Broncos' first confirmed game for 2025 season shows that the NFL believes they will be a legitimate contender

Since Christmas falls on a Thursday this year, the game will stream on Amazon Prime Video in the normal Thursday Night Football timeslot (6:15 MT). This will be the fifth time in team history the Broncos have played on Christmas, carrying a 2-2 overall record on the holiday.

Denver's last two games on Christmas are ones its fans would rather just forget, falling to the Chiefs 33-10 in 2016 and to the Los Angeles Rams 51-14 in 2022. However, the Broncos beat the Tennessee Titans during 2004's Christmas game 37-16, and also defeated the Detroit Lions 17-7 in 1999.

It should come to no surprise that Denver was selected to play Kansas City on Christmas Night. After a breakout 2024 season in which they won 10 games and made the postseason, the Broncos are poised to take another step in becoming a legitimate contender in the AFC in 2025.

This should be one of many primetime games for the Broncos. They have reinforced their already talented roster with free agent signings such as safety Talanoa Hufanga and linebacker Dre Greenlaw, as well as tight end Evan Engram. With draft picks such as cornerback Jahdae Barron and running back RJ Harvey also added to the mix, there's plenty of reason to believe that Denver is ready to hang with the big boys.

Whether or not the Broncos can make a serious run at the Super Bowl will fall on the shoulders of second year quarterback Bo Nix. After an impressive rookie season, Nix will have to evolve his game a notch and enter the discussion of the best QBs in the league.