The Broncos may not have been the trendy pick to take the AFC West in 2026, but the case for Denver is built on something hard to ignore: the trenches.
That edge is what could separate Sean Payton’s team from the rest of the division. Denver’s line play on both sides of the ball stands out not just inside the AFC West, but across the league. And in a sport where games are still won by controlling the line of scrimmage, that matters.
Denver’s defense was built to squeeze opponents last season. The Broncos ranked 2nd in yards allowed per game against the run and also gave up the 2nd-fewest yards per carry.
On top of that, they piled up 68 sacks, which led the NFL. Atlanta was next with 57.
That kind of pressure changes everything for the offense on the other side.
The Broncos weren’t nearly as consistent running the ball themselves, but there was still a bright spot before injury hit: J.K. Dobbins was giving them an efficient season.
Even with that uneven ground game, the offensive line did its best work where it mattered most. Pass protection has been the unit’s calling card, and while Bo Nix’s knack for avoiding sacks helps, the line itself has already established itself as one of the better pass-blocking groups in football.
That combination gives Denver a lot to work with. It helps the Broncos control the clock and tilt time of possession.
It keeps Nix cleaner. It lets the passing game function the way it needs to.
And it makes life easier for a secondary that already has plenty going for it.
That defensive backfield’s job gets simpler because the front is doing so much of the heavy lifting, and that has helped shape a top-3 defense for 2.5 years now, dating back to 2023’s mid-season turnaround.
The Broncos last won the division in back-to-back seasons in 2014 and 2015. If they’re going to do it again in 2026, their biggest edge may not be flashy. It may just be that they are better than everybody else where the game is won first.
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Broncos Still Have One Roster Question They Cant Ignore Before Camp
The Broncos have spent much of the offseason building out a deeper, more versatile roster, but there is still a familiar summer task in front of them as camp approaches. Even with upgrades already in place, the defense could use more insurance at linebacker, safety and edge rusher, especially after a few roster changes have nudged those spots into the spotlight.
That is why the free-agent market still makes sense as a place to look, with veteran names like Bobby Okereke, Jabrill Peppers and Jadaveon Clowney standing out as possible fits. Each would bring a different kind of help, whether it is steadiness in the middle, experience on the back end or another proven body up front, and the Broncos may not want to let those options disappear before the first practice snaps arrive. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos May Have Landed More Than Backfield Insurance In Jonah Coleman
Jonah Coleman may have arrived in Denver as a fourth-round pick, but there is already a case building that he is more than just extra depth behind the Broncos established backs. Some evaluators have treated him like a sleeper with starter upside, the kind of runner who could eventually handle more than a specialized role if his game translates the way they expect. For a team that has spent the offseason sorting out its backfield, that kind of projection gives the selection a little more weight than a simple insurance move.
Coleman enters a room that already includes RJ Harvey and J.K. Dobbins, so playing time will have to be earned, not assumed. Still, the Broncos have reason to think a committee setup can work in their favor, especially if Coleman can help lighten the load and keep everyone fresher over the long haul. If he settles in quickly, Denver may have found a back who can do more than wait in the wings. [Read more 🡒]