Last Updated on November 10, 2026 11:59 am by Allen
Team Overview
The Broncos are coming off a 14-3 season that delivered their first AFC West title since 2015, a divisional-round overtime win over Buffalo, and a heartbreaking 10-7 loss to New England in the AFC Championship Game. Denver traded for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle this offseason to add another weapon for quarterback Bo Nix, while promoting Davis Webb to offensive coordinator and keeping Vance Joseph in place as defensive coordinator to preserve continuity on a roster that came within one win of the Super Bowl.
Even with that success, oddsmakers have Denver as only the third choice in its own division behind Kansas City and the Chargers, treating last year’s breakthrough with some skepticism as the Broncos enter 2026 as defending division champs but not the favorites.
Offensive Line Analysis
Denver returns all five starters from what PFF ranked as the league’s best offensive line in 2025, headlined by left tackle Garett Bolles and right guard Quinn Meinerz, who both earned first-team All-Pro honors and became the first Broncos linemen to do so in the same season. With center Luke Wattenberg, left guard Ben Powers, and right tackle Mike McGlinchey all back as well, continuity and proven high-end talent make this arguably the safest position group on the roster.
Defensive Line Analysis
Interior lineman Zach Allen and edge rusher Nik Bonitto combined for 164 quarterback pressures last season, helping the Broncos set a franchise record with 68 sacks for a second consecutive year. All-Pro cornerback Patrick Surtain II, the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year, anchors a secondary that allowed the Broncos to play aggressively up front, giving Denver one of the most complete defenses in the conference heading into 2026.
2026 NFL Season
Week 10
Bye Week
Denver is off this week at 7-2, holding first place in the AFC West ahead of Kansas City (6-2), whom the Broncos beat in Week 8. The week off gives the Broncos a chance to heal up before the second half of the season.
Week 9 Recap
Broncos 26, Panthers 21 | Sunday, November 8 | Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
Denver rallied from a one-point deficit entering the fourth quarter, with Bo Nix throwing a 26-yard touchdown to Pat Bryant and a momentum-turning coach’s challenge from Sean Payton helping swing the game. Nik Bonitto’s strip-sack of Bryce Young with 1:24 left sealed the win. Nix threw for 237 yards and two touchdowns and Jonah Coleman added a rushing score, as the Broncos improved to 7-2 with their fifth straight win and an NFL-record 16th straight one-score victory.
Week 9
Denver Broncos at Carolina Panthers | Sunday, November 8 | 1:00 PM ET | Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
Denver is a road favorite, priced at -155 on the moneyline against Carolina’s +130, with the Broncos favored by 2.5 points and the total set at 43.5. The Broncos have won four straight and 15 consecutive regular-season one-score games, tying an NFL record, while the Panthers are 3-4 after a 27-19 loss at Green Bay.
A chance for Denver to extend its winning streak to five games against a Carolina team coming off a loss.
Week 8 Recap
Broncos 28, Chiefs 24 | Sunday, November 1 | Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, CO
Denver trailed 24-13 in the fourth quarter before scoring the final 15 points, with Nix throwing two fourth-and-goal touchdown passes (to Jaylen Waddle and Nate Adkins) and Jonah Coleman scoring after a 52-yard catch-and-run. The defense then stopped Kansas City at the goal line, with Malcolm Roach sacking Patrick Mahomes on the final play, giving the Broncos sole possession of first place in the AFC West at 6-2.
Week 8
Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos | Sunday, November 1 | 4:25 PM ET | Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, CO
Denver is a home underdog in a near pick’em, priced at -102 on the moneyline against Kansas City’s -118, with the Chiefs favored by 1.5 points and the total set at 40.5. The Broncos are 5-2 with three straight wins and were 3-0 against the spread at home entering the week, while the Chiefs are 5-1 and coming off their first loss.
A divisional game with first place in the AFC West on the line between two of the conference’s top teams.
