Are the Broncos Legit Super Bowl Contenders? After Sunday Night, It’s Time to Take Them Seriously
Let’s talk about what just happened on Sunday Night Football. It was chaotic, dramatic, and-if we’re being honest-exactly the kind of game that defines this NFL season.
The Denver Broncos pulled off a 27-26 overtime win against the Washington Commanders, and while it wasn’t pretty, it was the kind of gritty, gut-check performance that good teams find a way to win. And right now, the Broncos are doing just that-winning.
They’re now 10-2. That’s not a fluke.
That’s not a typo. That’s a team with the best record in the AFC (at least until the Patriots-Giants game wraps on Monday night).
And while it might be hard for some to wrap their heads around it, it’s time we start asking the question: Can the Broncos actually win the Super Bowl this season?
No Superstar? No Problem.
Let’s address the elephant in the room-Bo Nix isn’t a household name yet. He’s not lighting up MVP ballots or dominating highlight reels every week.
Denver doesn’t have a Ja’Marr Chase or a Tyreek Hill on the outside. And yes, they’ve had close calls against teams with losing records.
But if you’re still using those points to write off the Broncos, you’re missing the bigger picture.
What Nix did in overtime on Sunday night tells you everything you need to know about this team’s potential. A five-play, 76-yard touchdown drive to open the extra period?
That’s clutch. That’s composure.
And that’s a young quarterback stepping up in a pressure-packed moment on national television.
No, he’s not perfect. He had a rough fourth quarter.
But when it mattered most, he delivered. And that’s what this Denver team has done all year-found ways to win.
Defense Wins in December-and Beyond
The Broncos’ defense is the real star of this show. It’s been consistent, physical, and opportunistic. In a season where so many top teams have been up and down, Denver’s defense has been a steady force.
Sunday night was another example. After Nix’s go-ahead touchdown, the Commanders marched down the field and scored.
But when they went for two and the win, edge rusher Nik Bonitto made the play of the night-getting a hand on Marcus Mariota’s pass to seal the game. That’s what elite defenses do.
They close.
Vance Joseph’s unit has been a rock all season, and with Sean Payton leading the charge from the sideline, this team has the kind of coaching infrastructure that wins in January and February. Payton’s experience, paired with a defense that shows up every week, gives the Broncos a foundation few teams can match.
The Field Is Wide Open
Let’s take a step back and look at the rest of the league. Who’s really separating themselves as the favorite to win Super Bowl LX?
The Rams just lost to the Panthers as double-digit favorites. The Chiefs are sitting 10th in the AFC.
The Bears are the top seed in the NFC but still battling the “pretender” label. The Patriots?
They’ve got the same 10-2 record as Denver, but critics are quick to point to their “soft” schedule.
Even the teams that were given the best odds to win it all-like the Eagles, Rams, and Chiefs-have stumbled in recent weeks. Every time a team gets crowned, they seem to fall flat the following Sunday.
So why not Denver?
They’ve won nine straight. Their only two losses came against the Colts and Chargers-both 8-4 teams firmly in the playoff mix. They’ve handled business against the teams they’re supposed to beat, and in a year where upsets are the norm, that consistency matters.
Nix Has Flashes of Something More
Bo Nix might not be as steady as New England’s Drake Maye, but he’s got moments that make you sit up in your seat. Late in the second quarter Sunday, he uncorked an 11-yard touchdown to Courtland Sutton while keeping his knee just inches off the turf. It was the kind of play that makes you believe there’s more to his game than we’ve seen so far.
Sean Payton certainly believes. He didn’t need a long halftime interview to make it clear-he sees the potential in his quarterback. And if Nix can continue to grow, even just incrementally, that could be the X-factor that pushes this team over the top.
The Bottom Line: Why Not the Broncos?
This isn’t about crowning the Broncos as the undisputed best team in football. This is about acknowledging what they’ve done, how they’ve done it, and what that might mean in a wide-open playoff race.
They’ve got the defense. They’ve got the coaching.
They’ve got a quarterback who’s learning how to win in the NFL. And most importantly, they’ve got momentum in a league where that can be everything.
So if you’re still holding on to the idea that Denver can’t win it all because they don’t have a superstar quarterback or haven’t blown out every opponent, it’s time to let that go. This season has been anything but predictable, and the Broncos are built for the kind of chaos that defines the NFL postseason.
They might not have the best odds. But they’ve got a shot. And at this point in the season, that’s more than most teams can say.
Buckle up-this ride’s just getting started.