The Broncos want to close the gap between them and the league’s top contenders. From drafting a running back and linebacker to adding a veteran tight end, here are a few moves Denver could make to achieve its goal:

Extend DE Zach Allen

Allen is entering the final year of his three-year, $45.7 million deal, and is coming off a career season. If the Broncos choose to negotiate an extension, they could lock up one of the league’s best interior defenders long-term and create cap flexibility for other moves.

Allen, 27, was named second-team All-Pro after he totaled 8.5 sacks and 67 pressures — 10th-most in the league — this season. He also was effective in defending the run. Allen had 20 run stuffs (tackles resulting in a loss or no gain) — tied for second among defensive linemen, according to NFL’s Next Gen Stats.

Allen, 27, established himself as an important figure in Denver’s defense. The pressure is on Denver to keep him around long-term.

Sign TE Mike Gesicki

Denver needs a vertical threat at tight end. Gesicki fits that role without commanding a big salary. He earned $1.5 million with the Bengals in 2024 and could fetch $6.8 million per year, according to Over the Cap’s Valuation metric, which measures contract value with on-field production.

Gesicki had his best season since 2021 when he was with the Dolphins. The 29-year-old totaled 65 catches for 665 yards and a pair of touchdowns in 17 games (three starts). His receiving yardage was more than Denver’s tight end room (Adam Trautman, Lucas Krull and Nate Adkins) combined (455 yards, five touchdowns on 46 catches).

The Broncos saw Gesicki’s value firsthand. In Week 17’s loss to Cincinnati, he had 10 catches for 86 yards on 12 targets against Denver’s defense. Whether the Broncos draft a tight end or not, he would be a significant addition.

Draft RB Ashton Jeanty in first round

Denver’s performance against Buffalo — 79 yards on 17 carries — was further proof it needs to take a look at its rushing attack.

Neither Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin or rookie Audric Estime established themselves as a top back. Jeanty, a Heisman Trophy runner-up, could fill that role.

In his third season at Boise State, Jeanty totaled 2,609 yards and 29 touchdowns. He rushed for at least 200 yards in six games and showed he can pass protect.

There’s a possibility Jeanty will be taken before Denver makes its selection at No. 20 overall. Teams like the Bengals and Cowboys may want an upgrade. If available, Jeanty has the potential to add a dimension to Denver’s offense that was missing all too often this season.

Sign WR Chris Godwin

Upgrading the wide receiver room is another way for Denver to build around Nix. The Broncos might have to be aggressive in free agency to make that happen — which means targeting someone like Tampa Bay wideout Chris Godwin.

Godwin was on a roll before sustaining a season-ending ankle injury. Through the first seven weeks, the 28-year-old had 50 catches for 576 yards — the most in the league during that span — and five touchdowns.

Godwin, a third-round pick in 2017, has been one of the most productive slot receivers in the league over the past few seasons. He recorded at least 1,000 yards in three straight years before 2024.

Spotrac projects Godwin’s value to be $22.5 million per year.

Draft LB Jihaad Campbell in second round

The Broncos need to upgrade at inside linebacker, especially with Cody Barton and Justin Strnad hitting free agency and Alex Singleton returning from a torn ACL.

Campbell, who played three seasons at Alabama, is one of the best off-ball linebackers in this year’s draft class. In 2024, he totaled 117 tackles in 13 games. He was named first-team All-SEC and a semifinalist for the Butkus Award, presented annually to the nation’s top linebacker.

Campbell is a sure tackler, solid in coverage and effective as a blitzer. He totaled a team-high five sacks. He would be a solid addition to Denver’s young, up-and-coming defense.

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Troy Renck: The cold was giving way to the darkness as the Broncos walked to their team bus in Orchard Park, N.Y., the raw afternoon and a sobbing autograph seeker signaling the end of Denver’s season. There is no quaint location when the lights go out, least of all upstate New York with the Bills’ fight song ringing in the ears. It raises an interesting question as the NFL reaches its final four and college football decides its best team: Which pro sports coach will lead Colorado to its next championship? Sean, because delusion is not part of this exercise, Rockies manager Bud Black is excluded. The race is between the Broncos’ Sean Payton, the Nuggets’ Michael Malone and the Avs’ Jared Bednar, all of whom have a title on their resume.

