The Broncos were a pleasant surprise for their fanbase, thanks to the performance of rookie quarterback Bo Nix. They finished the season with a 10-7 record and a playoff berth. As good as Nix was, the defense spearheaded the team. They finished the season 19th in offense but cracked the top 10 on defense, ending the year seventh overall.
QB
Nix started every game for the Broncos, and head coach Sean Payton seems to have found his next generational quarterback. It seemed obvious that Payton would draft Nix, a carbon copy of his former quarterback, Drew Brees. Nix is a slightly undersized quarterback with escapability and the ability to get the ball into tight windows. He completed 66.3% of his passes for the year and had 3775 passing yards. He also had a respectable 29-12 TD-to-interception ratio.
RB
Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin had similar numbers, and neither were spectacular. Williams managed to rush for a smidge over 500 yards on the season, while McLaughlin had a smidge under 500 yards. McGlaughlin’s rushing avg. was a smidge better than Williams’, but Williams scored four TDs, and McLaughlin only scored one. Williams was more of a dual threat for the Broncos, catching 52 passes out of the backfield.
WR
Nix had a clear No. 1 receiver, but not much after that. Courtland Sutton caught 81 passes for 1081 yards and eight TDs. His next two WRs didn’t even match Sutton’s production. Marvin Mims and Devaughn Vele only combined for 80 passes and 978 passing yards. And they only caught one more TD than Sutton by himself. To get to the next level and help further Nix’s development, Payton will need to bolster the receiving core.
DEFENSE
With an overall ranking in the top 10, the rushing defense really led the way for the Broncos. While they were only 24th in passing defense, they were third in rushing defense. Although they were far better against the run, they have a couple of premium players in their secondary. Safety Brandon Jones led the team in total tackles, with 115, and added three interceptions. CB Patrick Surtain led the team with four interceptions.
HEAD COACH
If his previous success and resume weren’t enough to prove HC Sean Payton was a great coach, what he did this past season surely does. He took a rookie QB and led him to a 10-7 record and a playoff berth. In his second year with the Broncos he has remade the team in his image. It is eerie how similar this team is to his old Saints teams, as well as how he is constructing it. Although the Chiefs are still at the top of the heap, it isn’t out of the realm to think that the Broncos will continue to ascend while Kansas City starts to fall off. Even though the Chiefs are going for a three-peat, Travis Kelce seems to be on the verge of retirement. It may not be this season, but he is 35 yds old with nothing left to prove…at most, he has one or two seasons left. And then there’s their HC, Andy Reid. He’s pushing 70 yrs old; let’s face it, he’s not in the best of health. It will be interesting to see if Patrick Mahomes will have the same success without them in the near future. Sean Payton’s Broncos seem to be the team primed to replace them in the AFC West.