The Denver Broncos are 8-5 coming out of their bye and in position to make the NFL playoffs. Before the team returns to action this weekend, here’s a quick look back at 10 takeaways from Denver’s first 13 games of the 2024 NFL season.
1
The offensive line has been excellent
The Broncos lost one starter up front in center Lloyd Cushenberry this spring, and Luke Wattenberg has proven to be a capable replacement. Garett Bolles, meanwhile, continues to excel at left tackle while Quinn Meinerz remains one of the best guards in the NFL. Denver’s front five rank among the best units in the league this season and the Broncos will soon have to make a decision on Bolles, who is scheduled to become a free agent in 2025.
2
CB Riley Moss has been a pleasant surprise
After undergoing core muscle surgery last offseason, Moss barely played on defense as a rookie in 2023, so we didn’t know what to expect from him going into Year 2. Moss has exceeded nearly everyone’s expectations by emerging as one of the best No. 2 cornerbacks in the NFL. Moss has been superb playing across from All-Pro Pat Surtain, and Denver’s defense has greatly missed Moss when he’s been sidelined. Broncos will hope Moss can return from his knee injury after the bye.
3
DL Zach Allen also deserves recognition
Allen has had a huge breakout season for the Broncos, totaling 47 tackles, 25 quarterback hits, 12 tackles behind the line, five sacks and one pass breakup through 12 games. With four games remaining, he needs a half-sack to match his previous career high. Allen has the eighth-most “true pressures” (34.8) among all players this season, including edge rushers. Denver getting that kind of production from a 3-4 defensive lineman is phenomenal. His true pressures rank second among defensive tackles this fall.
4
RB Javonte Williams seems unlikely to return in 2025
It appears that Williams might never return to his pre-injury form. The 24-year-old running back has averaged 3.6 yards per carry this fall, including 12 carries for -1 yard in the team’s two most recent games (yes, negative one yard). Jaleel McLaughlin has been hot in recent weeks and the team likes rookie Audric Estime, so it’s hard to imagine Williams being re-signed when he becomes a free agent in 2025. Denver will probably draft a running back in April.
5
OLB Nik Bonitto is a DPOY candidate
Broncos star cornerback Pat Surtain has a Defensive Player of the Year case that includes only allowing 209 passing yards while grabbing three interceptions and a 100-yard pick-six, but fans and pundits love sacks. Denver pass rusher Nik Bonitto currently ranks second in the league with 11.0 sacks and he also recorded a 71-yard pick-six in a nationally-televised game. If he ends up leading the league in sacks this fall, Bonitto will have a strong case to win DPOY. After locking up Jonathon Cooper earlier this year, the Broncos now need to turn attention toward a Bonitto extension.
6
WR Courtland Sutton deserved his revised contract
After skipping the voluntary portion of the team’s offseason program in protest of his contract, Courtland Sutton received an additional $1.5 million worth of incentive added to his deal (and the receiver is closing in on maxing out those incentives). Sutton deserved every penny. He has been a reliable target for rookie quarterback Bo Nix and a leader in the locker room this fall. Sutton is on pace to post a career-high 82 receptions this fall, and he’s on track for 1,106 receiving yards, which would be just six yards shy of his career high. Elsewhere on the receiver front, Devaughn Vele is emerging as a talented complementary WR, but Denver would still be wise to add more talent at the position in 2025.
7
The Broncos need to add a play-making TE in 2025
Lucas Krull, Adam Trautman and Nate Adkins have combined to total 29 catches for 328 yards this season. Trautman is a fine blocking tight end and Adkins is a TE/FB hybrid, but Denver needs more of a receiving threat at the position. Tyler Warren would be a dream target in next year’s draft, but he won’t be the team’s only option. Expect the Broncos to add a receiving TE in 2025.
8
Justin Simmons (surprisingly) hasn’t been greatly missed
Sean Payton caused a stir two weeks ago when he said the Broncos are better at safety now than they were last season, but he’s probably right. Surprisingly, after moving on from Justin Simmons this spring, Denver’s safety play has not taken a big hit. Brandon Jones was an excellent addition in free agency and P.J. Locke remains a capable starter. Devon Key has struggled at times when filling in, but overall, the backend of the secondary has held up well.
The Broncos’ defensive performance this year has been brilliant, with defensive coordinator Vance Joseph deserving of credit. Joseph’s unit ranks eighth in total yards allowed (315.7) and second in points allowed (18.0) per game. Denver’s 47 sacks rank first in the NFL and the team’s 18 takeaways rank eighth. Even after a few mishaps against the Cleveland Browns with Moss sidelined, defense remains a strength for the Broncos.
9
Bo Nix is having the best rookie QB season in franchise history
Bo Nix continues to break franchise records. He has already doubled the previous record of four wins by a rookie quarterback (John Elway in 1983 and Drew Lock in 2019), and his completions (277), passing yards (2,842) and passing touchdowns (17) are also franchise records. Among his own class, Nix also ranks first in the NFL in total touchdowns (22), passing touchdowns, completions and passing yards this fall. There is obviously still room for improvement from Nix, but the rookie QB has made great strides this season and he appears to have a bright future in Denver.
10
Sean Payton was the right man for the job
Last year, the Broncos’ ownership group agreed to trade first- and second-round draft picks to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for the rights to hire Sean Payton. Thirty games into his tenure, it’s easy to see why Greg Penner and Co. were willing to pay a hefty price for Payton. The veteran coach has retooled the team’s roster (and there are more additions on the way in 2025) and the Broncos are now just one win away from improving on last year’s record (8-9). One more victory would also secure Denver’s first winning season since 2016. With four games remaining, the Broncos are on pace to make the playoffs for the first time since Peyton Manning retired. After taking over a squad that ranked among the NFL’s worst teams with a 5-12 record in 2022, Payton has quickly turned Denver into a playoff contender. He’s certainly deserving of Coach of the Year consideration.
