So, you're looking for the score. Honestly, if you blinked during the final stretch of the regular season, you might have missed the Denver Broncos absolutely locking down the AFC West in a way nobody really saw coming back in August.
The short answer? The Denver Broncos beat the Los Angeles Chargers with a final score of 19-3 in their last regular-season game on January 4, 2026.
It wasn't exactly a high-flying offensive masterpiece, but for fans at Empower Field at Mile High, it was beautiful. That win moved Denver to a 14-3 record, securing the No. 1 seed in the AFC and a much-needed first-round bye.
Breaking down the Denver Broncos score and how they won
The game was kinda weird. If you just look at the box score, you’ll see a lot of field goals. Wil Lutz was basically the MVP of the afternoon, knocking through four field goals from 24, 26, 41, and 23 yards.
But the real highlight—the play that basically blew the roof off the stadium—was a 45-yard interception return for a touchdown by Ja'Quan McMillian in the first quarter. He jumped a route on Trey Lance and just took off. That single play felt like it drained the life out of the Chargers' sideline before the second quarter even started.
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Here is how the scoring broke down by quarter:
- 1st Quarter: Broncos 10, Chargers 0
- 2nd Quarter: Broncos 10, Chargers 3 (Cameron Dicker hit a 30-yarder for LA right before the half)
- 3rd Quarter: Broncos 13, Chargers 3
- 4th Quarter: Broncos 19, Chargers 3
Bo Nix didn't put up massive numbers—14 for 23 for 141 yards—but he played "winning football," as Sean Payton likes to call it. He didn't turn it over, and he scrambled for 49 yards when the pocket collapsed, which happened more often than the coaching staff probably liked. The defense was the real story, though. They sacked Lance four times and kept the Chargers out of the end zone for all 60 minutes.
Why this specific score for the Denver Broncos matters so much
This wasn't just another win. By finishing 14-3, the Broncos tied a franchise record for wins in a single season. That's a mark that hasn't been touched since the 1998 season when John Elway was still under center.
It also ended a brutal decade-long drought of missing the playoffs and failing to win the division. For years, the Chiefs basically owned the AFC West. Seeing Denver at the top of the standings with a "Y" next to their name feels a bit like a glitch in the matrix for anyone who has followed the NFL since 2016.
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The playoff picture now
Since they clinched the top seed, the Broncos earned a week off while everyone else battered each other in the Wild Card round. They are currently waiting to host the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round. That game is set for January 17, 2026, at 4:30 PM EST.
People are already talking about the weather. January in Denver can be anything from a mild 50 degrees to a sub-zero blizzard, and Sean Payton is likely praying for the latter to slow down Josh Allen.
What to watch for in the next game
If you are tracking the score for the Denver Broncos moving forward, keep an eye on the health of the offensive line. Quinn Meinerz and Garett Bolles both earned All-Pro nods this year, and their ability to keep Nix clean is the only way this team makes a deep run.
The defense is playing at an elite level, led by Zach Allen and Patrick Surtain II, but the offense has been a bit "field goal happy" lately. To beat a team like Buffalo, 19 points probably won't cut it. They’ll need touchdowns.
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Immediate steps for Broncos fans
If you're gearing up for the playoff run, there are a few things you should do to stay updated. First, make sure your notification settings for the NFL app are actually turned on for the Divisional Round, as kickoff times can shift slightly for TV.
Second, keep an eye on the injury report for the next 72 hours. The Broncos have been relatively healthy, but any lingering issues with the secondary could be a problem against the Bills' passing attack.
Finally, if you’re looking for tickets, Empower Field is already nearly sold out for the 17th. Check verified resale markets now rather than waiting until Friday, as prices for the first home playoff game in ten years are already hitting ridiculous levels.