
via Imago
Credits: Imagn

via Imago
Credits: Imagn
Sometimes, getting knocked out doesn’t scream failure—it whispers progress. The Broncos finished last season with an 8-9 record, missing the playoffs after the Chiefs’ win over the Bengals sealed their fate. Fast forward to this season, and while they didn’t exactly go down swinging—Josh Allen, and the Bills schooled Bo Nix and Co. with a 31-7 postseason thrashing—the trajectory still points up.
Here’s the thing: Many experts had low expectations from the Denver Broncos going into the 2024 NFL season as they set their over/under win total at 5.5. “The Broncos are going to stink,” Craig Carton said in August. While stating the team had no talent, he expected their over/under to be 2.5. But the Broncos surprised everyone with their 10-7 record this regular season. However, their successful season ended with a Wild Card round of the playoffs after a loss to the Bills.
Inside the Broncos’ locker room, Nik Bonitto’s tearful red eyes told the story. In an interview with Scotty Gange of 9News, he stated:
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“Knowing the kind of work that we put in this year, and we didn’t get the result that we wanted—it stings. But I’m also proud because I know how many doubters we proved wrong this year. And how many people didn’t have us for nothing. We didn’t care, we just came to work every week, so I was really proud of the guys.”
“Just knowing where we started at as a group. Just how far we came, I’m just really proud,” he said, voice heavy with emotion. This season showed flashes of promise, even if the final chapter in Buffalo’s backyard was a somber one. However, Bonitto wasn’t alone in reflecting on how things ended.
Sean Payton knows what needs to be done as he has begun laying the foundation, and while it’s not an overnight job, the climb has started. Think of this year as the first quarter of a long game. The Broncos’ defense, which earned praise once (the Orange Crush days), is now their kryptonite… You see, in the first half, they made some big plays and kept the game within reach.
But you can only hold off a guy like Josh Allen for so long. Buffalo turned up the heat after halftime, and it was clear: When Allen’s on, even the best defenses can’t keep up.
Inside the #Broncos locker room with a tearful Nik Bonitto after their season ending loss in Buffalo. #9sports pic.twitter.com/r4yit72wGo
— Scotty Gange (@Scotty_G6) January 12, 2025
Josh Allen‘s fourth-and-1 throw to Ty Johnson in the end zone was a statement. You could almost hear the ‘we’re not done yet’ roar as he dropped it in perfectly. Then, after a quick three-and-out, Allen did it again, connecting with Curtis Samuel for a 55-yard TD. Just like that, the game slipped away.
But let’s not forget the Bills’ ground game, which really wore down Denver’s defense. The home team’s O line was firing on all cylinders, chewing up the clock and keeping the Broncos’ defense on the field for a draining 41 minutes and 43 seconds. Indeed, a disaster. But will fixing up the D-line be the start of the problem-solving? Sure, they were outclassed. However, Bo Nix believes there’s more. There always is…
Denver Broncos: Bo Nix is not the one to sugarcoat…
Bo Nix doesn’t mince words. After the Broncos’ wild 2024 season, he was pretty clear on what the team needed to do to take down the league’s elite: “We definitely have to score more than 7 points. We went to Baltimore and scored 10. Scored 7 today.” Tough, right? But that’s the reality when you’re trying to compete at the top level.
Sure, Denver finished 10-7, but there were some tough losses along the way (like the 41-10 L to the Ravens in Week 9), like a couple of narrow defeats to Seattle and Pittsburgh, where the offense just couldn’t get in gear. But hey, they bounced back with some big wins, showing they were no pushovers.
Look at the games they did win. Bo Nix was putting in work, leading the Broncos to key victories over teams like the Raiders, Saints, and Chiefs (yes, you read that right. We are talking about Week 18). A 38-0 blowout against the Chiefs? That’s the kind of postseason surety you love to see. But then, there were those head-scratching losses, like the tough game against Buffalo in the playoffs, where it felt like the Broncos couldn’t catch a break.
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It’s always tough to win in Buffalo, especially with a rookie QB, but Nix’s performance in that game showed both his promise and his inexperience. Now, as for Nix—he got the Broncos to the playoffs, something they hadn’t seen in nearly a decade. That’s no small feat, right? His first playoff experience wasn’t exactly pretty, though. He came out hot with a 64-yard touchdown on his first three passes, but then the Bills defense cranked it up, and the Broncos QB struggled to keep the offense moving.

via Getty
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – AUGUST 11: Bo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos carries the ball in the first half during a preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 11, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Despite that, Nix didn’t turn the ball over, but the Broncos’ offense just couldn’t string drives together. Still, rookie mistakes aside, his first season was a huge learning experience.
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Looking ahead, the challenge for Denver is pretty clear: Nix has the potential to be a solid NFL QB, but they need to build around him. So, if the Broncos want to compete long-term, they’ve got to make sure they give their quarterback the right tools—whether that’s better play-calling, offensive line help, or more weapons. What do you think?
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