The air in Denver is thin, cold, and right now, absolutely electric. If you’ve spent any time near 17th Street or walking into Empower Field lately, you know exactly what I’m talking about. People are wearing orange again. Like, really wearing it. Not the "I’m wearing this because it’s Sunday and I have to" kind of way, but the "we might actually win the whole thing" way.
It has been a decade. Ten years since Peyton Manning hobbled his way to a second ring and the city collectively lost its mind. Since then? Mostly just misery. We’ve endured a revolving door of quarterbacks that felt like a bad fever dream and coaches who, quite honestly, looked lost before the first kickoff.
But denver broncos football today isn’t about the past. It is about a 14-3 record and the AFC’s No. 1 seed. Today, January 17, 2026, the Buffalo Bills come to town for a Divisional Round showdown that feels less like a game and more like a coronation. Or a massive trap. Depending on how much of a pessimist you are.
Sean Payton and the Art of the Turnaround
Honestly, the speed of this rebuild is kind of terrifying. Think back to 2022. That season was a disaster. Nathaniel Hackett didn’t even make it a full year. Russell Wilson was struggling. The vibes were, to put it lightly, rancid.
Then Sean Payton showed up.
He didn't just change the playbook; he changed the DNA of the building. He stopped the excuses about cap space and the "dead hit" from previous contracts. He just worked. Now, in his third season, Payton is on the verge of becoming the first coach to win a Super Bowl with two different teams.
You can see his fingerprints everywhere. The offense isn't necessarily "flashy" in the way the Chiefs or Bengals are, but it's efficient. It’s brutal. It’s about ball control and not making stupid mistakes. It’s the kind of football that wins in January when the wind is whipping off the Rockies and everyone’s hands are too cold to catch a bullet pass.
The Bo Nix Evolution
Let’s talk about the kid. Bo Nix.
💡 You might also like: What Time Do the Florida Gators Play Football Today: The Truth About the 2026 Schedule
When the Broncos drafted him, half the league laughed. They called him a "check-down merchant." They said he was too old, or that he’d reached his ceiling at Oregon.
They were wrong.
Nix just finished a regular season where he threw for 3,931 yards and 25 touchdowns. He’s not Patrick Mahomes, and he’s not trying to be. He’s more like a Swiss Army knife. He completes 63.4% of his passes, stays calm when the pocket collapses, and—this is the big one—he doesn't turn the ball over.
Well, okay, 11 interceptions isn't perfect. But compared to what we’ve seen in Denver for the last nine years? It’s legendary. Last year, the Bills absolutely crushed the Broncos in the playoffs. They won 31-7. Nix was a rookie then, and he looked like one. Today is his chance to prove that the "evolution" the Bills' coaching staff keeps talking about is real.
Why the Defense is the Real Story
Everyone wants to talk about the quarterback, but if you’re watching denver broncos football today, you’re actually watching one of the best defenses in the modern era.
This unit is giving up 18.3 points per game. That’s third in the NFL. They allow the fewest yards per game at 278.2. It’s a suffocating, frustrating style of defense that makes opposing offensive coordinators want to pull their hair out.
- Patrick Surtain II: He’s the best corner in the game. Period. He doesn't just cover receivers; he deletes them from the game plan.
- Zach Allen: A force on the line who actually made first-team All-Pro this year.
- Talanoa Hufanga: Bringing that 49ers-style violence to the secondary has been a game-changer.
The Bills are coming in with Josh Allen, who is basically a human cheat code. He can run over a linebacker and then throw a 60-yard bomb on the next play. But the Broncos have the one thing that bothers Allen: a secondary that refuses to break.
Roster Moves and Late-Season Shuffles
It hasn't all been smooth sailing. The injury report for this weekend is a bit of a mess. Dre Greenlaw has been battling an injury, and while he’s been practicing, the depth at linebacker is thin.
They’ve been elevating guys like Levelle Bailey from the practice squad. They even signed 41-year-old Marcedes Lewis a few weeks back to help with blocking. It’s a "whatever it takes" kind of roster right now. You’ve got All-Pros like Garett Bolles and Quinn Meinerz anchoring the line, but the depth is being tested.
The Mile High Advantage
There is a reason the Broncos went 8-1 at home this season.
Playing at Empower Field isn't just about the noise. It’s about the oxygen. Or the lack of it. By the fourth quarter, visiting teams start to move a little slower. Their lungs burn. And when you have a coach like Payton who loves to run the ball and kill the clock, that altitude becomes a weapon.
The Bills are used to cold weather, sure. Buffalo isn't exactly a tropical paradise. But the "thin air" factor is different. It’s psychological. It’s knowing that if you fall behind, catching up requires a level of physical exertion your body isn't ready for.
What to Watch for Today
Basically, this game comes down to two things: Can the Broncos' offensive line protect Nix against a Buffalo pass rush that’s been on fire? And can Denver’s run game—led by whoever is healthy between J.K. Dobbins and Jaleel McLaughlin—keep Josh Allen off the field?
👉 See also: Portugal National Football Team Roster Explained: Why This 2026 Group is Different
If Denver can run for 120+ yards, they win. If Nix has to throw 45 times because they’re playing from behind? That’s where things get shaky.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're following the team or planning for the rest of the postseason, keep these specific factors in mind:
- Watch the First Quarter: The Broncos scored on their opening possession in last year’s playoff loss before the wheels fell off. Look for Payton to use scripted plays to get Nix in a rhythm early.
- Monitor the Linebacker Depth: If Dre Greenlaw isn't 100%, look for Buffalo to target the middle of the field with Dalton Kincaid. This is the biggest vulnerability in the Denver defense right now.
- Check the 2026 Opponents: Even while we're in this run, the 2026 schedule is already out. Denver will host the Bills (again), Dolphins, Rams, and Seahawks next year. Regardless of today’s result, the Walton-Penner ownership has positioned this team to be a powerhouse for the next three to five years.
- Salary Cap Relief: This is the last year the team is really feeling the sting of the Russell Wilson contract. Starting in the 2026 offseason, the "dead money" vanishes, meaning the Broncos will be major players in free agency this spring.
The Denver Broncos aren't just "back" in the sense that they're winning games. They’re back in the sense that they have an identity again. It’s a tough, disciplined, slightly arrogant brand of football that feels very familiar to anyone who remembers the Mike Shanahan era. Whether they hoist the Lombardi in a few weeks or not, the dark ages of Denver football are officially over.