Will 2026 Be the Broncs’ Year to Return to The Big Game?
Trevor Phipps
Last year everyone thought it would be the year that the Broncos made their grand Super Bowl return.
The team played great during the regular season with a long winning streak that fired up fans. The Broncos secured the Number One Seed and looked like they could go all the way. And then a bomb struck. Tragedy ignited as star quarterback Bo Nix incurred a season-ending injury just before the team played in the AFC Championship game.
But this year is a new year. All reports say that after a couple of surgeries on his ankle, Nix is back and looks better than ever.
Plus, the team made a big move to upgrade their offense during the offseason. The Broncos’ trade to acquire former Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle has loaded Nix with yet another weapon on the offense.
Fans and Denver-area sports analysts have been thrilled and talking up the Broncos quite a bit. With the addition of Waddle, a healthy Nix and the return of running back JK Dobbins, the Broncos’ offense could be unstoppable.
Overall, most have reported that they have liked what they have seen thus far in training camp. Some say that Waddle has emerged to be the top suitor for the WR1 position. But Courtland Sutton and Marvin Mims, Jr. also have proven to be top contenders.
Personally, another big change in Bronco operations for the 2026 season has made me excited. After using a lot of ink complaining about Head Coach Sean Payton’s lackluster play calling for the past two years, I finally got what I wished for.
The Broncos previously announced that Payton would be handing off his play calling duties to Offensive Coordinator Davis Webb. This is the first season of Payton’s nearly 20-year career as a head coach that he has opted not to be the main play caller for his team’s offense.
After the Broncos’ loss in the AFC Championship game last season, the Broncos fired their offensive coordinator. But Payton has said that he trusts his new OC Webb to make good decisions.
“This is going to work. I’ve done it before. I’m not going to be tough like Bill [Parcells],” Payton said in a press conference. But he did admit that there will be “some suggestions and some mandates.”
I just hope that Webb’s play calling can give the team a new energy and that Payton doesn’t change his mind by deciding to pull back the reins. In my mind, Webb’s play calling couldn’t be any worse than calling a blind screen pass every other play.
But it didn’t take long for naysayers to express their disbelief that Payton will let Webb call all the plays for the whole season. One report by ESPN told fans: “Don’t be surprised” if Payton takes back play calling duties especially if the Broncos have a slow start to the season.
Optimism Surrounds Broncos’ Practice Fields
During the Broncos’ time in training camp, the reports have featured mostly positive comments about how the Broncos look thus far. One day reports stated that the Broncos’ running game was dominating practice. Other reports have said that the Broncos’ defense stepped up and made it a tough, grueling practice.
Even the Broncos’ coaches have pointed out some improvements they have seen during the 2026 training camp. Nix and Waddle have been some of the biggest talking points.
But earlier this month before pre-season started, the Broncos famed defensive coordinator (and former Broncos’ head coach) Vance Joseph told reporters that he likes what he has seen from the Broncos’ offense.
After Day 8 of scrimmages, Joseph called the day “very competitive” as emotions ran high and tempers flared. “Bo’s played well. He’s been accurate. He’s moving very well,” Joseph said in a post-practice press conference. “That’s a great sign, but his deep-ball touch has been really off the charts this training camp.”
Joseph said that the improvements in Nix’s long-passing game will make the offense more dangerous this year. “I know Sean wants to make more big plays this year, and it’s there. It’s happened in training camp,” Joseph said. “It’s been two a-day. I don’t like it for our defense, but I get it.”
Joseph’s comments have special meaning, as he was touted as a sure bet to become the head skipper of another rival NFL team, following last year’s bonus season. But unfortunately for Vance and a good thing for the Broncos, the right opportunity did not present itself.
Broncos Switch Focus to Pre-Season Action
After good news came out of training camp the Broncos are now gearing up for their pre-season matches before the regular season kicks off next month. The team played their first pre-season bout against the Atlanta Falcons last Friday.
The team has their first home pre-season game this week. On Friday at 7 p.m., the Broncos challenge the Green Bay Packers on their home field. The Broncos then play their final pre-season match at home against the Minnesota Vikings at 7 p.m. on August 28.
The Broncos then start the 2026 regular season with a road game against the Kansas City Chiefs on September 14 at 6:15 p.m. What a way to kick off the season. After last year’s dismal and surprising losing streak, the Chiefs could be ready for a genuine scalping.