Sean Keeler: How dare you sell Buddy short, my friend! A little bird in Greeley told me he thinks the Rox will hit .400 this year. Not as a team, but in terms of winning percentage. (Baby steps.) If we could include colleges, and I say this with a straight face, the correct answer is Deion Sanders. If he stays. The Big 12 is — well, it’s not great, Bob. But if it’s down to Payton, Malone and Bednar, who’ve been there before, I’ll say Malone is the one who’s the first to get there next. Why? The Avs are good but won’t be elite while they’re stuck waiting out Gabe and Val. Payton has a young team on the climb but has to figure out a way to consistently beat Patrick Mahomes over the next six to eight years. Malone’s got a Mahomes of his own in Nikola Jokic, a unicorn at the height of his powers. Right now.

Renck: All three boast interesting pieces that provide a path to title — Jokic, Nathan MacKinnon and Bo Nix. Nix, at first blush, doesn’t belong in the same company as reigning MVPs, but good quarterback play is a great multiplier in the NFL, meaning he has a puncher’s chance the next few years. The difference? Jokic and MacKinnon are in their championship window right now. The Avs possess the best chance. Here’s why: A hot goalie can steal a series. If not two (looking at you, Mackenzie Blackwood). Given the Avs’ dynamic offense, this makes them incredibly dangerous. They are no longer favorites but possess pieces shared by teams that raise the Cup and a coach who has lived in that snapshot once.

Keeler: Insanely good pieces. The Avs locker room is home to two of the top five hockey players on the planet. But here’s the problem: Being top-heavy can propel you through the regular season, but the Stanley Cup Playoffs are a different beast. Your bottom two lines have to carry the flag. So do your special teams. Before MLK Day, the Avs had managed just three power-play goals over 28 attempts with the extra man. Their power play percentage as of Sunday night was 21.1, which ranked 17th in the NHL. Since 2017, there’ve been eight Stanley Cup champs. Only two put up a conversion rate on the PP of lower than 22% during the regular season.

Renck: Here’s where the conversation gets interesting. If the Nuggets and Avs don’t win in the next two years, Payton becomes the new favorite. This is why the trade deadline becomes fascinating. Can the Nuggets win a series against Oklahoma City or the Boston Celtics as comprised? Same goes for the Avs. How do they beat the Oilers or Stars to even reach the finals? Beyond Valeri Nichushkin’s absences, the Avs’ have been doomed by blue line breakdowns. It’s on Bednar to keep the group tight while leaning on Blackwood to reach his untapped potential on the biggest stage. It won’t be easy, but his path is cleaner than the roads that Malone and Payton must navigate.

Keeler: SGA and the Thunder remind me of the Nuggets four years ago. Which is both a compliment to OKC and a reminder of just how high Malone and Company have to climb. Call me crazy, but even if I don’t believe in Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy, I still believe in Bubble Jamal. And I still believe Malone can coax that out of No. 27, in the spring, against a relentless, deep Western Conference. For the Nuggets to throw a parade again, he’ll have to.

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By JOHN WAWROW

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Josh Allen rushed for two touchdowns, Buffalo’s defense forced three turnovers and the Bills advanced to the AFC championship game with a 27-25 win over the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round on Sunday night.

The Bills hung on when a wide-open Mark Andrews dropped a 2-point conversion pass from Lamar Jackson, allowing the ball to bounce off his chest with 1:33 left. Jackson connected with a sliding Isaiah Likely for a 24-yard touchdown to give the Ravens a chance to tie it.

“How about that Buffalo Bills defense?” said Allen, the Bills’ potential MVP quarterback. “All year, this team has heard we’ve got no talent, we’re too small, we can’t stop the run, we’re not good enough to compete. We’ve just put our head down and worked hard. I’m so proud of our defense. I’m so proud of our offense and special teams. What a complete win.”

The Bills will play for the AFC title next Sunday against the conference’s top seed, the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. Buffalo snapped a three-year run of being eliminated in the divisional round.

It’s a familiar matchup for Buffalo, which has been beaten by Kansas City in three of the past four postseasons.

Allen scored on runs of 1 and 4 yards while Ray Davis also scored on a 1-yard run. Tyler Bass hit both field goal attempts, including a 21-yarder with 3:29 left after the Bills stalled at Baltimore’s 2. That drive was set up by the Ravens’ final turnover, when linebacker Terrel Bernard stripped the ball from Andrews at the Buffalo 44.

The Bills closed their season a perfect 10-0 at home. That included a 30-21 win over the previously unbeaten Chiefs in Week 11.

“We know what they are. They’re the perennial of what you want to be in the NFL,” Allen said. “You’ve got to beat them to get past them. So, you know, we’re going to enjoy this one tonight.”

