WEEK 1 vs. TENNESSEE TITANS
The Broncos might have started 0-2 last year, but now that they managed to turn the corner, I expect better this time around. The Titans had the worst record in the league last season and clinched the first overall pick, which they used to select quarterback Cam Ward. I loved watching him when he was at Miami, but head coach Brian Callahan is going to throw this kid into the fire early, and I honestly cannot determine how he will perform. The pieces around him are not terrible, but then again, they only won three games with essentially the same supporting cast around him. You have Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears manning the backfield, Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett as your expected top receiving targets, and an offensive line that honestly did not improve over the offseason. I have hopes for rookies Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Deke, but I still cannot understand why new general manager Mike Borgonzi gave Dan Moore Jr. $50 million guaranteed to be their starting left tackle.
As for the defense, it really gave us a bunch of mixed signs every week. They were the second best group in yards allowed, yet were the third worst in points surrendered. All of the veterans that they acquired that offseason were let go before the 2024 season could even conclude, and a couple more might join them if they implode once again. Harold Landry was released, Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs were cut in the middle of the year, and Ernest Jones was traded. Hopefully, things do not head in the opposite direction once again because they have solid guys in their group. Jeffery Simmons, Arden Key, and T’Vondre Sweat held their own on the front four. Cody Barton and Dre’Mont Jones were brought in from Denver to help pick up the slack. L’Jarius Sneed is trying to return to form and will have guys like Amani Hooker and Jarvis Brownlee Jr. to step up on their end.
There should be no excuse as to why the Broncos should not be able to win this football game. They are at home and they are going up against a team that is coming off a disastrous season. Unless Cam Ward wreaks havoc on this defense and quickly emerges as a superstar, I see this as a convincing win for Denver.
WEEK 2 @ INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
I have to be honest, I almost struggled with picking the winner of this game. If this were in Denver, then there would be no question that I would have the Broncos winning. Yet when I look back at the history of these two teams playing each other in Indianapolis, it is one-sided on the other end. However, the reason why I am giving the road team the benefit of the doubt is very simple: the Colts do not have a legitimate starting quarterback. We thought it could be Anthony Richardson, but his inaccuracy issues completely plagued this team, and it did not help that he was in and out of the lineup throughout the season. I seriously doubt Daniel Jones is going to get this team over the hump, so what I see is an average offense led by two subpar quarterbacks. I feel bad for Jonathan Taylor because his prime is just being wasted. The same goes with Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, and Alec Pierce, because while Joe Flacco was not exactly the transcendent backup that he was in Cleveland, he at least proved that all those two needed was a better player throwing them the ball to help the two of them grow. However, one player that I think a lot of teams will have a hard time planning against will be rookie Tyler Warren. Regardless of who starts at quarterback for Indianapolis, he is going to be the ultimate security blanket because there are so many things he could do with the football. The offensive line was not so bad last season, but the departures of both Ryan Kelly and Will Fries are going to hurt them in 2025. Outside of Quenton Nelson and Braden Smith, I don’t really know which players on that front are going to excel at the highest level, meaning that Indianapolis is more than likely bound for another mediocre season.
Newly hired defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo is hoping to get his career back on track in a new change of place and prove that Gus Bradley was truly not the right man for the job. When I look at the Colts defense, I see a lot of names, but I know that the production was not there the year before. Their front four was supposed to be led by DeForest Buckner, Kwity Paye, and Laitu Latu. Yet, they totaled the seventh fewest sacks with thirty-six. Zaire Franklin is one of the consistent leading tacklers in the NFL, but their run defense allowed close to 132 yards per game. However, I think a lot of that had to do with the fact that their secondary was still a travesty. This offseason, Chris Ballard did his job to make sure that it would not be an issue again. They brought in Charvarius Ward to be their new number one corner and signed safety Camryn Bynum to elevate it even higher. These were the two latest additions to a secondary that already had starpower in Nick Cross, Kenny Moore, and Jaylon Jones. Now it is up to Anarumo to see if he can finally turn this group around for the first time in close to five years.
When Bo Nix played the Colts last year, he threw three interceptions, so I do not see this as a blowout by any stretch of the imagination. However, if he gets outplayed by Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones and they lose this game, then there are going to be serious question marks surrounding this football team. I know that it is only week two but the Broncos cannot exactly afford to start off slow again the way they could last year.
