Sweet Science Sports (S³) · NFL Season Preview
2026 Denver
Broncos Season Preview
Built, Not Bought
14–3 in 2025 · Elite Defense Returns · Bo Nix Gets Jaylen Waddle
The Denver Broncos enter 2026 as one of the AFC's most complete football teams. After finishing 14–3 in 2025, Sean Payton's team returns an elite defense while giving quarterback Bo Nix more weapons than at any point in his young career. Instead of rebuilding, Denver spent the offseason strengthening an already formidable roster.
Organization
Denver also returns one of the league's most experienced position coaching staffs, giving the Broncos valuable continuity entering 2026.
🏟️ Empower Field at Mile High
The Broncos play at Empower Field at Mile High, a stadium seating over 76,000 fans. The altitude remains one of the NFL's biggest competitive advantages, especially late in games when visiting defenses begin to tire.
📊 2025 Team Profile
Offense
Defense
The numbers reveal a balanced football team capable of winning shootouts or defensive battles.
Offensive Identity — Bo Nix
Bo Nix doesn't have to be an MVP for Denver to contend. He simply has to continue making smart decisions while distributing the football to an increasingly talented group of playmakers.
Running Game
The addition of Dobbins and rookie Jonah Coleman gives Sean Payton multiple options to keep the offense balanced.
Receiving Corps
Denver traded for Jaylen Waddle, one of the NFL's fastest receivers. His speed changes defensive coverages and should create more opportunities for Sutton, Franklin, Engram, and the running game.
Defensive Identity
This remains Denver's greatest strength.
Patrick Surtain II — Shutdown Corner
The interception total doesn't tell the story. Quarterbacks largely avoided throwing toward Surtain, allowing only 31 completions and posting a 66.5 passer rating when targeting him. Shutdown corners aren't measured only by interceptions — they're measured by how often offenses avoid them. Second consecutive Pro Bowl.
Pass Rush
Tackling Leaders
Turnover Producers
The Broncos don't rely on one superstar — they generate production throughout the defense.
🔥 2026 Offseason
Major Addition & Free Agency
2026 Draft Class
Undrafted Free Agents
✅ S³ Strengths
❌ S³ Concerns
🏆 S³ Final Analysis
Denver doesn't need dramatic improvement to become a Super Bowl contender — they need refinement.
The defense already plays at a championship level. The offense added explosiveness with Jaylen Waddle, while the running game became deeper. If Bo Nix takes another step in Year 3, Denver has enough talent to challenge anyone in the AFC.
🏆 The Broncos possess one of the NFL's most balanced rosters. If the offense matches the standard already set by the defense, Denver has the talent to finish 12–5, with a realistic ceiling of 13–4 and a legitimate opportunity to compete for the AFC Championship.
S³ Report · NFL
Denver Broncos
2026 Season Schedule
Regular Season
Prime-Time Games · 4 Total
Rivalry Games
Kansas City Chiefs
Week 1 — Away (MNF)
Week 8 — Home
Las Vegas Raiders
Week 11 — Home
Week 15 — Away
LA Chargers
Week 5 — Away
Week 18 — Home
S³ Schedule Notes
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The Broncos open the season on Monday Night Football at division rival Kansas City.
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A Week 3 Sunday Night showdown with the Rams headlines the home slate.
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The bye falls in Week 10, providing a midseason reset before the AFC West grind.
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Christmas Day hosts Josh Allen and the Bills on Netflix.
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Back-to-back AFC West road games at Las Vegas and a Friday trip to Pittsburgh define the late schedule.
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The season closes with consecutive AFC West battles against the Chargers and Patriots.
A schedule featuring four prime-time games, a Christmas Day clash with Buffalo, and the always-brutal AFC West gauntlet.
© 2026 Sweet Science Sports (S³). All Rights Reserved.
The Sweet Science Sports S³BR Football System — including O/R²T, D/R²T, ORt₹, DRt₹, Offensive Standards (OS), Defensive Standards (DS), Responsibility Ratings, S³ Performance Standards, terminology, symbols, notation, scoring methodology, weighting systems, proprietary formulas, algorithms, calculations, evaluation framework, visual presentation, and written documentation — are the original intellectual property of Randy Woodall and Sweet Science Sports (S³).
No portion of this system may be reproduced, reverse-engineered, modified, distributed, published, or used commercially without prior written permission.
Version: S³BR Football System v1.0 • Created: July 2026 • Author: Randy Woodall • Organization: Sweet Science Sports (S³)