The Ravens had one of the NFL’s most productive offenses in the regular season but fell a win short of reaching the conference title game, which they lost to the Chiefs a year ago. Scrutiny of Jackson’s playoff performances will only increase as he fell to 3-5 in the postseason. He had two first-half turnovers in this loss, throwing an interception and losing a fumble.

Baltimore fell to 5-8 in the divisional round, including 1-4 in its last five.

“It was uncharacteristic to have turnovers like that. There were opportunities for us to not have those, but we had them,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “You try to bounce back from them in the course of the game. You can’t take them back.”

Andrews did not make himself available following the game, but got plenty of support from his teammates.

“One play doesn’t define anybody. He’s the all-time leading touchdown receiver in Ravens history,” safety Kyle Hamilton said. “He’s been a consistent beacon of success the whole time he’s been here.”

The Bills continued playing complementary football to overcome a patchwork defense and an offense that didn’t have a receiver reach 900 yards this season. Buffalo finished the regular season with a league-best plus-24 turnover differential.

That continued on Sunday with a turnover-free game from Allen and the Bills that was just good enough on a field that was slick with a dusting of snow.

Buffalo’s defense held up, limiting Derrick Henry to 84 yards rushing and a touchdown on 16 carries. In Week 4, Henry had a season-best 199 yards rushing in the Ravens’ 35-10 win — the Bills’ most lopsided defeat of the season.

In a matchup of MVP candidates, Jackson went 18 of 25 for 254 yards and two touchdowns.

Allen went 16 of 22 for 127 yards and his 1-yard run with 8:49 left in the second quarter gave the Bills the lead for good at 14-7.

That score was set up by Jackson’s fumble. Facing second-and-10 at the Buffalo 28, Jackson first had to secure a high snap. After gaining control, he attempted to scramble forward, only to lose the ball when safety Damar Hamlin grabbed the quarterback by the ankle.

Von Miller scooped up the fumble and was finally chased down at Baltimore’s 24. Allen scored four plays later to chants of “MVP! MVP!”

The Ravens failed on both 2-point conversion attempts, with linebacker Matt Milano batting down Jackson’s pass attempt after Henry scored to make it 21-19.

Baltimore took the opening kickoff and drove for a touchdown, with Jackson hitting Rashod Bateman from 16 yards out.

Injuries

Ravens: Leading receiver Zay Flowers missed both playoff games with a knee injury.

Bills: Safety Taylor Rapp did not return after hurting his hip in the second quarter.

Up next

The Bills get a rematch of the AFC championship game after the 2020 season, which Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs won 38-24. That Kansas City team lost the Super Bowl to Tom Brady and Tampa Bay.

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By DAN GELSTON

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Saquon Barkley dashed through the snow for touchdown runs of 78 and 62 yards and finished with 205 yards rushing, Jalen Hurts had a 44-yard scoring run and the Philadelphia Eagles held on against the turnover-happy Los Angeles Rams 28-22 on Sunday to advance to the NFC championship game for the second time in three seasons.

Barkley ran for a 62-yard score in the first half and stretched the lead in the fourth when he blew through a hole and ran untouched 78 yards for the touchdown. He smacked his helmet with his hand on his final snowy steps and flapped his arms once he hit the end zone.

Barkley slid into the snow — Slide, Eagles, Slide! — in the late-game celebration.

These Philly Snow Birds had cause for celebration — they will host the NFC championship game Sunday against Washington, after the Commanders upset No. 1 seed Detroit on Saturday.

“The elements was great, but the atmosphere was even better,” Barkley said. “Our fans were amazing. That was a close one, but that’s playoff football. And at the end of the day, we got the job done.”

The Rams kept the upset threat alive — caused in large part by two missed extra points by Philadelphia’s Jake Elliott.

Matthew Stafford, who threw for 324 yards, kept the Rams in it with a 4-yard TD pass to Colby Parkinson that made it 28-22. The Rams got the ball back with two minutes left and Stafford completed consecutive passes of 11 and 37 yards to move the ball into Eagles’ territory.

But Stafford was sacked by Jalen Carter on third down and threw an incomplete pass on fourth down to end the threat.

The Eagles are set to host the NFC championship game for the fifth time since Lincoln Financial Field opened in 2003.

Eagles defenders frolicked in the winter mess and made snow angels in the end zone to celebrate the turnovers. Some brave frigid fans went shirtless — and yes, even Santa Claus was in the house, without a report of any snowball throwing.

