Broncos Eye December Redemption: No More Late-Season Fades
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - For the Denver Broncos, the past two Decembers have followed a frustrating pattern: strong midseason momentum, followed by a late-season stall. Not a full-blown collapse, but just enough of a fade to keep them on the outside looking in when it mattered most.
In 2023, they clawed their way back from a 1-5 start with a five-game win streak that had fans dreaming of a playoff berth. But a loss in Houston triggered a 1-3 slide, ending in a Christmas Eve loss to the Patriots and, notably, Russell Wilson getting benched.
Fast forward to 2024, and it was déjà vu. After winning five of seven heading into their December bye-and eight of 11 overall-they looked poised to finish strong.
But the defense started to crack. They survived a shaky outing against the Colts thanks to a Jonathan Taylor miscue, but then fell flat against the Chargers and Bengals.
Suddenly, what looked like a playoff lock turned into a must-win Week 18 scenario.
The takeaway? In this league, it’s not enough to surge midseason. You’ve got to finish with something extra.
“There definitely is another gear that we have to tap into,” said edge rusher Jonathon Cooper. “Last year I feel like we kind of died off when we got to the playoffs.”
That playoff appearance-Denver’s first since 2015-ended with a thud: a 31-7 wild-card loss to Buffalo. The Bills looked like a team that had been there before.
The Broncos? Not so much.
“They were kind of experienced and ready for the moment,” Cooper said. “But this year I feel like we’re more experienced, we’re ready.”
For Some Broncos, It’s About More Than Just Flipping a Switch
While Cooper talks about finding another gear, for others, it’s about making sure the engine doesn’t wear down before the finish line.
Edge rusher Nik Bonitto felt the effects of last year’s grind. By the time December rolled around, his body was breaking down.
“I feel like as the season went on, [my body] was starting to break down a little bit,” Bonitto admitted back in July.
The numbers back that up. In the three games before the regular-season finale-against a Chiefs team resting starters-Bonitto managed just three quarterback hits and half a sack. That was his quietest stretch of the year.
So he made durability a priority this offseason. His snap count is nearly identical to last year-62 percent this season compared to 61 percent in 2024-but the real test will be whether his late-season production holds up. If it does, it’ll be a sign that his offseason work paid off.
McGlinchey: “You’re Either Getting Better or You’re Getting Worse”
Right tackle Mike McGlinchey sees it from a different angle. Now in his eighth NFL season, he’s learned that the key isn’t necessarily finding another gear-it’s refusing to coast.
“I don’t think it’s necessarily another gear as much as it is just continuing to improve,” McGlinchey said. “You’re either getting better or you’re getting worse. In this league, there is no staying the same.”
For McGlinchey, the focus is mental. He’s not designing the plays, but he knows it’s on him to execute when the pressure’s highest.
“It’s all about, ‘Can you get yourself to a place mentally where you can compete freely when the biggest moment calls for it?’ That’s the definition of mental toughness. It’s being your best on command.”
In other words, it’s not just about conditioning or schematics-it’s about mindset. And that’s where McGlinchey believes the Broncos can separate themselves as the stakes rise.
December Starts Now
The Broncos know what’s at stake. The past two seasons have taught them that momentum means nothing if you can’t finish. Whether it’s Cooper dialing up the energy, Bonitto staying fresh, or McGlinchey locking in mentally, this team understands that December demands more.
Starting Sunday, the real test begins. If the Broncos want to reach the goals they set back in training camp, they’ll need to prove they’ve learned from the past-and that this year, December is where they rise, not fade.