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Denver Broncos are a long way from Super Bowl 50

By Russell S. Baxter

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 02: Head coach Vic Fangio of the Denver Broncos during a 34-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on January 02, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 02: Head coach Vic Fangio of the Denver Broncos during a 34-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on January 02, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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For the sixth consecutive year, the Denver Broncos won’t be going to the playoffs. It’s been quite the falloff for the Men from Mile High.

Back in 2015, the Denver Broncos rolled out one of the better defenses in recent years and parlayed that into the franchise’s third Lombardi Trophy. Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning was the team’s starting quarterback for the majority of the year and in the postseason. But it was a unit led by Von Miller and the “No Fly Zone” that would pave the way to a 24-10 win over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50.

Manning retired after the 2015 season, but the Broncos still managed to start ’16 with four consecutive wins. But the franchise hasn’t recovered since. As they prepare for their Week 18 home tilt with the Kansas City Chiefs, Denver is a stunning 35-57 in their last 92 contests.

Last Sunday’s 34-13 loss to the Chargers at Los Angeles ensured that the club would post its fifth consecutive losing campaign. You would have to go back to the early days of the franchise to find such a stretch. From 1963-72, the Broncos finished with a losing record for 10 consecutive years.

On Saturday, they face a Chiefs’ team that they have dropped 12 consecutive games to dating back to the rivals’ second meeting in 2015. Fangio’s club has allowed the third-fewest points in the league (294) but ranks 23rd in the NFL in scoring with 311 points. This is a club that won its first three games this season but is 4-9 since.

While the franchise hasn’t really found a steady heir to Manning behind center, this is not a team without talent. The pass-catching corps includes wide receivers Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick, and KJ Hamler (when healthy). And tight end Noah Fant leads the team in receptions.

Promising rookie running back Javonte Williams and veteran Melvin Gordon have each rushed for 800-plus yards. Justin Simmons is one of the top safeties in the league.

At midseason, the Broncos did deal Miller to the Los Angeles Rams. And Bradley Chubb has missed 24 games in four seasons. And at quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater may or may not be the future while 2019 second-round pick Drew Lock continues to struggle with ball security.

The bottom line is that regardless of what happens on Saturday afternoon at Denver, the Broncos will be the only team in the division to finish with a losing record. It’s been quite a fall for a team that won five straight AFC West titles from 2011-15 and reached a pair of Super Bowls.

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