Stadium workers used snow blowers to clear yard lines and hash marks, while Eagles scooped and kicked away snow to clear a circle for Elliott’s field goal attempts.

Hurts threw for just 128 yards, his mobility hampered in the second half after he was fitted for a knee brace. He didn’t miss any snaps, but was easily mauled on the safety. He was sacked seven times.

Hurts suffered a concussion that cost him in two games in a loss at Washington in December. It was the Eagles’ only loss after they returned from the bye with a 2-2 record.

“It comes through Philly. That means everything for this city, this team, and we’ve got everything we want in front of us,” Hurts said.

Barkley had 118 total yards at the break, but the Rams’ defense — coming off a nine-sack effort against Minnesota — sacked Hurts three times in the half. Hurts was sacked on consecutive plays to end the first half, a total loss of 16 yards that knocked the Eagles out of field goal range.

The Eagles borrowed from the playbook used in their November win in Los Angeles when big plays — Barkley had touchdown runs of 70 and 72 yards — helped them cruise to a comfortable win.

Hurts rushed for the longest TD of his career, a 44-yarder on the fifth play of the game that sent a cold crowd still buzzing from the pregame theatrics into a frenzy. Elliott missed an extra point for the second straight playoff game.

After converting a fourth down on the drive, Stafford hit Tyler Higbee for a 4-yard TD that made it 7-6. Only six days earlier, Higbee spit up blood in the playoff win over Minnesota and was taken to the hospital with a chest injury.

Barkley scored on a 62-yard run for a 13-7 lead, but not before the 2,105-yard rusher slowed near the end zone and looked back to clown the trailing Jalen Verse. Barkley had has fifth touchdown run of 50-plus yards of the season and was the first player with three TD runs of 60-plus against one team since Baltimore’s Jamal Lewis did it against the Browns in 2003.

Verse got trolled by Barkley after the Rams rookie linebacker and Pennsylvania native said he “hates Eagles fans.” The first-round draft pick attended high school in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, which is about 100 miles northwest of Philadelphia.

Verse egged on fans during pregame warmups and relished the boos that rained him on in the light snow. Once the game started, the Eagles showed on the big screen Verse on the bench and fans booed again.

Verse winked at the camera, stamping his name on the list of Philly sports villains.

Joshua Karty kicked two field goals in the first half for the Rams.

Elliott atoned for a missed extra point with a 44-yard field goal that floated through the uprights for a 16-13 lead in the third.

Injuries

Rams: DE Braden Fiske had a knee injury.

Eagles: CB Quinyon Mitchell suffered a shoulder injury.

Up next

The Eagles host the Commanders for the right to play in the Super Bowl.

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By LARRY LAGE

DETROIT (AP) — Jayden Daniels and the nothing-to-lose Washington Commanders sent the top-seeded Detroit Lions to a stunningly swift playoff exit.

Daniels threw for two touchdowns and fellow rookie Mike Sainristil had two interceptions, dazzling performances that helped Washington beat Detroit 45-31 on Saturday night to reach the NFC championship game for the first time since winning the franchise’s third Super Bowl 33 years ago.

“It’s a surreal moment,” Daniels said.

The sixth-seeded Commanders (14-5) were nearly double-digit underdogs against the Super Bowl-favorite Lions (15-3) and overcame doubts as they did all season with a new quarterback, coach and general manager.

“I always believed that we could achieve more than people give us credit for,” Daniels said.

Detroit, the NFC’s top team for the first time with a franchise-record 15 wins, doomed its chances of living up to expectations by turning the ball over five times.

“This isn’t the time to talk about what a great year we had and all the wins,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “We’re here to get to the show and we fell short. That hurts.”

Sainristil, who won a national title at Michigan last season, picked off his second pass on a trick play with receiver Jameson Williams throwing into coverage off a reverse in the fourth quarter.

“Mike is somebody that he’s hard to fool,” Commanders coach Dan Quinn said.

Quan Martin returned a pick 40 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter to put Washington ahead 24-14.

Jared Goff threw three picks and lost a fumble, turning it over three times in the ill-fated first half. He finished 23 of 40 for 313 yards with a touchdown pass to Sam LaPorta that gave the Lions their last lead midway through the second quarter.

Daniels finished with 299 yards passing and 51 yards rushing, and — just as important — didn’t turn the ball over.

“He has a different poise,” Quinn said. “He’s a rare competitor.”

