It's no secret that the expectations of the 2026 Denver Broncos are about as high as they get. Coming off a 14-win campaign in 2025, the Broncos are hoping to replicate their success during 2026.
While it is certainly possible for a repeat, there is also the very real threat of a regression. The Athletic hosts Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman recently spoke about what fans could expect in 2026. After talking about the individual sum of all that may go right (or wrong) for the Broncos this fall, the hosts set the ceiling for the team.
"They're not winning 14 games again," Mays said.
"That's my point; you don't have to win 14 games," Helman said. "Win 11 and look for real, and win the AFC West again. I think people talk about them being
prime for regression, because (of) the one-score games, and how consistent is this? How much volatility is there? Prove that; prove that you can do this again and be one of the league's best teams."
Klassen also chimed in on what a successful season would look like. "I was just going to say like, I think final four is what you should be aiming for," Klassen said. "I just think that if you have what could and should be a top five or six defense and an offense that you're hoping makes to jump into the top eight, I think if you just paste those numbers on top of any team, any logo, any helmet, that should be a team that should be in the final four."
You can view the entire discussion below.
The Broncos come into the season relatively healthy, are getting quarterback Bo Nix back from a broken ankle, have the addition of Jaylen Waddle and Jonah Coleman on offense, and a defense returning 10 starters from a year ago. This team could hit its stride and once again be one of the best teams in the NFL.
Denver starts their climb to the top against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday, Sept. 14 at Arrowhead Stadium.
Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X!
This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: The Athletic previews Broncos season: ‘Prove it’s not a fluke’
