The Denver Broncos’ Remarkable Comeback

The Denver Broncos have certainly turned things around recently.

After clinching Super Bowl 50 with Peyton Manning, the team faced eight long years without a playoff appearance. But last year, a rookie named Bo Nix changed that narrative.

Now, in the second year under Nix and coach Sean Payton, the Broncos are back in the AFC playoff picture.

In their latest game, they triumphed over the Los Angeles Chargers with a score of 19-3, securing the top seed in the AFC and wrapping up the regular season with a solid 14-3 record.

This victory was partly influenced by the Chargers starting Trey Lance in Week 18. Opting to rest Justin Herbert, the Chargers settled for a matchup that didn’t quite suit them, as Lance has struggled since being the No. 3 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

The Broncos kicked off the game with a field goal and quickly extended their lead with a pick-six, establishing a 10-0 advantage that they maintained throughout. While both teams had difficulties moving the ball, the Broncos’ defense stood strong, a hallmark of their season.

Mathematically, the New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars still had playoff hopes entering the day, but the Broncos controlled their destiny. The Patriots needed a win alongside a Broncos loss, and the Jaguars required both teams to falter.

Interestingly, this marks the first time since 2015 that the Broncos have claimed the top postseason seed—a season they also eventually ended with a Super Bowl victory. Last year, their playoff run ended early against the Buffalo Bills in the wild card round, yet there’s a likelihood they might face them again in the divisional round in a couple of weeks.