Broncos lock up top seed in AFC with win over Chargers
The NFL postseason begins next weekend, but when it kicks off, the Denver Broncos won't be playing — they'll be resting
Watch: What's Good, What's Worrisome and What's Worth Savoring as Bo Nix and the Broncos Clinch the No. 1 Seed | 14 mins
DENVER — The NFL postseason begins next weekend, but when it kicks off, the Denver Broncos won’t be playing — they’ll be resting.
After winning 19-3 against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, the Broncos have locked up the top seed in the AFC — securing them a bye for Wild-Card Weekend. The NFL reseeds, so in two weeks, Denver will host whoever the lowest-seeded team is that wins this weekend.
At 14-3 on the year, the Broncos tie their franchise best mark for wins in a year, achieved in 2015. It’s the first time the Broncos clinched the AFC’s top seed since that season, one where they went to and won the Super Bowl in Santa Clara. This year’s game is also there, meaning Denver needs just two more wins, both at home, to get to the big game.
So there’s another one of Sean Payton’s goals for the season. He wanted to win the AFC West and get the best seed they could. Those are accomplished. Next up is getting Bo Nix his first playoff win.
The rest of the AFC playoffs are as follows: New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, Chargers and Buffalo Bills, with whoever wins Sunday Night Football between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens snagging the fourth seed via the AFC North.
The Broncos are the favorites to win the AFC at +260, followed by the Pats. Denver’s +800 to win it all is only bettered by the NFC’s top seed Seattle at +430 and the Los Angeles Rams at +460.
If the Broncos can do it, Payton will be the first coach in NFL history to win championships for two separate franchises.
Wasn’t their best day but the Broncos will finish 14-3 and the top seed in the AFC.
Sean Payton joins Andy Reid & Tom Coughlin as the only coaches in NFL history to lead a team to the #1 seed in both the AFC and NFC. pic.twitter.com/ssNAQtw7KW
— Zach Bye (@byesline) January 5, 2026
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Comments
1 Comments
“At 14-3 on the year, the Broncos tie their franchise best mark for wins in a year, achieved in 2015.”
The above year is incorrect, it should be written like this: At 14-3 on the year, the Broncos tie their franchise best mark for wins in a year, achieved in 1998.
GO BRONCOS!!!!