Are the Broncos on Another Super Bowl Collision Course? History Thinks So.
The NFL playoff picture is as wide open as we’ve seen in years, but if you believe in patterns - and plenty of fans do - the Denver Broncos might just have fate on their side.
Heading into Week 14, 12 teams are sitting at least four games above .500, and the playoff field is anything but set. The Patriots lead the league at 11-2, while the Broncos are right behind them at 10-2, tied with the best in the NFC.
The Bears, Rams, Seahawks, Packers, and 49ers are all hovering around the nine-win mark. Even teams like the 7-5 Lions, 6-6 Ravens, and 7-5 Texans are still very much in the mix.
But let’s talk about Denver.
At 10-2, Sean Payton’s Broncos are not just one of the hottest teams in football - they’re also triggering some serious déjà vu. According to a stat floating around NFL circles, every time the Broncos have started 10-2 or better since 1997, they’ve ended up in the Super Bowl. That’s not speculation - that’s history.
Here’s the breakdown:
- 1997: 10-2 start → Super Bowl champions
- 1998: 10-2 start → Super Bowl champions
- 2013: 10-2 start → Super Bowl appearance (and the best offense in NFL history)
- 2015: 10-2 start → Super Bowl champions
- 2025: 10-2 start → TBD
That’s four previous 10-2 starts in the last 28 years. Three rings and a fourth trip to the big game. Now here they are again.
And the similarities don’t stop there. The 2025 Broncos are starting to look a lot like the 2015 team - the one that leaned on an elite defense, scraped by with a frustrating offense, and still walked away with the Lombardi Trophy.
Through 10 games, both squads were 8-2. Both had questions under center.
Both had defenses that could take over a game at any moment.
This year’s version is riding a nine-game win streak, even after losing key pieces like J.K. Dobbins, who might be done for the year. But they keep finding ways to win, and that’s what makes them dangerous.
Bo Nix, the rookie quarterback, isn’t putting up eye-popping numbers - but he’s been steady when it matters. He’s showing poise in clutch moments, and that’s been enough.
With Courtland Sutton, Evan Engram, and R.J. Harvey stepping up as reliable targets, the offense is doing just enough to complement a defense that’s doing everything.
And that defense? It’s the real deal.
Denver might have the best pass rush in the league, and Patrick Surtain II is playing like he wants another Defensive Player of the Year trophy. He’s been locking down top receivers every week and anchoring a unit that’s been the heartbeat of this team.
According to ESPN’s latest projections, the Broncos have the third-best odds to win Super Bowl 60 (8.7%), trailing only the Rams and Packers (both at 14.1%). If they can leapfrog the Patriots for the AFC’s top seed, those odds are only going to climb.
And here’s one more wrinkle for the football romantics out there: Super Bowl 60 is being played at Levi’s Stadium - the same venue where the Broncos won Super Bowl 50. It’s a fun coincidence, but in a league where momentum, belief, and swagger matter just as much as X’s and O’s, it’s the kind of narrative that can take on a life of its own.
So no, the Lombardi Trophy hasn’t been handed out yet. There’s still a month of regular-season football left, and the playoffs are always unpredictable. But if you’re looking for a team with the right mix of history, defense, and momentum - don’t sleep on Denver.
They’ve been here before. And more often than not, they’ve finished the job.