In a season that's been anything but conventional, the Denver Broncos have made a habit of living on the edge-and thriving there. Sunday’s game against the Washington Commanders offered yet another example of how this team has learned to stay cool under pressure and claw its way back into contention, even when the scoreboard suggests otherwise.
After Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez punched in an 8-yard touchdown in the second quarter and kicker Jake Moody nailed the extra point, Denver found itself trailing 7-6. On the surface, it looked like a routine moment in a back-and-forth game.
But in the broader context of the Broncos’ season, it marked the 12th time in 12 games that they’ve trailed at some point. That’s not just a stat-it’s a storyline.
Here’s the twist: Denver has now won 10 of those 12 games. That’s not just resilience-it’s rare.
Since 2000, 95 NFL teams have trailed at some point in each of their first 12 games. Only five of those teams managed to post a winning record through that stretch.
The Broncos are now the sixth-and they’ve already outpaced the other four, all of whom sat at 7-5. Even more telling?
Only five of those 95 teams made the playoffs. If Denver keeps this up, they’ll be the sixth, barring a total collapse down the stretch.
So what’s fueling this anomaly of a season?
Let’s start with the defense. Denver has built its second-half identity around two critical areas: third-down stops and red-zone stands.
They lead the league in third-down defense after halftime and rank fourth in red-zone defense during the same span. That’s not just good-it’s game-changing.
When the field shrinks and the pressure ramps up, this defense tightens the screws.
And that kind of reliability gives the offense something you can’t chart in a stat sheet: belief.
“There’s this feeling that you can’t really describe-that you never truly feel like you’re out of it,” said tight end Adam Trautman. “I know we feel that way as an offense because of how great our defense is.”
But belief only gets you so far. Execution seals the deal. And that’s where Bo Nix comes in.
The rookie quarterback has been as composed as they come in fourth quarters, and his poise is contagious. He’s not just managing the game-he’s elevating it when it matters most. Whether it’s threading a tight-window throw on third down or simply keeping the huddle calm with a grin and a joke, Nix has become the heartbeat of this team’s late-game success.
“He is so calm,” Trautman said. “He’ll maybe make a little joke or smile or something in the huddle, and everyone feels relaxed.
It’s his overall demeanor. He never feels shaken by anything.
You’re watching him, and he gets us out of a lot of bad situations, as well. … He’s just a gamer, and he finds ways to fix things.
I think that’s where the confidence stems from and why we believe in him so much.”
One game that still stands out is Denver’s comeback against the New York Giants, when they erased a 26-8 deficit in what became a turning point for the season. That win didn’t just add to the standings-it changed the perception of what this team could be.
And now, with December in full swing, the Broncos are no longer just surviving adversity-they’re mastering it. This isn’t a team that’s dominating wire-to-wire.
They’re something different. They’re the team that keeps finding ways to win when the margin for error is razor thin.
It’s not the traditional path to the playoffs, but it’s working. And if history is any indication, Denver’s doing something we don’t see often.