A loss is tough to stomach at any point, even in a lost season when the postseason is already off the table. But in the face of such a gutsy display by the Kansas City Chiefs in a Christmas Day showing against the visiting Denver Broncos, a loss somehow feels pretty heartening.
The Chiefs ultimately fell to the Broncos, as expected, in Week 17. The disparity in records, with Kansas City a full six games behind Denver coming into the game in the AFC West, told enough of a story coming in. Throw in the loss the fact that the Chiefs were relying on their third quarterback and fifth and sixth offensive tackles—not to mention the myriad other injuries coming into the game—and it was hard to find anyone with positive thoughts before Thursday night.
But as Denver left Arrowhead with a 20-13 victory, Chiefs Kingdom couldn't help but smile at the way younger players stood out, even in minimal reps. Some key starters played through pain and showed serious heart. And the Chiefs actually came rather close to making things interesting down the stretch.
Instead of a tenth loss sending us all further into a seasonal depression, the bright spots of Week 17 were a welcome addition to our Chiefs stocking. Here are our winners and losers from the Chiefs' loss to the Broncos on Christmas Day.
Winner: Chris Oladokun
Four days after Chris Oladokun shook off the rust and took the field for the first time in his NFL career after watching Gardner Minshew suffer a serious leg injury, the four-year scout-team quarterback made his first NFL start. It's been quite a week for Oladokun.
The former rookie free agent has been in K.C. since 2022, but with Patrick Mahomes under center and a regular rotation of veteran backups on one-year deals behind him, Oladokun's only opportunities have come with fringe roster players in preseason games each August.
On Christmas Day, however, Oladokun rewarded the Chiefs' consistent belief in his potential with a calmly impressive performance against a deep, talented, and motivated Broncos' defense. The box score won't scream "potential" to anyone who didn't watch the game, but for those who did, Oladokun proved he was a smart playmaker who could extend plays, minimize mistakes, and give an injury-laden team a real shot at winning.
Winner: Brashard Smith
We might as well move right to running back Brashard Smith in our list of winners, since Oladokun made his first touchdown pass to Smith for the Chiefs' only offensive score. Oladokun hit Smith with a short pass in the red zone, and Smith's splendid effort to shake some tacklers gave the Chiefs an early 7-3 lead in the second quarter.
Smith's athleticism was also catalytic for one of the game's other stellar plays: a 44-yard punt return early in the fourth quarter that brought the ball back across midfield and gave the Chiefs' offense something to work with in the face of a 13-10 deficit. The Chiefs have missed a spark on special teams all season, but Smith proved there's real potential there with Nikko Remigio landing on injured reserve before the game.
Loser: Chamarri Conner
There are things Chamarri Conner does well, but for some reason, Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo tasks him with greater coverage responsibilities than he can handle. And the Broncos took advantage again and again. It's quite possible we're discussing a surprising Chiefs win after the holiday—or at least a closer overtime game—if Conner was allowed to stick to his strengths. Alas, a stubborn coaching staff for sticking with an obvious weak link.
Winner: Kristian Fulton
Before Week 17, the chapter on Kristian Fulton in Kansas City had been written. A veteran cornerback signed to a two-year deal to start in the secondary suffers an injury-plagued first year while being passed over by younger players on the depth chart (Nohl Williams). His signing also signaled more of a disconnect between a front office that acquires players and a coaching staff that refuses to play them.
On Thursday, all of that went out the window. Yes, the Chiefs have kept Fulton on the bench as a healthy scratch for much of 2025, but his exemplary play in Week 17 reminded everyone that he's been a reliable starter for multiple teams in the past, and he could still be that for the Chiefs going forward.
Fulton's most impressive play was an acrobatic pass deflection that found its way into the hands of linebacker Nick Bolton for an early turnover that shifted the game in K.C.'s direction. But Fulton had more up his sleeve and looked like the guy Brett Veach signed in the first place. There's more to break down here, but Fulton was definitely one of the game's big winners.
Winner: Travis Kelce
It's tough to imagine that Kelce might actually be done playing at Arrowhead after all these years, and the stats weren't exactly revelatory on a night in which he caught 5 passes for 36 yards and was kept out of the end zone. But Kelce somehow commanded the night by serving as a dependable target for Oladokun and proving in limited offensive chances that's still got plenty in the tank. His example in a game that means nothing in the standings shows what a champion he still is (and has Chiefs fans hoping there's one more run in him).
Loser: Xavier Worthy
No one would ever question Xavier Worthy's talent, and it's also true that he's played through injuries all season long. But a major frustration in Week 17 was watching Worthy's complete lack of awareness at times that cost the Chiefs precious yards and opportunities on a night where they were never going to get many of either. Worthy's potential is still there, but after two seasons, it's also clear there's also a lot to fix—for the receiver and the way the coaches use him.
Winners: Young defenders
Cornerback Nohl Williams played like an animal in the secondary with three tackles for loss, Linebacker Jeffrey Bassa had limited snaps yet showed much-needed athleticism on those reps in the second level. Defensive end Ashton Gillotte continues to blossom with more playing time on the edge. It was a very good night for younger Chiefs defenders. We can only hope to see even more playing time from them in Week 18.