Just 12 Hours After Becoming a Free Agent, Super Bowl LVI Champion – Young Star with Nearly 5,000 Career Yards Sets NFL Ablaze by Publicly Declaring Desire to Join Patriots

The Denver Broncos have emerged as one of the most dominant teams in the 2025 NFL season, currently sitting at 11–2 and holding the No. 1 seed in the AFC as they head into the final stretch of the regular season. Under head coach Sean Payton and with quarterback Bo Nix leading the offense, Denver has rattled off 10 consecutive wins, controlling the AFC West and tightening their grip on top playoff positioning.     With the postseason picture taking shape and every game counting, the NFL has just made a critical scheduling decision that places even more national focus on the Broncos’ remaining slate — including a high‑stakes holiday showdown in Week 17.   NFL Flexes Broncos–Chiefs to Prime‑Time Thursday Night In a marquee move under the league’s flexible scheduling policy, the NFL has flexed the Broncos’ Week 17 divisional matchup at the Kansas City Chiefs onto Thursday Night Football, set for **Christmas night (December 25) at 8:15 PM ET on Prime Video. This late‑season prime‑time placement elevates one of the league’s fiercest rivalries into one of the most watched slots of the year, with major implications for division supremacy and AFC playoff seeding.   The Broncos–Chiefs rivalry is one of the NFL’s most historic and intense — and with Denver currently riding a double‑digit win streak and Kansas City still fighting for seeding, this flexed matchup could prove decisive late in the season.   Why This Matters for Denver Top of the AFC: Denver’s 11–2 mark puts them at the head of the AFC and in position to secure home‑field advantage throughout the playoffs if they can continue winning. That has helped justify placing such a high‑stakes game into a national prime‑time slot.  Big Game Showcase: Thursday night on Christmas drew major interest across the league, and Broncos fans now get a chance to see their team in one of the season’s most anticipated broadcasts — a spotlight that could influence MVP and coaching award narratives. Roster Moves: Denver has also made moves this season to adjust its roster, including waiving veteran tight end Marcedes Lewis to open up space for younger talent as the club presses toward January  Injury Notes: The Broncos have dealt with injuries to key players like running back J.K. Dobbins, who has been out due to a foot injury, while others like TE Nate Adkins and WR Pat Bryant have recently been listed as questionable.  Looking Ahead Before the Week 17 flexed holiday game, Denver still has important contests, including Week 15 at home vs. the Green Bay Packers and Week 16 vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars — both games that will help determine playoff seeding and momentum heading into their Christmas night showdown.   The NFL’s decision to highlight Denver’s late‑season journey — particularly in a rivalry matchup with wider postseason impact — underscores how meaningful this Broncos season has become. If they keep winning, more prime‑time opportunities and postseason buzz will surely follow.