The Broncos’ Week 8 comeback over the Chiefs changed the feel of their season in a hurry. At 6-2, Denver suddenly sits in first place, and that late win came at exactly the right moment.
There’s still work to do, though. The Broncos have nine games left, and while they already have a loss to Kansas City on the ledger, they may still need some help from the Chiefs’ remaining opponents if they want to lock up the AFC West again. For now, the focus turns to the next three games, and Denver has a stretch that could keep the momentum rolling.
The first stop is Week 9 in Carolina, where the Panthers come in at 3-4 with the 28th-ranked scoring defense in football. Carolina also made a change on defense, firing former Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.
The Panthers can score, but their offensive line has been shaky, and opponents have already piled up 985 rushing yards against them through seven games. That sets up a matchup where Denver’s offense should have room to work, much like it did against Arizona.
It could also turn into a shootout, because Carolina’s offense can light it up at times. The Broncos may need another game where they win by putting up points.
Prediction: Broncos win 31-23
After the Week 10 bye, Denver returns home to face the Raiders in Week 11. The Broncos have swept Las Vegas in the Bo Nix era, but this version of the Raiders brings some punch on offense.
They rank sixth in points scored per game, so they can find the end zone. The problem is the other side of the ball: Las Vegas is 31st in points allowed per game.
That gives Denver a clear path, especially with its pass rush. The Broncos should have a strong chance to get after Kirk Cousins, an immobile quarterback who doesn’t offer much outside the pocket.
Cousins has still thrown 19 touchdown passes in the first eight weeks, so the Raiders can be dangerous, but Denver’s edge up front should matter. Prediction: Broncos win 27-20
The toughest test in this stretch may come in Week 12, when the Broncos travel to Pittsburgh. The Steelers are 6-2 and rank fourth in points allowed per game, while their offense sits 18th in points per game.
Even so, there’s reason to question how real that record is, since Pittsburgh has beaten Indianapolis, Tampa Bay, New Orleans, and Cleveland, and the schedule hasn’t exactly been brutal. Aaron Rodgers has been sacked 23 times in eight games, which is nearly three per game, and Denver should have another advantage in the trenches.
With both defenses capable of making life miserable, this one could get ugly and low-scoring. The Steelers also run the ball well and stop the run well, so another grind feels likely.
Still, the Broncos are picked to come out on top because they have the higher ceiling and more talent on both sides. In a close game, that edge can decide it.
In Other News...
Broncos Biggest Win Came Down To An Unlikely Defender
The Broncos comeback win over the Chiefs had plenty of familiar faces in big moments, but one of the most important plays came from a defender who had barely been on the field all season. JL Skinner, a safety who had logged only two defensive snaps before this game, was pressed into action because injuries thinned out Denvers secondary and ended up playing nine defensive snaps in the 28-24 victory.
Skinners biggest contribution came at the goal line, where Denver needed every stop it could get to hang on. Sean Payton pointed to the depth of the defense and the way younger players stepped in when called upon, and Skinners night fit that theme perfectly, turning an unexpected opportunity into a play the Broncos will remember from one of their biggest wins. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Quarterback Depth Could Suddenly Matter In Baltimores Crisis
Baltimores quarterback situation has gone from shaky to urgent, with Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley both dealing with injuries and rookie Joe Fagnano now expected to start. ESPNs Adam Schefter has already pointed out that the Ravens could be forced to look outside the building for help, and that kind of scramble always sends teams around the league checking their own depth charts a little more closely.
For Denver, the conversation is less about need than about fit and timing. The Broncos have Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger on the roster, and Stidhams background could make him a logical name to monitor if Baltimore decides it has to act. Whether Denver would be willing to part with a quarterback at all is another question, but a Ravens crisis has a way of turning a quiet backup situation into one worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Face One Trade Deadline Decision That Could Define This Run
With the NFL trade deadline approaching, the Broncos find themselves in a spot plenty of teams would envy and few can afford to waste. They are sitting in a strong position in the AFC West, and the front office has a real chance to use that standing to sharpen a roster that still has obvious places to improve if this run is going to last.
The most obvious pressure points are on offense, where Denver could use another piece to help keep pace in a crowded AFC race. The deadline is always a test of how seriously a contender believes in its window, and for the Broncos it is less about making a splash than making the right move before the rest of the conference forces their hand. [Read more 🡒]