For any of you wise guys who took “the over”, the 2024 Denver Broncos have been a success – scratch that – a wild success.

With a season win total originally set at 5.5, the Broncos far exceeded expectations weeks ago. Sweetening the pot even further, Sean Payton’s bold move to unload Russell Wilson in favor of the unknown – now known as Bo Nix – paid off in spades. It would appear the Broncos have found their franchise quarterback.

Then again, a trip to the postseason would be nice. For a franchise and its fanbase, it’s been far too long. When one considers the Broncos collected their ninth win weeks ago, failing to get to No. 10, a win-total that assures Payton and Co. a spot in the tourney, would feel like yet another heartbreak.

But what if the Broncos lose? What if they lose, but still get in because someone else lost? What if they beat a watered down Chiefs team?

What’s it all mean? Has the season been a success? You asked, our guys answered.

Dan Mohrmann
The goal posts have been moved. It may not be fair to Bo Nix and it may not be fair to Sean Payton. But life isn’t fair.

If Broncos fans were told in mid-August that this was a nine-win team, there would have been a party thrown at training camp. If you had told those same fans in early December that it was a nine-win team, there would be heartbreak.

For weeks, the Broncos have been one win away from the playoffs. And in that time, Payton has successfully coached the Broncos out of a needed win – not once, but twice – to end this long-suffering nightmare that has been the last decade of Broncos football.

Failing to make the playoffs after building a 9-5 record at one point this season would indeed make the year a failure. There will be those who look at the silver lining of the Broncos winning three more games than they were expected to and declare the season a success because the rebuild is ahead of schedule. Vegas had the Broncos winning 5.5 games this year so getting close to the playoffs should be seen as a positive sign.

But the reality is that close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.

The Denver Broncos have one final chance to make this season a resounding success. It’s time to go out there and seize it.

Mark Knudson
The season is already a success when measured against preseason expectations. Remember when the Broncos were said to have the worst roster in the NFL?

This is the first season of a rebuild, so a winning record makes it the right first step and something to build from. I believe Sean Payton has been coaching all season with next year in mind, putting his young team and young QB in tough situations he believes will help prepare them for future seasons when – in his mind at least – there is more at stake and the honeymoon is over.

That said, Broncos Country is dying for a playoff game, even if it’s in frigid Buffalo. Losing to KC while the Chiefs are resting starters would put a sour taste in everyone’s mouth and render most of the progress moot, at least for the immediate future. If the Broncos win, everyone will be thrilled and everyone will judge the season to be a success. If they lose, a good portion of Broncos Country will view the season as yet another in a long string of failures.

At least until next August.

Shawn Drotar
This season has been a resounding success already. Concerns about the coach? Check. Worries about a rookie quarterback? Check. Questions about how head coach Sean Payton would coach a rookie quarterback in Bo Nix? Check – the pair already work nearly hand-in-glove. Concerns about the Broncos’ defense? Check – despite having only a single first-round draft pick as a starter (Pat Surtain II; Vegas’ pick for Defensive Player of the Year), Denver’s swarming defense has set a new franchise high in sacks under defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. General manager George Paton has already locked most of the Broncos’ young talent down with long-term contracts. The Broncos’ arrow is clearly pointing up, even if they find a way to blow their final home game and miss the playoffs in what would be (frankly) embarrassing fashion. Win on Sunday, however, and the rest is gravy – even if that means only a cameo playoff appearance against possible MVP Josh Allen and the Bills.

Nate Lundy
This season is already a success. The Broncos found their quarterback and that was the only goal anyone should have cared about this season. Everything else is a bonus.