WEEK 3 @ LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Last season, the Chargers beat the Broncos twice: one in October at Mile High and the other on a Thursday night stage in December. This time, I can see the series split, but I believe that LA will be the ones to throw the first punch. Justin Herbert has not lost a game at home to this team in his career, and I think that streak will continue into this season, especially since Jim Harbaugh is the coach on the other sideline. Last season did not end the way they wanted, but the Chargers proved that they could compete with anybody in the league. Harbaugh implemented the same formula with LA that he did when he won the National Championship at Michigan: run the ball, play great defense, keep their quarterback Justin Herbert out of harm’s way. It helped JK Dobbins bounce back with a near thousand yard season, so just imagine what things could be like with rookie Omarion Hampton and veteran Najee Harris. But even if a defense manages to keep the running game in check, then there is wide receiver Ladd McConkey to worry about, who thrived in his rookie season. My only question is who will be Herbert’s second option. Quentin Johnston is incredibly talented yet has drop issues, Mike Williams had a very up-and-down season in 2024 trying to return from injury, and tight end Tyler Conklin is the only other security blanket on the roster. The Chargers offensive line is an average unit that does well with run blocking, but could have its issues in pass protection, so the latter might be a problem if Herbert does not have anybody that can consistently get open.
What really turned things around for the Chargers was their defense, which went from being one of the worst in the league to allowing the fewest points one year later. When you look at the defensive line, there are not too many household names, but this is still a group that had the sixth most sacks in the league last season. Khalil Mack might not be the player he was in his prime, but he is still one of the most productive edge rushers in the league. Tuli Tuipulotu is emerging as one of the more underappreciated players at his position and veteran Bud Dupree did not do bad himself with six sacks of his own. What LA is hoping, however, is for more of the younger guys to step up and shine for this team. Daiyan Henley received that message early by nearing 150 tackles and guys like Troy Dye and Junior Colson are hoping to get caught up. In the secondary, LA let Asante Samuel Jr. walk away in free agency, mainly because they might have found a new number one corner in Tarheeb Still. Elijah Molden jumped into the radar out of nowhere last season and got himself a deserving contract extension as a result. That is not even mentioning that they still have one of the best safeties in football with Derwin James leading the unit. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter did a hell of a job leading that defense, and if he keeps this up any longer, he might enter some head coaching discussions.
As I said before, this is going to be a competitive series between these two division foes, but I feel that home advantage will be the biggest factor in both matchups. While I believe the Chargers will get to throw the first swing at So-Fi Stadium, I expect the Broncos to have the last laugh at Mile High.
WEEK 4 vs. CINCINNATI BENGALS
When these two teams played each other in Cincinnati last year, we had an outstanding grudge match that the Bengals won in overtime. Now that both teams are entering a rematch, this time in Colorado, it is up to the Broncos to make sure they get their revenge. We already know what we are getting from one side of the fight, but let’s see what type of challenge they have to face. As long as the Bengals offense is fully healthy, this team will be a playoff contender. Even though they missed the playoffs, Joe Burrow threw forty-three touchdowns to just nine interceptions and Ja’Marr Chase was the Triple Crown winner. How many teams can they say they have playmakers like those two? Not to mention that Tee Higgins signed a contract extension to make him the highest paid number two option in football, so Cincinnati’s “Big Three” will be in the Jungle for years to come. But let’s not dismiss some of their other playmakers. Chase Brown stood out with 1000 yards from scrimmage in his sophomore year and is poised for a breakout season, Mike Gesicki signed a small extension to remain the security blanket, and Andrei Iosivas is a stud on the rise as he continues to develop upwards. Hopefully, Jermaine Burton shakes off a dismal rookie season, because the talent he showed in college was truly too good to waste. Yet, the one weak link that always leaves me cautious about this team is their offensive line. Cutting Alex Cappa was a start, but I don’t know if it truly fixed everything. They allowed forty-eight sacks the season before, so even though they have a boatload of talent on the offensive side of the ball, it might be another wasted season if Burrow cannot stay in the pocket.
We all know what is going to hold the Bengals back from making the playoffs and that is their defense. Sure, they let go of Lou Anarumo and replaced him with Al Golden. But that side of the ball still has so many flaws and weaknesses. For starters, not only is Trey Hendrickson holding out for a new deal, but so is their first round pick Shemar Stewart! Cincinnati already lost Sam Hubbard due to retirement, so if they lose two of the only guys that will keep this defense relevant, then that is just going to give the secondary even more trouble. Cam Taylor-Britt is probably the only notable player on that unit, but he is another player that has been inconsistent throughout his career. Geno Stone has not been the difference maker the Bengals were expecting, even with a late turnaround. Even their run defense was a massive flaw, although Logan Wilson finished 2024 with over 100 tackles. Maybe Oren Burks can stabilize things since he is a solid rotational piece, but you can only ask but so much.
