(WR Courtland Sutton – AP Photo)
Key Players Returning:
RB Javonte Williams, RB Jaleel McLuaghlin, RB Samaje Perine, WR/RS Marvin Mims Jr., WR Courtland Sutton, TE Greg Dulcich, OG Quinn Meinerz, OG Ben Powers, OT Garett Bolles, OT Mike McGlinchey, DE Zach Allen, NT DJ Jones, LB Nik Bonitto, LB Baron Browning, LB Jonathon Cooper, LB Alex Singleton, CB Damarri Mathis, CB Patrick Surtain II, NB Ja’Quan McMillan, FS Delarrin Turner-Yell, SS PJ Locke, PK Wil Lutz, and PT Riley Dixon.
Key Players Departing:
QB Russell Wilson (Steelers), WR Jerry Jeudy (Browns), OC Lloyd Cushenberry III (Titans), DE Jonathan Harris (Dolphins), NT Mike Purcell (UFA), LB Josey Jewell (Panthers), CB Kareem Jackson (Texans), CB Fabian Moreau (UFA), NB K’Wuan Williams, (UFA), and FS Justin Simmons (UFA).
Key Players Added:
QB Zach Wilson (Jets), WR Josh Reynolds (Lions), DE John Franklin-Myers (Jets), DE Malcolm Roach (Saints), LB Cody Barton (Commanders), CB Levi Wallace (Steelers), and FS Brandon Jones (Dolphins).
(QB Bo Nix – AP Photo)
Draft Picks:
Round 1: Pick 012 – QB Bo Nix (Oregon)
Round 3: Pick 076 – EDGE Jonah Eliss (Utah)
Round 4: Pick 102 – WR Troy Franklin (Oregon)
Round 5: Pick 145 – CB Kris Abrams-Draine (Missouri)
Round 5: Pick 147 – RB Audric Estime (Notre Dame)
Round 7: Pick 235 – WR Devaughn Vele (Utah)
Round 7: Pick 256 – OG Nick Gargiulo (South Carolina)
2023 Results:
W01 RAIDERS L 16-17
W02 COMMANDERS L 33-35
W03 @ Dolphins L 20-70
W04 @ Bears W 31-28
W05 JETS L 21-31
W06 @ Chiefs L 8-19
W07 PACKERS W 19-17
W08 CHIEFS W 24-9
Bye Week
W10 @ Bills W 24-22
W11 VIKINGS W 21-20
W12 BROWNS W 29-12
W13 @ Texans L 17-22
W14 @ Chargers W 24-7
W15 @ Lions L 17-42
W16 PATRIOTS L 23-26
W17 CHARGERS W 16-9
W18 @ Raiders L 14-27
Team Info:
2023 Record: 8-9 (3rd in AFC West)
Home: 5-4
Road: 3-5
West: 3-3
AFC: 5-7
NFC: 3-2
Head Coach: Sean Payton
Denver: 8-9
Career: 160-98
Playoffs: 9-8
(LB Jonathon Cooper – USA Today Sports)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Jarrett Stidham (40-66, 496 yards, 60.6%, 7.5 avg., 2 TD, 1 INT)
Rushing: Javonte Williams (217 car., 774 yards, 3.6 avg., 3 TD)
Receiving: Courtland Sutton (59 rec., 772 yards, 13.1 avg., 10 TD)
Yards After Catch: Samaje Perine (392)
TDs Scored: Courtland Sutton (10)
Sacks: Jonathon Cooper (8.5)
Tackles: Alex Singleton (177)
Interceptions: Ja’Quan McMillian (2)
Pass Deflections: Patrick Surtain II (12)
Tackles For Loss: Nik Bonnito (13)
Forced Fumbles: DJ Jones (3)
Kick Returns: Marvin Mims Jr. (15 ret., 397 yards, 26.5 avg., 1 TD)
Punt Returns: Marvin Mims Jr. (19 ret., 312 yards, 16.4 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Wil Lutz (30-34 fg/fga., 88%, 29-31 xp/xpa., 119 pts.)
