The Denver Broncos are 5-2 again, and after a blowout win over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 7, they’ve put themselves back in the middle of the AFC playoff race. They never trailed in that game. They also never trailed in Week 6, which suggests Denver is starting to clean up one of the biggest issues that can derail a season.
Now comes the stretch before the Week 10 bye, and it matters for another reason too: the bye lands right when the trade deadline hits. If Denver wants to add someone, the schedule would at least give that player a week to settle in before the Broncos return.
The next two tests are Kansas City in Week 8 and Carolina in Week 9.
Against the Chiefs, Denver has a pattern working in its favor. The Broncos have beaten Kansas City at home in each of the first three years of the Sean Payton era, and there’s a real case for making it four straight.
The Chiefs were blown out by the Seattle Seahawks in Week 7 for their first loss of the season, and that game exposed the weaknesses in their roster. Kenneth Walker III remains the one steady playmaker, but the offense doesn’t have much else to lean on, especially on the road against a strong defense.
That’s been a familiar problem in Denver. The Chiefs offense has struggled there before, and with not much changing from 2025 into this season, this looks like another one of those tight, low-scoring games. Denver also has the more complete roster, and with home field on its side, the Broncos win this one.
Then it’s off to Carolina, and that matchup has its own brand of uncertainty. The Panthers looked like they were turning a corner after back-to-back wins over Detroit and Philadelphia put them at 3-2, but Week 7 brought a blowout loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and dropped them back to 3-3.
Carolina remains a hard team to pin down. It doesn’t really excel in any one area and is dealing with a fair amount of injuries.
Bryce Young has played well this year, but that’s been the bright spot. Otherwise, the Panthers look like a group that could hover around .500 for much of the season.
For Denver, this is the kind of game that has to be handled. Carolina doesn’t appear to do anything better than the Broncos right now, even if the setting is tricky - an East Coast road game in a 1:00 PM ET window. Still, Denver has proven it can handle these types of spots, and in this prediction, the Broncos edge it by another close score.
In Other News...
Broncos Win Came With An Injury Scare Fans Will Hate
The Broncos had plenty to feel good about after a 30-16 win over the Cardinals, but the postgame mood came with a dose of concern. Denver took care of business on the scoreboard, yet the kind of injury trouble that can change a week fast started to pile up, with receiver Jaylen Waddle leaving after what looked like a shoulder issue.
Later in the game, defensive tackle Zach Allen also went down with a hamstring strain, adding to the uneasy finish. Allen was able to walk off on his own, and he said he would be fine, but Denver will still be watching closely as it sorts through the health of two players who matter to both sides of the ball. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Just Raised The Stakes For Their Showdown With Kansas City
Denvers latest win over Arizona did more than keep the momentum rolling, it sharpened the picture in a division that suddenly looks very much up for grabs. The Broncos improved to 5-2 with a multiple-score victory, and the wider AFC West landscape has shifted enough that every result now feels bigger than the last.
Kansas Citys loss to Seattle only added to the intrigue, while Las Vegas and Los Angeles continue to search for steadier footing. With the standings tightening and the race at the top taking shape, Denvers next trip into the spotlight arrives with real division consequences hanging over it. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Defense Just Bought Denver Time Before Chiefs Week
The Broncos got more than a win over Arizona on Sunday, they bought themselves a little breathing room heading into a much bigger test. Denvers defense held up impressively in a 30-16 victory even without cornerback Pat Surtain II and safety Talanoa Hufanga, with Vance Josephs adjustments helping keep the Cardinals from finding much rhythm. Players such as Taylor Rapp and JaQuan McMillian also played important roles in tightening things up when the Broncos needed it most.
Now the attention shifts to Kansas City, where the Broncos will learn whether that same defensive formula can hold against a far more demanding opponent. The encouraging part for Denver is that help could be on the way, but the real intrigue is whether those key pieces are ready to return in time to change the look of a unit that just proved it can survive in a tough spot. [Read more 🡒]