The Denver Broncos (13-3) are set host the Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) in Week 18 of the 2025 NFL season at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, on Sunday, Jan. 4.
Kickoff for the AFC West showdown is scheduled for 2:25 p.m. MT (4:25 p.m. ET), and the game will be regionally televised on CBS. In-market fans can stream the game on FuboTV.
Los Angeles will rest quarterback Justin Herbert and select starters in Denver, and the Broncos are consequently considered big favorites. Denver can clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs with a win today. Follow along below for live game updates.
The Broncos are two minutes away from the No. 1 seed!
The Broncos are hoping to end the day with a big score!
Surtain gets a huge hit on fourth down, and the offense takes over on downs!
The Broncos have their fourth sack of the day, bringing them to 68 on the season!
The strip sack does get points, but it’s three instead of 7. 16-3 Broncos are up. The offensive line has had a really bad performance today.
The Broncos are BACK IN BUSINESS!! A Nik Bonitto strip sack switches momentum!
The Broncos can’t convert on third down and inches, and the boo birds are out at Empower again.
Another stop leads to another punt from the Chargers.
This game has been full of punts; a few boos rain down on the offense, which apart from the first drives of the first and third quarters, has been largely stagnant.
Justin Strnad joins the fun! Six sacks to go until the Broncos get the all-time single-season sack record.
The Broncos come up with a field goal in the red zone, but the lead is again at 10 with to to go in the third.
Bo NIx throws to Evan Engram for 37 yards, the biggest pass play of the game for either team!
Bolles returned on the first drive for the Broncos in the third quarter.
It ain’t over yet; the Chargers came to play spoiler at Mile High. Can the Broncos ramp up in the second half?
The Broncos are not playing inspiring football thus far; they are looking to avoid injuries before the playoffs. Can they stop LA here, and possibly get a score before halftime?
The Broncos punt the ball back with under three minutes to go in the first half.
P.J. Locke and Garett Bolles are both questionable to return.
Locke with a leg injury, Bolles with an ankle
— Romi Bean (@Romi_Bean) January 4, 2026
Although Alex Forsyth came back into the game, now it is left tackle Garett Bolles lying on the turf. Frank Crum takes over at left tackle.
Garett Bolles slowly walked off the field, receiving some support to walk.
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) January 4, 2026
The Broncos get their first sack of the game, and will take over at the 14.
Nik Bonitto sacks Trey Lance for 12 yards, and it is a monster play by the defense.
Bo Nix had an impressive toss out there on third down, but they were unable to pick up the first down.
Bo Nix nearly got sacked for the second time there, pretty miraculous flip to Evan Engram for positive yardage on 3rd-and-long but it’s not nearly enough.
Pass-pro hasn’t been great in this first half for #Broncos.
— Luca Evans (@bylucaevans) January 4, 2026
The Broncos defense is really putting up a fight against Los Angeles today, looking for the No. 1 seed.
#Broncos Alex Singleton went *over* the formation there to help out on a Trey Lance push on 3rd-and-1. Denver’s defense gets the stuff.
— Luca Evans (@bylucaevans) January 4, 2026
Forsyth was just listed as questionable to return to the Week 18 tilt.
The offense is still looking to find solid ground and avoid injury against the Chargers.
After the Forsyth injury, Denver lasts just one more play on offense before punting.
After a Bo Nix scramble, center Alex Forsyth is down; however, he walked off under his own power.
Alex Forsyth is down.
Wattenberg is on the IR. Broncos getting thin at center
— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) January 4, 2026
The Broncos have thus far shut out Trey Lance and the Chargers. Bo Nix will take the field again!
The Denver Broncos take a big lead after a HUGE pick-6 by Ja’quan McMillian!! The Broncos are now up 10-0!!
That’s the first defensive touchdown of the year for the Broncos.
First since Nik Bonitto had touchdowns in back-to-back games against the Browns and Colts.
— Aric DiLalla (@AricDiLalla) January 4, 2026
The Broncos look to hold the Chargers on their second drive.
It is 3-0 Broncos with 5 minutes left in the first quarter!
#Broncos up 3-0 after a 15-play 81-yard drive that took 8:52 off of the clock.
— Cody Roark (@CodyRoarkNFL) January 4, 2026
A methodical drive has got Denver inside the 10!
On December 21, Bryant was carted off the Empower Field turf; today, he has already been targeted twice on the first Denver drive.
Nix spins out of a sack, and scrambles for the first first down of the day for either team.
Bo Nix and Co. will operate from their own 13.
Without star quarterback Justin Herbert, Trey Lance will make the start for the Chargers.
Look at those uniforms!
Broncos inactives vs. Chargers:
LB Dre Greenlaw (hamstring)
DL John Franklin-Myers (hip)
CB Reese Taylor
OLB Que Robinson
TE Marcedes Lewis
OT Geron Christianhttps://t.co/JzFu7MPPfC
— Jon Heath (@ByJonHeath) January 4, 2026
John Franklin-Myers won’t play today after suffering a hit injury last week.
our inactives for #LACvsDEN
DB Elijah Molden
S Derwin James Jr.
RB Omarion Hampton
QB Justin Herbert
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu
OL Jamaree Salyer
C Bradley Bozeman
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) January 4, 2026
L.A. is resting several players today, including quarterback Justin Herbert.
After missing a game while recovering from a concussion, the rookie receiver is set to make his return today.
J.K. Dobbins just walked through and replied to a fan with “sooner” when asked if he’ll be ready for a Super Bowl.
🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️
— 𝙀𝙙𝙜𝙚 💥 (@BroncosEdge_) January 4, 2026
The Broncos running back reportedly told a fan he could return sooner than the Super Bowl.
The Super Bowl 50 champion will be rooting on his old team at Empower Field at Mile High today.
The No. 1 seed is on the line today.
Time for some throwback football!
The Broncos are wearing their beautiful throwback uniform against their division rival today.
Stunningly perfect early January day as the Broncos close the regular season. A victory today means the road to the Super Bowl in the AFC goes through Denver. pic.twitter.com/08SFVYNBiz
— Nick Kosmider (@NickKosmider) January 4, 2026
We’re getting closer to kickoff!
If the Broncos beat the Chargers, they will clinch a bye for the wild card round (Jan. 10-12) of the NFL playoffs and host their first game in the divisional round (Jan. 17-18). The AFC Championship game is scheduled for Jan. 25, and Super Bowl LX will be played on Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
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