Overview
- The Chargers’ loss to the Texans sealed Denver’s first AFC West title since 2015, moving the Broncos to 13-3.
- A 20-13 Christmas win at Arrowhead kept Denver atop the conference, guaranteeing a home playoff game and no worse than the No. 3 seed.
- Denver clinches the No. 1 seed with a Week 18 win over Los Angeles, while New England needs a victory over Miami paired with a Broncos loss.
- Jacksonville remains a long-shot for the top seed and would need to beat Tennessee with both Denver and New England losing.
- New England secured its first AFC East crown since 2019 with a 42-10 win over the Jets and the Bills’ 13-12 loss to the Eagles, as DE Jonathon Cooper’s NSFW posts toward the Chiefs drew attention after Denver’s clinch.