Not the Super Bowl champs? Well, the Rams were already loaded. Then they traded for Myles Garrett, too. They should be a freight train.

2. Seattle Seahawks

Mike MacDonald’s team will have a ring ceremony at some point and they might not even be the favorites in their own division. Welcome to the NFC West!

3. Denver Broncos

A lofty position for Sean Payton’s team, but they’ve got continuity, they added Jaylen Waddle and Bo Nix is heading into a critical Year 3.

4. Buffalo Bills

Could this, at long last, finally be Josh Allen’s year? He was foiled at Empower Field back in January, but he’ll have a squad again this fall.

5. New England Patriots

Drake Maye and Co. took full advantage of a strange year and played in a Super Bowl … well, technically. A complete team in Year 2 under coach Mike Vrabel.

6. Baltimore Ravens

The bet here is that former Payton acolyte Declan Doyle will be good for Lamar Jackson, and that Jesse Minter will be an instant success as a head coach. They’ll be fun.

7. Philadelphia Eagles

Starting in 2022, the Eagles have won 14, 11, 14, and 11 games. You know what that means. Fourteen big ones inbound for Nick Sirianni’s team.

8. San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers went from afterthought to nearly capturing the No. 1 seed in the NFC last year. If they can stay healthy, they’ll be a force. Been a big if recently.

9. Los Angeles Chargers

The Mike McDonald and Justin Herbert pairing is one of the NFL’s most fascinating. If Herbert gets comfy, it can be a scary offense.

10. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jags got hot last year and won the division. Imagine how much fun they’d have been with a healthy Travis Hunter. Hopefully 2026 is the year.

11. Chicago Bears

Caleb Williams started to look like a star in the making under coach Ben Johnson. The Bears are really back… and apparently moving to Indiana as well. The only explanation: Duh Bears!

12. Detroit Lions

The Lions went from Johnson to John Morton at OC. It… didn’t work. Drew Petzing should be a good fit for Jared Goff and Co., but Detroit����ap got to play defense, too, in a tough division.

13. Houston Texans

The Texans have perhaps the scariest defense in the NFL. They are an absolute hurricane under DeMeco Ryans. If C.J. Stroud finds his form, this will be an under-ranking.

14. Green Bay Packers

The Packers flamed out again, then extended everybody. At times, Matt LaFleur and Jordan Love look like a Super Bowl waiting to happen. Sometimes.

15. Dallas Cowboys

We know the Cowboys will score with Dak Prescott and those receivers. If former Denver assistant Christian Parker gets the defense straightened out, look out.

16. Kansas City Chiefs

This is destined to be a hilarious under-ranking if Patrick Mahomes quickly returns to form. He probably will. But, for now, questions abound around the all-timer under center.

17. Cincinnati Bengals

Every season Joe Burrow has played 16 or more regular season games, he’s thrown for at least 4,475 yards and 34 touchdowns. Let����ap do that again.

18. Washington Commanders

This team went to the NFC Championship Game in 2024, then Jayden Daniels’ follow-up season was scuttled by injuries. Here’s hoping for a healthy Year 3.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs will get great play from Baker Mayfield, have weeks where they look like one of the best offenses on the planet and somehow end up 7-8 but in the hunt for the NFC South.

20. Carolina Panthers

Basically the same as above, but just not quite as good at quarterback. Bryce Young, though, has a division title under his belt and a chance to repeat.

21. Indianapolis Colts

Daniel Jones is supposedly going to be healthy at the start or early in the season. That����ap good. Probably. This team was so fun for the first half of 2025.

22. Pittsburgh Steelers

If nothing else, the Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers reunion will be tremendous theater. What if they actually make one more run together?

23. Minnesota Vikings

What a calamity for Minnesota to let Sam Darnold go after a terrific 2024. Now they’ve got a Kyler Murray/J.J. McCarthy situation that feels like a Kevin O’Connell cry for help.

24. New Orleans Saints

The Saints can win the NFC South. That����ap in part because it����ap a bad division but also because Tyler Shough has juice and New Orleans was cooking down the stretch last year.

25. New York Giants

John Harbaugh should bring some instant calm and respectability to the Giants. If he can get Jaxson Dart to take another step, the G-Men will have a bright future.

26. Atlanta Falcons

Kevin Stefanski and Matt Ryan are the new braintrust in Atlanta, but the Falcons have questions at QB and around the roster. They’re quite a way away.

27. Tennessee Titans

Titans Cam Ward did some good things as a rookie and clearly has some moxy to his game. Now, can Robert Saleh help build the rest of it around the young QB?

28. Las Vegas Raiders

No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza (eventually) has fun weapons in Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty. Klint Kubiak is a talented offensive coach. It����ap going to take longer than a year.

29. New York Jets

Former Broncos asst. GM Darren Mougey has been wheeling and dealing. They’ve got troves of premium picks the next couple years. It’ll be fun. But those picks can’t play in 2026.

30. Cleveland Browns

Deshaun Watson said recently he’d be open to an extension in Cleveland. That����ap nice. Here’s betting the Browns think $230 million for nine wins (so far) will have been plenty.

31. Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals all the way through the coaching carousel this winter felt a bit like they had nowhere to turn. Eventually it was to Dial-A-McVay Assistant. Or, er, Mike LaFleur.

32. Miami Dolphins

Give the Dolphins credit for going all in on the teardown. But they’re paying $112 million to players on the team and charging $179 million in cap space to players who aren’t.

Here are the 20 best games to watch this season.

Week 1

New England at Seattle
6:20 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 9, KUSA-9

Drake Maye likely had offseason nightmares from the pounding he took from Seattle’s defense in the Super Bowl. Will the Patriots be able to exact some revenge on a night when Seattle raises its second championship banner? Insider tip: Mike Vrabel can’t wait to get back to playing actual games after an offseason full of tabloid headlines.

San Francisco at Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia
6:35 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 10, Netflix

The NFL’s first game Down Under should be saltier than Vegemite. Kyle Shanahan loves nothing more than beating his old friend Sean McVay at SoFi Stadium with 49ers fans taking over the joint, which is likely why McVay worked the NFL’s scheduling levers to play a neutral site game — after a 16-hour flight. Makes sense, since the Niners have won three of their last four in Los Angeles.

