Mile High Report
The Denver Broncos fell just one game short of making the Super Bowl last season. Despite a successful campaign and bringing back a strong roster loaded with star players and continuity, a lot of outlets and analysts continue to sleep on the Broncos’ potential for the upcoming 2026 season.
ESPN’s Football Power Index ranking is the latest to show a less than favorable projection for the Broncos in ‘26. Per their methodology, Denver enters the season ranked fifteenth in the NFL—eighth best in the AFC despite being the conference’s top seed in 2025. That seems a bit odd, doesn’t it?
Waldner’s analysis explains why the Broncos ranked in the middle of the pack. It’s quite similar to what we have seen elsewhere in similar rankings. He mentioned likely defensive regression, risk involved with Nix’s injury, as well Denver being unlikely to replicate their success with one-score games.
Those are fair and legitimate concerns, though I don’t think Denver will see too much regression on the defensive side of the ball at all. There is no doubt the Broncos start the season with a tough gauntlet of opponents. However, it seems a bit odd the aforementioned would propel them that far down the ranking board.
The FPI’s initial projection has the Broncos’ sporting probably 2026 record of 9-8. Additionally, it calculates they have only a 54-percent shot at making the playoffs and just a 24-percent chance at winning the AFC West. Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers rank significantly higher percentage-wise in both categories.
We won’t know for a long time how things eventually shake out, though I seem to get the feeling the Broncos are being underrated far too often in all these preliminary prognostications. I know the coaches and players have said they don’t pay attention to the outside nose, but hopefully they take notice and use this as bulletin board material to prove the doubters wrong in ‘26.
As always, thank you for reading. Here is today’s slate of articles for Horse Tracks.
