Garett Bolles is going to the NFL playoffs with the Broncos for the first time in his career. "Sometimes you look back and wonder how you got here." Broncos owner Greg Penner was heading one way outside the home team’s locker room, while quarterback Bo Nix was heading in following his extensive pregame warmup routine on the field. They stopped, embraced with a man hug, said a few words and moved on. Big day for both men. A huge day. Massive enough to warrant an exchange of reassurance. About 90 minutes later, Penner from his owners’ box looked down upon Nix and his team that needed to beat a bunch of backup Kansas City Chiefs to clinch the No. 7 and final AFC playoff seed. About 10 minutes of game time after kickoff, Penner could smile as Nix had already thrown two touchdown passes and the Broncos were up, 14-0. Nix threw two more touchdown passes and the Broncos are playoff-bound after they crush the second-string Chiefs, 38-0 at soldout Empower Field at Mile High. Afterwards, Penner and his ownership group received game balls while Nix did a full lap around the stadium slapping high 5s with fans -- as John Elway did at old Mile High Stadium following his final home game, an AFC Champioonship Game win on Jan. 17, 1999. Twenty-five years later, a rookie QB pulled an Elway. "I learned I've got to run a little bit more during the week because that's a long little lap,'' Nix said with a smile. "I was a little tired at the end. But the fans deserve it. It's been a long time coming and they deserved it. They showed up. They were loud for us today. It's fun to do stuff like that. It's fun to clinch a playoff spot. Last game of the year against a divisional team and it's kind of a great story. "But now playoff time starts. And our goal wasn't just to make the playoffs even though it hasn't been done in a while. We're excited about the opportunity. We know it's going to be tough but we've got a game to play." A gathering of throwback oranged-clad fans showed up early for the big game on a chilly, 30-degree but sunny first Sunday in January afternoon. Those who stayed till the end so the Broncos join the Chiefs in playing their backups. Buffalo, here come the Broncos. Sorry, Bengals. The Broncos snapped their eight-season playoff drought and set up a first-round matchup next weekend against the No. 2-seeded Buffalo Bills. The Cincinnati Bengals posed a threat, finishing with five straight wins for a 9-8 record that would have slipped past the Broncos for the final playoff spot based on head-to-head tiebreaker had the Broncos lost their finale to the Chiefs. More local videos here: https://bit.ly/2Pa0d1l Subscribe to NEXT: http://bit.ly/2eP1GwI Stay connected: 9NEWS Website: http://www.9news.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ilike9news Twitter: https://twitter.com/9NEWS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/9newsdenver/ Download the 9NEWS App: https://www.9news.com/appredirect/ Sign up for the 9NEWSLETTER: https://www.9news.com/email 9NEWS (KUSA) is located in Denver, Colorado.