Chiefs vs Broncos Match Betting Preview

The final game of the NFL’s Christmas Day triple bill in Week 17 of the 2025 NFL season sees Kansas City Chiefs hosting Denver Broncos at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The AFC West matchup will be televised on Sky Sports NFL and Sky Sports Main Event at 1:15am GMT on Thursday night.

Setting The Scene

The Chiefs won the AFC in five of the last six seasons, so their clash with the Broncos, an emerging force in the conference, must have seemed an appealing fixture to put in the Christmas spotlight. However, things did not go to plan for Andy Reid’s team and at 6-9 after losing their last four games, the Chiefs are already eliminated from playoff contention this season.With starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his back-up Gardner Minshew suffering knee injuries, the Chiefs are set to start inexperienced third-stringer Chris Oladokun against the Broncos. The Broncos (12-3) have already clinched a playoff place, but they are still facing a challenge from the 11-4 Los Angeles Chargers in the AFC West, so the chance to take on a disheartened Chiefs makes their path to glory much easier.

Three of the four teams playing in the earlier games on Christmas Day have also been eliminated from playoff contention and the only team who remain alive, Detroit Lions, need outside help after falling to 8-7 with Sunday’s defeat to Pittsburgh.Sunday’s games include an AFC South showdown between the red-hot Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts, a heavyweight contest between Super Bowl champions Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills and Chicago Bears facing San Francisco 49ers. The Week 17 action concludes with a Monday night game between the LA Rams and the Atlanta Falcons.

Week 17 NFL schedule (all times GMT):

Thursday

• Cowboys @ Commanders, 6pm
• Lions @ Vikings, 9.30pm
  
• Broncos @ Chiefs, 1.15am

Saturday

• Texans @ Chargers, 9.30pm
• Ravens @ Packers, 1am

Sunday

• Cardinals @ Bengals, 6pm
• Steelers @ Browns, 6pm 
• Saints @ Titans, 6pm 
• Jaguars @ Colts, 6pm 
• Buccaneers @ Dolphins, 6pm 
• Patriots @ Jets, 6pm 
• Seahawks @ Panthers, 6pm 
• Giants @ Raiders, 9.05pm 
• Eagles @ Bills, 9.25pm 
• Bears@ 49ers, 1.20am 

Monday

• Rams @ Falcons, 1.15am 

Broncos @ Chiefs Tip 1: Broncos -13 @ 20/21 with bet365

The Broncos had won 11 games in a row prior to their 34-20 home defeat by an improving Jaguars team on Sunday, but they should make no mistake when tackling a Chiefs team who are just waiting for the season to be over. The Chiefs are suddenly down to their third-string quarterback Oladakun after losing Mahomes and Minshew to knee injuries in back-to-back weeks.

After losing six of their last seven games they are close to rock-bottom for a team who have dominated the AFC in recent seasons and on Sunday they lost 26-9 to a Tennessee Titans team who were winning at home for the first time in 11 games. With a short week of preparation, Oladokun won’t get much practice time with the first team before he is thrown back into the fray and, with the Broncos still just ahead of New England Patriots in the race for the AFC number one seed, they should pull clear of the home side.

Broncos @ Chiefs Tip 2: Over 3.5 field goals @ 6/5 with bet365

Oladukun made the best of a bad situation when entering the game against the Titans, completing 11 of his 16 pass attempts for 111 yards, but he was sacked four times and could be in trouble against the Broncos’ pass-rush. He was able to lead the team on three drives that yielded field goals, though, and with two solid defences on the field it is worth backing at least four field goals to be made in the game. The first meeting between the teams a month ago saw seven field goals converted, with Denver’s Wil Lutz scoring five of them.

Broncos @ Chiefs Tip 3: Courtland Sutton anytime touchdown scorer @ 7/4 with bet365

Courtland Sutton has played his part as the number one receiver for the Broncos this season and he can add a touchdown against the Chiefs. The tall wideout has scored TDs in three of his last four games, taking his total for the season to seven and he clearly has a strong connection with quarterback Bo Nix. Sutton has been targeted at least 10 times in each of his last three appearances and should have plenty of opportunities to reach the end zone against a struggling Chiefs team.