It feels that there is more excitement surrounding the start of the Broncos this season than there has been in a long time. After finally ending the postseason drought in 2024, albeit with a solitary, one-and-done loss to the Bills, could 2025 be the year when Denver goes all the way again and wins another championship?
Obviously, we are at that moment in the year when everything might seem possible. With just one game gone, the Broncos – theoretically – have as much chance as anyone of celebrating at Levi’s Stadium next February. Most of the betting on the Super Bowl may have been concentrated on the Eagles, Bills, or Chiefs, but there has been more than one pundit talking up Denver’s chances during the long offseason.
In this article, we will be looking at why there is a newfound excitement for the 2025 team, how well the Broncos might do this season, and whether the fans can really expect to have the chance to celebrate another Super Bowl win after 10 years of disappointment.
Winning the West
Although it is not absolutely necessary to claim the AFC West title to go on to win the Super Bowl, most people would think that would be the way it is done. With the Chiefs having become perennial divisional champs – winning for the last nine years – this first step on the way to the Super Bowl is a big one.
Kansas City has something to prove after the capitulation against the Eagles in the championship game last season, but there are a number of questions over its ability to do so. Add to that the inconsistency of the Chargers and the work-in-progress status of the Raiders. If anything, this is the first time in quite a while that there should be a realistic hope of winning the AFC West.
Nix to Take a Leap
With great power comes great responsibility. After the debacle of the Russell Wilson experiment, it was more than encouraging to watch Bo Nix develop during his rookie season last year. Every Super Bowl-winning team needs to have a franchise QB and there is great hope for Nix in that regard.
In his first year, Nix passed for 3,775 yards and 29 touchdowns (the sixth best in the entire league), while also rushing for four TDs of his own among a total of 430 yards. There seems to be a very strong bond between Nix and Sean Payton and if there is another leap in numbers this year, the Broncos as a whole will benefit.
Win Close Games
The best teams – those that go on to win championships – are able to bring everything out when it is needed. That means big wins against poor teams and snatching victories when it seems all is lost. The fact that the Broncos won just one of their seven one-possession games last year suggests that the steel required wasn’t quite there.
Looking at the division last year, winning one or two more of those close games would probably not have made a whole lot of difference to the eventual outcome. The Chiefs would have still won the division and Houston would have been just as tough as Buffalo. But the psychological advantage of knowing you can win tight games can make all the difference – and a few early chances to do so this year would really help the team’s chances.
Tougher Schedule
Last year saw the Broncos record a winning season for the first time since 2016. It was the first time the team had broken the 10-win barrier since the Super Bowl-winning campaign a year earlier than that. If the Broncos are to win a Super Bowl, there needs to be more regular season wins – but the schedule looks tougher in 2025.
That being said, most experts place Denver’s schedule around the midway mark in terms of difficulty. There are some harder games, but the overall picture is, perhaps, not as bad as it might have been. Having to play teams from the AFC South is not so taxing, and the two New York teams are very beatable.
Win on the Road
The Broncos were relatively successful on the road last year, so there is no need for a completely different way of thinking about games away from Mile High Stadium. A record of 4-5 is nothing to be concerned about. But recording a few more wins on the road is obviously beneficial to chances of a divisional title – and maybe more.
There are just eight road games this year, with three of those against divisional rivals. The others are against Indianapolis, Philadelphia, the Jets, Houston, and Washington. Winning two of those – as well as two against the AFC West – would put the Broncos in a good final position (as long as the home games go as planned).
Figure 2 Denver needs to grind out every yard this season – Source: Unsplash
Playoffs or Bust
The Broncos winning the Super Bowl should probably be classed as just “a hope” at the current time. Sean Payton has talked up the team’s chances but going from one postseason game in a decade to Super Bowl champs is a big leap to make. Everything really begins with being more competitive in the division.
That is where the hope should really lie. There is a good chance of overcoming the Chiefs – and the Chargers – this year and, from there, anything is possible. Homefield advantage or hot streaks come into play in the postseason, and if Bo Nix fulfils his potential, there might be no issue in regarding this Broncos team as a bona fide Super Bowl contender.
