Mile High Report
The Denver Broncos finally got their signature win that the national media demanded they see before they truly believe in this football team. With that 34-26 victory over the Green Bay Packers, they solidified their status at the top with the other teams getting all the love lately. It helps that Denver is hard to ignore with the best record in football.
They will have another tough test with the 10-4 Jacksonville Jaguars visiting next week. If they win that game, they could secure both the top seed and the AFC West title depending on the outcome of other games.
Here is where the Broncos rank heading into Week 16:
The Broncos made their case to be considered the best team in the AFC with an impressive comeback win over the Packers, outscoring them 20-3 over the game’s final 24 minutes. Bo Nix heated up and finished with one of his better career stat lines (302 yards and four touchdowns through the air), even with a few dropped picks by the Pack. Denver’s offensive line held up well, and the penalties didn’t get out of hand. On defense, the Broncos were tested on their first five possessions, but Patrick Surtain’s interception flipped the game on its head. From that point on, the defense was dominant. Even with the late turnovers on downs, this performance was a muscle-flexer — and Denver’s 11th straight win. What else do you want to see? This is a strong, battle-tested team that can make a deep postseason run.
There are now three distinct tiers at the top. The top two teams in the NFC West are practically 1a and 1b. Next it’s the Broncos, and then a gap to everyone else. DVOA has Denver with an 81.5% chance to get the No. 1 seed in the AFC. The Broncos have a strong home-field advantage in the altitude, a head coach who is likely going to the Hall of Fame and a defense that is comfortably in the top five. Underrate them at your own risk.
They take over the top spot after beating the Packers. Bo Nix was at his best in that game, which serves notice that they are the team to beat in the AFC right now.
Singleton, who turned 32 on Dec. 7 and had surgery to remove a cancerous tumor last month, has spoken about “just appreciating every moment I have in this game.” The Broncos have signed several players to extensions over the past two seasons, leaving Singleton and defensive tackle John Franklin-Myers as their highest-profile unrestricted free agents in March. Singleton moved to middle linebacker this season to accommodate the arrival of Dre Greenlaw, and Singleton has flourished with his fifth 100-tackle season in the past six years. Though he likely won’t get a long-term deal because of his age, the Broncos will want him back. As inside linebackers coach Jeff...