Just like last year, I think that we are going to get another outstanding game that will head into overtime, but I feel that the Broncos will be the ones on top this time. Whenever they are good, they have one of the toughest home field advantages in all of sports, let alone the NFL. With the bright lights on Monday night shining down, it makes this game for the Bengals even more difficult to win.
WEEK 5 @ PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
There are two reasons why I can see Denver losing this game. The first is that they are going up against the defending Super Bowl champions, who have a more explosive roster. The second is that this game is held in Philadelphia, where the Broncos have only won once, which was in 1986. Now I won’t be like a bunch of national media pundits and say that the Eagles are starting a dynasty, but they are the most feared team in the NFC. Jalen Hurts finally got the respect he deserved by winning a championship and the game’s MVP, because when Philadelphia’s best player Saquon Barkley was held in check, it was the quarterback that rose up to the moment and redeemed himself from two years ago. Thankfully, the offense from that season will be back. Saquon is still at the peak prime of his career, the Eagles have one of the best receiving duos featuring AJ Brown and Devonta Smith, but one of the best news of the offseason was that they found a way to keep tight end Dallas Goedert for the foreseeable future. The offensive line has four of its five starters returning, so this offense should still be dominant on paper. The last thing Philadelphia wants, however, is a repeat of what happened two years ago. They might have finished with a winning season and a playoff appearance, but they collapsed after a 10-1 start and got demolished in the Wild Card with two different coordinators than the ones they had in their first Super Bowl matchup against the Chiefs.
Thankfully, Vic Fangio will still be in charge of the defense, which means you should not experience a setback any time soon. Even though they lost a ton of pieces in the offseason, Philly is deciding to focus on its youth to keep their repeat chances alive. Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis will be the two key pieces to their defensive line, with assistance from Nolan Smith and perhaps Jalyx Hunt coming around the edge. In the second level, Zack Baun will be the quarterback of the unit as he is coming off of a breakout season, with the confidence that he will come out stronger this year. With help from Nakobe Dean and rookie Jihaad Campbell, I don’t expect that run defense to get worse. The secondary is where it gets really interesting because even though they are still young, both Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean formed into a lethal cornerback tandem. Reed Blankenship has evolved into a legitimate starting safety and Sydney Brown is hoping to reach that level, so there is depth in that group as well. I don’t think that defense will be as dominant as it was the year before, especially since there will be a lot more inexperienced guys being thrusted into starting positions, but then I remember what happened in 2023. When they lost to Kansas City, the Eagles had the best defense in football. One year later, they were one of the worst. It was the biggest reason why Philadelphia fell apart after such a strong start, so my fear is that it could happen again, especially since it will be a younger unit.
I just realized that this is the second time that Vic Fangio has played his former team. The first was when he was in Miami, where they trampled the Broncos 70-20! Obviously, I do not think we are getting a similar score, but I think the Eagles are just the better team and should make more than enough plays to pull away in the fourth quarter.
WEEK 6 @ NEW YORK JETS
The Broncos will get to play in London towards the middle of October, and the good news for them is that they are playing a Jets team that is once again going through a rebuilding period. With Aaron Glenn at head coach and Darren Mougey as the new general manager, New York is hoping that this tandem will finally be the one that will get this franchise back on the map. It might not be immediate, but if things continue to improve, then there is no doubt that the future is bright for this football team. The biggest X factor is their quarterback Justin Fields. It is nice to see the Jets not reach for a veteran or desperately draft somebody in the first round because a minimum deal for a fringe starter is not a bad option. We know what we are getting from Fields week to week: he will not completely embarrass himself, he will show you tremendous flashes with his legs and his arm, but he will not be a guy that will take you to a Super Bowl. Maybe new offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand will unlock something that Fields’ previous coaches could not, but the biggest knock on the quarterback’s career is that he has never been able to maximize his potential. Fortunately, there are more than a few promising pieces around him that could scratch the surface. Breece Hall and Braelon Allen are a legitimate running back tandem that bring acceleration and power, Garrett Wilson is poised for a breakout year with a former Buckeye throwing him the ball, but the big question is figuring out who will step next in line. It could be Allen Lazard, it might be Malachi Corley. Heck, maybe rookies Arian Smith and Mason Taylor could leapfrog their way onto the depth chart. Their offensive line had an okay season last year, but maybe with Fields under center, they can improve their production. The Jets used their first round pick in the draft to select the best right tackle prospect Armond Membou to complement Olu Fashanu. They are banking on Joe Tippmann to solidify himself as the starting center, with John Simpson and Alijah Vera-Tucker to his left and right.
