The 11-2 Denver Broncos downed the 2-11 Las Vegas Raiders 24-17 in Week 14, but the score doesn’t paint the picture. The former dominated the latter. In fact, it was a 17-point game with less than three minutes to go. Because of how possessions work, the Raiders were never going to come back. Case in point: Las Vegas made a field goal as time expired to make it a seven-point game. Now, the question becomes, are the Broncos the best team in the NFL?
Why the Broncos Are the Best Team in the NFL
The answer is becoming yes. “Overly focused, it’s far from the time to rest now/Debates growing ’bout who they think is the best now.”
PFSN’s Power Rankings were published on Tuesday. In it, the Broncos are No. 3, with a 99.9% chance to make the playoffs.
“The Denver Broncos won their tenth game in a row, eight of which were by one possession. Even though a Raiders field goal as time expired in the fourth quarter cut the lead to seven, making it a one-possession game. Marvin Mims Jr. gave the Broncos the lead in the second quarter when he returned a punt 48 yards for a touchdown,” PFSN’s Daniel Tomaro wrote.
The Broncos’ offense is No. 13 in PFSN’s Offense Impact Score, while the Broncos’ defense is No. 2 in PFSN’s Defense Impact Score. The Broncos’ offense, meanwhile, is No. 10 in total yards per game, including No. 13 in passing yards per game and No. 14 in rushing yards per game. And on the other side of the ball, the Broncos’ defense is No. 3 in fewest yards per game allowed to opposing offenses.
So, the Broncos’ offense is borderline elite passing and running at best and balanced on offense at worst. Then the Broncos’ defense is allowing 282 total yards per game, and the fourth-fewest points per game (18.1). In other words, opposing teams can’t get in a shootout with the Broncos because of Denver’s defense. So, when quarterback Bo Nix needs to turn it on, he will (See: Week 8 vs. the Dallas Cowboys).
Tomaro continued. “Los Angeles is tied for the NFC West lead with Seattle at 10-3, with the 49ers at 9-4 right behind. The Rams currently hold the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Seahawks. Los Angeles hosts the Lions next week and will then play at Seattle on Thursday night in Week 16,” Tomaro wrote.
Elsewhere for the Broncos, Nix is inching closer to franchise quarterback status. Broncos general manager George Paton deserves credit for drafting him(and the rebuild). The former had an inflection point during the 2024 offseason, deciding to make Russell Wilson the largest dead cap hit in league history to draft Nix.
