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For decades, the Denver Broncos were one of the most prestigious teams in the NFL. Now, the once proud franchise has missed the playoffs in eight straight seasons, which is the second longest active postseason drought. By moving on from a number of valuable veterans, Denver has seemingly signaled that they are finally embracing the a long overdue rebuild.
The team will be deploying a rookie quarterback this year, first-round pick Bo Nix. Without a great roster around him, it may be hard to come by wins this season. Denver and head coach Sean Payton have a plan, though, and they are headed in the right direction. A change at the quarterback position can make all of the difference, and it is possible that the Broncos will surprise everyone this season. The 2024 schedule just dropped, so we are going to predict Denver’s results in each of their games for the upcoming season.
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Week 1 @ Seattle Seahawks
The Broncos beef with the Seahawks goes deep. Seattle spent over two decades in the AFC West, the team embarrassed the Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII, and then Seattle fleeced Denver in the Russell Wilson trade. A Seattle win in the first week of the season would add insult to injury, and it is definitely a possibility after back-to-back nine win seasons.
Loss
Week 2 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Russell Wilson will return to Denver in Week 2, so it is likely he will be starting when the Steelers play the Broncos. Wilson’s tenure in Denver was disastrous, and he looked like a shell of his former self that won a championship with the Seattle Seahawks. It is fair to assume his regression and poor play will continue on a Steelers team that isn’t much better than the Broncos. Broncos fans will have their defenses back in the game against the team’s former quarterback.
Win
Week 3 @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Many expected the Buccaneers to fall off of a cliff after Tom Brady retired. Instead, they won more games last year than they did in Brady’s final season. Baker Mayfield earned his right to be Tampa Bay’s franchise quarterback, and that is something Denver is still looking for. Perhaps Bo Nix is that guy, but Mayfield is a prime example of how long it can take a quarterback to develop, as he didn’t earn his first Pro Bowl nod until his sixth season (last year).
Loss
Week 4 @ New York Jets
The Jets’ quarterback from last season is on the Broncos roster this year, but Zach Wilson was never supposed to play last year, and he shouldn’t see the field this season. Aaron Rodgers will be back in 2024, and if he can stay healthy, he can completely turn the Jets around.
Loss
Week 5 vs. Las Vegas Raiders
As they have against the Chiefs, the Broncos have struggled to beat the Raiders recently, losing in each of their last eight games against the team. The Broncos ended their losing streak against the Chiefs at home, and they can end their losing streak against the Raiders a mile high as well. Although they’ve improved defensively, Las Vegas has uncertainty at the quarterback position, and Denver will be desperate to get a win over their arch-rivals.
Win
Week 6 vs. Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers have underperformed for years, but they’ve been a very talented team for a while now. While they did lose a number of key contributors, it is possible that Jim Harbaugh will bring in a new mindset that turns the program around. His hard-nosed approach is exactly what the team needs, and Denver is bound to lose at least one game at home against one of their division rivals.
Loss
Week 7 @ New Orleans Saints (Thursday Night Football)
No one knows how the Saints operate better than Sean Payton. The ex-Saints head coach will surely have something up his sleeve when he returns to his old stomping grounds. The Broncos head coach has molded Denver’s roster to be similar to the teams he coached in New Orleans, and it could be enough to come out on top in Week 7 in Denver’s first prime time game of the year.
Win
Week 8 vs. Carolina Panthers
Even if the Broncos regress this season, they should be able to beat the Panthers, who were the worst team in the league last year. Bryce Young was the team’s first overall pick in 2023, and his struggles as a rookie should serve as a warning to Broncos fans to limit their expectations for how much Bo Nix could thrive in his first season. Still, the Panthers are still one of the worst teams in the NFL, and Denver should beat them at Empower Field.
Win
Week 9 @ Baltimore Ravens
While Patrick Surtain II will shut down one side of the field, the Broncos are vulnerable elsewhere in the secondary, and an elite quarterback could have a big game against them. Lamar Jackson is an elite quarterback, as he is coming off of his second MVP season. He can burn the Broncos with his arm, but he can also hurt them with his legs, as he is one of the best rushing quarterbacks in league history.
Loss
Week 10 @ Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City has one of the best home-field advantages in football, and the Broncos’ offense doesn’t have the firepower to keep up with the Chiefs’ lethal attack on that end.
Loss
Week 11 vs. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons had a weird offseason that saw them both sign Kirk Cousins to a massive contract and draft Michael Penix Jr. in the first round. Regardless, it is clear that they improved, and Cousins’ veteran presence should be enough to conquer the Broncos.
Loss
Week 12 @ Las Vegas Raiders
While a win at home is possible, it won’t be easy to take down the Raiders on the road. The Raiders beefed up their defensive interior, adding Christian Wilkins, John Jenkins, and Adam Butler, and the pressure that they will generate will make things hard for rookie quarterback Bo Nix.
Loss
Week 13 vs. Cleveland Browns (Monday Night Football)
The Browns have historically struggled against the Broncos. Cleveland only has two wins against the Broncos since 1991, and fans of both teams will never forget “The Drive” or “The Fumble from the 1986 and 1987 AFC Championship Games. At some point, the Browns are going to get the better of Denver, and it seems like that can finally happen this year.
The Browns had the best defense in the league last year, and they should be able to thrive on that end against a rookie quarterback. Additionally, Jerry Jeudy has tons of talent despite not working out in Denver. He could be in for a big game in his revenge game.
Loss
Week 14: Bye Week
Week 15 vs. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts won nine games last year, and most of their losses came against playoff-caliber teams. Securing a win against Indianapolis won’t be easy for the Broncos in 2024, especially considering Anthony Richardson will be back to health. The incredibly strong/fast quarterback should be able to run through Denver’s defense, as he was able to against every defense he faced last year before getting hurt.
Loss
Week 16 @ Los Angeles Chargers
It is usually a lot easier to beat teams at home than on the road, but the Chargers are a weird team, and they only won two games at home last season. It is just as likely that the Broncos can capture a win in Los Angeles against the Chargers as it is at home against the team. Justin Herbert is one of the best quarterbacks in the league, but he lost three of his top pass-catching options and his lead running back in the offseason, which means that Los Angeles could be in for a long season.
Win
Week 17 @ Cincinnati Bengals
After back-to-back appearances in the AFC Championship Game, the Bengals regressed in 2023, but that was largely due to a slow start and an injury to Joe Burrow. Expect the Bengals to bounce back this season, even with the offseason drama they’ve had that includes multiple trade requests from star players.
Loss
Week 18 vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Denver lost to the Chiefs 16 straight times before finally ending their losing streak against their rivals last season. That win was important for Broncos fans, but it probably wasn’t a sign of things to come, especially considering the Chiefs just won the Super Bowl again. Patrick Mahomes’ team will be championship contenders once again, and they will surely get revenge for their last loss to Denver in 2024.
Loss
Final record: 5-12
More must-reads:
- Report: Cowboys quietly 'all-in' on Dak Prescott decision
- Bills give Olympic gold medalist chance in NFL
- The 'Recent seasons with 1,000 receiving yards' quiz
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