The Broncos are rolling into Week 9 with real momentum, and the AFC playoff board is starting to tilt their way.
Denver has won four straight and six of its last seven, and a win over the 3-4 Carolina Panthers would move the Broncos to 7-2. That would lock them into a spot no lower than No. 2 in the AFC playoff picture with the Week 10 bye looming. It would also keep Denver in prime position as the conference race starts to sort itself out.
There’s also a growing sense that the AFC field may already be taking shape. The bottom of the league is crowded with AFC teams, and the middle-tier clubs may have too much ground to make up. With Denver’s second-half schedule looking favorable, the Broncos are sitting in a strong spot as Week 9 gets underway.
At the top of the AFC picture, the Buffalo Bills are sitting at 6-1. The Broncos still have Buffalo coming to Denver in Week 18, and if both teams stay on track, that matchup could decide the No. 1 seed in the conference. Buffalo’s defense being among the worst in football could end up being a problem.
Denver itself is right behind the Bills at 6-2 and would currently win the AFC West while securing at least one home playoff game. Under the expanded playoff format, though, the Broncos would not earn a first-round bye.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are also 6-2, but Denver already owns a valuable head-to-head edge after beating Jacksonville in Week 2. That win could matter a lot later, especially with Jacksonville looking like one of the most balanced teams in football.
Pittsburgh sits fourth at 6-2, though the Steelers come with questions. Aaron Rodgers is described as a severely limited QB, and Pittsburgh’s path depends heavily on running the ball and getting strong defensive performances. Denver will see the Steelers in Week 12 on Black Friday, November 27th.
Kansas City is next at 5-2, and Denver’s split of the season series with the Chiefs matters plenty. The Broncos are also 2-1 in the division and still have games left against Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Fending off Kansas City got easier after their heroic comeback win in Week 8.
The Cincinnati Bengals are the first Wild Card team listed at 5-2, and they’re not to be overlooked. Joe Burrow has been, very arguably, the best QB in the sport this year, and if the defense holds up, Cincinnati has the look of a team that can win the AFC North and make a deep playoff run.
New England rounds out the picture at 5-3. The Patriots went 14-3 in the regular season last year, but this season has already brought three losses, a sign of some regression.
Even so, they still appear capable of sneaking into the postseason with 10 or 11 wins. Denver will play New England in Week 17 on the road, though the date and time for that game are not yet official.
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Broncos Face Early Roster Pressure Around J.K. Dobbins And Secondary
The Broncos are still sorting through some early-season roster pressure, but Sean Payton made it clear J.K. Dobbins remains part of what Denver wants to do on offense. With the backfield still taking shape, the message from the head coach was less about uncertainty and more about keeping Dobbins in the center of the plan as the Broncos continue to define their rotation.
There is also a defensive layer to the conversation, and Patrick Surtain II added his own voice to it by pushing for JaQuan McMillans future to be handled sooner rather than later. For a team that values continuity in the secondary, the timing matters, and Surtains comments only sharpen the question of how Denver wants to manage one of its key pieces before free agency gets closer. [Read more 🡒]
Sean Payton Just Put A Spotlight On Denvers Biggest Edge Up Front
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Paytons praise also comes at a useful time, with the Broncos heading into a matchup against Carolina and the NFL trade deadline approaching. Any talk about possible offensive line movement now has to start with the reality that Denver already has a proven anchor on the edge, one whose presence changes how defenses can attack the pocket. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Secondary Faces A Real Test With Denver Suddenly Shorthanded
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That opens the door for third-round pick Tyler Onyedim to make his regular-season debut as a backup safety, a notable moment for a defense that has had to manage its share of lineup shuffling already. The full inactive list adds more context to a short-handed afternoon, and it only sharpens the focus on how Denver handles the middle of the field without two of its usual anchors. [Read more 🡒]