With Glenn taking over as the head coach, the hope is that the defense can have a better season than the up-and-down roller coaster they were on last season. That is what happens when Robert Saleh gets scapegoated in the middle of the season. Fortunately for Glenn, he has a hell of a group to work with. On the defensive line, Quinnen Williams has still proven to be one of the best defensive tackles in the league and they have an absolute stud in edge rusher Will McDonald that is coming off of a breakout season. With Jermaine Johnson coming back from a season ending injury, the hope is that this defensive line can regain the grit and tenacity that they lacked in the second half of the season. Their run defense was the team’s biggest weakness over the last few seasons, but Glenn is hoping to fix that with Jamien Sherwood and Quincy Williams. However, the group that was really disappointing last season was their secondary. Sauce Gardner is coming off an up-and-down year, Michael Carter II had injuries hold him back, and the team just lost DJ Reed and Ashtyn Davis in free agency. I do not like the signing of Brandon Stephens since he was considered the weak link in Baltimore, so it looks like some of their younger prospects will have to step up quickly. At least their safety group looks solidified with rookie Malachi Moore and rising stud Tony Adams. If Andre Cisco can bounce back from last year, it will be even better.
Even though I do not see this as a blowout, I expect the Broncos to pull away in the fourth quarter due to the fact that they are a more complete and experienced team. I do not know if Bo Nix is going to put up awe-inspiring numbers because he vastly struggled against this team last year, but I think it will be his defense that takes over from start to finish.
WEEK 7 vs. NEW YORK GIANTS
This is probably going to be one of the most overhyped matchups of the season and I know why: Russell Wilson is going back to Denver to play his former team. However, the Giants are in dire straits at the moment as an organization. They signed Russell Wilson, then traded up for Jaxson Dart in the first round. They have a promising running back in Tyrone Tracy, but drafted Cam Skattebo. Malik Nabers is a stud at wide receiver, but the next best options are Darius Slayton and Wan’Dale Robinson, both inconsistent in their respective positions. At least Andrew Thomas is coming back to stabilize the offensive line, but with the uncertainty at the quarterback position, who knows how many times that group will be set up to fail? One more horrid start and John Mara is cleaning house.
Hopefully, the defense emerges out of the shadows and gives us promising flashes throughout the season. Their pass rush is stacked with the likes of Abdul Carter, Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Dexter Lawrence. They added Chauncey Golston and Roy Robertson-Harris to solidify that front, but the run defense has been underwhelming with Bobby Okereke and Micah McFadden leading the way. What I am really going to pay attention to is their secondary because the Giants made sure to overhaul it in the offseason. They brought in Paulson Adebo to be their number one corner, signed the best safety in free agency in Jevon Holland to man the deep end, and are hoping for breakout seasons from Andru Phillips and Tyler Nubin. Yet, the biggest disappointment in that group has been Deonte Banks, who has not lived up to the first round pedigree he had as he allowed six touchdowns just last season.
I personally hope that this turns into a close game, but this is as one-sided of a matchup as you could ask for in this league. If the Broncos do not find a way to win, then they do not deserve to be the AFC West champions.
