The Denver Broncos took a massive step forward in 2024, winning 10 games and returning to the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade. But with progress comes expectation—and a new challenge is already looming on the horizon. Following the release of the 2025 NFL schedule, questions are swirling around quarterback Bo Nix and head coach Sean Payton as they prepare for a season filled with high stakes, divisional battles, and an unforgiving early-season gauntlet.
AFC West Ambitions Collide with Harsh Reality
Broncos owner Greg Penner set the tone for the upcoming campaign, declaring that the team’s “absolute goal” is to win the AFC West. It’s a bold aim considering Denver hasn’t claimed a division title since Peyton Manning was under center in 2015. The road to that goal runs directly through the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs and revamped Los Angeles Chargers—two teams that have been thorns in Denver’s side.
Sean Payton, now entering his third year as head coach, is just 6-6 in the AFC West. Notably, he needed Kansas City to rest their starters in the 2024 regular-season finale to avoid a losing divisional record. Denver’s two wins over the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024 came against a franchise in disarray, and they were swept by the Chargers under new head coach Jim Harbaugh.
Even more telling, Denver was one blocked field goal away from beating the Chiefs in Week 10 last year—only to have the favor returned when a blocked field goal by Kansas City stole a win. It was a microcosm of a season that flirted with greatness but exposed areas of vulnerability, particularly in high-pressure moments.
The Sophomore Slump Trap: Bo Nix Under the Microscope
The danger for Denver isn’t limited to their division. While Nix impressed as a rookie and helped guide the Broncos back to relevance, the expectations for his second season have intensified—and the 2025 schedule won’t give him much breathing room.
The Broncos open with two winnable games against the Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts. But starting in Week 3, Nix and the Broncos face a brutal stretch: the Chargers, Bengals, and Eagles in consecutive weeks. That trio of opponents features elite pass rushes, aggressive defensive schemes, and playoff-caliber quarterbacks on the other sideline.
Chris Schmaedeke of the Denver Gazette believes that stretch could be pivotal. If Denver stumbles through that three-game set, questions about the team’s ceiling—and the direction of Payton’s offense—will emerge quickly.
“The pressure on coach Sean Payton and Nix will heat up if Denver struggles in these games,” Schmaedeke warned. “Nix’s job status will never be in question, but fans will expect growth in his second year, and the Broncos need to start beating good teams.”
The Real Test: Growth Under Fire
The upcoming season isn’t just about wins—it’s about evolution. Payton must prove that his offensive system can thrive with Nix as its long-term centerpiece. Meanwhile, Nix must show that he can adjust now that the rest of the NFL has film on him.
That Week 3 to Week 5 stretch may ultimately define Denver’s season. If Nix can lead the Broncos to even one victory in that stretch, it would not only quiet the early critics but also signal that the team is capable of hanging with the NFL’s elite. If not, murmurs about Denver’s readiness to contend will only grow louder.
The AFC West remains a mountain to climb. But if Bo Nix can avoid the sophomore slump and if Payton can find the consistency that has eluded him since arriving in Denver, the Broncos may yet emerge as true contenders. If they can’t? The “danger” isn’t just looming—it might already be here.
Leave a Reply