The Broncos have spent the first two weeks of the season looking a lot like themselves: shaky early, stubborn late, and dangerous when the game starts slipping away.
That was on display in the Week 2 comeback over the Jacksonville Jaguars, a win that fit Denver’s profile almost too neatly. When the pressure rose, the Broncos answered.
It was another reminder that this team seems to find its edge only once the situation gets uncomfortable, and that’s been a recurring theme in 2025. If that remains the identity in 2026, fans may have to live with it.
Still, there’s a real chance for Denver to finish September in a spot it has not reached under Sean Payton: above .500. The Broncos are 1-1 entering Week 3, and a win over the Los Angeles Rams would push them to 2-1 and give them their first winning September record in the Payton era.
That matters because slow starts have become part of the story with Payton-led teams. The Broncos have opened September like this over the last four seasons:
2023: 0-3
2024: 2-2
2025: 2-2
2026: 1-1
That leaves Denver at 5-8 in September under Payton, and even at .500 in the month since the start of the Bo Nix era. The flip side has been much more encouraging. Once September ends, the Broncos have finished strong in each of the last three seasons:
2023: 8-6
2024: 8-5
2025: 12-1
Outside of September, Denver has gone 28-12, a .700 winning percentage. That’s a pretty clear split, and it’s why a Week 3 win would feel bigger than just another mark in the standings.
The Rams are no easy target, but the Broncos get them at home and are likely to face Matthew Stafford at quarterback. Stafford is no longer the kind of quarterback who can create much with his legs, and that opens a door for Denver’s pass rush. If the Broncos can bring the kind of pocket disruption they managed against Trevor Lawrence - who is far more mobile - then Stafford and the Rams offense could have a long afternoon.
And after that comes a tough October stretch against the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Chargers, Seattle Seahawks, and Arizona Cardinals. The good news for Denver is that October has been a strong month in the Bo Nix era, with the Broncos going 7-1 there.
So the setup is simple: the Broncos have a chance to stop the September pattern in its tracks, get to 2-1, and head into the heart of the schedule with momentum. That could matter even more now, with Cincinnati and Kansas City both looking much better than they did in 2025. If Denver is going to fight its way into the playoffs as a Wild Card team, every win may end up counting.
In Other News...
NFL Punished A Chiefs Starter For What Happened Late Vs Broncos
A late-game penalty from Kansas Citys win over Denver has now turned into a small off-field price tag for one of the Chiefs starting linemen. Guard Trey Smith was fined $6,750 by the NFL for a chop block committed in the fourth quarter of the matchup, a reminder that the league keeps track not just of the result, but of how teams get there.
The fine was announced the day before the Chiefs were set to face the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday Night Football, and it fits the leagues broader disciplinary process aimed at reinforcing player conduct standards. For Denver, it adds another small footnote to a game already full of physical, late-stage contact between two AFC West rivals. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Win Helps But Bo Nix Still Leaves A Bigger Concern
A win over the Jaguars got Denver back to .500 and gave the Broncos a needed reset after an uneven start, but it did not erase the bigger questions hanging over the offense. The improved record comes with plenty of moving parts to sort through, from the way the team handled penalties and execution to the broader effort needed from a unit that still looks a step off in key spots.
Bo Nix remains at the center of that concern, especially after another game where zone coverage gave him trouble and kept the offense from finding a steadier rhythm. Denver also has other issues to clean up, including defensive line stress and some coaching choices that left room for criticism, so while the result was positive, the Broncos still have plenty to prove before the performance matches the record. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Win Brings Relief But One Big Bo Nix Debate Remains
A win can quiet a lot of noise, and Denver got exactly that in a 20-13 victory over Jacksonville in its second game of the season. After a rough opener, the Broncos looked far sturdier on defense, holding the Jaguars to 268 total yards and getting a key interception from Riley Moss, while the offense did enough on the ground to stay on schedule and keep control of the game.
Even so, the afternoon was not clean on Denver's side. Penalties kept dragging possessions into uncomfortable spots, and Bo Nix's interception stood out in a game where the Broncos had chances to build a bigger cushion. The result moved Denver to 1-1, but it also left the same familiar question hanging over the offense as the focus shifts to what kind of quarterback play the Broncos can count on next. [Read more 🡒]