Dallas Cowboys beat Washington Commanders 30-23 as the NFC East rivals kicked off the NFL's Christmas schedule.
The three-match festive slate featured five teams who made the play-offs last season, but four of the six sides went into the day with no chance of reaching the post-season this time while Denver had already secured their berth.
Broadcasters Netflix still brought out all the stops to give viewers something to look forward to, with Kelly Clarkson and Snoop Dogg lined up for performances.
And the Commanders and Cowboys managed to offer some entertainment on the field in the opening contest.
The teams combined for five touchdowns, over 800 yards of offence and 53 points, highlighted by Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott connecting with KaVontae Turpin for an 86-yard touchdown and Washington’s Jacory Croskey-Merritt rushing for a 72-yard score.
Prescott threw for two touchdowns and 307 yards, with Cowboys running back Javonte Williams recording a rushing score and kicker Brandon Aubrey adding 12 points with his foot to keep the Commanders at bay.
Bo Nix (above) found RJ Harvey in the end zone on a late go-ahead touchdown pass to propel the Denver Broncos past the Kansas City Chiefs 20-13.
The Chiefs were among the teams with little to play for, having already been ruled out of play-off contention for the first time in more than a decade.
Third-string quarterback Chris Oladokun - filling in for the injured Patrick Mahomes and Gardner Minshew - seemed up for the challenge, however, leading the Chiefs into the end zone first on a five-yard pass to Brashard Smith to open the second quarter.
A second field goal for Broncos kicker Wil Lutz to close out the quarter ensured the scores remained tight heading into half-time, but Kansas City stretched their lead to four on the other side of the break with a field goal of their own.
Denver claimed the lead late in the third when quarterback Nix found the end zone on a nine-yard rush, only for Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker to make it 13-13 with eight minutes remaining in the fourth.
The deadlock was finally broken when Nix connected with Harvey with one minute and 53 seconds on the clock, Denver's victory giving the Broncos a chance to clinch the AFC West in the final week of the regular season.
Kansas City's tight end Travis Kelce had five catches for 36 yards in what may have been his final appearance at the Chiefs' home of Arrowhead Stadium.
There is speculation the 36-year-old will retire at the end of the season, ahead of his marriage to singer Taylor Swift.
The second game of the day saw the Minnesota Vikings claim a fourth straight victory with a 23-10 win over the Detroit Lions.
The defeat officially rules the Lions out of play-off contention as Detroit proved to be their own worst enemy, turning the ball over six times.
Snoop Dogg took to the field at half-time with both sides level at 7-7, but it was one-way traffic in the second half for the home side.
Three field goals and a rushing touchdown for Jordan Addison put the result beyond doubt for Minnesota, with Detroit only managing a single field goal in the second half.