WEEK 8 vs. DALLAS COWBOYS
This game might be the easiest win I will give the Broncos all season, which is saying a lot because they get to play a lot of bad teams. However, the reason why I say that this is the easiest is due to the fact that the Cowboys have not beaten this team since 1995. In the last two games between these two teams, Trevor Siemian and Teddy Bridgewater were the two quarterbacks that led two total blowout victories against “America’s Team.” If those are the guys that helped Denver win handedly, then I do not see how Bo Nix cannot do the same, especially against a mediocre franchise. So many of their fans think that they will be a lot better than advertised, but I seriously cannot see how. Dak Prescott is coming back, that is always a great sign. CeeDee Lamb is one of the best receivers in the league, that definitely helps. Micah Parsons, given that he gets his contract extension, is absolutely one of the more unstoppable defensive players in the league. But what do these three have around them? Rico Dowdle left in free agency, which means the only running backs are Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders. One of them has not been the same since a season ending injury he suffered a few years ago and another was proved to be nothing more than a system back for the Eagles. The passing game was already reliable with Jake Ferguson and Jalen Tolbert, but acquiring George Pickens was definitely a high-risk and high-reward move. He is extremely talented, but the biggest red flag is that he had character and maturity issues in Pittsburgh, so I really do not know if this was the best change of scenery. The potential is there and I think he and CeeDee form a strong duo on paper, but I need to see how they gel together before I can come to a final conclusion. Fortunately, the offensive line is never an aspect I have to worry about. They drafted Tyler Booker in the first round to replace the recently retired Zach Martin and complement Tyler Smith, their tackles Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele are hoping to improve in 2025, and Cooper Beebe had a strong rookie season at center. With Dak under center, I doubt they will be a top ten offense, but they should be a productive unit against certain opponents. But when it comes to top tier teams, they do not always show up, so that needs to change if they truly want this year to be different.
With Matt Eberflus as the new defensive coordinator, I already know what I am going to get. There will be some games where they make tremendous strides, but then others where they are on their heels way too often. Yes they have Micah and Osa Odighizuwa on the defensive line, they brought back Dante Fowler, Marshawn Kneeland is on the rise, and Sam Williams is returning from injury to step in for DeMarvion Overshown. Yet, I am not exactly confident that Kenneth Murray or Jack Sanborn are going to fix a run defense that was below average last year. Trevon Diggs struggled to return from injury and DaRon Bland is essentially the same type of player, so I don’t have the highest faith in those two as the starting corners despite the fact that they have exceptional hands. I don’t need to worry about the safety room because it already has a ton of depth, but when Dallas cannot generate any pressure, then they better make a ton of plays.
I am always hoping for a close game, but this is one where I will not be surprised if it turns into an ugly blowout. The Broncos are at home and you know that everybody is going to turn on their televisions at 4:30 eastern time to tune into the fun, or 2:30 if you live in Denver. Get your popcorn ready because you know that if the Cowboys lose this game, the national media is going to pour on them the whole week, let alone the entire day.
WEEK 9 @ HOUSTON TEXANS
I definitely see this week as a trap game for the Broncos because I feel like if there is any other team besides the three giants of the AFC (Baltimore, Kansas City, Buffalo) that can give them a bad day, it is the Houston Texans. Last season was rough for a franchise that was finally starting to get things back on track. Despite winning the AFC South and making it back to the playoffs, it felt like they were worse than last year, and now it is time for everybody to prove that it was just a fluke. That means CJ Stroud is going to have to break through that rough sophomore wall and return to the promising stud he was in his rookie season. This season will be a bigger challenge because not only is Stefon Diggs gone, but Tank Dell is expected to miss all of 2025 with that gruesome knee injury he suffered in December. However, I think both Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel are going to surprise a lot of people in their rookie seasons, which will take a lot of pressure off of Nico Collins and even newly signed Christian Kirk. Along with Joe Mixon and Dalton Schultz, it is still a talented offense that just let go of offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, so it is time for Nick Caley to right the ship. Yet, their offensive line still gives me pause for concern. They traded away Laremy Tunsil, released Shaq Mason, and traded away Kenyon Green. The new guys that the Texans signed include Cam Robinson, Trent Brown, and Ed Ingram. The only returning pieces are Juice Scruggs and Tytus Howard. I don’t know how, but it felt like their offensive line got worse. That says a lot, considering that CJ Stroud was the second most sacked quarterback in the league!
As for the Texans defense, the one thing that held them back from their potential was the lack of discipline. That falls on DeMeco Ryans because this was supposed to be the unit for him to turn around. They have the talent, but they need the chemistry and mental toughness to really go far in the playoffs. Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter did a tremendous job on the front four, they have a legitimate linebacker duo of Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To’oTo’o, but it is their secondary that I think makes this group even more dangerous. They have a transcendent number one corner in Derek Stingley Jr., a couple of rising studs in Calen Bullock and Kamari Lassiter, and Jalen Pitre is one of the more underrated safeties in all of football. They also just acquired CJ Gardner Johnson in a trade with Philadelphia, which means Jimmie Ward will not have to take a huge load of the work as one of the only veterans on the team.
