Coaching Direction
Jaylen Waddle gives Sean Payton the speed Denver was missing. The offense has to turn that addition into quick points so the defense is not protecting a one-score margin every fourth quarter.
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Denver Broncos 2026 Team Rankings and Ratings
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85.1PFM Team Scorei
PFM Verdict
Why PFM Ranks the Broncos Here
Denver’s defense is ready to support a better record, with Patrick Surtain II and a deep front giving Sean Payton dependable answers. The Broncos remain No. 9 because Bo Nix still needs a consistent explosive option when the defense does not create short fields. Denver needs an offense that can create its own margin instead of protecting a close game every week.
NFL Rank#9Current PFM ranking
AFC Rank#4Among AFC teams
QB Stability#16Bo Nix · Built to Trust
Season OutlookPlayoff Contender
Head coachSean Payton
Offensive coordinatorDavis Webb
Defensive coordinatorVance Joseph
Latest Ratings Update
Updated Aug 4, 2026PFM Trend
Latest directionImproved
Denver's score rose after Bo Nix returned without limitations from ankle surgery, improving the Broncos' quarterback availability and roster grades.
PFM Team Score85.1
Score movement+0.37
NFL RankNo. 9
Rank movementUp 1 spot
QB StabilityImproved82.3 → 83.1 · +0.78
Roster StrengthImproved80.8 → 80.9 · +0.12
PFM Team DNA
View all NFL team rankingsDenver Broncos Team DNA
Denver's Offense Still Has to Work Too Hard
Denver ranks 21st in explosive-play ability. Without more chunk plays, too many drives depend on staying perfect for ten or twelve snaps.
The Defense Gives Denver More Than the Ranking Suggests
Denver uses a pressure-and-coverage defense built around Patrick Surtain II and one of the league’s deepest fronts. That approach is producing the team’s cleaner answer, and the 13th rank can keep a rough offensive stretch from deciding the game early.
PFM ROAD AHEAD
2026 Denver Broncos Strength of Schedule
Denver owns one of the tougher schedules in the league because San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Chargers and Seattle Seahawks form the hardest part of it. PFM has the schedule No. 10 with an opponent average of 81.4 and 7 games against current top-10 teams. The road is not difficult from start to finish, but the stretch around San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Chargers and Seattle Seahawks leaves little room for an off week.
Difficulty Rank#10No. 1 is toughest
Opponent PFM Avg.81.4Average across opponents
Next 3 Avg.87.0Upcoming opponents
Top-10 Matchups7Games vs. current top 10
Away games left9
Top-10 road opponents3
at Kansas City Chiefs87.2 PFM · #3
Sep 14 · 8:15 pmAwayTop 10
vs. Jacksonville Jaguars83.3 PFM · #14
Sep 20 · 4:05 pmHome
vs. Los Angeles Rams90.7 PFM · #2
Sep 27 · 8:20 pmHomeTop 10
Toughest remaining opponent: 
Seattle Seahawks at 91.3 PFM.
Around the League
League Context
Closest Team DNA Match
Built Like Los Angeles Chargers
Los Angeles ChargersMatch distance: 1.82 rating points
Shared profile: Coaching Direction and Explosiveness.
Denver gets on-schedule throws from the offensive line, and Los Angeles Chargers answers with early-down control from the offensive line. two important parts of the roster connect the teams because each side has a football answer beyond the first option. Los Angeles Chargers separate in QB Stability through a more dependable answer when the offense falls behind schedule.
Where they separate: QB Stability. Chargers hold the stronger current rating.
Division Pressure
AFC West
Kansas City remains the AFC West standard when Patrick Mahomes is healthy, and the Chargers still have Justin Herbert. Denver's defense can shrink either matchup, but Bo Nix and Jaylen Waddle have to supply the explosive plays that keep the Broncos from settling for close losses.
Supporting Team Information
More About the Team
Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl Era
Denver owns 3 Super Bowl titles from 8 trips, with the latest coming in Super Bowl L in 2016.
- Super Bowl Titles
- 3
- Super Bowl Appearances
- 8
- Super Bowl Record
- 3–5
- Last Appearance
- 2016 Super Bowl L
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