Tom Brady Tabs Broncos as NFL's Best - And History Shows Why That Matters in Denver
Tom Brady’s résumé doesn’t have many blank spots. Seven Super Bowl rings, three MVPs, countless clutch moments - he’s checked just about every box a quarterback could. But there’s one place that always seemed to have his number: Denver.
Brady made three playoff trips to the Mile High City during his time with the Patriots. He left each time with a loss.
From Champ Bailey’s iconic 100-yard interception return in 2006 to a pair of AFC Championship defeats at the hands of Peyton Manning, Denver was the postseason puzzle he never quite solved. He did beat the Broncos in the playoffs once - but that was in Foxborough.
In Denver? Never.
Fast forward to now, and the Broncos are back in the thick of the AFC playoff picture. Not just in it - leading it.
Sitting as the No. 1 seed, Denver has a real shot to make the road to the Super Bowl run through Empower Field at Mile High. And Brady, now breaking down the league from the FOX Sports studio instead of the pocket, is taking notice.
For the first time this season, Brady has Denver atop his weekly NFL power rankings.
“After hovering around it all year, Denver moves up to No. 1,” Brady said. “Sean Payton has this team on an incredible run and it just feels right that the AFC might run through Mile High as temperatures start to drop.”
It’s a telling nod from a guy who knows firsthand how tough it is to win in Denver when the stakes are highest. The altitude, the cold, the crowd - it’s a brutal combination, especially in January.
And while the weather’s been unseasonably warm lately, don’t count on that holding up. Come playoff time, the city has a way of reminding visiting teams just how unforgiving it can be.
Brady also pointed to the Broncos’ formula for success: a stingy defense and a young quarterback who’s starting to look the part.
“Denver, they’re going to lean on that defense, and we’ll see if Bo Nix can find another gear and take this team on a deep run.”
If Sunday’s performance against the Packers is any indication, Nix might already be shifting into that next gear. The rookie threw for over 300 yards and four touchdowns, showing poise, accuracy, and command that belied his experience. It was the kind of performance that turns potential into belief - both inside the locker room and across the league.
With a defense that’s been forcing turnovers and setting the tone all season, and a quarterback who’s finding rhythm at just the right time, this Broncos team has the look of a legitimate contender. Brady sees it. And history says if Denver locks down home-field advantage, the rest of the AFC should take note.
Because if the playoffs go through Mile High - just ask Brady - that’s a road no team wants to travel.