Punting: Riley Dixon (79 punts, 3669 yards, 46.3 avg., 27 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 10 Bo Nix |R|
RB: 33 Javonte Williams
WR: 14 Courtland Sutton
WR: 13 Josh Reynolds
WR: 19 Marvin Mims Jr.
TE: 82 Adam Trautman
LT: 72 Garett Bolles
LG: 74 Ben Powers
OC: 60 Luke Wattenberg
RG: 77 Quinn Meinerz
RT: 69 Mike McGlinchey
KR: 19 Marvin Mims Jr.
PK: 3 Wil Lutz
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 99 Zach Allen
NT: 93 DJ Jones
DE: 98 John Franklin-Myers
LB: 5 Baron Browning
LB: 55 Cody Barton
LB: 49 Alex Singleton
LB: 0 Jonathon Cooper
CB: 39 Levi Wallace
CB: 2 Pat Surtain II
FS: 22 Brandon Jones
SS: 6 PJ Locke
PR: 19 Marvin Mims Jr.
PT: 9 Riley Dixon
(KR/PR Marvin Mims Jr. – AP Photo)
Team Grades:
Offense:
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: C
Defense:
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: B
Secondary: B
Special Teams:
Kick Returns: A
Punt Returns: A
Kickers: A
Punters: A
Schedule:
09/08 @ Seahawks | Denver leads the series 35-22. The Broncos lost (16-17) the last meeting between teams in 2022, and their last series win (27-24) was at the prior meeting in 2018.
09/15 STEELERS | Denver leads the series 20-13-1. The Broncos lost (19-27) the last meeting between schools in 2021, and their last series win (24-17) was in 2018.
09/22 @ Buccaneers | Denver leads the series 7-3. The Broncos lost (10-28) the last meeting between teams in 2020, and their last series win (27-7) was at the prior meeting in 2016.
09/29 @ Jets | Denver leads the series 18-11. The Broncos are 4-3 since 2014, and their last series win (26-0) was in 2021.
10/06 RAIDERS | Denver trails the series 50-66-1. The Broncos are 7-13 since 2014, and their last series home win (16-15) was in 2019.
10/13 CHARGERS | Denver leads the series 70-46-1. The Broncos are 14-6 since 2014, and their last series home loss (9-23) was in 2018.
10/17 @ Saints | Denver leads the series 9-3. The Broncos lost (3-31) the last meeting between teams in 2020, and their last series win (25-23) was at the prior meeting in 2016.
10/27 PANTHERS | Denver leads the series 6-2. The Broncos lost (10-23) the last meeting between teams in 2022, and their last series win (32-27) was at the prior meeting in 2020.
11/03 @ Ravens | Denver trails the series 6-10. The Broncos lost (9-10) the last meeting between teams in 2022, and their last series win (19-13) was in 2015.
11/10 @ Chiefs | Denver trails the series 55-61. The Broncos are 4-16 since 2014, and their last series road win (31-24) was in 2015.
11/17 FALCONS | Denver leads the series 9-7. The Broncos lost (27-34) the last meeting between teams in 2020, and their last series win (24-20) dates back to 2008.
11/24 @ Raiders | The Broncos last series road win (16-10) was in 2015.
12/02 BROWNS | Denver leads the series 25-7. The Broncos are 3-2 since restarting the series in 2015, and their last series loss (14-17) was in 2021.
12/15 COLTS | Denver trails the series 14-15. The Broncos are 3-4 since 2014, and they lost (9-12) the last meeting between teams in 2022.
12/22 @ Chargers | The Broncos last series road loss (16-19) was in 2022.
12/29 @ Bengals | Denver leads the series 22-11. The Broncos are 3-3 since 2014, and they lost (10-15) the last meeting between teams in 2021.
01/05 CHIEFS | The Broncos last series home loss (28-34) was in 2022.
Predictions:
Home: 6-2
Road: 4-5
West: 3-3
AFC: 7-5
NFC: 3-2
Overall: 10-7 (2nd in AFC West/7th Seed – Eliminated in Wild Card Round)
Series Histories: Histories are from the inception of the first Super Bowl season through present day. Meetings prior to 1966 are not included. Playoff wins are included in the year the season took place. For example, if a team won a wildcard game in January of 2024, the game will be listed under the 2023 season.
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