One interesting fact that I was able to learn the other day was that Sean Payton has not won a road game against the Texans in his head coaching career. Obviously, it is a small sample size, but I can see that streak continue if both teams make it into the playoffs the way I expect them to this year. It will be a low scoring matchup, but in NRG Stadium, I have more faith in CJ Stroud to close the deal than Bo Nix at this moment in time.
WEEK 10 vs. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
Before last season, the Raiders won their last eight matchups against their long hated division rival. Entering this Week 10 matchup, the Broncos won the last two. But things are changing in Las Vegas. Geno Smith and Pete Carroll are back together, which means the two are probably not going to win less than seven games this season. Actually, if you look at the rest of their roster, it feels like watching the Seahawks in an entirely different conference, but there are a few modifications. The Raiders drafted the Heisman winning running back Ashton Jeanty with their first round pick, which was a huge need because this team has not had a powerful player at that position since Josh Jacobs. However, the passing game still gives me some questions. They might have Brock Bowers, one of the more generational tight ends in the league, but the wide receiver room is lackluster. I like Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker, but they are not quality number one options, so maybe Jack Bech will jump onto the radar and surprise us out of nowhere. Their offensive line is also a pretty substandard unit that allowed the eighth most sacks in the league, so I do not think that signing Alex Cappa in free agency did not make them a better unit. Nor does hiring Chip Kelly as your offensive coordinator! It was an issue when Pete Carroll was in Seattle and I am scared it is going to linger again in Sin City.
If there is one thing that I hope Carroll does well with this team, it is make sure the defense is not set back a decade. You have an unstoppable menace in Maxx Crosby, but the rest of the supporting cast is just average at best. Christian Wilkins is coming back from injury, Tyree Wilson has not lived up to the first round hype, and they did not do enough to address the linebacking room after Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo left in free agency. I think Germaine Pratt is a solid tackler, but there is not too much depth at his position. The other three veterans in that group are Elandon Roberts, Devin White, and Jaylon Smith. The one thing that all of them have in common is that they have not been good in three to five years. Hopefully there is a younger player that could surprise us out of nowhere, but I truly do not know who that will be right now. The secondary also lost some key pieces like Tre’von Moehrig and Nate Hobbs, but I honestly like the guys that will take their place. I have always been a fan of Jeremy Chinn, and I believe that both Isaiah Pola-Mao and Jakorian Bennett took big leaps in 2024. I do not expect it to be a great unit, but I think they can be pretty good against certain foes.
I believe that this series is ending in a split and that the team at home will be the ones smiling at the end of the day. Whether it turns into a blowout or down-to-the-wire match will be up to the gods of fate.
WEEK 11 vs. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
The Broncos know that in order for them to take the next step and show the world that they are worthy of being championship contenders, the team they have to go through is the Kansas City Chiefs. As much as we want to laugh at the national media for saying that Patrick Mahomes is the GOAT if he wins a third straight Super Bowl, I can understand what started this discussion. The Kansas City Chiefs have been one of the most dominant dynasties in the league and their quarterback has been the biggest reason why. As long as they have him healthy, they are the class of the AFC. Fortunately for them, the core is still intact. Isaiah Pacheco is one of the angriest running backs in the league and does a better job of getting yards after contact than most other players at his position. They are even bringing Kareem Hunt back, who did a tremendous job in emergency duty when Pacheco got hurt. The passing game will still focus on Travis Kelce and Xavier Worthy, but Kansas City made sure to keep around Hollywood Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster as reliable supporting options. There is also tight end Noah Gray, who is arguably the best backup player at his position, with the exception of Isaiah Likely. Yet, that was not the biggest issue with this offense. Surprisingly, it was the offensive line. To fix their drastic need at left tackle, not only did they sign Jaylon Moore in free agency, but drafted Josh Simmons with their first round pick. Joe Thuney unfortunately got traded to Chicago, but the good news was that Kansas City kept Trey Smith and Creed Humphrey. It appears that Mike Caliendo will be the starting left guard and he proved to be a serviceable placeholder, so let’s hope that it will not be a liability once again.
