The Denver Broncos have made it to the playoffs for the second consecutive year, and there’s definitely a buzz in the air this season. Following a 10-7 record and a wild-card exit against the Buffalo Bills last year, they’re back with a strong 14-3 record, securing the top seed in the AFC playoffs.
Being the No. 1 seed means a bye for the first round, which is a nice advantage. This extra week could be crucial for their defense, particularly since they’ve been missing linebacker Dre Greenlaw and defensive end John Franklin-Myers lately. While Franklin-Myers seemed close to a return, Greenlaw’s status is still up in the air.
Next Playoff Opponent for the Broncos
After the first round of games, the NFL will reseed the playoff bracket. So, it won’t be immediately apparent who the Broncos will be facing in the divisional round. Essentially, they’ll play against the lowest remaining seed once the wild-card games wrap up on Monday. If the higher seeds hold their ground, they could end up meeting the fourth-seeded Pittsburgh Steelers. However, if we see upsets, the Broncos may find themselves up against the seventh-seeded Los Angeles Chargers. There’s also the possibility of meeting the No. 5 Houston Texans or the No. 6 Buffalo Bills in the next stage, depending on how they perform.
They’ll likely know their opponent by late Sunday, after the Patriots-Chargers game on February 7. If the Chargers come out on top, they’ll head to Denver for the next game; otherwise, it hinges on the outcomes of the Bills versus Jaguars and the Texans versus Steelers matchups.
Historical Context and Potential Opponents
vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: 15-11-1 in the regular season, 5-3 in the postseason — The last encounter between these teams was in 2024, where the Steelers emerged victorious with a score of 13-3 in Denver. Pittsburgh has taken the last three in the regular season series. Their last playoff clash was in 2016, with the Broncos winning 23-16 in the divisional round.
vs. Houston Texans: Regular season record 7-4 — Denver narrowly beat Houston 18-15 in Week 9 this year, rallying from an eight-point deficit to secure the win with Will Lutz’s field goal at the last moment. These teams have yet to square off in the playoffs.
vs. Buffalo Bills: 17-22-1 in the regular season, 0-2 in the postseason — The most recent matchup was in last year’s wild-card round, where the Bills defeated the Broncos 31-7. This was their first face-off since the Broncos clinched the championship title in 2023. And it marked the Bills’ first playoff game since the 1992 AFC Championship.
vs. Jacksonville Jaguars: 7-7 regular season, 1-1 postseason total — The Jaguars recently triumphed over the Broncos, both teams winning against Denver with a score of 34-20 in Week 16. Their last playoff meeting was in 1997, when the Broncos came out on top 42-17 in the wild card round. Interestingly, the two teams also faced off in the divisional round the year before, with the Jaguars pulling off a surprise win.
Denver Broncos Playoff Legacy
Last season, the Broncos qualified as a wild card team but fell to the Bills in the first round. Their previous playoff appearance was back in 2015, when Peyton Manning led them to a Super Bowl win—a game that just so happened to take place at Levi’s Stadium, the same venue for this year’s Super Bowl. This year marks a return to form after a five-year playoff drought.
Interestingly, that Super Bowl season was the last time the Broncos claimed the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs. Now, they’ve set an AFC record this year, achieving the top seed for the ninth time. Remarkably, two of their three Super Bowl victories have come as a No. 1 seed, and they’ve made it to the Super Bowl six times in the last eight seasons as the top seed.