Daniels became the second rookie quarterback to knock off a top-seeded team, joining Joe Flacco, who led Baltimore past Tennessee on Jan. 10, 2009.

“Nothing surprises me with him,” said receiver Terry McLaurin, who turned a short pass from Daniels into a 58-yard touchdown.

Quinn led Washington to its first playoff win in 19 years last week. The Commanders rallied past Tampa Bay for their sixth comeback win and fifth straight on the final play from scrimmage in regulation or overtime.

The Commanders, who converted 3 of 4 fourth downs, didn’t let Detroit keep it that close.

“Give them credit,” Campbell said. “They earned that game and we didn’t.”

Washington outscored Detroit 28-14 in the second quarter — the highest-scoring quarter in NFL playoff history — to take a 31-21 lead at halftime.

Daniels had 242 yards passing in the first half, setting a rookie record one week after becoming the first rookie to lead his team in yards rushing and passing in a playoff win.

The former LSU star, who was the No. 2 pick overall, was 22 of 31, including the long TD on the screen to McLaurin and a 5-yard throw for a score to Zach Ertz in the second quarter.

Brian Robinson ran for 77 yards and two touchdowns.

Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs ran for 105 yards and two touchdowns while Amon-Ra St. Brown had eight receptions for 137 yards.

Goff fumbled in a collapsing pocket on third-and-1 from the Commanders 17 late in the first quarter and Washington took advantage.

Daniels converted a fourth-and-3 from the Detroit 9 to extend a drive capped by Robinson’s 2-yard touchdown run.

Three snaps after Daniels’ TD throw to McLaurin, Goff overthrew his intended target and Martin intercepted it and took it to the end zone, putting the Commanders ahead 24-14. Goff took a hit from linebacker Frankie Luvu on the interception return and was evaluated for a concussion.

Detroit’s defense could not stop the Commanders all night, and Washington set a season high in points.

The Lions started the second half strong, forcing Washington to punt for the first time and going 76 yards on 11 plays on the ensuing drive, capped by Gibbs’ 8-yard run for his second touchdown to make it 31-28.

Detroit, though, wasn’t stingy for long on defense.

Washington had a 15-play, 70-yard touchdown drive — extended by Detroit having 12 men on the field when facing fourth-and-2 from its 5 — and Robinson’s second short touchdown run restored the Commanders’ 10-point lead.

Injuries

Commanders: OG Sam Cosmi was injured on Robinson’s go-ahead touchdown early in the second quarter. His right leg bent awkwardly and he limped off the field.

Lions: CB Amik Robertson suffered a broken arm on Washington’s second snap. … OG Kevin Zeitler (hamstring) and reserve DL Pat O’Connor (calf) were inactive.

Up next

Washington will play the winner of Sunday’s Los Angeles Rams-Philadelphia Eagles game next Sunday on the road for a spot in the Super Bowl.

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Follow Larry Lage at  https://apnews.com/author/larry-lage

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Before Greg Penner became owner and CEO of the Broncos, he attended a few Los Angeles Rams games.

One of the questions that popped into his mind: Why does Stan Kroenke sit in a private area?

After 29 months in charge of the Broncos, he no longer wonders.

“I thought, ‘That’s crazy, Stan. Really antisocial,'” Penner said. “Now, I get it.”

A few days after his Broncos were eliminated in their first playoff appearance since 2015, Penner sat in his office for a one-on-one interview with The Denver Post.

His answers painted a picture of Penner and his wife and owner Carrie Walton Penner, as fully invested in the Broncos’ success — both on the field and off.

This season was a start, nothing else.

“It was really exciting for us. Part of it was for our fans. Seeing the product we were putting on the field and our fans were still supporting us (the first two seasons). We just felt like we owed them. We had to get this franchise back on track,” Penner said. “But, we are in no way satisfied. Our expectations are just as high as theirs are and that’s to compete for championships every year. That’s our goal.”

When the Walton-Penner ownership group took control in August of 2022, the Broncos were a mess. After three decades of dominance, Denver had become a doormat, a carousel of coaches and quarterbacks turning its roster into the island of misfit toys.

Penner fired Nathaniel Hackett with two games remaining in the 2022 season, the first visible example of the importance he placed on accountability. He hired Sean Payton a few weeks later to create a winning culture. The Broncos made progress in 2023 but finished 8-9.

Payton wanted to move on from Russell Wilson, which required taking an $85 million dead cap hit. Penner approved Wilson’s contract extension before the 2022 season, but rather than double down and tell Payton to figure it out, he agreed with the coach. It was a decision that set in motion a new approach that re-energized the franchise.

