• Chiefs lost 20-13 to the Denver Broncos in Week 17 despite strong efforts from several young players.
• Travis Kelce moved into the top 10 all-time for career receptions and is closing on eighth place.
• QB Chris Oladokun started his first NFL game and produced a composed performance under pressure.
• Brashard Smith scored his first career touchdown and had a 44-yard punt return, while young linemen held up well.
H2: What happened
The Kansas City Chiefs fell 20-13 to the Denver Broncos on Thursday night. It was a close game decided by a one-score margin, but with Denver’s defense and some offensive limitations, Kansas City couldn’t complete the comeback. The loss dropped the Chiefs to 6-10 on the season — their most losses in a single campaign since 2012.
H2: Kelce climbs the record books
Travis Kelce caught five passes for 36 yards in the matchup, moving past Anquan Boldin into ninth place all-time with 1,077 career receptions. Kelce needs two more catches to pass Terrell Owens (1,078) for sole possession of eighth. Only all-time greats like Jerry Rice, Larry Fitzgerald and Tony Gonzalez remain ahead of him on the list.
H3: Oladokun’s first start
Practice-squad call-up Chris Oladokun made his first career start and gave Kansas City a legitimate chance to win. He completed 13 of 22 passes for 66 yards and a touchdown, finding running back Brashard Smith for a 5-yard receiving score. Although Kansas City had just seven true possessions, Oladokun led multiple drives into Broncos territory and engineered points on three of four trips inside opposing territory.
H3: O-line performance vs. elite pass rush
Facing a Denver unit that entered Week 17 with an NFL-high 64 sacks, rookie tackles Esa Pole and Chukwuebuka Godrick performed admirably. Across 52 combined pass-blocking snaps (26 each), Pole and Godrick gave up only four pressures and allowed zero sacks — encouraging signs for both young players as they develop.
H2: Brashard Smith makes an impact
Running back Brashard Smith was a bright spot: he hauled in a 5-yard touchdown pass for his first NFL score and ripped off a 44-yard punt return later in the game. Smith’s plays were among the most explosive for the Chiefs and hint at his potential role going forward.
H2: Young players and positives to build on
With 20 players on injured reserve for much of the season, Kansas City relied on inexperienced players in Week 17. Cornerback Nohl Williams logged 72 snaps and earned the highest grade among Chiefs players by Pro Football Focus for the game. Defensive end Ashton Gillotte, linebacker Cooper McDonald and the young tackle duo also saw meaningful snaps. Cornerback Kristian Fulton — limited earlier in the year by injury — played well, allowing just one catch on five targets across 71 snaps.
Embedded video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yh2c1CjBHA
H2: Where it leaves the Chiefs
The loss ended a difficult season but provided encouraging development from younger contributors. The Chiefs will address roster and health issues in the offseason, but Thursday’s performance offered tangible pieces to build on heading into 2026.
Image Referance: https://www.chiefs.com/news/five-quick-facts-following-the-chiefs-week-17-loss-to-denver-upon-further-review
