With just five weeks left in the NFL season, time is running out for playoff contenders to make their final push heading into the new year. In the AFC West, three teams were in the thick of the AFC playoff hunt heading into Thanksgiving week. The Broncos led the pack at 9-2, with the Chargers and then Chiefs trailing them in that order.
For the Broncos, they came off the bye in the nation's capital and might have secured their biggest victory of the week simply by having Pat Surtain back on the field. Overall, the Broncos returned three key defenders from injury, with Alex Singleton and Jonah Elliss also back on the field.