Week 7 Recap
Broncos 30, Cardinals 16 | Sunday, October 25 | State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ
Bo Nix ran 62 yards for a touchdown, the longest of his career and more than his total rushing yards through the first six games, and R.J. Harvey added a 52-yard touchdown on a screen pass as Denver scored in all four quarters for the first time this season. Alex Singleton had 19 tackles and the defense closed the game with a goal-line stand, moving the Broncos to 5-2.
Week 7
Denver Broncos at Arizona Cardinals | Sunday, October 25 | 4:05 PM ET | State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ
Denver is a road favorite, priced at -218 on the moneyline against Arizona’s +180, with the Broncos favored by 4.5 points and the total set at 43.5. The Cardinals are 2-4 after an 18-16 win at the Rams, while Surtain and safety Talanoa Hufanga (both ankle) remain on the Broncos’ injury report.
A chance for Denver’s defense to keep rolling against a Cardinals team that allowed 31 or more points in four straight games before upsetting Los Angeles.
Week 6 Recap
Broncos 17, Seahawks 14 (OT) | Thursday, October 15 | Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, CO
Denver sacked Sam Darnold five times and forced three turnovers, including Ja’Quan McMillian’s overtime interception that set up Wil Lutz’s 53-yard game-winning field goal. The Broncos led 14-3 at halftime on two short J.K. Dobbins touchdown runs but managed just 30 yards after the break, with Bo Nix throwing for 107 yards. The win moved Denver to 4-2 without Patrick Surtain II.
Week 6
Seattle Seahawks at Denver Broncos | Thursday, October 15 | 8:15 PM ET | Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, CO
Denver is a home underdog on Thursday Night Football, priced at +130 on the moneyline against Seattle’s -155, with the Seahawks favored by 2.5 points and the total set at 40.5. The defending Super Bowl champions are 3-2 after a loss to San Francisco in which Sam Darnold threw two interceptions, while Denver is on a short week and still without Surtain, with Moss and safety Talanoa Hufanga also banged up.
A test for a Broncos defense that ranks seventh in the league in pressure rate against a Seahawks offense built around Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Week 5 Recap
Broncos 23, Chargers 17 | Sunday, October 11 | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
Denver rallied from a 17-10 deficit, scoring the final 13 points after the Chargers failed on a fourth-and-1 early in the fourth quarter. Bo Nix tied the game with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton, Wil Lutz added field goals of 19 and 37 yards, and the defense forced turnovers on three straight Chargers possessions, including a Zach Allen strip sack of Justin Herbert. It was Denver’s first division win of the year, and it came without Patrick Surtain II and Riley Moss.
Week 5
Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers | Sunday, October 11 | 4:05 PM ET | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
Denver is a road favorite, priced at -185 on the moneyline against Los Angeles’s +155, with the Broncos favored by 3.5 points and the total set at 42.5. The line has swung six points from its opening number of Chargers -2.5, even with Surtain expected to miss about two weeks and Moss and Bryant also banged up.
A divisional game with real stakes for a Broncos team looking to avoid back-to-back losses and a Chargers team still searching for its first win.
Week 4 Recap
Broncos 14, 49ers 24 | Sunday, October 4 | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA
Denver hung around for three quarters but could not match San Francisco’s second-half surge, as the 49ers scored touchdowns on three straight possessions after a 3-3 halftime tie. Bo Nix went 25-of-42 for 214 yards and a Jaylen Waddle touchdown, punt returner Marvin Mims lost a fumble that led to a Deebo Samuel score, and Wil Lutz missed a 58-yard field goal late. The Broncos also lost cornerbacks Patrick Surtain II (ankle) and Riley Moss (ribs) and receiver Pat Bryant (ankle) to injuries.
