The Denver Broncos will enter Arrowhead Stadium on Christmas Day facing a Kansas City Chiefs team in disarray. With Patrick Mahomes sidelined by injury and Gardner Minshew unavailable, the Chiefs will turn to Chris Oladokun under center—a backup quarterback who has seen minimal action this season. Meanwhile, the Broncos are riding momentum with a 12-3 record and sitting atop the AFC West, looking to solidify their playoff positioning on one of the biggest stages of the year.
This matchup presents a unique opportunity for Denver to exploit Kansas City's quarterback situation and put away a divisional rival in prime time. The Christmas Day game carries significant historical weight, and both teams understand the implications for playoff seeding and divisional pride. Despite the Chiefs' recent struggles at 6-9, the rivalry nature of this contest means nothing should be taken for granted.
The Broncos' defense, ranked first in the league in total sacks with 63, will face its best opportunity yet this season to absolutely dismantle a opposing offense. Oladokun's limited experience and pressure tolerance will be exposed early and often, as Denver's pass rush should dominate the line of scrimmage. Look for coordinator Vance Joseph to dial up aggressive blitz packages designed to overwhelm the backup signal-caller.
Bo Nix Will Orchestrate a Decisive Offensive Performance
While Denver's defense will dominate the spotlight, the Broncos' offense must capitalize on the favorable field position and short-handed Chiefs' secondary. Bo Nix, who has developed into a dangerous dual-threat quarterback, will have every matchup advantage imaginable against Kansas City's struggling pass defense. The Chiefs allow 233.9 passing yards per game (8th in the NFL), but those statistics come against fully healthy starting quarterbacks.
Nix will exploit coverage breakdowns created by the defensive pressure and confusion in Kansas City's defensive coordination. The Broncos' receiving options, including their stable of productive pass catchers, will find open lanes consistently throughout the contest. Expect Nix to efficiently move the offense, take advantage of Kansas City's defensive vulnerabilities, and cross the three-touchdown threshold—a reflection of Denver's complete dominance on both sides of the ball.
The Broncos' coaching staff will script the opening drives to get Nix into early rhythm, establishing play-action passes that exploit Kansas City's aggressive defensive pursuit. By the third quarter, with Denver holding a commanding lead, offensive coordinator will continue attacking a demoralized Chiefs defense. Three passing touchdowns for Bo Nix represents conservative projection given the mismatch on display.
Chris Oladokun Will Throw At Least Two Interceptions Before Halftime
Chris Oladokun has completed just 11 of 16 passes for 111 yards with zero touchdowns and zero interceptions in his limited 2025 action. However, those statistics are misleading—they don't account for the pressure he'll face against Denver's elite defensive unit. The Broncos' secondary, paired with their dominant front four, will create the perfect storm for turnovers.
Oladokun's passer rating of 88.3 on those limited attempts masks a fundamental vulnerability: he's inexperienced in high-leverage moments and lacks the field vision necessary to avoid Denver's coverage schemes. The Broncos will disguise coverages, bring pressure from unexpected angles, and force Oladokun into panic-mode decisions throughout the first half.
Denver's safeties will position themselves to bait throws into their zones, while cornerbacks play tighter coverage against a Kansas City receiving corps that lacks the elite separation ability of previous seasons. By halftime, expect Oladokun to have thrown at least two interceptions as the Broncos establish defensive dominance early. This prediction sets the tone for Denver's comprehensive victory.
The Broncos' Defense Will Record Eight or More Sacks
Denver's defense has generated 63 total sacks this season, leading the entire NFL by a significant margin. Against a backup quarterback facing extreme pressure for the first time at this level, the Broncos' pass rush should operate at peak efficiency. The Chiefs' offensive line, while adequate under normal circumstances, will struggle mightily against coordinated blitzing schemes designed specifically to target Oladokun's limitations.
The Broncos will exploit this less experienced Oladokun relentlessly, rotating fresh pass rushers throughout the game to maintain intensity and capitalize on the backup's discomfort. Expect Nik Bonitto and company to pile up sacks with relative ease, as the Arrowhead crowd noise only compounds Kansas City's communication issues.
The Broncos' defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has crafted one of the most devastating defenses in modern NFL history, and this represents a prime opportunity to showcase why Denver's pass rush dominance deserves consideration for an all-time ranking. Eight or more sacks represents realistic production given the circumstances.
The Christmas Day matchup between Denver and Kansas City projects as a one-sided affair with the Broncos' suffocating defense overwhelming the Chiefs' backup quarterback scenario. Chris Oladokun simply hasn't faced this level of pressure in his limited NFL experience, and Arrowhead's noise advantage becomes meaningless when the visiting team controls the line of scrimmage. Denver's path to seeding clarity runs directly through Kansas City, and the Broncos will answer the call with a decisive victory that echoes through the playoff landscape.
