The Denver Broncos are looking to build on a great 2025 season in 2026 and will need both their offense and defense to step up more than they did in the past.
The Denver Broncos are trying to repeat as American Football Conference division champions for the first time since the team won the divisions in five consecutive seasons from 2011 to 2015.
The AFC West will be one of the toughest divisions in the National Football League in 2026, especially if the Kansas City Chiefs return to form after an uncharacteristic season last year, but the Broncos have the roster to be just as good if not better than they were in 2025.
Denver returned most of their regulars and even added a star weapon (Jaylen Waddle) on offense to take it to the next level and improve in key areas that they have struggled with – presence and production over the middle of the field.
The Broncos had a near historic defense last season, nearly setting the all-time single-season record for sacks, but there’s no guarantee they can get that kind of production again and they are prime regression candidates.
In the case their sack totals decrease, the secondary will need to step up and be better in coverage after the second-half Broncos weren’t exactly stingy in coverage despite having arguably the best cornerback in football (Pat Surtain II) for most of it.
Other key players need to step up, like veteran cornerback Riley Moss, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent following this season if he doesn’t receive an extension.
Moss was often picked on in coverage last year and successor Jahdae Barron is waiting in the wings, so if he wants to stick around in Denver, he needs to have an amazing season. ESPN’s Ben Solak named Moss as the Broncos’ X-factor moving forward.
“He is the most targeted cornerback in football,” Solak wrote Friday. “Moss saw a league-leading 116 targets last season as opposing offenses (rightfully) worked away from Pat Surtain II on the opposite side of the formation.
“Any corner who sees that level of attention can swing games with his play. Thanks in part to a healthier 2025, Moss improved across the board. He more than doubled his passes defended (from 8 to 19) and saw his completion percentage allowed fall from 63.7% to 53.4% as a result.”
While Moss’s speed and agility help him in man coverage, he is targeted a lot and thus dictates the outcome of a game more times than not, hence why he is Solak’s X-factor. Entering a contract year, Moss will do himself and the Broncos massive favors by capitalizing on his opportunities.
Moss doesn’t have a lot of interceptions to his name despite the amount of times he’s been targeted, but seeing his passes defended tick up by more than double is a great sign that he’s all over the ball.
A clean bill of health from Moss and the rest of the defense may just have the team in the Super Bowl if the offense can improve – and it should.
