The Denver Broncos didn’t make it to Super Bowl LX - but judging by the way national power rankings are shaping up, you’d think they did everything but hoist the trophy. And in a way, they kind of did.
Coming off a season where they secured the AFC’s No. 1 seed and won the division - feats few predicted back in September - Sean Payton’s squad is suddenly being viewed as a legitimate Super Bowl contender heading into 2026. The consensus? Denver is ahead of schedule, and the league is taking notice.
Let’s break down where the Broncos stand in the latest post-Super Bowl power rankings - and why the optimism might be warranted.
FOX Sports: No. 1
Yes, you read that right. FOX Sports has the Broncos sitting atop their offseason rankings - ahead of the defending champion Patriots, ahead of the usual suspects in Kansas City, Baltimore, and San Francisco.
The reasoning is straightforward: if Bo Nix doesn’t go down with a fractured ankle before the AFC Championship Game, there’s a strong belief the Broncos - not the Patriots - would’ve been playing on Super Bowl Sunday. That’s not just a hot take anymore; it’s becoming a widely accepted what-if.
Nix is expected back at full strength, and he’ll return to a team that already boasts one of the league’s most physical, opportunistic defenses. Add in Sean Payton’s play-calling, a full offseason to retool the offense, and a battle-tested roster that’s been through the fire - and you’ve got a team that’s not just dangerous, but potentially dominant.
Yahoo! Sports: No. 3
Yahoo! isn’t far behind in its praise. The focus here is on what Denver needs to take that next step: a running back who can consistently move the chains, and possibly another wideout to stretch the field and open things up for Nix.
The good news? Nix’s ankle injury isn’t expected to linger into the offseason.
That means Denver can focus on building around him, not rehabbing him. The defense remains elite, the coaching is top-tier, and the window to win the AFC West - again - is wide open.
ESPN: No. 4
ESPN takes a slightly more measured tone, but the message is the same: the Broncos are firmly in the mix. While they acknowledge the offense lagged behind the defense for much of the season - finishing 14th in scoring even with Nix under center - there’s a sense that the foundation is there. Now it’s about finding difference-makers on offense.
Payton leaned heavily on his defense down the stretch, and it delivered - time and time again. But that formula has a ceiling.
To get over the hump, Denver will need more from its offensive skill positions. That means adding playmakers, reducing penalties, and continuing Nix’s development as a franchise quarterback.
NFL.com: No. 4
NFL.com echoes many of the same themes: Denver is a team on the rise, but the offense has to evolve. The defense is close to elite and should remain that way, but for the Broncos to be true Super Bowl contenders, the offense needs to raise its floor and ceiling.
That means more consistency from the supporting cast, fewer mental mistakes, and a second-year leap from Nix. It’s not a stretch - the tools are there, and the coaching staff has shown it knows how to win ugly. Now it’s about winning big.
What This All Means for Denver
Let’s be real - these power rankings are a far cry from where the Broncos were just a year ago. Remember, this is a team that paid Russell Wilson $32 million not to play last season. And yet, they still found a way to reach the AFC title game with a rookie quarterback and a defense that imposed its will on just about everyone.
Now, with $26 million in cap space and a clear blueprint for what needs to improve, Denver is positioned to be a major player this offseason. The expectations have shifted - and that comes with a new kind of pressure.
Every team on their schedule will be circling the Broncos matchup. No more sneaking up on anybody.
But that’s what happens when you go from rebuilding to reloading in the span of one season. The Broncos have arrived - and if they check the right boxes this spring, they might not just be climbing the rankings. They could be climbing the podium next February.