“That was part of holding ourselves accountable. That didn’t turn out the way we expected. So we could keep hoping that it would have a different outcome, but it wasn’t going to,” Penner said. “My view is that when you know something is not working, you bite the bullet. And that was Sean’s perspective as well. We married it up. So we got some young talent in here and built around them.”

There have been touchstone moments in the U-turn, but none bigger than Payton selecting Bo Nix in the first round of the draft.

Nix started every game of his rookie season, delivering 29 touchdowns with only 12 interceptions while earning his teammates’ respect with his work ethic. Nix, Penner explained, is already looking forward to talking with Drew Brees and Peyton Manning this offseason as he aims to improve in Payton’s offense.

The relationship between Payton and Nix ranks among Penner’s top reasons to believe in the Broncos moving forward.

“We have got the perfect alignment, thinking about the four pieces: ownership, coach, GM, quarterback. Specifically with Sean and Bo, they are perfect complements, which is they are both incredibly competitive, strong-willed, football junkies. But at the same time, they are very supportive of each other,” Penner said.

“Sean did a great job of bringing Bo along with a sense of confidence of, ‘We believe in you,’ while still holding him accountable. There was the one moment on the sideline where it was clear Bo was going to push back. And that was great to see his confidence. I couldn’t be more optimistic.”

Payton and general manager George Paton have also found a fit. There was doubt it would work when Payton took over as coach given the control he exerts. They both report to Penner. His business acumen, it can be argued, has made them both better.

“One, they have a lot of experience, so there’s mutual respect. Two, they balance each other out really well. George is even keel, steady, Sean is more volatile, and in a very passionate, great way because he cares so deeply,” Penner said. “The third piece I would add with the coach and GM relationship is ownership and how I am involved with the two of them.”

As owners, Greg and Carrie remain visible at the facility. It’s not because they get an employee discount in the cafeteria. As empty-nesters, this was always the plan. When they take over a project, they are hands-on. Players have indicated that it has made a difference.

“We saw that from Day 1 that the organization was thirsting for that with Pat (Bowlen) being sick for so long. It was clear there was a need there and so for both of us it is important to be present and show support but also ask hard questions. Press when things are not going well, asking ‘Why not?’ We think we can get much better. We can’t just stay where we are,” Penner explained.

“We have this roster and a lot of young pieces, but are we making the hard decisions? Do we have the right staff in all of our areas, are we giving the right support and technology? We will be asking these questions 10 years from now. We will win a Super Bowl, and we will be asking how we can get better to win the next one. That will be a constant.”

Penner, if you haven’t noticed, is not one to let tradition stand in the way of progress. Drawing on past experiences can be useful, but not as important as being nimble and adapting when necessary.

“We faced this challenge with Walmart. You have this incredible history. You don’t want to lose it. But what you don’t want to do is get stuck in actions that you are taking that aren’t working and saying we are going to keep doing those because that’s the way we have always done it,” Penner said. “Usually it’s not the way you have always done it. It might have been the way you have done it for the last five years or 10 years. But it wasn’t the way you did it in the 1990s. I can’t stand that.”

By taking a strong lead with the franchise just two seasons in, the Walton-Penner ownership group has already started to get back to what once worked in Broncos Country.

The resources are in place. The belief is back.

But that doesn’t keep the nerves from taking over on game day — and, perhaps, creating a need for a little privacy.

“It is the most stressful because there is absolutely nothing I can do,” Penner said. “To be a competitor and not be able to impact the outcome in real-time is hard. So there are times when I can’t keep socializing. I sit with Carrie on my left and Condi (Condoleezza Rice) on my right, and we just watch the game.”

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By DAVE SKRETTA

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Patrick Mahomes has never lost in the divisional round of the playoffs with the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Houston Texans still have never won.

With the Chiefs’ star quarterback hitting best buddy Travis Kelce seven times for 117 yards and a touchdown and a pass rush that dragged Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud to the ground eight times, Kansas City rolled to a 23-14 victory Saturday that sent the two-time defending Super Bowl champions to the AFC title game for the seventh consecutive season.

The Chiefs are the fourth team in NFL history to follow back-to-back Lombardi Trophies by advancing to the conference title game, and the three previous lost. They will try to change that at Arrowhead Stadium next weekend against the Bills or Ravens, who play on Sunday in Buffalo for a shot at dethroning the defending champs.