Denver at Kansas City
6:15 p.m., Monday, Sept. 14, ESPN

“Are you ready for some football?” Yeah, you can say that again for two fan bases ready to put 2025 in the rearview. Will Patrick Mahomes be rusty coming off knee surgery? Are the Broncos a legit Super Bowl contender? Does Sean Payton love rivalry games in which his team isn’t favored? You know the answer to that last one. We’ll find out the rest under the lights in Kansas City.

Week 2

Dallas at Washington
2:25 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 20, KDVR-31

Will the Eagles have any serious competition for their third straight NFC East crown in 2026? This early-season tilt between the Cowboys and Commanders should provide some clues.

Week 3

Baltimore at Dallas in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2:25 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 27, KUNC-4

Jerry Jones loves spectacle, so it makes sense that America’s Team would play in the legendary Maracanã Stadium in the NFL’s first regular season game in Rio. Dak Prescott and the Cowboys receivers against Lamar Jackson and the Ravens should provide some offensive fireworks for the fans in Brazil.

Week 4

Los Angeles Rams at Philadelphia
11 a.m., Sunday, Oct. 4, KDVR-31

The odds-on Super Bowl favorites face a brutal opening stretch against the rival Niners (in Australia), Giants, Broncos, Eagles and Bills — which includes back-to-back road games in Denver and Philadelphia. The Eagles have also won the last four matchups in this series. Could this be an NFC Championship preview?

Week 5

Buffalo at Los Angeles Rams
6:15 p.m., Monday, Oct. 12, ESPN

In a quarterback league, it doesn’t get much better than old gunslinger Matthew Stafford firing away against Josh Allen at home. Outside of the Broncos, Allen won’t face a more ferocious pass rush this season, especially if Aaron Donald comes out of retirement.

Week 6

Dallas at Green Bay
6:20 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 28, KUSA-9

Does the winner of this game break the 40-40 tie from last season? The Packers have won eight of the last 10 in this series, including a 48-32 thrashing in the NFC wild card at Jerry World after the 2024 season that still has Cowboys fans sore.

Week 7

Kansas City at Seattle
6:20 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 25, KUSA-9

It����ap the Kenneth Walker III Bowl and a possible Super Bowl preview when last year’s title-game MVP faces his former team in Seattle. Yards won’t come easy for Walker against Mike MacDonald’s swarming unit, especially with the 12s in full throat. Old AFC West fans and Hall of Famer Warren Moon will love Seattle rocking its crisp royal blue throwbacks against the Chiefs for a national audience.

Week 9

Houston at Los Angeles Chargers
2:05 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 8, KCNC-4

The Texans have won the last two against the Bolts, including a playoff win after the 2024 season. Will the addition of QB whisperer Mike McDaniel tip the scales for Justin Herbert and Los Angeles against DeMeco Ryan’s top-ranked defense from last season?

Week 12

Kansas City at Buffalo
6:20 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 26, KUSA-9

The only thing better than an extra slice of pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving? A renewal of the NFL’s best QB duel. Josh Allen is sick of the narrative that he can only beat Patrick Mahomes during the regular season, but so far that����ap true. These two rivals have split their last 10 meetings, but Mahomes is 4-0 in playoff games. This will be the first time the two rivals square off at Buffalo’s new Highmark Stadium.

Denver at Pittsburgh
1 p.m., Friday, No. 27, Prime Video

Skip the lines at the mall and feast on leftovers and Broncos-Steelers on Black Friday. It����ap the last time (presumably) that the Broncos will face Aaron Rodgers, who is 2-2 against Denver entering his 22nd NFL season.

New York Jets at Miami
11 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 29, KUNC-4

Geno Smith vs. Malik Willis looks like one of the worst games of the regular season, but there could be a big prize at stake: The right to draft Archibald Charles Manning at No. 1. The Dolphins, carrying an NFL record $179.2 million in dead cap space, are projected to win only 4.5 games, while the Jets are projected to win just 5.5. The Cardinals, of course, might be worse than both. Embrace the suck.

Week 13

Buffalo at New England
2:25 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 6, KCNC-4

These two division rivals would’ve faced off for the right to go to the Super Bowl last January if not for Ja’Quan McMillian’s season-saving pick in an AFC wild-card thriller in Denver. (Yeah, don’t bring it up with Bills fans, who are still convinced it was a Brandin Cooks catch.) The Bills are looking to recapture the AFC East crown after the Patriots’ magical run in 2025.

Week 15

Baltimore at Pittsburgh
11 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 20, KUNC-4

John Harbaugh is coaching the Giants. Mike Tomlin is analyzing games in the NBC studio. Doesn’t matter — the antipathy between these two franchises is still as strong as ever, especially after last year’s rock fight to close the NFL regular season. The Ravens, a trendy Super Bowl favorite, would certainly love to get payback after a missed FG cost them the playoffs and cost Harbaugh his job. Mike McCarthy and Jesse Minter, you’ve got next.

Week 16

Green Bay at Chicago
11 a.m., Friday, Dec. 25, Netflix

Da Bears and the Packers at frigid Soldier Field, renewing the NFL’s oldest rivalry, is the perfect gift to open after you get done with the presents under the tree. Expect the Packers to be like your nephew who didn’t get “Grand Theft Auto VI” for Christmas, too, after blowing both tilts in the Second City last season. That includes a brutal playoff loss in which the Bears, trailing 21-3 at halftime, went off for 25 points in the fourth quarter and won on Caleb Williams’ TD dime to DJ Moore. Micah Parsons, nearly a year removed from his ACL surgery, will try to make sure that doesn’t happen again.

Buffalo at Denver
2:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 25, Netflix

You know who doesn’t love the NFL’s Christmas Day schedule? The NBA. This rematch of last year’s instant-classic AFC wild-card matchup is the stuffing between Bears-Packers and Rams-Seahawks. It should be pivotal for playoff position in the race for the AFC’s top seed.

Los Angeles Rams at Seattle
6:15 p.m., Friday, Dec. 25, KDVR-31

All football fans want for Christmas is another NFC West title fight after three epic clashes last season. That included Week 16’s overtime classic in which the Seahawks scored their third 2-point conversion of the game to secure the win. Playoff seeding and home-field advantage should be on the line again when the odds-on Super Bowl favorites head to Lumen Field to tussle with the defending champs.

Week 17

Denver at New England
TBD Jan. 3 or 4, TBD

Woulda. Coulda. Shoulda. The Broncos are motivated by the Super Bowl opportunity that disappeared in a whiteout during last year’s AFC Championship. What if Bo Nix hadn’t broken his ankle? What if Sean Payton kicked the field goal on fourth-and-1 from the 14? No doubt Nix will be up for this one against Drake Maye, who went nine picks ahead of him in the 2024 draft.

