Are the Broncos Deep Enough to Make a Postseason Run?

The Denver Broncos are on a six-game win streak and sit atop the AFC West. It’s their best start since 2015. 

Nothing can slow down the Broncos right now — except for themselves.

So Far, So Good

What a pleasant surprise Denver’s season has been so far. Whether it’s the defense holding their opponent to zero touchdowns or Bo Nix leading the offense to another thrilling last-second victory, this Broncos team feels very different from years past. 

It seems that everything is finally coming together in Denver, a city that has been waiting a decade for true success.

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There’s no doubt they are contenders — but every team has their weaknesses and flaws. This is a year in the NFL where there is no clear cut favorite to win the Super Bowl, and in order for the Broncos to take advantage of the ever-changing field of contenders, they need to count on health; a dangerous plan in the NFL.

Broncos’ Injury Test

Injuries are always going to plague teams in the sport of football — there’s no stopping them.

The most recent victim of the injury bug is superstar Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, who dislocated his elbow on Sunday Night Football.  This instance isn’t just a freak accident — there’s been a significant uptick in these injuries so far this NFL season. Luckily, Denver hasn’t faced the worst of it yet, but the impact of the injuries they have had are still significant.

With the way the Broncos are playing, they were bound to lose somebody to the injury bug at some point — unfortunately for them, it happened to be reigning Defensive Player of The Year, Pat Surtain II. 

Though he dodged the bullet of being placed on the IR, the star cornerback is expected to miss significant time with a left pectoral strain.

While Surtain’s impact may not have been felt in the Denver secondary as much as last season, there’s no doubt missing a presence like him is detrimental to the Broncos’ future success.  Thankfully, Surtain is expected to return this season to return to the exciting young core.

Not only are the Broncos without Surtain, their All-Pro punt returner is missing time in concussion protocol.  Marvin Mims Jr. has been an anchor to an underwhelming special teams squad, averaging close to 28 yards per kick return this season. Without his presence, the Broncos will have to find new ways to gain advantage via special teams. 

Depth Issues

Because of these unfortunate injuries for Denver, they now have to face what might be their biggest flaw.

The Broncos lack of depth cannot be overlooked, unfortunately. Especially in a sport like football, which sees athletes go down extremely frequently, there are too many positions that have room for improvement. 

Having a great starting core is essential to a winning football team, and Denver has that.  The defense’s starters are extremely effective, along with multiple rotating pieces to compliment the unit. But particularly on offense, Denver’s biggest weakness is their depth.

Tight end has been the unit lagging furthest behind so far this season. Even with Evan Engram underperforming, Head Coach Sean Payton doesn’t have any better options at the position.

Being weak at one position can completely change how opponents’ gameplan — defenses might adjust by forcing Nix to target his tight ends and exploit that vulnerability. A good team might not exploit that weakness, but a great team absolutely will

In order to reach the ultimate goal of a Super Bowl, Denver will have to try and improve their depth at the tight end position.

Half Way Point

Halfway through the NFL season, everything seems to be in the Broncos’ favor — but as the temperature drops and the fatigue of a long season affects players, Denver needs to be ready for adversity.

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Their depth at some positions is very concerning. Unpredictability of injuries and underperforming players are also starting to plague the team, too. The Broncos may have missed an opportunity at the trade deadline to make changes in order to fully bolster this roster for the winter.  

To answer the question — yes, the Broncos are deep enough to make a playoff run.  But playing for some of the most success-hungry fans in the sport, Denver isn’t just chasing a playoff run, they are prioritizing a Super Bowl.