The Denver Broncos begin their 2024 season today against the Seattle Seahawks, so for the last time, let’s make some predictions for each game. The Broncos begin their season looking to become one of the NFL’s breakout teams.
They also have the formula to do it, and I think a lot of people who didn’t think much of the Broncos before the season will have to admit in a few months how wrong they were. Let’s do some game-by-game predictions for the Broncos in the 2024 season.
This could be one of the toughest games for rookie QB Bo Nix in his first year in the NFL. While I think the Broncos and Nix are playing a little better than we think, this is a near impossible task here. You’re asking a rookie QB making his first start in the NFL to compete in one of the five toughest NFL games and win?
Yeah, I don’t think so. The Seahawks will win this game, but I hope I’m wrong.
Record: 0-1
In one of the most important games for both teams in the 2024 NFL season, Russell Wilson is expected to make his first start in his post-Broncos era. Neither Wilson nor Justin Fields have done much to earn the starting spot with the Pittsburgh Steelers, so Denver should have an easy time taking out Wilson.
Despite having a top-10 offensive line with Denver in 2023, Russell Wilson was still largely inefficient and took a ton of sacks. Pittsburgh doesn’t have nearly the situation on offense in 2024 that Denver did in 2023. The Broncos will win this game.
Score: 1-1
The 2024 Tampa Bay Buccaneers are perhaps the most average team in NFL history. They won nine games in 2023 to capture the NFC South title. They were solid on defense and just mediocre on offense. With them losing their former offensive coordinator Dave Canales, I imagine that side of the ball will take a bit of a hit.
Actually, I think Denver comes away with a small win here.
Record: 2-1
The New York Jets will be a tough nut to crack, as quarterback Aaron Rodgers is back to his old self. His return from his Achilles injury will be interesting, and this game could come early enough in the season when the offense is still trying to find its feet. But since this game is on the road and against a strong defense, I expect the Jets to win here.
Record: 2-2
The Denver Broncos have not beaten the Las Vegas Raiders since Shelby Harris’ pass was blocked in 2019. Denver has to win a game against Vegas at some point, right?
Right?
The Raiders have deteriorated significantly this offseason, with no solution at quarterback and a head coach who is in his third year as an NFL coach. The Denver Broncos are going to win this game, folks.
Record: 3-2
The Los Angeles Chargers could actually be a viable team in 2024 with Jim Harbaugh as head coach. The Chargers’ roster is still pretty bad and I’m not as excited about Justin Herbert as some people are. Still, the Broncos will do well and get two games over .500, which at this point could be the most shocking story of the 2024 NFL season.
Record: 4-2
When Broncos head coach Sean Payton returns home, he’ll look to get even with his old team. Denver has a great chance to get to 5-2, which would put them a whopping three games over .500. Since this is a high-stakes game, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Saints go all out and bust their butts.
Plus, Saints QB Derek Carr has stood up to the Denver Broncos many times. This feels like a game the Broncos are losing, and we’re all wondering why.
Record: 4-3
The Denver Broncos can get back on track against a weak Carolina Panthers team. They do have some old faces in Josey Jewell and Ejiro Evero. However, the Panthers were insanely bad in 2023 and have a big question mark at the QB position. Their head coach Dave Canales is also in his first year on the job.
Record: 5-3
Can the Denver Broncos beat the Ravens in Baltimore? Even though the 2024 team is weaker than it was in 2023, the Denver Broncos will be asked to do a lot here. The Ravens just lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season, so maybe Denver knows how to attack Baltimore.
Personally, I am convinced that the Ravens will win this game.
Record: 5-4
Can the Denver Broncos avoid slipping to .500? Maybe. They haven’t beaten the Kansas City Chiefs at home since the 2015 NFL season, the final year of the Peyton Manning era. Denver would face a big challenge, going to the toughest venue in the NFL.
I don’t think the Denver Broncos will win this game. In fact, it could be a double-digit loss.
Balance: 5-5
The newly formed Atlanta Falcons now have Kirk Cousins at quarterback. They will be a rock-solid 10-win team in the 2024 season, but they won’t win the Super Bowl or anything. This team has potential with Cousins at quarterback, but their roster is more talented than Denver’s.
Atlanta could win a ton of games in 2024, and maybe they can do this one in Denver. Kirk Cousins has been a reliable quarterback for a decade and has seen just about everything you can imagine.
Record: 5-6
Can the Denver Broncos come to Las Vegas and beat the Raiders? Maybe. That’s a very tough place to play in the NFL. Raiders fans make it tough, and since the team is superior defensively, Denver might have trouble moving the ball.
Denver will be content to split the season with the Raiders.
Balance: 5-7
The Denver Broncos need to win this game before the bye week. They swept the Cleveland Browns in Denver during the 2023 NFL season. Can they do it again? Since this game is pretty late in 2024, there’s no guarantee that Browns QB Deshaun Watson will even be on the roster. Denver will win this game.
Record: 6-7
Honestly, being 6-7 with a rookie QB on the off week is nothing to be ashamed of. Can they finish strong?
The Denver Broncos would probably have to win at least three of their final four games here to make the playoffs. It’s still a year too early for the playoffs, but this team has what it takes to finish with a win. The Indianapolis Colts and QB Anthony Richardson will find their feet by this point, but I’m not sure Richardson will really shine.
The Broncos will win this game.
Record: 7-7
Can the Denver Broncos travel to Los Angeles and beat the Chargers? They last did that in 2023. The Chargers could also be around 7-7 at this point in the 2024 NFL season, but as I mentioned above, their roster isn’t that great and they’re also in the first year of the Jim Harbaugh era. Denver wins.
Record: 8-7
The Denver Broncos face a tough environment in Week 17 against the Cincinnati Bengals. I’m betting QB Joe Burrow will play a full season, and if that’s the case, the Bengals will be a real challenge. Burrow and the Bengals are one of the toughest and best teams in the NFL, so they’ll send the Denver Broncos back to .500.
Record: 8-8
Can the Denver Broncos complete their first winning season since 2016, when they also won nine games? The team beat the Kansas City Chiefs at home in 2023, and if the Chiefs have already secured a playoff spot by that point, they can choose the rest of the starting lineup. Denver will win at home against KC for the second consecutive year, giving them a 9-8 record and plenty of hope for the 2025 NFL offseason.
Record: 9-8