Baltimore at Cincinnati
6:15 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 31, Prime Video

Skip the pricey prix-fixe on New Year’s Eve and stay in for this one, which could decide the AFC North title. This division rivalry only got juicier after Trey Hendrickson switched sides on a four-year, $112 million deal after the Ravens nixed the Maxx Crosby blockbuster. Hendrickson returning to the Jungle for the first time as a Raven should bring out the boo birds from Who Dey Nation. Crank the Guns N’ Roses.

Baltimore Ravens

BetMGM says: Win Super Bowl: 11-1; Over-under win total: 11.5

Strengths: Lamar Jackson is a two-time MVP and one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Derrick Henry scoffs at your aging curves and historical data while continuing to run through defenses. Zay Flowers has developed into a No. 1 receiver. Kyle Hamilton and Marlon Humphrey anchor one of the best secondaries. The , but Trey Hendrickson was a pretty nice backup plan. The Ravens have won double-digit games in six of the past eight years.

Weaknesses: The John Harbaugh era is over. Baltimore has a first-time NFL head coach (Jesse Minter) and two new coordinators. The offensive line lost center Tyler Linderbaum to free agency and rookie Olaivavega Ioane will likely start at one of the guard spots. The longstanding great defense has slid from first in 2023 to ninth and then 17th in points allowed over the past two seasons.

Cincinnati Bengals

BetMGM says: Win Super Bowl: 22-1; Over-under win total: 9.5

Strengths: Joe Burrow, when healthy, remains an elite NFL quarterback. Ja’Marr Chase is in the conversation for best wide receiver. He and Tee Higgins together might be the best 1-2 punch. Chase Brown topped 1,000 yards rushing for the first time and added 69 receptions. Dexter Lawrence and Jonathan Allen could be one of the best duos on the interior of the defensive line.

Weaknesses: Burrow’s health issues and the offensive line’s struggles are not a coincidence. While the two new guys inside are exciting, Hendrickson, with his 61 sacks over the past five seasons, is now in Baltimore with a division rival. The defense allowed the third-most points in the league last year. It should be better, but it needs to be a lot better if the Bengals are going to be more than just a potential playoff team.

Pittsburgh Steelers

BetMGM says: Win Super Bowl: 80-1; Over-under win total: 8.5

Strengths: T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward still anchor the defense up front, and the supporting cast, with the likes of Derrick Harmon and Alex Highsmith, is stout. The secondary could also be a plus if the top guys stay healthy. Adding Michael Pittman to play next to D.K. Metcalf outside, along with Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington inside, should be the best collection of pass catchers in Pittsburgh in several years.

Weaknesses: Aaron Rodgers was better than the other post-Ben Roethlisberger options the Steelers have tried. Maybe he can find one more vintage season with his old coach Mike McCarthy, now the new guy in charge of the Steelers. The offensive line is a question mark, with Broderick Jones’ health the biggest uncertainty. Mike Tomlin and the Steelers won 10 games and lost the first playoff game by double digits for three straight seasons. They haven’t won a postseason contest since 2016. This group feels … about the same, unless the new coaching staff can squeeze a little more of it.

Cleveland Browns

BetMGM says: Win Super Bowl: 250-1; Over-under win total: 5.5

Strengths: The Browns were 14th in the league in points allowed, which was actually tops in the division. Jared Verse is not Myles Garrett, but he can still be the top pass rusher on a good defense in his third season. Denzel Ward is one of the league’s best cornerbacks. Harold Fannin, Jr., could be one of the top tight ends in short order.

Weaknesses: Is it going to be former Colorado star Shedeur Sanders or Deshaun Watson at quarterback? This offense was a mess last season, and it’s up to new coach Todd Monken to fix it. Maybe the offensive line will be better with some new additions highlighted by No. 9 pick Spencer Fano? Former Broncos wideout Jerry Jeudy is the No. 1 wideout. He caught 50 of 106 targets last year. Garrett had an NFL-record 23 sacks last year, but he’s in Los Angeles now.

When last season ended on a refrigerated afternoon at Empower Field, neither was expected to be in charge in training camp.

Sean Payton figured to give up his ATM PIN before surrendering his call sheet. Through collaboration, conversation — and perhaps a contract extension —  Payton acquiesced, promoting Webb to offensive coordinator.

The bigger shock was that Joseph did not land a head coaching job. Despite multiple interviews, and some less-than-desirable vacancies, Joseph came up empty.

It is also not surprising when the NFL features only three black head coaches — Houston’s DeMeco Ryans, Tampa Bay’s Todd Bowles and the Jets’ Aaron Glenn.

That Webb was closer to landing a gig in Buffalo and Las Vegas explains the kind of obstacles Joseph faces. He’s not young. And he’s not in charge of the offense.

He can remove all doubt by coaching the league’s No. 1 defense. Everyone wants the next Sean McVay. What about the next Mike MacDonald with a few more gray hairs?

With coach Payton presenting Drew Brees into the Hall of Fame, Joseph was put in charge of Saturday’s scrimmage. He looks the part.

Joseph is back. That means the Broncos should be back atop the AFC West. Leaving other contenders to chase.

While everyone slobbers over the return of Patrick Mahomes, the rebound of Lamar Jackson and the arrival of Joe Brady, the Broncos are in the best position to win.

It doesn’t matter what happens with Kenneth Walker or Trey Hendrickson or D.J. Moore when the Broncos have a defense capable of calling checkmate on anyone.

Joseph has inspired a brotherhood with his defense, creating players who lean on him and each other. They know he believes. They know he will put them in position to win. And they know he will give them all the credit.

Time to give him a parting gift: the No. 1 ranked defense and another shot in the cockpit.

V.J., as his players call him, is back. So is the relentless effort of Zach Allen, the SaranWrap-tight coverage of Pat Surtain II and the playmaking of Ja’Quan McMillian. V.J. is back in an orange-and-blue ball cap, and the Broncos are poised to leave all comers in a black-and-blue wake.

“It is what VJ has molded since he got here. It����ap player-led. He’s going to give you the grasp of the defense. Once you show you can do the job, he has trust in you. And he also has trust that you are showing the younger guys how to be a pro,” cornerback Riley Moss said. “And I think personally, it is a developmental program. You are going to get better no matter what stage you are in. He wants you to get better. It����ap the coolest thing. And it makes it fun.”

