If you were paying any attention to the NFL last season, you know the Mile High City went through a total personality transplant. Seriously. Looking back at the broncos record last year, it’s still wild to see that 14-3 line sitting in the standings. After years of offensive slogs and quarterback carousels that made fans want to pull their hair out, Sean Payton finally found his rhythm with Bo Nix.
The 2025 season wasn't just a "good year" for Denver; it was a franchise-altering statement. They didn't just win; they strangled opponents with a defense that felt like a throwback to the 2015 "No Fly Zone" era. They tied a franchise record for wins, matching the legendary 1998 squad. That’s elite company.
Honestly, the way they finished—clinching the No. 1 seed in the AFC—seemed impossible back in August. But here we are. If you’re trying to figure out why everyone is suddenly terrified of the Broncos again, you have to look at the anatomy of that 14-3 run.
Breaking Down the 14-3 Broncos Record Last Year
Most people look at a 14-3 record and assume it was a cakewalk. It wasn't. It was stressful. Denver became the first team in NFL history to win 11 one-score games in a single season. Think about that for a second. That is eleven different games where one bad bounce, one missed tackle, or one late-game interception could have flipped the script.
They started the year a bit shaky, dropping two of their first three games. Losing 29-28 to the Colts and then 23-20 to the Chargers had the "same old Broncos" crowd shouting from the rooftops. But then, something clicked. A Week 4 destruction of the Bengals (28-3) ignited a massive winning streak that didn't really stop until mid-December.
The Bo Nix Evolution
You’ve gotta give it to the kid. In his second year, Bo Nix played like a ten-year vet. He threw for 3,931 yards and 25 touchdowns. More importantly? He only tossed 11 picks. Sean Payton clearly stopped holding his hand and let him run the show.
Nix led seven game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime. Seven. That’s essentially half of their wins coming from the quarterback’s composure in the final two minutes. The December 25th win against the Chiefs at Arrowhead—a 20-13 defensive masterclass—was probably the peak of the season. Beating Patrick Mahomes on Christmas to basically seal the division? You couldn't write a better script for Denver fans.
Why the Defense Was the Real MVP
While Bo Nix got the headlines, Vance Joseph’s defense was the actual engine. They ranked 3rd in the league, allowing only 18.3 points per game. This wasn't just about scheme; it was about the dudes on the field.
- Zach Allen was a literal wrecking ball on the interior, earning First-Team All-Pro honors.
- Pat Surtain II remained a "no-go" zone for opposing quarterbacks, finishing as a Pro Bowler again.
- Talanoa Hufanga, the safety addition, brought a level of violence to the secondary that they’d been missing.
They finished the season with 68 sacks. That’s a staggering number. They weren't just stopping teams; they were lived in the backfield. When you have a defense that can generate that much pressure without always having to blitz, you’re going to win a lot of football games.
The Home Field Advantage Is Back
Empower Field at Mile High finally felt scary again. In years past, visiting teams would come into Denver and treat the altitude like a minor inconvenience. Not last year. The Broncos went 7-1 at home. The crowd noise was a factor again, especially in those tight one-score wins against the Cowboys and Raiders.
What This Means for the 2026 Season
The broncos record last year has set a massive expectation for the current campaign. You don't just win 14 games and then go back to being mediocre without people losing their minds. The target is firmly on their backs now.
One thing to watch is the "one-score game" regression. Statistics usually suggest that if you win 11 close games one year, you’re bound to lose a few more the next. It’s just how the math works in the NFL. To stay at the top, Denver's offense—which ranked 14th in scoring at 23.6 points per game—has to take another leap. They can’t keep asking the defense to hold teams to 17 points every single week.
Key Factors for Sustained Success
- Garett Bolles and Quinn Meinerz need to stay healthy. They were both All-Pros last year, and the run game (which averaged 4.4 yards per carry) depended entirely on their ability to move people off the line.
- Wide Receiver depth. Courtland Sutton is a beast, but someone like Troy Franklin needs to emerge as a consistent 1,000-yard threat to take the pressure off.
- The AFC West is still a gauntlet. The Chiefs aren't going anywhere, and the Chargers are always a threat. Denver won the division with a 5-1 record last year, but that’s a hard mark to repeat.
If you’re looking to get ahead of the curve for your fantasy draft or just want to be the smartest person at the bar, keep an eye on how Sean Payton adjusts the playbook this summer. He’s notorious for changing things up once there's enough tape on his quarterback. The 2025 season was the foundation; 2026 is where we see if the house is built to last.
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To really get a feel for how they’ll perform this year, you should look back at the Week 16 loss to the Jaguars. It was their only "bad" loss in the second half of the season, and it exposed some issues with their blitz pickup. Fixing those small tactical errors is the difference between another 14-win season and a disappointing slide back to the middle of the pack.
Next Steps for Fans:
Start by reviewing the 2026 schedule to identify the "trap games"—specifically the early road trips where the defense might be tested before the offense finds its groove. Tracking the health of the offensive line during training camp will be the biggest indicator of whether Nix can repeat his Pro Bowl-caliber performance.