Broncos win/loss ceiling and floor for the 2021 season

By: Jordan Anders

The Denver Broncos have not had a winning record since they won Super Bowl 50 back in the 2015-2016 season. Since then, they have only tied for second in the AFC West standings with a 7-9 record in 2019. In the last five seasons, the Broncos have gone through nine starting quarterbacks, ten if you include last season where running back Phillip Lindsay started at quarterback against the Saints. Needless to say, the Broncos have struggled to find that missing piece to get the team back into a winning record.

With the Broncos putting faith in quarterback Drew Lock this season, in only his third year, it’s hard to say where Drew can take this team. The hope is he can lead the Broncos to the post-season for the first time in 5 years. This year would be the year to do that, the Broncos this next season have one of the easiest schedules, with only four teams ahead of them. Although the Broncos have one of the easiest schedules, they’ll be playing 20 games in total this regular season, three in pre-season, and 17 in regular-season games.

On top of that, their division rivals, the Kansas City Chiefs have won the division the last five seasons and will likely win it again, and the Chargers and quarterback Justin Herbert aren’t looking too bad after last season and will only continue to get better. We went 1-1 with the Raiders and Chargers last season and the Broncos are definitely looking for a season sweep on both. If the Broncos want to accomplish this, a winning record, and have a chance to make it to the playoffs, they’ll have to put in the work.

Broncos’ ceiling

With a load of weapons in the Broncos offense and a defense similar to the 2015 “No Fly Zone” defense, the Broncos could most definitely go 12-5. The Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, and Kansas City Chiefs will be the Broncos’ biggest threats going into this next season.

The Broncos’ first three games are against the New York Giants, Jacksonville Jaguars, and New York Jets, these first three games will set the tone for the remainder of the season. The Broncos could easily go 3-0, but with Drew Lock throwing only 16 touchdowns last season with 15 interceptions, it’s hard to pinpoint where the Broncos will fall.

Drew Lock has been putting in lots of work this offseason so far, there’s the question that we can make the jump to lead the team, it’s when.

Broncos’ floor

The Broncos have a well-rounded team and without a doubt one of the best secondaries in the league. If the offensive side of the ball falls short, the defense will have to carry. Yet the defense side of the ball can only take you so far.

The floor for the Broncos this season would be 4-13. The Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Jets, and Jaguars, are the easiest wins on the schedule this season, and if the Broncos can’t make it past these teams it’s gonna be a rough season. The Chargers took massive strides

This is a worst-case scenario besides losing every game but the team is too talented and skilled to lose 17 games. As stated earlier the pre-season games and the first three games into the regular season will set show us how the rest of the season will likely go.