Well, unless you are an opposing quarterback. The Broncos set a franchise record with 63 sacks in 2024. Then bested it with 68 last season. With all due respect to Bo Nix and his fourth-quarter pixie dust, the defense was behind the 14-3 record.

“It all starts with V.J.,” said Allen. “It is about playing fast, and playing violent.”

There is another level to this defense. As good as the unit has been, there is a red dot on the cashmere sweater. The Broncos must produce more turnovers.

“That’s true,” Surtain said.

It makes no sense that 68 sacks led to only 14 takeaways. It is like a boxer landing 30 uppercuts and no knockouts.

They forced nine fumbles. They recovered four. Only the Commanders (two) had fewer.

Joseph sets a high standard. He knows the defense was good. But this is one area where the Broncos must improve.

Get the ball on the ground, especially with strip sacks. That happened only twice last season, inconceivable given the speed, power and chop of Nik Bonitto.

The 50-50 ball in the air has to be theirs. Anything less than four picks for Moss will be a disappointment. And it is past time for Talanoa Hufanga to end his 25-game streak without an interception. Conservatively, he should have had four or five last season.

“I really messed up last year when it came to those things,” Hufanga said. “I left a lot of — we call it money — on the field.”

There is no guarantee that the Broncos will win a fourth Super Bowl. But I can guarantee they will not reach one without Joseph. ����apountry wanted him gone in 2018. And then again after the 70-point Miami Mauling in 2023.

All Joseph did was look in the mirror, accept blame, and keep fixing, adjusting and coaching until he found the right balance of controlled aggression.

Under his tutelage, Bonitto has evolved from unplayable to unstoppable. McMillian has gone from undrafted to producing unfathomable plays.

And, wouldn’t you know it, who are the biggest surprises a week-plus into camp? Defensive linemen Malcolm Roach and Eyioma Uwazurike. D.J. Jones predicted Roach would fill the defensive end vacancy left by John Franklin-Myers, and called Uwazurike “unblockable.”

When the 10 NFL head coaching jobs were filled this offseason, there was anger and relief. There is no way Joseph should not be in charge of a team. By staying for another season, he has a chance to make his candidacy undeniable.

Win a championship with the league’s No. 1 defense, and owners must give him a second chance.

“He’s a dog,” Raiders outside linebacker Maxx Crosby said, . “I’ll give it to him.”

On Monday, Nix was announced as No. 59 on the , voted on by players across the league. It’s a tangible point — despite the triviality of offseason rankings — to rising league-wide respect for the 26-year-old Broncos quarterback, who put together an utterly disjointed sophomore season that nonetheless ended with a momentous playoff win over the Buffalo Bills and a spot in the AFC Championship.

The NFL’s  ultimately made clear his placement had little to do with advanced metrics, which reporters and fans across the league have bandied about for two years in discussing Nix’s flaws. Little to do, even, with counting stats, where Nix currently stands at the top of a loaded 2024 quarterback class. Nix has risen to No. 59 — up from No. 64 after his rookie season in 2025 — because of an ability to seize the moment that is nearly impossible to define but innately easy to identify.

No. 59 on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2026… QB Bo Nix!

— NFL (@NFL)

“I don’t know what it is,” teammate and All-Pro Pat Surtain said in an interview with the NFL for Nix’s placement. “But like, when he’s down, and he feels like the urgency picks up, it����ap like — he turns into Superman.”

The NFL pointed out, in Nix’s video announcement, that the rising third-year quarterback led the league in total comeback wins (13) in 2026. That was good enough for his peers to rank him above a slew of notable quarterbacks: San Francisco’s Brock Purdy, Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence and former Ravens Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson, to name a few.

Elsewhere this offseason, Nix came in at No. 18 among quarterbacks in , reflecting a clear disconnect in league-wide opinion around the Broncos’ franchise quarterback. He led the league in game-winning drives in 2025, finished eighth among all quarterbacks in passing yards (3,931) and 10th in Next Gen Stats’ Expected Points Added metric; he also ranked 28th of 33 qualified quarterbacks in yards per attempt and 29th in passer rating on throws on intermediate routes.

Both of those last points are clear growth areas for Nix and are also inexorably tied to deficiencies in Denver’s offense that the franchise has taken steps to address this offseason. New star receiver Jaylen Waddle saw 57% of his receiving yards come in that intermediate part of the field last year, and adds a kind of run-after-catch dynamism that Nix didn’t have previously in his receiver room.

“You could be first-and-10 and starting a drive and go one-and-done because he takes it 75, 80 yards,” Nix said in June of Waddle. “That����ap the kind of weapon that we added, and that����ap I think what we all have been out here watching.”

Nix was the second Bronco to appear in this year’s NFL Top 100, after Zach Allen placed No. 73. The NFL rolls rankings out in descending order from No. 100.

A reunion with Michael Wilhoite? It’s possible

The Broncos could be reintroducing a familiar face to their defensive staff this fall, after a one-year absence marred by legal troubles.

After misdemeanor charges were dropped in June against former Denver assistant coach Michael Wilhoite, stemming from a 2025 incident in which Wilhoite allegedly punched a police officer at Denver International Airport, a source with knowledge of the situation told The Denver Post that it’s entirely possible Wilhoite will be back on the Broncos’ staff this fall in 2026. No agreement has been formalized, the source said.

Wilhoite served as the Broncos’ outside linebackers coach in 2023 and 2024 under head coach Sean Payton, whom he previously worked with in New Orleans in 2019 and 2020. Payton fired Wilhoite in March 2025 shortly after Wilhoite was originally charged with felony assault, a charge later downgraded and fully dropped.

That criminal case would remain sealed as long as Wilhoite completed a diversion program, which he has not yet finished, as a representative of the Denver District Attorney’s office told The Post Monday. Wilhoite is still facing a pending civil suit from the police officer, Jesus Galvan Chavez, involved in the 2025 incident.

This week, Broncos quarterback Bo Nix placed 18th in ESPN’s , compiled from anonymous conversations with various NFL staffers. Indicative, certainly, of league-wide belief that Nix has steps to take entering Year 3: he did finish 26th of 33 qualified quarterbacks in passer rating (87.8) and 28th in yards-per-attempt (6.4) last year, after all. But the mid-tier placement given Nix’s league-leading seven game-winning drives in 2025 and playoff win over Bills star Josh Allen.

