The Denver Broncos are being predicted to perform well in the 2026 NFL season following a strong 2025 campaign. Analysts are optimistic about their chances after re-signing most of their roster.
With the full 2026 NFL schedule now available, prognosticators and prediction-makers from all over the world of the NFL media are diving in and trying to forecast the coming season.
That is generally tough to do. With all of the moving parts in the NFL in the salary-cap era, the league experiences a great deal of parity from one season to the next.
The Denver Broncos had a terrific 2025 season and seemed to be a bit ahead of schedule, coming within a couple of plays of reaching the Super Bowl. After re-signing nearly all of last year's roster, there is an expectation from within that the team will be back in the spot this year.
But many detractors feel the Broncos will fall off after playing a first-place schedule while competing in one of the best divisions in football.
How will the team do in 2026 now that we have had a good look at the full schedule? Let's see what the experts think. For the record, I have the team at a highly-optimistic 13-4, just one game worse than last year.
NFL experts win-loss predictions for Broncos in 2026
Q&A
What are the Denver Broncos' win-loss predictions for the 2026 NFL season?
Analysts predict that the Denver Broncos will have a successful 2026 season, building on their strong performance in 2025.
How did the Denver Broncos perform in the 2025 NFL season?
The Denver Broncos had a terrific 2025 season, coming close to reaching the Super Bowl.
What changes did the Denver Broncos make to their roster for 2026?
The Broncos re-signed nearly all of their roster from the previous season, maintaining team continuity.
Why is it difficult to predict NFL team performance each season?
Predicting NFL team performance is challenging due to the league's parity and various factors that can affect team dynamics each year.
Related Articles
Soccer·Feature
Pep drops hint about his future after 20th major Man City trophy
Pep Guardiola hints at a bright future for Man City after winning his 20th trophy with a 1-0 victory over Chelsea.
Sky Sports··1 min read
Sports
Alonso agrees to become next Chelsea boss
Xabi Alonso has officially agreed to be Chelsea's next head coach on a four-year deal.
Sky Sports··1 min read
Sports
Arsenal in talks with architects over Emirates Stadium expansion
Arsenal is in talks for the expansion of the Emirates Stadium.
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
NFL
Details about Taron Johnsonâs mysterious absence from Raiders emerge
Taron Johnson's absence from Raiders workouts is due to contract negotiations for more security.
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Sports
Rose Bowl litigation shows Kevin Demoff was trying to lure UCLA to SoFi Stadium
Litigation shows UCLA was close to moving to SoFi Stadium, per court docs.
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Sports
Al Hilal impide que Cristiano gane dos tĂtulos el mismo dĂa
Al Hilal impide que Cristiano Ronaldo gane dos tĂtulos el mismo dĂa tras vencer a NEOM 2-0.
"The AFC West has its work cut out for it with matchups scheduled against the stacked NFC West this season. In addition, the Broncos might face some additional challenges in their division. All three other teams are potentially set for an improved 2026 season after dealing with various issues in 2025.
Denver made one of the biggest moves of the offseason when it traded for Dolphins wideout Jaylen Waddle to bolster the receiving corps. That should help quarterback Bo Nix take another step forward after his strong second season. However, concerns about his ankle injury and the Broncos' potentially more difficult schedule make it hard to anticipate a record that matches (or surpasses) their 14-win 2025 record."
"The Broncos had a lot of breaks to finish 14-3 last season, with three more wins than they likely should have gotten based on their play in certain games. Using 11-6 as the real baseline, then, it would make sense that the tougher schedule leads to a slide, but not one that takes Nix and Denver out of the playoffs with Payton."
"The Denver Broncos had a quiet offseason until they traded for Jaylen Waddle, who will provide an immediate spark to their passing attack.
In five years with the Miami Dolphins, the 27-year-old didn't produce at the level of the league's elite wide receivers. However, he will play in a more stable offensive system with ascending quarterback Bo Nix under head coach Sean Payton.
Don't be surprised if Waddle posts career numbers in Denver's offense.
Otherwise, the Broncos haven't changed much of their roster from the previous campaign. They have continuity across their offensive line, a strong positive for Nix in his third year. The club's top-three scoring defense and total defense from the previous year remain mostly intact.
Even with a first-place schedule, the battle-tested Broncos will win double-digit games, but don't expect them to sweep the Kansas City Chiefs again if Patrick Mahomes is healthy for both outings or win just about every one-score game as they did last year."
"Itâs a tough draw, adding the superpowered NFC West onto a schedule that doubles up on the outstanding AFC West. If not for that tough schedule, I wouldâve increased the Denver Broncos' win totals significantly. Thatâs why I envision this season being a bit of a slog for Denver. The addition of wide receiver Jaylen Waddle is thrilling, and he should be a truly sensational option across from Courtland Sutton. The defense might not perform at the same level as last year â just because there tends to be variance from year to year with defenses â but this team should still be really excellent. They were, after all, a Super Bowl favorite, if not for Bo Nixâs injury. If their quarterback stays healthy, this team will again make a deep playoff run."