“It’s been a special run,” said Mahomes, whose wife, Brittany, gave birth to their third child last Sunday. “I still remember moments from the World Series my dad played when I was 5 years old. These are the moments that I’ll cherish my entire life.”

The run isn’t over yet, though. Not with the Chiefs (16-2), cheered on once more by Kelce’s girlfriend Taylor Swift and WNBA star Caitlin Clark, chasing an unprecedented third straight Lombardi Trophy.

Mahomes, who threw for 177 yards and a score, improved 16-3 in the postseason, tying Joe Montana for the second-most wins by a starting QB in NFL history behind Tom Brady. That includes his peerless 7-0 mark in divisional playoff games.

Meanwhile, Mahomes and Kelce helped Andy Reid become just the fourth coach in NFL history with 300 career wins.

“I joked to the guys, you know, you get a couple of more and you might be able to equal my weight,” Reid said.

There was plenty of joking in the Kansas City locker room Saturday night. Not a whole lot in the Texans’ locker room. They still have never won in six divisional games, twice losing to Kansas City in devastating fashion.

Stroud threw for 245 yards but was sacked eight times, while Joe Mixon — who had been questionable to play with an ankle injury — ran for 88 yards and their only touchdown.

Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn missed a 55-yard field goal attempt, a PAT try and had another field-goal attempt blocked with 1:46 left, which would have kept their comeback hopes alive by making it a one-possession game.

“Knowing what we were up against in this game, we can’t make the mistakes that we made,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “We had a lot of self-inflicted mistakes that happened, whether it was special teams not converting, defensively not being where we’re supposed to be in coverage, offensively not protecting our quarterback and keeping him clean.

“On top of everything else we have to deal with,” Ryans added, “that’s going to be an uphill battle.”

The Texans’ special teams were a mess right from the start. The Chiefs nearly opened the game with a kick return touchdown, a bizarre play that ended with Houston cornerback Kris Boyd nearly shoving his own assistant coach to the ground.

The Texans held Kansas City to a couple of field goals early, but their defense was unable to stop them late in the first half, when the bruising Kareem Hunt barreled into the end zone to give the AFC West champions a 13-3 lead.

Houston managed a 48-yard field goal through cold, swirling winds to make it a one-possession game at the break, and that late kick seemed to have revived the AFC South champions when they returned to the field for the second half.

Stroud deftly led a 15-play, 82-yard drive that soaked up most of the third quarter, picking up four third-down conversions, including one in which the QB scrambled to the sideline and absorbed a wicked hit. Mixon finished the drive with a 13-yard run, only to watch Fairbairn’s extra point that would have tied the game get blown wide right.

That miss just might have swung the momentum the other way.

Just as they have so often in winning their last eight playoff games, the Chiefs responded with a time-consuming drive of their own. Mahomes connected with Kelce four times on the 81-yard march, including the 11-yard touchdown pass to his trusty tight end as the two-time NFL MVP was getting dragged to the turf by Houston’s Mario Edwards Jr.

“I thought it was going to be an interception,” Hunt said.

The Texans had two opportunities to drive for a tying touchdown. The first ended when Stroud was sacked by George Karlaftis on fourth down near midfield with about 10 minutes left. The second was stopped when Stroud misfired on back-to-back passes and Houston was forced to punt with just over seven minutes to go.

Kansas City proceeded to drive inside the Texans 10, and Harrison Butker’s field goal with 4:32 left put the game away.

“We’re fortunate we’ve got a lot of great character guys in the building,” Kelce said. “On top of that, as the years have gone on, we only got here by focusing on the task at hand. And right now, this one was great. We’re going to enjoy this one tonight. But the task at hand is going to be that AFC championship.

“You don’t you don’t get a three-peat by looking past that.”

Injuries

Texans: LB Azeez Al-Shaair hurt his knee in the first half. He had been questionable to play with a knee injury.

Chiefs: SS Bryan Cook missed most of the first half while being evaluated for a concussion, but returned. … FS Justin Reid took a hard blow to the head breaking up a pass in the fourth quarter, but stayed in.

Up next

The Chiefs host the AFC title game a week from Sunday for the sixth time in seven years. They’ll play either the Bills, one of two teams to beat them in the regular season, or the Ravens, who lost in Kansas City in Week 1.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

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To reach a stage that is bigger, Bo Nix has to play better.

It remains a critical component as the Broncos aim to move from a playoff team to a Super Bowl contender. From his work ethic to his mindset, everything suggests Nix will improve.