Was such a ranking fair? Who knows. Probably a bit low. But we here at The Post are not here to speculate about league-wide hot takes; we �󲹱�����decided to speculate, though, about Broncos-specific hot takes that have been simmering in the back of our minds for an offseason since Denver fell to New England in last year’s AFC Championship.

With that in mind, Broncos beat reporters Parker Gabriel and Luca Evans have assembled individual lists of five sizzling predictions for Denver’s 2026 season (plus one completely off-the-wall take), a couple of short weeks removed from the start of training camp. Time for our own slightly informed think-piece. Let’s dive in.

Disclaimer: We are in no way advocating for these to come true or rooting for these predictions to take place. These are solely opinions and should be viewed as such.

Parker Gabriel’s takes

No. 1. I am less confident in the Broncos making the postseason this year than I was at this time last year.

To be clear, I think the Broncos will make the playoffs and will be surprised if they don’t. But the first-place schedule is no joke. The opening six games are brutal. The stretch run is no joke. Denver has been largely healthy in the regular season since Payton arrived. The changes on defense in both personnel and staff might be a bit underrated. Plus, when a team is so good in one-score games one year, there’s natural wonder about regression the next year. Plus, Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson didn’t make the playoff field last year. Teams will beat up on each other, but 10-7 isn’t a sure ticket to the playoffs this fall in the AFC.

No. 2. Que Robinson will finish second on the team in sacks

Part of this, naturally, is because of the uncertainty around Jonathon Cooper’s future as he faces a felony assault charge stemming from June’s domestic violence-related incidents with his former girlfriend. Part of it, though, is because Robinson looks like a true breakout candidate going into his second season. Could Jonah Elliss get to 10 sacks with more playing time? Sure. Might Zach Allen set a new career-high and flirt with double digits? Certainly possible. But Robinson’s explosiveness and his ability to play in any down-and-distance situation make him an intriguing candidate behind clear team sack leader Nik Bonitto.

No. 3. The Broncos won’t trade a player who is slated to have a substantial role this summer, but they should

Nearly every move Denver has made this offseason has been about winning this fall. Certainly, they’ve done some long-range planning in how they structured contract extensions and they opted to let John Franklin-Myers walk even though technically they could have afforded to keep him, but by and large this looks like a team that����ap putting a lot of chips in right now. Makes sense with Bo Nix still on his rookie contract. We also know depth is paramount as seasons grind on. Still, if the Broncos are relatively healthy by the middle of training camp, there’s a decent chance somebody else around the league will want somebody on Denver’s roster. Is that Ben Powers? Riley Moss? Troy Franklin? Jarrett Stidham? The Broncos profited nicely by trading Devaughn Vele last summer. They can afford to do something similar this summer if a team comes calling in a similar fashion, and it’d be good business for the future.

No. 4. The next Broncos assistant to get a head coaching interview is Evan Rothstein and it will happen this winter 

Three Broncos assistant coaches got head coaching interviews this winter: Webb, Joseph and special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi, so they’re off the board. Rothstein isn’t an on-field coordinator like those three — his title is director of game management and assistant QB coach — but Payton holds him in extremely high regard. He’s instrumental in the building, even if he doesn’t get a ton of public mention by Broncos coaches and staffers. He’ll get some head-coaching buzz and will be a sneaky offensive-coordinator candidate in Denver if Webb gets a head-coaching job.

No. 5. Sam Ehlinger will win the No. 2 quarterback job in training camp 

Stidham has been the No. 2 for each of the past three years and is the favorite to win that job again. Webb, though, was really high on Ehlinger as a free agent last spring and the former Colt and Texas Longhorn impressed coaches in his first season with the Broncos. Let����ap say they’re about even through training camp. Do Payton and Webb carry on with the status quo? Or might a bit of a shakeup — with the possibility that Ehlinger’s mobility might be appealing in a short stint relieving Nix — be in order? In this situation, the Broncos probably keep all three on the 53 unless a trade partner materializes for Stiddy.

And one (crazy) extra: If the Broncos win the Super Bowl, Sean Payton will publicly muse about retirement but find the allure of a potential dynasty too much to pass up

One of the more hilarious nuggets in Seth Wickersham’s opus on the Broncos’ postseason run was Payton saying he wants to outlast NFL commissioner Roger Goodell by at least a year, essentially just so he could say he did. But if Denver wins a Super Bowl, Payton will have little left to prove. His Hall of Fame bona fides will be beyond doubt. There would be a post-Super Bowl Sean McVay-esque ‘will he or won’t he’ period fueled by Payton himself. Ultimately, though, the bet here is he’d decide he was about to win three more in the next four years.

Luca Evans’ takes

No. 1. The Broncos start the season 0-3, Myles Garrett sacks Bo Nix at least twice in Week 3, Sean Payton slowly inserts himself back into play-calling duties, and the Webb-Payton hybrid brain trust rides to a top-10 offensive finish.

Is the 31-year-old Davis Webb built to handle the natural ups and downs of his first full NFL season as a play-caller? Yes, if you ask him. Will the notoriously hyperactive 62-year-old Payton give him the full leeway to work through the bumps, in literally the first time Payton has ever given up play-calling? Hard to see. I keep thinking back to a text I sent former Saints running back Deuce McAllister in February before Webb was officially given the keys, on whether he could actually see Payton making the move.

“Hey Luca nice to meet you,” McAllister wrote back. “Sean’s not giving up play calling.”

Of course, Payton did. That text was still indicative of how tightly the coach has gripped his offense over the years, as central to not only his NFL identity but his identity as a person at large. Payton’s Broncos teams have started the season 0-3, 1-2 and 1-2 in his Denver tenure; these Broncos will now face a healthy Patrick Mahomes at Arrowhead on “Monday Night Football” to start the year, then come home to play a Jacksonville team that outplayed them last season, then play the arguable Super Bowl favorites in the Los Angeles Rams.

In this scenario, I think Payton quietly maneuvers for more play-calling influence after an early-season slump, a combination of tough love and natural acclimation steadies the ship, and a Webb-Payton hybrid attack puts the Broncos back in the playoffs as a middle-ish AFC seed.

No. 2. The Broncos trade Riley Moss by November’s trade deadline, and maybe sooner.

