Most Denver fans believe Broncos are the team to beat in the AFC

DENVER, COLORADO - DECEMBER 21: Bo Nix #10 celebrates after RJ Harvey #12 of the Denver Broncos scored a third quarter touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field At Mile High on December 21, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Confidence remains high in Broncos Country!

The addition of Jaylen Waddle certainly has a lot to do with it, and the hope of a healthy JK Dobbins again pairing with an improving RJ Harvey all while the young QB continues the climb to greatness makes for a lot of optimism on offense.

And while no major splashes were added on defense, Broncos Country seems intrigued by the prospect of moving Jonah Ellis to inside linebacker to keep this defense humming.

Colin Cowherd recently agreed that Denver is “the sexy pick” to lead the AFC.

But it’s not just the performance of last season, which Sean Payton has done his best to downplay.

“So it’s not, ‘Let’s run it back.’ I hate that term. It’s not, ‘Let’s run it back.’ Let’s understand one thing: it is anything but that,” Payton said last week at the NFL annual meeting. “When you win 11 of 13 one-score games, like you saw the flip in just one season with Kansas City. It’s how do you improve your team. The better you get, the harder it is to improve your team.”

But Cowherd notes that the Broncos’ roster is strong, and the Waddle trade is evidence of the Broncos recognizing they have a two-year window while Nix is still on his rookie contract. With the addition of Waddle, many think like Cowherd that Denver has the strongest overall roster in the AFC West, possibly the AFC, and will the be the team to beat.

And when that’s the case, winning games is always harder. Here’s to a tougher 2026.