The Broncos have earned the right to be taken seriously in the AFC. They’re the reigning AFC West champs, and they were a field goal away from winning the conference. Still, the buzz around Denver hasn’t exactly matched that resume.
Some of the skepticism is familiar. A lot of projections have the Broncos giving up the division to either the Kansas City Chiefs or the Los Angeles Chargers. The bigger jab, though, came in a bold prediction from ESPN’s Ben Solak that sent the AFC conversation in a very different direction.
In his set of ten bold predictions, Solak picked the Houston Texans to win the AFC - a call that lands squarely in “bold” territory. The Texans are being treated as a serious threat despite the questions that still hang over quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Solak pointed to Stroud’s playoff struggles last year, when the New England Patriots “pounded and embarrassed Stroud on a wet, cold day in which Stroud looked like he’d rather be anywhere else in the world than in Foxboro.” Solak’s explanation was that Stroud was “just trying to do too much after coming off a concussion. He also based this on four prior playoff games in which he was a “totally acceptable quarterback.””
That’s where the debate gets interesting. “Acceptable” doesn’t usually get you an AFC title, and Stroud’s uneven postseason showing has only made it harder to pin down exactly where he stands. He flashed like Houston’s possible answer to QB Patrick Mahomes as a rookie, but since then the results have been far less convincing in the biggest spots.
What keeps Houston in the mix is the defense. Solak’s logic leans heavily on that side of the ball, and it’s the same reason Denver belongs in the same conversation.
The Texans’ defense is strong enough to carry a contender, especially when it comes to controlling the line of scrimmage. The Broncos may have a slight edge in getting after the quarterback, though that’s not a settled issue.
Solak’s key condition was this: “If the Texans really do give Stroud a good ground game in the 2026 season,” then the whole thing starts to make sense. That same kind of caveat applies to Denver, too. If either team gets the run game working, that might be the final push that gets one of them to the top of the AFC.
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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
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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 🡒]
Broncos Have One AFC West Edge That Could Change Everything
If the Broncos are going to make a serious push in the AFC West, it may start where games are often won and lost: up front. Denver has a case for owning the divisions best line play on both sides of the ball, and that kind of edge can travel in January if the rest of the roster keeps pace.
The 2025 numbers back up the argument. The Broncos were stout against the run, disruptive in the pass rush and steady in pass protection, a combination that gives them a foundation few rivals can match. Even with J.K. Dobbins part of the conversation before his injury, the larger picture is the same for Denver: if the trenches stay dominant, the path to the top of the division gets a lot clearer. [Read more 🡒]