The Drought is Over: The Broncos Are Finally Kings of the AFC West Again
For the first time since Peyton Manning was still barking “Omaha” at the line of scrimmage, the Denver Broncos are the AFC West champions. It took a decade of wandering the quarterback desert, a carousel of head coaches, and nine long years of watching the Kansas City Chiefs treat the division title like their personal property, but the script has finally flipped.
It wasn’t just the gritty 20-13 win over the Chiefs on Christmas night—though let’s be honest, stuffing a stocking with a W at Arrowhead is about as good as it gets. The official coronation came on Saturday, courtesy of the Houston Texans knocking off the Los Angeles Chargers. With the Chargers falling to 11-5, Denver (13-3) officially snatched the crown.
A Massive Turnaround In Mile High
If you told anyone back in September that this team would be locking up the division before Week 18, they would have laughed you out of the room. The Broncos started the season 1-2, including a gut-punch loss to the Chargers on a walk-off field goal. The “same old Denver” narratives were already being typed up.
But instead of folding, Sean Payton’s squad went on an absolute tear, reeling off an 11-game winning streak that completely altered the trajectory of the franchise.
The difference? They figured out how to close. Last season, the Broncos were a dismal 1-6 in one-score games. This year, they are 11-2 in those nail-biters. That isn’t luck. That is coaching, discipline, and a young quarterback who refuses to blink when the lights get bright.
The Bo Nix Era Is Officially Here
Speaking of that quarterback, can we finally put some respect on Bo Nix’s name? After the Russell Wilson experiment crashed and burned, Payton pushed his chips to the center of the table on Nix in the 2024 draft. Mission accomplished. Nix has become the stabilizer this franchise has been desperate for since Manning rode off into the sunset. He’s the first QB in NFL history to pass for over 7,500 yards and 50 touchdowns while winning 20-plus games in his first two seasons.
He’s not just managing games; he’s winning them. And he’s doing it with a maturity that betrays his age.
Stakes Are Still High for Week 18
While the division hats and t-shirts are being printed, the work isn’t done. The Broncos might have the title, but they want the keys to the castle.
Next week’s showdown against the Chargers at Empower Field still carries massive weight. A win secures the No. 1 seed in the AFC. That means a first-round bye and, more importantly, home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Given the altitude and the noise in Denver, nobody wants to travel there in January.
The demons of the past decade have been exorcised. The Broncos are back on top of the mountain, and for the first time in a long time, they look ready to stay there.
