What’s next for the Denver Broncos this offseason?
The Denver Broncos’ 10-7 record and playoff participation provided relief after eight years without postseason play. Bo Nix, the team’s rookie quarterback, had an impressive start, completing 66.3% of his throws for 3,775 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. The defence also fared admirably, leading the NFL with 63 sacks. However, their 31-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the wild-card round highlighted the gap between the Broncos and the AFC’s elite clubs. Sean Payton admitted this after the game, saying, “We need to have a good offseason.” As the Broncos prepare for the offseason, here are the primary questions they must address.
How should we evaluate the Broncos’ 2024 season? What was the biggest surprise? Ending their playoff drought made the season feel more successful. Following a 0-2 start, the Broncos won nine of their next 12 games, requiring only one win in the final three games to claim a postseason spot.
Despite this, the Broncos struggled against elite opponents. Only two of their ten victories came against playoff teams, one of which came in Week 18 against a Chiefs club that rested its regulars for the postseason. The other postseason triumph came against the NFC South champion Buccaneers in Week 3. When you dig further, six of the Broncos’ ten wins came against teams ranked in the bottom ten of the league. They also struggled against the AFC’s top quarterbacks, going 0-6 (including playoffs) while facing Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, and Josh Allen. However, the team improved by winning games that were supposed to be won.
The biggest surprise was Payton’s inability to establish a consistent run game despite his playcalling experience. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, the Broncos ranked 24th in the league for rushing yards above projected per play (-0.06) and struggled to find a consistent running back. Five different players led the team in rushing yards throughout games, with top back Javonte Williams finishing with only 513 yards. This prompted Nix to throw the ball more, and he ended sixth in the NFL with 567 pass attempts, more than elite quarterbacks such as Herbert, Allen, and Jackson. Payton frequently suggested that a strong running game would aid Nix, but this never happened.
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