Moss has a near-perfect demeanor as Denver’s CB2 opposite Pat Surtain. But there is a wide set of factors working against his long-term staying power in Denver. Firstly, he’s a proven, productive cornerback who could hit free agency after 2026 and earn a few million more than the Broncos would be willing to pay him. Secondly, the Broncos may need to pick between an extension for him or nickel Ja’Quan McMillian, who’s arguably more valuable to coordinator Vance Joseph’s defensive system. Thirdly, the Broncos have 2025 first-round pick Jahdae Barron now likely set to compete with Moss at outside cornerback come training camp.

The Broncos are in a tricky spot here. If they start Moss, first-round pick Barron would likely play a reserve, situational role for the second year in a row. If they bench Moss, he will naturally lose trade value over the course of the year. The most logical option for the front office would be to either start Moss with the idea of moving him closer to the deadline or trade him sometime before the start of 2026.

No. 3. Rookie running back Jonah Coleman catches 40-plus passes in 2026. 

This isn’t really that hot of a take. Third-string back Tyler Badie saw 31 targets last season, and Coleman will likely play more than Badie did. He caught a bunch of passes during the Broncos’ summer program and had 31 catches for 354 yards in 12 games at Washington last year. And despite the heavy involvement of RJ Harvey, Payton’s offenses have long featured two running backs in the passing game: think Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles in 2013 (77 and 71 catches, respectively).

No. 4. Que Robinson racks up at least eight sacks. 

Robinson is a high-upside pass-rusher who took time to develop as a rookie and finished with 1.5 sacks combined across the regular season and playoffs. There’s direct precedent here with the name ahead of Robinson on Denver’s depth chart: Nik Bonitto, a high-upside pass-rusher who took time to develop as a rookie and jumped from 1.5 sacks to eight in his second NFL season.

The Broncos already wanted to create more snaps for Robinson in 2026, and now face an uncertain situation at OLB, as starter Jonathon Cooper is facing a felony assault charge in Douglas County District Court that could lead to league discipline. Regardless of how Cooper’s legal process plays out, Robinson will see the field more in his second season and is poised to capitalize on snaps playing alongside Zach Allen and Denver’s interior pass-rushers.

No. 5. Payton convinces Taysom Hill to come out of semi-retirement midseason. 

Payton loves his guys. Hill, a quarterback-turned-���dz���ٳ󾱲Բ���who played a key part in Payton’s offenses late in his time in New Orleans, is one of his guys. He is also currently unsigned, and his NFL career might be over at 35 years old after a season averaging 3.3 yards per offensive touch with the Saints.

At least one interesting name seems to find its way into Payton’s locker room every season with depth necessities, though. Remember Marcedes Lewis last year? I have no idea what role Hill would play, or if he’d even get a snap in 2026. I’m just thinking it’ll happen.

And one crazy extra: Frank Crum accounts for at least three offensive touchdowns.

The world changed on Jan. 17, 2026, the day that reserve tackle Frank Crum became an eligible receiver. Crum’s goal-line touchdown in the Broncos’ wild-card win over the Bills was lost in the immediate emotion of Bo Nix’s season-ending injury, but should not be forgotten.

Payton loves gadget players, and the 6-foot-7-plus Crum is agile and versatile enough to legitimately handle a handful of short-yardage touches. Plus, longtime Payton ally John Morton gave him the idea for that Crum play, and Morton is now back permanently on staff. The cards are perfectly aligned for some Crum-mania.

When general manager George Paton met the media on Monday at the NFL owners meetings, he provided an interesting nugget about Nix and the acquisition of receiver Jaylen Waddle.

“I wasn’t with him when he found out, but he was pretty excited when I walked down to the training room. He obviously went to dinner with all of us. I think Bo thinks he is a quasi-GM sometimes,” Paton said. “Sometimes he is right, and sometimes he is wrong, but I think he’s right on this guy. This guy is pretty special.”

So, too, is Nix. The Broncos know this. A transition is happening right before our eyes. Nix’s stature in the organization is growing, a testament to his maturity and remarkable first two seasons.

Reticent to question anything from coach Sean Payton as a rookie, Nix began voicing his opinion about preferring uptempo last season. He also has no issue screaming at Payton over slow substitutions, something that played out on a weekly basis.

And the offseason has only amplified his gravitas.

He cemented every belief about his character by the way he tackled his ankle rehab, and showed his growth by speaking up about Waddle. Write it off as him having a strong opinion because he played against the receiver at Alabama in the Iron Bowl if you must.

In my belief, there is more to it than that.

Folks in charge want to know what Nix thinks. And we would be foolish to believe that Nix did not welcome Davis Webb’s promotion to offensive coordinator with anything but open arms. He became close to Webb over his first two seasons, his development progressing rapidly under the quarterback coach.

Webb had leverage this offseason as a hot head coaching candidate. There was no reason for him to stay without being given some play-calling duties. Payton reluctantly relinquished the role — don’t blame him, since he remains good at dialing up gems. And in case you didn’t hear, it was — all together now — his decision.

But there is no way this change happens without Payton, Paton or owner Greg Penner — or some combination thereof — having a conversation with Nix.

This is how the NFL works. As a rookie, it was Nix’s time. Last season, it was his team. In his third season, he will become the face of the Broncos, a role filled by Payton since 2023, as he navigated a hairpin U-turn.

Nix should be coming off a third straight playoff berth and in line for a $50 to $60-million a year contract. That kind of deal comes with perks, spoken or not.

We have seen this evolution with Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. They were all rookies once. Now, you can’t mention their team without thinking of them.

Nix is quickly ascending into this role. The good news? He gets it. He knows the Spider-Man principle — with great power comes great responsibility.

The star franchise quarterback is the answer to every question. And he is both the excuse and the target of criticism when expectations are not met. It all comes with it, especially when the salary matches a gross national product.

Since being drafted, Nix has passed every test. If he reaches his potential next year with a Super Bowl berth, it will be obvious that he is the fulcrum on which the organization pivots.

Avs sweaters: The Avs are in position to clinch the NHL’s best record. It is not because of a certain sweater. Best line seen on this: The Avs are the favorites to win the Stanley Cup. The Quebec Nordiques are the favorites for the top draft pick. Time to stop wearing the blue jerseys.

Go-Go Rox: Adding Jake McCarthy and Willi Castro has given the Rockies a throttle. They had 10 stolen bases through six games. They posted 87 last season. The Rockies have no plans to stop running. “It’s how we are going to play,” outfielder Mickey Moniak said. Coors Field awards more than power. Nice to see a front office recognize this.