Over the past few seasons, Steve Spagnuolo has slowly but surely turned this defense into one of the best units in all of football. The biggest reason why is because of their front seven, which opens up the blitz and features several key playmakers. Chris Jones is still playing at an elite level, George Karlaftis deserves a huge payday for how tremendous he has been since he arrived, Mike Danna has developed into a bluechip edge rusher, and I cannot wait to see how Felix Anudike-Uzomah does in what should be a breakout year. Their linebacker room is stacked with Drue Tranquill and Nick Bolton plugging up the middle, with Leo Chenal and Jack Cochrane on time when you need the call. The secondary is stacked with younger talent like Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, Jaden Hicks, Bryan Cook, and Chamarri Conner. With Kristian Fulton the newest addition, this is a group that can most definitely keep this team in Super Bowl contention.
The Broncos had a chance of sweeping the Chiefs last season, and in the one game they did win, they shut the eventual AFC champions out 38-0. Obviously, they were playing against backups, but they also beat up Patrick Mahomes the year before 24-9 in the same stadium. I think Denver is going to feel great about themselves after this matchup, but I do not think we will get the same outcome when they meet again in Arrowhead Stadium.
WEEK 12: BYE WEEK
WEEK 13 @ WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
This is a game that I personally can feel go either way because both teams are highly respected. It feels more of a trap for the Broncos than it does for the Commanders because they are playing on the road after a bye week against the team that was just in the NFC Championship last year. The biggest reason why Washington is getting all the hype is because their quarterback has emerged as a superstar that lifted them to the conference championship game, so he is hoping that they get further this time around and have a happier ending. The supporting cast around him did not change drastically from last year. Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler have been a solid running back tandem, Terry McLaurin is easily one of the more underappreciated receivers in football, they just acquired Deebo Samuel as an extra option, and Zach Ertz returned to being the reliable security blanket that everybody wants in their offense. Washington also made sure to address its offensive line by trading for Laremy Tunsil, so let’s hope that he is not one of the more penalized tackles in the league this time around. However, it is a group that allowed the seventh most sacks, so it is not like Washington is going to have an unbelievable offense that cannot be stopped. Fortunately, they drafted Josh Connerly Jr. as a future starter at right tackle, so the Commanders made sure to address the two most important positions on that front.
Their defense is a very unique one run by Dan Quinn. They do not have too many household names, but it is a group that is opportunistic and one you do not want to turn the ball over against. Jonathan Allen is gone, but they still have a franchise cornerstone in Da’Ron Payne along with a quality starter in Dorance Armstrong to lead the pass rush. The Commanders are also expecting Jer’Zhawn Newton to take the next step at defensive tackle and even signed Javon Kinlaw to give him a bigger role. Bobby Wagner is still playing at a high level and Frankie Luvu has been more than an exceptional complement to have in the linebacker room, but the secondary is one that I am hoping shows signs of improvement. Hopefully, Marshon Lattimore can have a full and healthy season to remind us why he is still one of the best corners in football. Mike Sainristil will be in the slot and Jonathan Jones is expected to be another outside defender, which is not the most ideal situation, but you at least have proven starters. However, one player that I have high hopes for is safety Quan Martin. He totaled eighty-seven tackles last year and showed up huge in the playoffs, the type of player that Dan Quinn loves to have on a daily basis.
I think that this is going to be a back-and-forth showdown but there are two reasons why I am leaning towards Washington. The first is that they are at home and will be playing on a Sunday night stage. The second is that in those types of moments, I trust Jayden Daniels to show up in the clutch more than Bo Nix, even in what will potentially be a defensive slugfest.
WEEK 14 @ LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
I think that both Sean Payton and Pete Carroll are such highly respected coaches, that when they do play each other twice this year, I just do not see one sweeping the other. I would not be shocked if that was the case, but I feel that the Raiders are a decent enough team to ruffle a few feathers for the visiting team.
WEEK 15 vs. GREEN BAY PACKERS
In nine matchups between the Broncos and Packers in Mile High, the visiting team has only won once, which was in 2007 that came down to a walk off touchdown between Brett Favre and Greg Jennings. The Packers ended up finishing that season 13-3 and made it to the NFC Championship, while the Broncos missed the playoffs at 7-9 with the fifth worst scoring defense in football. Fast forward eighteen years later and both teams are expected to be respected postseason contenders, but Green Bay will most likely be the underdog. Jordan Love is still their face of the franchise and proved that he is capable of leading this team to glory, but the supporting cast around him might indicate a bit of a down year. The good news is that the Packers still have Josh Jacobs, who ran for over 1300 rushing yards. The bad is that their depth at receiver is still lackluster. At least they drafted Matthew Golden in the first round, somebody that can complement the speedster Jayden Reed. Unfortunately, Christian Watson is expected to miss extended time with a knee injury and Romeo Doubs is a really inconsistent receiver. Dontayvion Wicks has also been really disappointing, and if he cannot have a big training camp, he might be a stunning roster cut. Both Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft cannot be the only security blankets Love will have to lean on, but thank goodness that their offensive line gave up the second fewest sacks in the league, so there should be more time for the receivers to get open.
