It’s way too early, but the Denver Broncos power rankings have been overwhelmingly positive in the week following Super Bowl LX.
The Broncos were incredibly close to making the Super Bowl, being a Bo Nix injury away.
Considering they were paying Russell Wilson $32 million not to play, and they now have $26 million to play with going into this offseason, many are high on the Broncos.
Denver Broncos power rankings: Where they sit following Super Bowl LX
Sean Payton’s Broncos were ahead of schedule last year. That much is clear.
No one expected them to take home the AFC’s No. 1 seed, and few even thought they would win the AFC West.
They accomplished both feats with an exceptional defense and a so-so offense.
Now the heat is on to improve that offensive side of the ball, and keep up the positive momentum. Let’s explore where the Denver Broncos rank in power rankings.
ESPN: 4th
From Jeff Legwold:
When the Broncos debrief the 2025 season, it will be difficult for them to escape the conclusion that a Super Bowl trip was hindered by their lack of impact on offense. The Broncos were 14th in scoring even with quarterback Bo Nix in the lineup, so it’s well beyond the question of whether Nix playing in the AFC Championship Game would have changed anything.
Denver’s offense was awful in the first half of the season, and even at times in the second half. But those later games it seemed clear Payton was relying on the defense to carry the team to victories. Which it did over and over again.
Simply, the Broncos have to find playmakers in the offseason at basically all of their impactful offensive positions.
FOX Sports: 1st
FOX is even higher on the Broncos than most of the other outlets. They put the Broncos as the No. 1 team going into the offseason.
Let’s be honest: The Patriots don’t get to the Super Bowl if QB Bo Nix doesn’t fracture his ankle one week earlier. He’ll be back with the NFL’s best coach (Sean Payton), a punishing defense, hopefully another receiver, and a battle-tested team that should be hard to beat.
It’s a big statement, that Denver wins if Bo Nix plays in the AFC Championship, but everyone seems to be coming around to that likelihood post-Super Bowl.
Yahoo! Sports: 3rd
Again, similar sentiments from Yahoo! as they point to the need for a running back and possibly another receiver, too.
Adding a running back, and perhaps another receiver, would help an offense that needed it at times. Bo Nix isn’t expected to be impacted by an ankle injury that ended his season. The defense will still be very good. There’s no reason the Broncos can’t win the AFC West again.
NFL: 4th
From NFL.com:
They’ll likely be among the handful of AFC favorites heading into next season for good reason, but Nix and the offense must level up to be true Super Bowl contenders. That must include more consistent production from the skill players, more development from Nix and fewer backsteps (mostly penalties). That unit is capable, and the defense should remain close to elite, but there’s still work to be done to upgrade this offseason.
Simply, these Denver Broncos power rankings are a far cry from the expectations of the team during the Sean Payton Era, and even dating back a decade. It’s not just Broncos Country who thinks their team will be dominant this year, it’s national news outlets across the country.
Of course, Denver must also know they will now get every team’s best shot every week.
2026 is going to be a fun season in the Mile High City.
