The Denver Broncos are officially back in the postseason - and they’re not just sneaking in. With a 34-26 win over the Green Bay Packers, the Broncos improved to 12-2, extended their win streak to 11 games, and solidified themselves as one of the league’s most dangerous teams heading into the final stretch. This wasn’t just another win; it was a statement against a quality NFC opponent and a reminder that Denver’s resurgence is very real.
The victory also punched the Broncos’ ticket to the playoffs for the second straight season - a remarkable turnaround for a franchise that spent years in the wilderness after Peyton Manning’s retirement. But make no mistake, this team isn’t satisfied with just making it in. The goals are bigger now.
With the Patriots blowing a second-half lead and falling to 11-3, the Broncos now sit atop the AFC standings. That No. 1 seed - and the all-important first-round bye - is within reach. They also maintain a two-game cushion over the Chargers in the AFC West, and with the Chiefs officially eliminated earlier in the day, the division race is starting to tilt heavily in Denver’s favor.
Next up? A home matchup against a surging Jacksonville Jaguars squad.
Clinching scenarios will become clearer as the week unfolds, but the math is simple: a Denver win combined with losses by both the Patriots and Chargers could all but wrap up the top seed and lock down the division. It’s all right there for the taking.
But before we look too far ahead, it’s worth taking a moment to appreciate how far this team has come. Since Peyton Manning hoisted the Lombardi Trophy after Super Bowl 50, Broncos fans have endured a stretch of football that was, frankly, tough to watch. Coaching turnover, quarterback instability, and a revolving door of coordinators left the team searching for an identity.
That began to change last season when Sean Payton took the reins and rookie quarterback Bo Nix started showing flashes of what made him a first-round pick. The Broncos clinched a playoff spot in the final week of the season - albeit against a Chiefs team resting its starters - but bowed out quickly in the Wild Card round.
Fast forward one year, and the growth is undeniable. After a shaky 1-2 start that included two gut-wrenching losses on walk-off field goals and a costly leverage penalty, the Broncos have ripped off 11 straight wins.
Bo Nix has taken a major leap in Year 2, playing with poise, precision, and the kind of command you don’t often see from a young quarterback. He’s not just managing games - he’s winning them.
Defensively, Vance Joseph has this unit playing fast, aggressive, and opportunistic football. They’re forcing turnovers, getting off the field on third down, and making life miserable for opposing quarterbacks.
And on the sideline, Sean Payton is pushing all the right buttons. His experience, play-calling, and ability to keep this team locked in week after week has been a difference-maker.
This isn’t a team catching lightning in a bottle. This is a team that’s built to win - and win deep into January.
The Broncos are rolling, and the rest of the league is officially on notice.