.
Mile High advantage
The Broncos are two wins away from making it to Super Bowl 60. They are the only team in the AFC that can say that entering the playoffs as they are the only team with a first-round bye.
The Broncos are also the only team in the AFC who has home-field advantage until the Super Bowl. The importance of that can’t be overstated.
“To be able to play in front of our fans with the crowd noise, the atmosphere. I don’t know, it’s been a while since they’ve hosted a playoff game,” Payton said on Monday, talking about how important home-field advantage throughout the playoffs would be. “Certainly it’s a fan base that deserves that opportunity. I get excited for them, and I get excited for our team. Man, all of it is important. Having been through this like nine, 10 other times, you’ve seen it all and you recognize how important it is: The challenge of winning playoff games on the road and how much more difficult that it is as opposed to trying to win them at home.”
Don't like ads?
Until the Super Bowl, Payton and the Broncos won’t have to worry about that challenge.
Garett Bolles avoids serious injury
Late in the second quarter, Garett Bolles was rolled up on and went down. After trainers look at him on the field, Bolles slowly walked off the field. At times, Bolles walked off under his own power and other times he put some of his weight on two trainers.
Bolles went straight to the medical tent. After being looked at in the medical tent, Bolles walked straight into the locker room. The Broncos announced Bolles suffered an ankle injury and was questionable to return.
After halftime, Bolles missed the first two plays as he was jogging up and down the Broncos’ sideline. He received the okay to play from the training staff and went back into the game.
P.J. Locke also suffered an injury in the second quarter. Locke’s injury was labeled as an ankle injury. Devon Key stepped in to replace him.
2026 opponents nearly set
While we won’t find out the dates of the Broncos’ 2026 schedule until May, we will know Denver’s opponents by the end of the Sunday Night Football game.
Don't like ads?
In Denver’s eight home games next season, the Broncos will host the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Las Vegas Raiders, Buffalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks, Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Rams and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Broncos will go on the road for nine away games. They will travel to the Chiefs, Chargers, Raiders, New England Patriots, Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers and the winner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens game on Sunday Night Football.
Comments
Share your thoughts
Join the conversation
The Comment section is only for diehard members
Scroll to next article
Don't like ads?
Don't like ads?
