On Christmas Day, the NFL will close its three-game holiday slate with a Week 17 matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos — a game that once felt capable of deciding the AFC West.
Unfortunately for Kansas City, the stakes have shifted dramatically. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Denver enters as a 12.5-point favorite. The (12-3) Broncos have their sights set on the AFC’s No. 1 seed — while the (6-9) Chiefs are limping toward the end of their 2025 season.
Quarterback Chris Oladokun,
a third-stringer who has spent most of the last three seasons on the practice squad, is set to make his first career NFL start. Rather than dwelling on how he arrived here, Oladokun is focused on the opportunity before him.
“We know we’re facing a great opponent in Denver,” Oladokun shared with reporters on Tuesday. “One of the best teams in the league right now, not only defensively but offensively as well. We definitely have our hands full — and I feel like we have a good plan to go out there and spoil that on Christmas.”
It has been a long time since the Chiefs could reasonably embrace the role of an underdog. In fact, the betting spread for this matchup is even larger than it was for last season’s Week 18 meeting, which carried a 10.5-point line. Denver needed a win to reach the postseason, while Kansas City wanted to rest its starters.
That reality offers some motivation. But amid a four-game losing streak, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo framed the pursuit of a win in more personal terms.
“I’m always chasing the feeling in the locker room,” he revealed. “I’ve been in this league a long time — and to me, the best moment, the best hour of my life, is every time we win a game, we’re in the locker room and we’re hugging. To me, that’s special. Someday, when we’re not all in this business, that’s what I’ll miss most. So we’re still chasing that. It doesn’t matter who it’s against or when it is or where we’re playing. That’s pretty special.”
Defensive tackle Chris Jones echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the satisfaction that comes after a week of preparation — even on a short turnaround. And with the game on their home field, the Chiefs will play in front of a holiday crowd on what is expected to be an unseasonably warm evening.
“We’re in GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium,” Jones declared. “Anytime you step in Arrowhead, it’s fun. You feel the love and you feel the energy. You’re playing for something greater than yourself… There will probably be a lot of first-timers there because of the Christmas game, a lot of people coming out. [We’ll be] understanding they paid their hard-earned money. No matter where we’re at in our situation on the aspect of playoffs or anything, you owe it to them to give your all and play your best — [to] show up for the fans.”
With the organization’s future now shifting toward Kansas, Arrowhead Stadium’s days as the Chiefs’ home are numbered. There is no guarantee the historic venue will host another Christmas Day game — this will be the first since 2016 — adding a layer of emotion to the evening.
Still, Kansas City’s focus remains on delivering a memorable holiday night by pulling off a big upset against an AFC West rival.
