Mile High is different these days. If you walk into Empower Field at Mile High on a Sunday, the air still feels thin and the "Incomplete!" chant still echoes off the steel, but the soul of Denver Broncos NFL football is undergoing a massive, painful, and necessary identity crisis. It’s weird. We grew up on John Elway’s helicopter dive and Peyton Manning’s "Omaha" bark. Now? We’re watching a franchise try to remember how to win after a decade of spinning its wheels in the mud.
Honestly, being a Broncos fan right now is a test of patience. The post-Super Bowl 50 era has been a blur of bridge quarterbacks and "defensive geniuses" who couldn't stop a nosebleed when it mattered. But something shifted when Sean Payton walked through those doors. It wasn't just about X’s and O’s; it was about stopping the bleeding of a culture that had become far too comfortable with losing.
The Bo Nix gamble and the ghost of Drew Lock
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the quarterback. For years, Denver Broncos NFL football was defined by the search for the "Next One." We saw Trevor Siemian, Case Keenum, Joe Flacco, and the Russell Wilson experiment that went up in flames like a lead balloon. It was exhausting. Then came the 2024 NFL Draft.
When the Broncos took Bo Nix at number 12, the "experts" lost their minds. They called it a reach. They said his average depth of target at Oregon was too low. But Sean Payton didn't care about the draft grades from guys sitting in studios in Connecticut. He saw a kid who could process information at 100 miles per hour. Payton needs a point guard, not necessarily a home-run hitter, and that’s a nuance a lot of national media folks missed.
Nix represents the first time since 2016 that the team feels like it has a coherent plan at the most important position in sports. He isn't trying to be Mahomes. He’s trying to be the guy who keeps the chains moving so the defense can stay fresh. It’s gritty. It’s kinda ugly sometimes. But it’s a plan.
Pat Surtain II is the best player you aren't talking about enough
While everyone stares at the scoreboard, Pat Surtain II is out there playing a different game. He is the heartbeat of this defense. Watching "PS2" operate is like watching a master class in positioning. He doesn't just cover receivers; he deletes them from the game plan.
Vance Joseph, the defensive coordinator who has seen his share of ups and downs in Denver, has built a unit that thrives on chaos. They blitz. They disguise. But it all falls apart if Surtain doesn't win his one-on-one matchup on the outside. Luckily for Denver, he almost always does. He’s the type of cornerstone player that every championship roster needs, a quiet assassin who lets his play do the talking.
✨ Don't miss: What Time Did the Cubs Game End Today? The Truth About the Off-Season
Why the "Broncos Country" brand got stale
Denver used to be a destination. When Peyton Manning became a free agent, he chose Denver because it was the gold standard. Somewhere between 2017 and 2022, that luster faded. The facility at Dove Valley started to feel less like a powerhouse and more like a relic.
The Walton-Penner ownership group changed the math. They didn't just bring money; they brought a corporate ruthlessness that the franchise desperately needed. They realized that you can't have a winning team with a losing infrastructure. They renovated the stadium. They poured millions into the turf. They fired people who were coasting.
It’s hard to overstate how much the Russell Wilson trade broke the psyche of this fanbase. We were told "Let’s Ride" was the ticket back to the promised land. Instead, it was a $250 million car crash. The fallout from that trade is still being felt in the salary cap, but the decision to cut ties and take the massive dead-cap hit was the ultimate "rip the Band-Aid off" move. It was the owners saying, "We don't care about the money; we care about the winning."
The Mike Shanahan coaching tree irony
It’s funny, right? Half the league is running some version of the Mike Shanahan offense. Kyle Shanahan is in San Francisco, Sean McVay is in LA, and Matt LaFleur is in Green Bay. Yet, for years, the Denver Broncos—the place where that system was born—were stuck running outdated schemes that looked like they belonged in 1994.
Sean Payton brought his own flavor. It’s a hybrid. It’s aggressive. It focuses on the "Big on Big" philosophy where the offensive line is expected to dictate the terms of engagement. Watching Garett Bolles and Quinn Meinerz pull on a screen play is a beautiful thing if you love old-school football. Meinerz, specifically, has become a cult hero in Denver. The "Belly" is real. He’s a mauler who represents the blue-collar identity the team is trying to reclaim.
