The Broncos head to State Farm Stadium on Sunday with more than a third straight win on the line. At 4-2, Denver is still in the thick of the AFC West race, and this trip to Arizona could matter even more if the Seahawks help out by taking down the Chiefs. That’s the kind of setup that makes Week 7 feel bigger than a normal road game - but only if the Broncos take care of their own business first.
There’s also a long list of individual milestones hovering over this matchup. Several Denver players are within reach of spots in the franchise record book, and the team itself is chasing a rare sack streak that hasn’t been seen in decades.
As a team, the Broncos have rattled off five sacks in back-to-back games. If they do it again against Jacoby Brissett, it would be the first time Denver has posted three straight five-sack performances since 1991. It would also mark only the third time in franchise history that the Broncos have reached that standard in three consecutive games.
Courtland Sutton is one touchdown catch away from a major climb up the Broncos’ all-time receiving list. With 40 career touchdown grabs, he needs one more to tie Riley Odoms for seventh place in team history. Sutton has only one touchdown this season, but the door is open for a bigger afternoon.
Javonte Waddle is also sitting on a milestone. Another 100-yard receiving game would make him just the fifth player in Broncos history to post multiple 100-yard receiving games in his first season with the team. He already has one such performance, which came in Week 2, and he leads the Broncos in receiving yards.
On the ground, Javonte Dobbins is in position to add his name to another Denver note. One rushing touchdown would give him multiple three-game stretches with at least one rushing score, a feat that would make him the eighth Bronco ever to do it. Dobbins scored in Week 5 against the Los Angeles Chargers and again last week against the Seahawks, and Sean Payton has kept feeding him.
Up front and on the edge, the Broncos are also eyeing sack milestones. Jonathon Allen needs just a half-sack to become the ninth player in franchise history to record at least five sacks in four straight seasons.
He leads Denver with 4.5 sacks and has been almost unstoppable this year. This one also carries a little extra edge for him, since he’ll be facing the team that drafted him out of Boston College.
Nik Bonitto has his own mark within reach. Two sacks would tie Trevor Pryce for the third-most sacks by a Bronco through his first five seasons. Bonitto opened the year slowly, but he’s heating up now with 3.5 sacks heading into Week 7.
Wil Lutz is another name to keep an eye on. He has 98 career field goals as a Bronco, and one more would tie David Treadwell for sixth on the team’s all-time list.
Lutz has missed three field-goal attempts this season, but he delivered when it mattered last week, drilling a 53-yarder in overtime to beat the Seahawks on Thursday Night Football. Depending on how the game plays out, he could even get to 100 career field goals in a Broncos uniform.
In Other News...
Broncos Trade Deadline Call May Come Down To These Next 3 Games
With three games left before the Nov. 10 NFL trade deadline, the Broncos are still sorting out whether their roster needs justify a real swing or whether the group in place can keep growing into the season. The biggest questions sit on offense, where running back and the interior line remain the spots most likely to get extra attention as Denver weighs how aggressive to be.
The next three weeks will go a long way toward shaping that decision, especially after a stretch of difficult opponents that has made it harder to separate temporary issues from more lasting ones. If the Broncos keep trending upward, patience could win out. If the offense stalls again, the front office may have to decide whether to stay the course or chase help at a position where the market could get interesting. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Secondary Suddenly Has A Good Problem At Corner
Patrick Surtain II was back on the practice field this week, giving Denver a timely boost as it starts sorting through its cornerback plans for Arizona. He is still listed as questionable for the upcoming game, while Riley Moss has been cleared to return to the starting lineup after working back from a rib injury, adding another layer to a secondary that has handled the recent stretch well.
The encouraging part for the Broncos is that they are not scrambling for answers. Jahdae Barron and Kris Abrams-Draine have helped the group hold up in recent weeks, which gives the coaching staff some flexibility if it wants to be careful with Surtain. With Kansas City looming after this one, Denver may decide there is value in letting its top corner wait another week before returning. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Tight End Situation Has Fans Watching One Ambitious Trade Idea
The Broncos search for help at tight end has led to an intriguing possibility, with Denver reportedly showing interest in a major upgrade while the position remains a point of need. The appeal is obvious from the Broncos side: they want more production and stability there, and the name being floated is one of the leagues more promising young players.
Sam LaPortas contract situation in Detroit has added another layer to the idea, especially after frustration surfaced around the negotiation process. Even so, a deal would not come easily for Denver, with the Lions still positioned to chase a postseason run and the Broncos working with limited draft capital if they try to make a serious push. [Read more 🡒]