The Broncos head into their Week 10 bye in a strong spot, riding a five-game winning streak and still chasing a second straight AFC West title. They also have bigger goals in sight: another run at the AFC’s top seed.
That path looks a lot tighter this year than it did last season, when Denver and the New England Patriots were the main teams battling for that spot. Through Week 9, six AFC teams are sitting at 6-2 or better, which makes every result around the conference matter a little more for Denver.
That’s especially true this week, with a few games that could shape the playoff picture and affect the Broncos directly as they wait to return in Week 11.
The most immediate one for Denver comes out west, where the Seattle Seahawks visit the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday at 4:05 PM ET. The Broncos will face Fernando Mendoza for the first time when they get back on the field in Week 11, but this will be Mendoza’s first professional start.
With Kirk Cousins back in Minnesota with the Vikings, the Raiders’ future belongs to Mendoza for the rest of this season and beyond. Seattle and Denver both bring elite defensive pressure, so this could be a rough introduction for a rookie quarterback.
For the Broncos, it’s a useful preview of what Mendoza can handle and how they might need to prepare for him next week.
The game with the clearest division impact is Kansas City at Atlanta on Sunday at 1 PM ET. The Chiefs are still the last team standing between Denver and another AFC West crown, and Atlanta has been all over the place this season.
The Falcons opened badly, put together a few strong performances, and then slid back again. If Kansas City catches one of Atlanta’s better days, this could turn into a tough road game.
But if the Chiefs lose, they’d drop to 6-3 and Denver would gain a full-game edge in the division standings. A Kansas City win would pull the Chiefs level with the Broncos at the top, and because the Chiefs are 3-1 in the division compared with Denver’s 2-1 mark, Kansas City would technically move into first place.
The AFC-wide game that may matter most is Pittsburgh at Cincinnati on Sunday night at 8:20 PM ET. It’s a chance to get a better read on how real both teams are as contenders.
Aaron Rodgers appears to be in a resurgence in what he says is his final year, while the Bengals may finally be the complete team people have been waiting for since their Super Bowl run in 2021. Ja’Marr Chase is also coming in hot, with 296 yards over his last two games.
If Denver wants its 2026 season to end with an AFC title game victory, the Broncos need the top of the conference to be crowded in a different way than it is now. Any week where contenders knock each other down is a good week for Denver, and this one could deliver exactly that. There’s also a Broncos-Steelers matchup coming up on November 29th in Pittsburgh on Black Friday, which adds another layer to what happens in this game.
In Other News...
Broncos Bye Week Review Shows Why This 7-2 Start Feels Different
A 7-2 start has given Denver plenty to sort through during the bye week, and the early-season review only reinforces how many different ways this team has found to win. The Broncos have built their place near the top of the AFC West on more than one signature moment, from Nik Bonittos strip sack against Carolina to JaQuan McMillians overtime interception against Seattle, with Bo Nixs 62-yard touchdown run against Arizona and Talanoa Hufangas two-interception game against the Rams also standing out.
JL Skinners goal-line stop against Kansas City belongs in that same conversation, a reminder that Denvers best stretches have come on defense and in high-leverage spots. The broader ranking captures why this start feels different, because the Broncos are not leaning on one breakout or one lucky bounce, but a string of defining plays that have kept stacking up as the season has moved along. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Just Raised A Bigger J.K. Dobbins Question
The Broncos spent the NFL trade deadline weighing their backfield options, and J.K. Dobbins ended up staying put after Denver received interest in him but never pulled the trigger on a deal. The teams search for help at running back went beyond one name, too, as Denver also looked into Tennessees Tony Pollard before the Titans declined to move him.
What makes that more interesting now is how the Broncos arrived at Dobbins as their primary runner in the first place. A potential move for Jonathan Taylor from the Colts fell apart, leaving Denver to keep Dobbins as the lead option and raising the bigger question of whether the front office sees him as a long-term fit or simply the best answer available at the moment. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Bye Week Could Reshape The Line In Front Of Bo Nix
The Broncos are heading into their bye week with a familiar problem staring them in the face: the offensive line in front of Bo Nix has not been good enough. Sean Payton has acknowledged the issues after the game against the Chiefs, and the numbers around Denvers run game reflect it, with the team lagging near the bottom in conversion rate and yards per carry.
What makes the timing interesting is that the break gives Denver a chance to tinker before the next game, against the Raiders, and there is already outside buzz about a possible reshuffle up front. Columnist Troy Renck has pointed to Ben Powers, Alex Palczewski and Luke Wattenberg as names to watch, which suggests the Broncos may not just be looking for better blocking, but a different mix altogether. [Read more 🡒]