At 31 years old, the Broncos pass game coordinator and quarterbacks coach has become a top head coaching candidate. He is viewed as the new Sean McVay, a wonder kid capable of running an offense and a franchise.

As the Broncos prepare to host the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, it is time to acknowledge two truths: Payton had onions to hire a coach in his 20s, and Webb has never been more important than this week.

Webb stopped playing in 2022 and joined Payton’s staff in 2023. Everything about his hiring hinted that he was a meteor in the business. After the interview, Payton was looking over his notes and wondering why he even let Webb leave the building. He phoned him on his way to DIA and just like that the former top college prospect had a headset.

Webb has been on the fast track ever since. During the past preseason, Payton allowed him to call plays. It went well to no one’s surprise. That Bo Nix posted 53 passing touchdowns and 25 wins in his first two seasons is a credit to Payton’s play calling, but Webb deserves a tip of the cap.

He is a buffer. He is brilliant. And this game plan demands his best work, steeling Jarrett Stidham for the biggest challenge of his career, or any career for that matter. Webb is only two years older than Stidham. But his football knowledge belies his age. He has been keeping notebooks of plays for decades.

It is why he ran the Buffalo Bills’ quarterback room in his final season as a backup, becoming good friends with Josh Allen. So of course he is a candidate there. And with the Las Vegas Raiders.

He has the ability to digest loads of information and make it practical and useful for his pupils. That is critical for Stidham. He is cramming for the test. And while his confidence is real, Webb is a person he can confide in, letting him know what plays he likes, what makes him comfortable.

The Broncos are attempting to reach their ninth Super Bowl. If Payton pulls it off with a backup quarterback, it becomes his magnum opus.

And it will have happened only because he had the guts to hire a backup quarterback a few weeks after he signed Stidham as a free agent.

Pasties, anyone: New England passes the eye test as a good team. But let’s not pretend they navigated Pikes Peak to reach the NFL’s Final Four. They faced the easiest strength of schedule since the 1999 Rams. It is why winning on the road at Denver — something they have never done in the playoffs — remains daunting, even without Bo Nix starting.

Center of attention: The pushback for Andruw Jones’ election to the Hall of Fame was surprising. I voted for him. Yes, his .254 batting average is unsightly. But Jones deserved the honor for this reason: He is one of three center fielders with 400-plus home runs and 10 Gold Gloves. The other two? Ken Griffey Jr. and Willie Mays. There are no qualifiers needed when explaining Jones’ entrance to Cooperstown.

Avs issues: The Avs have finally had their first hiccup with four losses in their past five games. This was always going to happen. And as much as it is annoying, it is necessary. Adversity helps focus expectations, providing a reminder that nothing has come easily for the Avs since winning the Stanley Cup. They will be fine. Now, if injuries surface, especially during the Olympics, it is time for fingernails to disappear.

Big Blue: Count me among the minority. I don’t see John Harbaugh as the perfect fit with the New York Giants. A blue blood name with a blue blood franchise. An adult in the room. The dots connect. Perhaps too easily. The Giants dissolved last year because they could not hold a lead. No one has been worse at protecting leads over the last few years than Harbaugh. And he had Lamar Jackson. Harbaugh can work. But let me see how his offensive coordinator does with Jaxson Dart before this is celebrated as the second coming of Bill Parcells or Tom Coughlin.

Has it really come to this? That we have to pray for Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph to get a second chance as an NFL head coach?

The cycle got thrown for a loop with the firing of John Harbaugh. But even as the Super Bowl-winning coach finalizes a deal with the New York Giants, eight vacancies remain. And you are telling me that Joseph, with the resume he has put together over the past three seasons, is not deserving of one?

Hogwash.

Joseph has shown himself more than capable after creating a brotherhood of bullies with the Broncos defense. The group ranks first in sacks (68), yards per play (4.6) and red zone touchdown percentage (42.6), and third in points per game (18.3). He blends humility with knowledge, and his refusal to point fingers inspires devotion from players. Just throw on the film and watch how hard guys run to the ball, and execute their assignments.

Joseph has talked in some capacity with nearly every team that has an opening. The knee-jerk response is that he was horrible in his first chance. The record said as much. He only lasted two seasons with the Broncos, compiling an 11-21 record. He was drinking out of a firehose and not allowed to hire his staff, leaving many to backstab or undermine him.

He has the seven-year itch. He is ready after padding his resume in Arizona and Denver since 2018.

Yet, his candidacy does not seem to be taken seriously in a league where offensive minds are valued more by owners.

Baltimore is the best job, and the idea of Joseph fixing the Ravens’ defense with Davis Webb calling plays for Lamar Jackson is tantalizing. Same goes for the Titans, and possibly the Raiders, depending on your view of Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza as the No. 1 overall draft pick.

Joseph fits in a lot of places, especially if he brings Webb with him. He is not getting his due. Or the respect he deserves. In the end, Arizona could be the landing spot. Ownership appreciated his work as the defensive coordinator under Kliff Kingsbury and how he held things together behind the scenes. He would likely be given three years to get the Cardinals back on track.

Patience helps. But not as much as a quarterback. He would have to mend fences with Kyler Murray, or eat dead money and find a different answer.

Joseph deserves another opportunity. And if he does not land a job in this cycle, there is no defense of that.

Iron Mike: Mike Tomlin’s resignation sent seismic shockwaves through the NFL. I’ve written multiple times in this spot that this was likely his last year with the Steelers. He did not feel appreciated, but the truth is, he hadn’t won a playoff game since the 2016 season. He is a culture builder, a leader. He will benefit from a year off in broadcasting and return fresh with a new perspective on offense.

Seaton leaving: is not a surprise. Despite what CU fanboys scream, Seaton regressed last season, missed multiple games with an injury and did not put on good game tape against Utah. To regain his first-round status, Seaton needs better coaching. And, obviously, more money. But that has led to a potential odd destination. Mississippi State? Sure, the Bulldogs can pay him, but they are an SEC also-ran. Would he really choose his old CU line boss and current Bulldogs coach Phil Loadholt over a powerhouse? That seems like a miscalculation.

