The Broncos are back in the playoffs and that means the Broncos roundtable is re-convened, too.
Before the Broncos hit the road to Buffalo, let’s get into how Sean Payton’s team got here and what has to happen Sunday on the shores of Lake Erie in order for Denver to pull the upset and get to the divisional round.
OK, wise guys, the Broncos outpaced expectations this fall because…
Ryan McFadden, Broncos beat reporter: When you have a good coach and quarterback relationship, anything is possible. That’s what we’ve seen from Sean Payton and Bo Nix. Like all good things, it took some time. But these two are the perfect pairing and the Broncos have benefited from it. Despite an inconsistent run game and lackluster production from the tight ends in the passing game, the Broncos finished 10th in points (25.0 per game) after being 19th in 2023. Denver scored at least 25 points in nine games. Nix finished the regular season with the sixth-most passing touchdowns in the league (29). Vance Joseph and Denver’s defense has done wonders. But the dynamic between Nix and Payton has allowed Denver to speed up the rebuilding process.
Troy Renck, columnist: This season was always going to be different — younger, more aggressive, more united. They are better than expected because the Bo Nix-Sean Payton partnership is better than expected. They are a postseason team because they have blended unique ancillary pieces — see Malcolm Roach, Dondrea Tillman, Nate Adkins — with no fewer than five players delivering career years. Nik Bonitto was supposed to be a solid starter. He has been one of the league’s best edge rushers. Could Riley Moss be functional? He’s given the Broncos a top cornerback tandem. Brandon Jones has been a way better fit for Vance Joseph’s defense than Justin Simmons. Zach Allen is now Sack Allen. Pat Surtain II has gone from good locally to known nationally. And Marvin Mims Jr. is suddenly a Starburst weapon. The Broncos are not the team we thought they would be, but the team they believed they could be.
Sean Keeler, columnist: Because of a defense that would make the late, great Joe Collier proud. Because of a franchise-record 63 sacks. Because that killer pass rush gave Bo Nix and a young wide receiving corps time to learn, and sometimes fail, on the job. Great defense travels, and Casa Bonitto and the rest of Orange Crush II logged five sacks or more in a road game five times. No shock: Denver went 4-1 in those tilts, and the only loss out of that subset was an OT crusher at Cincinnati against a white-hot Joe Burrow. It takes a village to bring a zombie franchise back from the dead, and 10-7 was the work of many hands. In a QB-Coach league, the Broncos finally found a combo that stuck in Bo Nix and Sean Payton, and hallelujah. But don’t forget how Vance Joseph’s crew allowed those two room to grow.
Parker Gabriel, Broncos beat reporter: Agreed on all fronts, guys. Speaking of good tandems, Payton and general manager George Paton has pretty quickly turned into one, too. The Broncos’ 2024 draft class is shaping up to be a special one. It can be taboo to suggest a team builds through free agency and trades, but Denver’s hit rate over the past two years is outstanding. Consider a non-exhaustive list of free agents and trade acquisitions the past two offseasons: Allen, Roach and fellow DL John Franklin-Myers, Jones, RT Mike McGlinchey, LG Ben Powers and K Wil Lutz. That’s major contributors in all three phases without a big miss. That’s good work.
If Denver pulls the upset Sunday at Buffalo, what or who will be the ‘”X” factor?
McFadden: I think this game is going to come down to whether the Broncos can generate pressure on Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Denver led the league in sacks. However, Buffalo allowed the fewest sacks (24) and the sixth-lowest pressure rate (31.4%). The Broncos are 5-1 when they record at least five sacks. Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper and Allen have given opposing quarterbacks fits throughout the season. An upset in Buffalo will be determined by whether the defensive line can dominate in the trenches.
Renck: The blueprint must be a Xerox copy of last year’s surprise. Win the turnover battle. Win the game. That will likely be traced back to the team with the most sacks. If Denver can reach three sacks — a tall order — one will need to cause a fumble and possibly a scoop and score. Payton is 1-5 on the road in the playoffs. It is hard to win, especially against Josh Allen, who dominates Wild Card games. The Broncos need to lead with their chin offensively, and swing for it defensively with a battery of exotic blitzes. This playoff berth is a gift, a year ahead of schedule. Go for the bold!
Keeler: Justin Strnad and Cody Barton, especially if they can keep things — namely, tailback James Cook — largely in front of them. Josh Allen is built to give this defense problems. He’s big. He’s fast. He’s savvy. He’ll dance out of tackles. He’ll take off. He’s also a check-down king. Of Allen’s 28 passing scores, eight were to running backs. Of Buffalo’s 56 “explosion” passes (throws that gained 20 yards or more), 10 went to guys taking passes out of the backfield. The Bills’ wideouts are a good matchup for PS2 and Riley Moss. How the Broncos handle targets across the middle and in the flat will probably dictate how this chapter plays out.
Gabriel: Well, guys, I was going to say Franklin-Myers but you all went defense. So, how about Marvin Mims Jr.? He played a pivotal role in the Monday night win up there last year with his work in the return game and he might be Denver’s most dangerous offensive skill position player at this point the way he’s going now. You need field-tilters in the postseason. Mims has that kind of ability.
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