The Denver Broncos came heartbreakingly close to making a Super Bowl run in 2025. Had Bo Nix not gone down with that ankle injury in the Divisional Round, we might be talking about a very different ending to the season. But football doesn’t deal in hypotheticals-it’s a results-driven league, and the results say the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks battled it out in Super Bowl 60.
Now, as Denver turns the page to the 2026 offseason, the mission is clear: build on an already strong foundation and take that next step. The Broncos have the pieces.
Nix is still on his rookie deal, which gives the team financial flexibility. The roster is loaded with talent, the coaching staff is among the league’s elite, and the front office has proven it can make smart, forward-thinking moves.
But if they want to get over the hump, they’d be wise to take a few pages out of the Seahawks’ Super Bowl-winning playbook. Seattle didn’t just win the title-they showed the league what a complete, balanced team looks like. And Denver should be paying attention.
1. A True RB1 Can Be the Engine of the Offense
Seattle’s run game was the backbone of their Super Bowl win, and Kenneth Walker was the driving force. He carried the ball 27 times for 135 yards, wearing down the Patriots' defense and controlling the tempo from start to finish. It wasn’t flashy-it was fundamental football executed at a high level.
For the Broncos, the run game showed flashes when J.K. Dobbins was healthy, but availability was the issue.
Dobbins struggled to stay on the field in 2025, and the offense felt the impact. Denver needs a durable, every-down back who can carry the load deep into January.
Whether that’s a big-name acquisition or a breakout candidate already on the roster, the identity of the player is less important than the role they need to fill: a dependable RB1 who can take pressure off Nix and keep the offense on schedule.
Seattle proved that even when the passing game isn’t clicking, a dominant ground attack can carry a team to the finish line. That’s a lesson Denver should take seriously.
2. You Can Never Have Too Much Talent in the Trenches
Seattle’s defense was the best in the NFL throughout the season, and it started up front. The Seahawks didn’t just have a good defensive line-they had a deep, relentless rotation that kept fresh legs on the field and quarterbacks under constant pressure.
Five players with double-digit QB hits. Nine with multiple sacks.
That’s not just depth-that’s dominance.
Denver’s pass rush was elite in 2025. They led the league in sacks and consistently disrupted opposing offenses.
But if there’s one area where they can still improve, it’s in building out the depth behind their starters. The Seahawks showed that a deep defensive line isn’t a luxury-it’s a necessity for a championship run.
Even with a strong starting unit, injuries and fatigue are inevitable over a 17-game season and playoff run. The more capable bodies you have in the trenches, the better your chances of maintaining a high level of play when it matters most.
3. A Game-Changing Receiver Can Elevate Everything
Seattle’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba didn’t put up gaudy numbers in the Super Bowl, but make no mistake-his presence was a huge reason the Seahawks got there in the first place. After a nearly 1,800-yard regular season, Smith-Njigba was named Offensive Player of the Year, and his impact went beyond the stat sheet. He gave Sam Darnold a reliable, dynamic target who could win one-on-one, stretch the field, and open things up for the rest of the offense.
This is the kind of player Denver needs to find for Bo Nix. A true WR1 who can be a difference-maker on every down.
The league’s top quarterbacks almost always have that guy-Josh Allen had Stefon Diggs, Joe Burrow has Ja’Marr Chase, and Patrick Mahomes had Tyreek Hill and still has Travis Kelce. These aren’t just weapons-they’re security blankets, momentum shifters, and matchup nightmares.
Right now, Denver’s passing game lacks that kind of presence. The current group has talent, but no one who consistently commands double coverage or changes the way defenses game-plan. That has to change if the Broncos want to take the next step.
The Blueprint Is There
The Broncos aren’t far off. They’ve got a quarterback with upside, a defense that can dominate, and a coaching staff that knows how to win. But the margin between playoff contender and Super Bowl champion is razor-thin.
Seattle just showed the league what a complete team looks like-one with a punishing run game, a deep and disruptive defensive front, and a true No. 1 receiver who can tilt the field. If Denver can add those final pieces, there’s no reason they can’t be the team hoisting the Lombardi Trophy this time next year.