The Denver Broncos are entering the 2025 NFL season with a sense of urgency and ambition that hasn’t been seen in the Mile High City for years. With head coach Sean Payton at the helm and a retooled roster, the Broncos are setting their sights high—aiming not just for a playoff return, but for a shot at Super Bowl No. 60 in Santa Clara, California. After a turbulent period under previous leadership, Denver’s football faithful can finally look forward to a season where expectations are not only clear, but boldly stated by the man in charge.
Payton, now in his third season with Denver, has been nothing if not direct about his goals. "My chest isn’t puffed out," he said earlier this week, "I just think this team is further along than what it was two years ago. Two years ago, quite honestly, we weren’t near where we are now. This came in the very beginning, I said our goals obviously start with winning the division. Best seed possible, play for a Super Bowl. I think that’s where your mind has to be if you plan on winning one of those." Payton’s confidence isn’t just talk—it’s a deliberate culture shift for a franchise that’s weathered its fair share of storms.
The Broncos’ transformation began after a chaotic tenure under Nathaniel Hackett, whose 15-game stretch saw everything from sideline shoving matches to fans counting down the play clock in frustration. Payton’s arrival signaled a new era, one where mediocrity is no longer tolerated. Instead, the team has methodically upgraded key positions, including tight end, running back, safety, and linebacker—though linebacker Dre Greenlaw’s health is worth monitoring as the season begins.
Of course, no NFL turnaround is complete without a quarterback to rally behind, and Denver believes it has found its man in Bo Nix. Entering his second season, Nix is coming off a rookie campaign where he threw for 3,775 yards, 29 touchdowns (sixth in the NFL), and 12 interceptions across 17 games. He completed 66.3% of his passes, averaging 222.1 yards per contest, and added 430 rushing yards with four scores on the ground. Nix’s affordable rookie contract—three years left at $18.6 million with a fifth-year option—gives Denver the financial flexibility to build a contender around him, a fact not lost on Payton or the front office.
“It’s really important to have a coach that believes in his team,” Nix said recently, echoing the optimism that’s trickled down from the coaching staff to the locker room. All-Pro cornerback Pat Surtain II added, “It gives us a lot of confidence when you hear that from your head man.” The Broncos’ roster is widely considered their best since 2016, and the players are buying in to Payton’s vision.
Last season, the Broncos finished with a 10-7 record, good enough to snap an eight-year postseason drought. While their playoff run was cut short in the Wild Card round, the team showed marked improvement on both sides of the ball. Offensively, Denver averaged 25.0 points per game—tenth in the league—while their defense allowed just 18.3 points per game, ranking third-best. The team’s 6-2 home record and a 3-3 mark in the AFC West set the foundation for even loftier goals in 2025.
On the field, Denver boasts a mix of proven veterans and emerging stars. Courtland Sutton led all receivers with 81 catches for 1,081 yards and eight touchdowns last season, while Marvin Mims contributed 503 yards and six scores. The backfield will feature J.K. Dobbins, who joined the Broncos after a productive year with the Chargers, tallying 905 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. On defense, Nik Bonitto’s 13.5 sacks were third-best in the NFL, and he was ably supported by Brandon Jones (115 tackles, three interceptions), Zach Allen (8.5 sacks), and Jonathon Cooper (10.5 sacks).
Bookmakers have taken notice of Denver’s progress. As of September 6, 2025, the Broncos are +2200 to win the Super Bowl, ranking tenth in the league and giving them a 4.3% chance to lift the Lombardi Trophy. Their odds to win the AFC West sit at +210, reflecting both the team’s improvements and the competitive nature of a division long dominated by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Speaking of the Chiefs, the AFC West landscape may be shifting. In the NFL’s annual Brazil game, the Los Angeles Chargers handed Kansas City a stinging defeat. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert put on a clinic, completing nearly 74 percent of his passes for 9.4 yards per attempt and 12.7 yards per completion, with a touchdown percentage of 8.8 percent. The game exposed weaknesses in the Chiefs’ pass defense, particularly after the offseason departure of Justin Reid to New Orleans.
Perhaps most surprising was the emergence of Chargers wideout Quentin Johnston. Once considered an underwhelming first-round pick due to inconsistent hands, Johnston exploded for five catches, 79 yards, and two touchdowns. With the Chargers adding new targets like Ladd McConkey and Tre Harris, and with veteran Keenan Allen still in the mix, the AFC West arms race is heating up. Denver will get its first crack at the Chargers in Week 3, a matchup that could prove pivotal in the division race.
The Broncos’ 2025 schedule is not for the faint of heart. They open at home against the Tennessee Titans on September 7, favored by 8.5 points, before hitting the road to face the Colts and then the Chargers. Other key matchups include tilts against the Bengals, Eagles, Cowboys, and two showdowns with the Chiefs—one at home in November and a Christmas Day clash at Arrowhead.
Despite the daunting road ahead, Payton refuses to temper expectations. “You don’t just arrive in Week 8 and say, ‘We’re on a roll. We might win this thing,’” he told reporters. For Payton, the time is now, and anything short of a deep playoff run would be a letdown. The Broncos have moved from 6-11 to 8-9 to 10-7 over the past three seasons, and the next logical step is a postseason victory. But Payton is aiming even higher—he wants to make history by winning a Super Bowl with both an NFC and an AFC team, a feat no coach has accomplished.
As the 2025 season kicks off, the pressure is squarely on Denver’s shoulders. The Broncos have the roster, the coaching, and the belief to make a run. Whether they can turn hope into hardware remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: the days of settling for mediocrity in Denver are over. With Payton leading the charge and a hungry, talented group behind him, Broncos Country is ready for a season where anything feels possible.