Receiver in the backfield: Even before Saturday’s anticipated chill and windy weather, it was obvious the Broncos need to run to win. The Bills’ rush defense stinks. As much as I want Jaleel McLaughlin to carry the load, Marvin Mims Jr. represents a secret playmaker. When the Bills crack, they become the San Andreas Fault. They have allowed more long touchdown runs than anyone. This is where Mims in the backfield could go off. One 35-yard burst could change the game. Sean Payton will write “Run It” on his playsheet. Now, do us all a favor and do it. ]]> 7396463 2026-01-16T15:24:55+00:00 2026-01-16T15:26:39+00:00 /2026/01/16/josh-allen-john-elway-peyton-manning-broncos-bills-nfl-playoffs/ Fri, 16 Jan 2026 18:46:27 +0000 /?p=7395811 You carve Josh Allen in the playoffs the way you carve a turkey at Thanksgiving. Cut off the legs.

Don’t let him be John Elway in John Elway’s house. It’s bad enough that Allen comes into Denver with Disney dropping rose petals at his feet and the NFL blowing sweet kisses at his back.

He’s the best player left in the postseason. He’s the last generational quarterback standing in the AFC. He’s the only sexy name still swinging at a party that usually has Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson or Joe Burrow waiting to break his heart.

It’s his turn, they say.

Fine. Make him earn it.

Make him throw.

into Peyton Manning.

Take away the feet.

Score enough points to force the arm.

Allen’s got an 8-6 lifetime record in the NFL playoffs. He’s also 2-5 when he’s had to pass it more than 36 times in a game. Allen’s 0-3 when he’s chucked it 40 or more times.

The talking heads want to make Saturday’s AFC Divisional tussle at Empower Field complicated. It isn’t.

Want to beat the Bills? Don’t let him run. Don’t let them run.

“Yeah, I think, with him, it’s just understanding the type of player he is,” Broncos defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers, who saw plenty of Allen as a member of the New York Jets, told me earlier this week. “That’s a physical football team. That’s a physical player. (He’s) a big guy also — you’re talking about a guy that’s 6-foot-5 and 250 (pounds), so he’s bigger than every linebacker in the NFL and half of the ends in the NFL.

“So you understand that the brand of football they’re going to play. And you have to match it. You have to be willing to match it.”

It was too easy for him last January. Too easy for all of them. The Bills brought baseball bats and two-by-fours to last January’s AFC wild-card tussle. The Broncos brought a happy stare.

James Cook’s first carry went for 16 yards around his right tackle, the Broncos were gashed, Bills Mafia smelled blood, and the tone was set. Buffalo ran it 17 times on first down in a 31-7 rout a year ago before their game-ending kneels. The Bills averaged an unsightly 6.5 yards per carry on those first-down runs. In terms of execution and physicality, it was like watching the JV tackle the varsity.

Allen did the rest. On third-down-and-3-yards-or-fewer, he converted all five of the chances he faced vs. Denver — four of them on QB runs. The Bills’ signal-caller was 2 for 2 on fourth-down-and-2-or-less, with one conversion turning into a 24-yard touchdown.

“He’s a special player, obviously,” Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph noted earlier this week. “(There are) certain guys in this league that can take over games, and (Allen is) one of those guys. But we knew to win the championship here, it was going to go through Patrick (Mahomes) and Lamar (Jackson) and Josh and Joe Burrow. I mean, that����ap the AFC side. Unfortunately, that����ap where we live. So we knew we (had) to face one of those guys eventually.”

In hindsight, maybe we should be a little thankful. Allen and the Bills reminded the Broncos of what they weren’t. What they lacked. So coach Sean Payton and general manager George Paton went out and added steel to the spine last spring, signing away safety Talanoa Hufanga and linebacker Dre Greenlaw from the 49ers.

Hufanga was a heat-seeking missile who came exactly as advertised. Even though Greenlaw was hurt much of the year, Denver allowed the fourth-fewest average rush yards on first down (3.91 per carry) in the NFL during the regular season. (The Bills’ offense, meanwhile, ranked sixth in yards per rush — 4.84 — on first down.)

The Broncos had the NFL’s No. 3 defense in average rush yards allowed on third-and-3-or-less (2.75 per carry). Denver allowed just one 100-yard rusher all year (Jonathan Taylor, back in Week 2). That hadn’t happened since 2015. The Broncos’ defense had allowed an average of five 100-yard rushers over the previous three regular seasons.

“We were watching that (31-7) game, seeing how (the Bills) played us last year and all that different stuff,” wideout/returner Marvin Mims told me. “But so many different pieces (are gone) that you don’t even think about. It’s like, ‘Dang, he’s not here anymore … we’re not doing this as much anymore.’ So it was kind of weird, looking back at it.

“But at the end of the day, (it was) a learning experience, for sure, for the guys that are still here and for everyone that was a part of it. And just kind of knowing (that) those dudes (in Buffalo) know what they’re doing. They’ve been in this stage multiple times, within all their careers, their core  — and so (it’s about) just going out there and just trying to do the best we can and knock them off.”

You can’t let up, either. Since the ’20-21 postseason, Allen has led the Bills on 10 playoff drives in the final 8:30 of the fourth quarter while Buffalo was trailing. His numbers:

• 36 completions on 59 pass attempts (61%)

• 14 rushes, 78 yards, 5.6 yards per carry

• 3.8 points per Allen possession

“And that truly is the tough part,” Franklin-Myers continued, “is that you have to be willing to play (all the way). If it’s 60 minutes, if it’s 100 minutes — you have to be willing to play every second, because that’s what they’re going to do.

“And at the same time, no lead is big enough for them. You can be up 30 points on them. That’s a smart team. One play sparks them and they come back. So, man, you’ve got to be physical.”

You’ve got to take away the lower body. You’ve got to force Allen to play to your strengths — not his. You’ve got to make him test Patrick Surtain II, Riley Moss and Ja’Quan McMillian.

When Allen has had to throw it 41 times or more in the regular season, he’s 10-13. The dude’s 1-3 in postseason games when he commits a turnover. He’s 7-3 when he doesn’t. To win in January, it’s about making the finest miss on the finest of margins.

“I mean, it truly is,” Franklin-Myers stressed. “It’s about who’s going to make the most mistakes. But, I mean, Sean (Payton) says it all the time: ‘It’s the turnovers.’

“You have everybody’s hopes and dreams in your hands when you have the ball in your hands. You only hope that, as a home defense, every chance we get, we punch it out. And on offense, that we protect as much as possible. In the playoffs, these games are close, and teams are either taking care of the ball or making awful mistakes. And that’s how you see some of these games getting out of hand, too.”

Don’t sweat the narrative. You’ve already lost it. Sweat the small stuff. Make Allen throw. If the Winter Soldier is one-dimensional, it won’t be long before everybody in ����apountry eats.