Even at 14-3, the Boo Birds were out.
The final game of the Denver Broncos 2025 season – a campaign in which the AFC’s No. 1 seed was secured in the process of tying a franchise record 14 wins – was, like most games this year: A recipe for a mid-day nap.
Bo Nix and the offense didn’t score a touchdown, but somehow managed to kick four field goals (three of which were shorter than 30 yards), the defense played around with the Chargers “second team” offense like a kid and his Christmas presents and the 19-3 final score came with asterisks, questions and concerns. At the same time, there was never a doubt who was going to win on Sunday.
Yes indeed. Another snoozer.
Still, there’s a nervous energy about how the Broncos go about winning. There’s no other way to explain booing a team that’s mere minutes from earning the title of “best” in the entire conference. The stumbling, bumbling – ugly! – way in which the Broncos win, however, keeps the orange and blue faithful up at night. In their last two games, the offense mustered only two touchdowns against the indisputably decimated Chiefs and Chargers. Against Jacksonville right before that, Nix threw for 352 yards, but largely because the Broncos were playing catchup against a Jags team that pasted 34 on the NFL’s second-best defense, at home no less.
Even with 14 wins, the Broncos currently look like one of the most susceptible 1-seeds in the history of the tourney. The teams they might play after their first-round bye, however, present some problems. The Texans (No. 5) have the league’s top defense and put up 38 on the Colts yesterday. The Bills (No. 6) have the AFC’s second-best offense (behind New England) and – oh, by the way – are quarterbacked by Josh Allen. The Chargers (No.7) weren’t too sharp yesterday; then again, that’s not the team the Broncos will face if the Bolts can upset the Patriots. The Chargers who beat the Broncos in week 3 are likely a better comp.
Rest assured, each of the lowest-seeded teams in AFC’s soon-to-be reshuffled playoff bracket will likely and secretly say they’d like nothing more than a trip to Denver.
But should anyone be sleeping on the Broncos?
A closer look suggests that might not be a good idea. Approximately 60% of No. 1 seeds reach the Super Bowl. Vegas odds makers aren’t about to go against that trend, as Denver – no matter how many touchdowns they scored against the Chargers Lite – is still the odds-on favorite to emerge from the AFC at +230; New England comes in at +420. Dating back to 1975, 53 percent of No. 1 seeds (26 of 49) have won the Super Bowl.
As it pertains to the Broncos, all that history may or may not correlate, but look at what they did this season just about the time everyone started to doubt them. After starting 1-2, they pasted the Bengals 28-3. Still, those Bengals were Burrowless, so surely a trip to Philly would be revealing; well, they beat the defending champs 21-17. When all hope was lost against the Giants in week 7, Nix came back from 26-8 to take a lead, and then took another with just 37 seconds left to win 33-32. Denver’s defense was better than the best defense in Houston. After looking terrible against the Raiders on Thursday Night, Payton continued his mysterious dominance over the Chiefs in week 11.
And remember the time the Packers came into Denver as a 2.5-point favorite? Well, Denver won that one, too.
Just about the time you think you know the Broncos, they’ll trick you.
“We could have scored 30 today,” Broncos tight end Evan Engram said after the game.
Are so sure they couldn’t have?
When Payton was asked if he was happy enough about clinching the No. 1 seed to overlook his team’s struggles in the red zone, he asked the reporter if he was ever happy.
“No, but we shouldn’t be as coaches,” he replied to his own question.
For anyone who’s watched Payton the past three seasons in Denver, there have certainly been times he’s actually been miffed. This was not one of them.
“I liked how we just managed the game and continued to find ways to get down the field and score enough points to not let them back in it,” Payton’s quarterback offered; he’s also come across as more ticked off from time to time.
The Chargers were cooked as soon as Jim Harbaugh announced his starters would be rested. Payton surely planned the most vanilla, conference-clinching gameplan of all time. His mentor, Bill Parcels, famously said “You are what your record says you are.” The Big Tuna knew a thing or two about winning, including a pair of Super Bowls.
At 14-3, it’s less likely the Broncos are severely flawed and more likely the old ball coach was just keeping things close to the vest. Why show the Chargers what you might do to them (or someone else) in two weeks?
Who wants to face the Broncos next?
Whoever it might be should be careful what they wish for.
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