The Packers defense is always a confusing one for me to analyze. Some days, they are above average. Other times, they get exhausted if they are on the field for too long. On paper, they should be decent. Rashan Gary is still an exceptional pass rusher, the rest of the defensive line has plenty of starpower such as Devonte Wyatt and Kenny Clark, Lukas Van Ness is slowly improving, and there are a few rotational guys that have stepped up as well. The linebacking room lost Eric Wilson in free agency, but they at least still have Quay Walker and Edgerrin Cooper. However, the secondary is one that I want to keep a close eye on this season now that Jaire Alexander is officially released. Xavier McKinney emerged as one of the top safeties in the league with eight interceptions and Carrington Valentine had his best season yet last year. They shouldn’t be horrible! The problem is that they are too inconsistent.
Maybe I would have a different opinion if this were in Lambeau Field, but I have a strong feeling that the Broncos are going to win this game. I do not know what the final score will be, but I trust their offense to be just a little more efficient and I will bank on the defense to force a couple of takeaways to swing the momentum their way.
WEEK 16 vs. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
This is one game where I truly hope that the Broncos do not look ahead to their last matchups and let this turn into a closer game than it should be in a lot of people’s eyes. It will be interesting to see how the Jaguars look with Liam Coen as the new head coach, because if Trevor Lawrence continues to look mediocre at best and pathetic at worst, then that contract extension is only going to appear worse as the days roll by. Coen has a lot of work to do with not just getting Lawrence back on track, but with the rest of the offense as well. They have two capable starting running backs in Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby, while Brian Thomas Jr. has emerged as the focal point of the passing game, but the offense suffered a lot of turnover at the same time. Christian Kirk, Gabe Davis, and Evan Engram were all released. Jacksonville replaced them by promoting Brenton Strange as the starting tight end, signing Dyami Brown in free agency, and then trading up with the Browns to draft Travis Hunter with the second overall pick! Not only is Hunter supposed to help out a ton in the passing game, but that secondary has desperately needed a standout cornerback for years, and the Jaguars got a guy that can do both! One of the biggest surprises of 2024 was that their offensive line actually did pretty well, despite only winning four games. It only let up thirty-two sacks, the ninth fewest in the league, and I think it got stronger with the signing of Patrick Mekari in free agency. Anton Harrison showed improvement, Ezra Cleveland thrived at left guard, and the unit did pretty well for itself without Cam Robinson at left tackle. Lawrence is going to be the biggest X factor for this team’s success, or else Jacksonville’s new regime will not be afraid of moving on from him in the upcoming offseason.
As for the Jaguars defense, I have been consistent in saying that it has been the team’s Achilles heel for the last five years. The only two guys that kept it somewhat afloat were Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, so even with the addition of Travis Hunter, this group has a lot of making up to do this year. Arik Armstead has been a disappointment, Devin Lloyd showed a lot of consistency issues, and I did not like that Jourdan Lewis was the only addition they made to the secondary in free agency. Maybe Hunter and Tyson Campbell can form into a solid duo, but for this team to truly turn things around, everything has to be absolutely perfect in all aspects of play.
Even if the Jaguars turn out to have a decent season, I still think that there is no excuse why the Broncos should not win this game. Otherwise, they can look forward to playing in the Wild Card round.
WEEK 17 @ KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
I believe that whoever wins this game is going to win the AFC West. Unfortunately for the Broncos, this is not exactly the matchup that the Chiefs lose, especially with Patrick Mahomes under center. I think that this will come down to the last play, but unless the Denver defense does what the Raiders did to Kansas City on Christmas a couple of years ago, it is going to be a long night.
WEEK 18 vs. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
I am pretty sure that both teams will already clinch a playoff spot by the time this game arrives, so this is really about which one will get the higher seed. I will guess that the Broncos will split the series, a because they are home and b because they do not want to see their regular season end on such a sour note in that building.
FINAL RECORD PREDICTION: 11-6
