Two cheers and two boos on the Broncos’ 20-13 win over the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday:

Cheers…

… to stress eating Christmas cookies when the Chiefs’ third-string QB is beating the Broncos in the third quarter of a must-win game. And cheers to Bo Nix for the 14-play, 73-yard touchdown drive that salvaged waistlines and the Broncos’ odds of securing the No. 1 seed in the AFC. It was Nix’s 9-yard scramble into the end zone that allowed Colorado to take a deep breath and build a 13-10 lead. The quarterback was Denver’s greatest running threat on Thursday. That must change if the Broncos are going to make noise in the playoffs. But it showed some real guts from Nix to drive the Broncos down the field at a critical juncture — and finish the drive.

Boo…

… the ghost of Nik Bonitto. If anyone has seen the highest-paid non-quarterback in Broncos history, kindly deliver him to Empower Field at Mile High next weekend for a biggie against the Chargers. Bonitto’s lone entry on the stat sheet Christmas night was a single tackle. No sacks. Yes, the Chiefs avoided Bonitto as if he were the Grinch himself. His reputation these days precedes him. Now, about the production for Bonitto, who hasn’t recorded a sack in three consecutive games. The 26-year-old is being paid as if he is the next Von Miller. But the great No. 58 was at his best in December, January and February, when stars must shine brightest.

Cheers…

… to regular-season finales for all the marbles. Broncos Country can party like it’s 2015 if the Broncos beat the Chargers in Week 18 to earn the No. 1 seed in the AFC. It would secure the first No. 1 seed (and playoff home game) since the Super Bowl 50 season. The Broncos and Chargers met for a doozy in Week 3, when Los Angeles won 23-20 on a walk-off field goal. The Chargers are on a four-game win streak entering Saturday’s game against the Texans. But there’s a good chance the Broncos celebrate an AFC West title before Week 18. If the Texans beat the Chargers on Saturday (2:30 p.m., NFL Network), the Broncos are AFC West champs. 

Boo…

… the convoluted television lineup for NFL games these days. Not to sound like an old man yelling at the clouds, but it’s rather difficult to track down kickoff, isn’t it? The big Chargers-Texans game Saturday is on NFL Network. Ravens-Packers is on Peacock. Jaguars-Colts is on Fox. Shedeur Sanders and the Browns (against the Steelers) are on CBS. Bread and circuses, right? It’s all about the Benjamins, and Netflix reportedly paid $150 million to broadcast Christmas games from 2024-26. Considering the television ratings for holiday football, that’s probably a steal of a deal. For what it’s worth, Broncos-Chargers has not yet been assigned to a network.