He is determined to exhaust all options this offseason — talking to Drew Brees and Peyton Manning, for instance — to take the next step forward. Like his team, he is hardly satisfied with a playoff appearance.

But to participate on this NFL weekend in 2026, Nix will have to rank among the top eight quarterbacks. For the sake of argument, who could he replace among those still playing?

All of the remaining quarterbacks are first-round picks, save for Jalen Hurts, who was a second-round selection. Four have reached the Super Bowl, and Patrick Mahomes and Matthew Stafford have won it.

Of the list, it is not hard to see Nix passing Houston’s C.J. Stroud and Hurts. Stroud shows the danger of linear projection. He regressed in his sophomore season as his top receivers missed chunks of time. Nix and Hurts are not dissimilar statistically, and Hurts drives home the point of why coach Sean Payton must involve Nix in the running attack more. Nix finished with 430 yards and four touchdowns rushing. A four-game stretch in November and December drained his total as he rushed for 9 yards, partly because of a back issue.

Hurts logged 630 yards and 14 scores on the ground. But Nix was responsible for 34 total touchdowns, compared to Hurts’ 32. The disparity was greater with Stroud, who was only responsible for 23 TDs. So the idea that Nix would be better than either one next season is hardly a stretch.

One rookie remains in the field, Washington marvel Jayden Daniels. And the reasons why should be instructive to Nix. Daniels is a magician on fourth down and in the fourth quarter. Winning on money downs is part of Nix’s evolution. With better weapons around him — preferably a pass-catching tight end and dynamic running back — Nix will still be playing this time next postseason.

Sutton Sours: Courtland Sutton has posted sweet numbers the past two seasons. Now, he has his own candy. In partnership with Colorado Candy Company and Sporty Sweets, the Broncos receiver is launching Sutton Sours on Saturday. It is described as a tangy treat available at select retailers and online at sportysweets.com.

Jokic 50-50: We continue to learn new things about the greatest basketball player in the world. Appearing on Fan Duel’s NBA show “Run it Back,” Nuggets backup center DeAndre Jordan revealed that Nikola Jokic has a favorite song when not listening to Serbian music. His tune? “Many Men” by rapper 50 Cent. “He knows the words from start to finish. That is his song, man. He loves it.”

Casey not at-bat: The Avs’ Casey Mittelstadt remains in a disturbing slump, creating speculation that the team might consider trading the forward it acquired a year ago. He has 13 points over the past three months. The Avs will likely exercise patience, but it is something to monitor.

Mail Time

Your (column) about Bo Nix turning the Broncos into Super Bowl contenders next year was premature. The Broncos have eight games next year against playoff teams. You’ve obviously drank the Kool-Aid. A bit of pragmatism would be refreshing when writing about the Broncos’ future.

— Glenn, Vallejo, email

Glenn’s not going to like the lead of this column either, is he? I understand the pushback. And my bullish nature on Nix comes with an asterisk: He needs upgraded playmakers. But I don’t buy into the schedule issue. Teams rarely stay the same year over year, and it all depends on when you face an opponent because of injuries. Even if the Broncos match their 10-win 2024 season, they will be more dangerous in the playoffs.

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The Broncos have fired special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica, a source told The Denver Post on Friday.

Kotwica was hired by Denver in 2023 and has been credited with transforming the special teams unit to one of the best in the league. This season, the Broncos ranked first in punt return yards (15.7), 15th in kick return yards (28.0) and sixth in field goal percentage (91.2%).

Denver was also seventh in punt attempts pinned inside the 20-yard line with 33.

Despite the special teams success, the blocked field goal attempt in Week 10’s loss to the Chiefs left a major stain. Kansas City linebacker Leo Chenal stormed through the left side of Denver’s line as part of an overload rush and deflected Wil Lutz’s attempt in the closing seconds of a crushing 16-14 loss.

The Broncos’ special teams unit also didn’t have the cleanest performance in the wild-card loss to the Bills last week. Denver perfectly executed a fake punt when punter Riley Dixon threw a 15-yard pass to Marvin Mims Jr. on fourth down in the second quarter. But kicker Wil Lutz missed a 50-yard field goal attempt while the punt unit gave up 59 yards on two attempts from Ty Johnson.

Before joining the Broncos, Kotwica was a special teams coordinator for the Jets, Commanders and Falcons. He served as an assistant special teams coach for Minnesota in 2022.

This story will be updated. 

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