Week 4
Denver Broncos at San Francisco 49ers | Sunday, October 4 | 4:25 PM ET | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA
Denver is a road underdog, priced at +130 on the moneyline against San Francisco’s -155, with the 49ers favored by 3 points and the total set at 46.5. The Broncos will look to carry the momentum from their halftime comeback into a tough road environment against one of the NFC’s better teams.
A statement opportunity for Denver against a 49ers team that hasn’t lost since Week 1.
Week 3 Recap
Broncos 30, Rams 26 | Sunday, September 27 | Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, CO
Denver pulled off one of the wildest comebacks of the season, trailing 16-0 at halftime before storming back to beat the Rams on Sunday Night Football. The win moved the Broncos to 2-1 and showed real resilience from a team that had looked out of sorts for a half against a quality opponent.
Week 3
Los Angeles Rams at Denver Broncos | Sunday, September 27 | 8:20 PM ET | Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, CO
Denver is a home underdog on Sunday Night Football, priced at +114 on the moneyline against Los Angeles’s -135, with the Rams favored by 2.5 points and the total set at 45.5. The Rams enter fresh off a 28-6 rout of the Giants behind Davante Adams’ 195-yard, two-touchdown night, bouncing back from their own Week 1 loss in Australia.
A measuring-stick primetime matchup between two teams coming off statement wins, with Denver looking to build real momentum after last week’s comeback.
Week 2 Recap
Broncos 20, Jaguars 13 | Sunday, September 20 | Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, CO
Denver trailed 13-3 in the third quarter before rallying behind a Wil Lutz field goal and a Bo Nix touchdown pass to Nate Adkins to tie the game, then Jonah Coleman’s fourth-quarter touchdown run sealed the comeback. The win snapped Jacksonville’s nine-game regular-season winning streak and pulled the Broncos back to 1-1.
Week 2
Jacksonville Jaguars at Denver Broncos | Sunday, September 20 | 4:05 PM ET | Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, CO
Denver is favored at home, priced at -142 on the moneyline against Jacksonville’s +120, with the Broncos favored by 2.5 points and the total set at 43.5. The Jaguars arrive off a 34-10 rout of Cleveland in Week 1, giving Denver a much tougher test than the line suggests after its own lopsided loss to open the year.
A get-right spot at home for a Broncos team that needs a bounce-back performance against a Jaguars squad that looked sharp in its own opener.
Week 1 Recap
Broncos 10, Chiefs 31 | Monday, September 14 | GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO
Denver’s title defense opened with a lopsided Monday Night Football loss, as Patrick Mahomes scored on a 15-yard scramble in his return from a torn ACL and Kenneth Walker III piled up two touchdowns in his Chiefs debut. The Broncos managed only one real scoring drive and gained just 20 yards on their longest possession the rest of the way.
Week 1
Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs | Monday, September 14 | 8:15 PM ET | GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO
Denver opens as a road underdog on Monday Night Football, priced at +130 on the moneyline against Kansas City’s -155, with the Chiefs favored by 2.5 and the total set at 42.5 points. Both starting quarterbacks are working back from major injuries, as Bo Nix underwent a second procedure on a fractured ankle suffered in the playoffs while Patrick Mahomes continues rehabbing the torn ACL and LCL that ended his 2025 season in this very matchup.
An AFC West rematch to open the year, with both franchise quarterbacks’ health as the biggest swing factor in how competitive this game actually is.
Odds to Win Division and Super Bowl
Odds to Win AFC West: +225
Odds to Win Super Bowl: +2000
Predictions
Overall Record: The Broncos are projected to finish around 12-5, even with a first-place schedule working against them.
Playoff Chances: Among the safer bets in the conference to return to the postseason
Super Bowl Chances: A legitimate contender, though not the top choice in its own division
Denver has the defense and offensive line to stay near the top of the AFC even if last year’s run of one-score wins normalizes some. Expect the Broncos to be in the thick of a crowded AFC West race all season, with a real chance to get back to the AFC Championship if Nix’s ankle holds up.
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