The Mile High Advantage is actually real (but not for why you think)
People talk about the altitude like it’s magic. "The air is thin, they can't breathe!" Yeah, okay, that matters in the fourth quarter. But the real advantage of Denver Broncos NFL football has always been the crowd noise and the sheer intimidation of the "Orange Crush" legacy.
🔗 Read more: Jake Ehlinger Sign: The Real Story Behind the College GameDay Controversy
When the Broncos are good, Denver is a different city. The energy on Colfax Avenue changes. The problem is, you can't rely on thin air to win games if your special teams are giving up 40-yard returns and your wideouts are dropping third-down slants.
- Fact: The Broncos have one of the highest home-win percentages in NFL history.
- Reality: That percentage has tanked since 2016 because the roster lacked depth.
- The Fix: Building through the draft rather than overpaying for "washed" veterans.
We’re seeing a shift toward youth. Guys like Marvin Mims Jr. and Riley Moss are getting snaps that used to go to 31-year-old journeymen. It’s a youth movement that feels overdue.
Misconceptions about the AFC West
Everyone assumes the Chiefs will own this division forever. And sure, Patrick Mahomes is a problem. But the NFL is cyclical. The Raiders are always the Raiders. The Chargers are usually finding new ways to lose. The Broncos are the only team in that division with the resources and the coaching pedigree to actually challenge the dynasty in Kansas City over the long haul.
It won't happen overnight. You don't go from a 5-12 disaster to a Super Bowl contender in one season when you’re dealing with the cap ramifications of the Wilson era. But you can see the foundation. You see it in the way the line of scrimmage is coached. You see it in the discipline—fewer stupid penalties, better clock management.
What the stats don't tell you about the 2024-2025 transition
If you just look at the box scores, you’re missing the point. Denver Broncos NFL football in this current window is about "process over results." That’s a cliché, I know. But when Sean Payton yells at a player on the sideline, it’s not just because of a missed catch. It’s because that player was two yards out of position on their route depth.
The attention to detail is back.
💡 You might also like: What Really Happened With Nick Chubb: The Injury, The Recovery, and The Houston Twist
The Broncos are leaning heavily into analytics, but not the "go for it on every 4th down" kind of analytics. They are using data to track player recovery and soft tissue injuries, which plagued them for years. They are trying to find the 1% gains.
Actionable insights for the die-hard fan
If you're following the team this season and beyond, stop looking at the win-loss column as the only metric of success. Look at these three things instead:
- Bo Nix's "Off-Platform" throws: Is he getting comfortable when the pocket breaks down? That’s the difference between a bust and a franchise guy.
- Red Zone Efficiency: The Broncos have been historically bad at scoring touchdowns once they get inside the 20. If that percentage goes up, the Payton system is working.
- Third-Down Defense: Can the secondary hold up when the pass rush doesn't get home? Watch how Riley Moss develops opposite Surtain.
The road back to the top of the AFC is steep. It’s like climbing a 14er in a blizzard. But for the first time in a long time, the Denver Broncos have the right gear and a map that actually makes sense. They aren't just "riding" anymore; they're actually building something that might last.
To really understand where this team is going, keep an eye on the 2025 free agency period. With the dead money from Wilson finally clearing off the books, the Broncos are going to have a massive war chest. That’s when the real "aggressive" rebuild begins. For now, it’s about the kids. It’s about Bo. It’s about proving that Denver is still a football town, even when the trophies are dusty.
Pay attention to the waiver wire and the practice squad call-ups this winter. Payton is notorious for finding gems in the "discard pile"—guys like Taysom Hill in his New Orleans days. In Denver, he’s looking for those same versatile chess pieces. If you see a random linebacker or tight end suddenly getting 30 snaps a game, that’s Payton testing a theory for the 2026 roster.
The era of "superstar chasing" is over in Colorado. The era of fundamental, disciplined, and slightly-boring-but-effective football has arrived. And honestly? That’s exactly what this city needed. No more flash. Just wins. Eventually.