When: 6:15 p.m. Monday

Where: Arrowhead Stadium

TV/radio: ESPN and ABC, 850 AM/94.1 FM

Broncos-Chiefs series: The last three contests in this AFC West rivalry have gone to the Broncos, but Kansas City holds the all-time wins advantage 73-59. It has been a series of streaks recently: Denver won seven straight games from 2012 to 2015, but then Kansas City ripped off a between 2015 and 2023.

In the spotlight: Which revamped run game pays off?

In the two games between Denver and Kansas City last year, the teams combined for 70 designed runs to 142 passes. The average NFL run-to-pass split is roughly 60% pass and 40% run, so clearly the Broncos and Chiefs trusted their passing games more.

But each team made upgrades in the backfield this offseason and will rely on their rushing attack in Week 1. J.K. Dobbins is healthy after suffering a season-ending foot injury in Week 10 last year and the Broncos added rookie Jonah Coleman in the draft. On the other side, the Chiefs signed Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III and drafted rookie Emmett Johnson in the fifth round.

“(The Chiefs) commitment to running the ball I think is evident in the offseason,” coach Sean Payton said.

Linebacker Alex Singleton agreed with his coach.

“I think when the Chiefs go get a back like [Walker], it’s saying to the league, ‘Hey, we want to run the ball. We want to show the league that we can,'” Singleton said. “And I think that����ap what they’re going to come out and do and we’re going to prepare for that.”

The Broncos could also try to establish more of a ground game. Prior to Dobbins going down, the team averaged 128.6 rushing yards per game, compared to 104.6 yards per contest afterward. With their lead back now healthy, along with Coleman and R.J. Harvey, this is the most talented backfield under Payton. Denver’s offensive line also returns all five of its starters.

” I think it’s really hard to run the football in this league and if you want to do it well, you have to have a good plan, you have to good concepts, you have to have total buy-in and you have to have great execution when it matters,” tackle Mike McGlinchey said.

Dobbins said he’s “itching” to return. Payton was noncommittal when asked how many carries Dobbins will receive, or if he’ll be in a snap count restriction in Week 1. When asked how many carries he hopes to have against the Chiefs, Dobbins said he wants “100.”

If Denver can rush effectively and pop a few explosive runs (10+ yard rushing plays), an aspect it was average at last season, that could quiet the Kansas City crowd and give new offensive coordinator Davis Webb more calls at his disposal. If Kansas City can ease quarterback Patrick Mahomes back into his first start off his injury with a Walker-filled night, it’ll make it that much easier on the former MVP.

Both teams have the offensive line and running backs to do it. We will see which is more efficient on Monday night.

Who has the edge?

When Broncos run: Denver’s ground game has been virtually nonexistent when facing Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. In Sean Payton’s six games against the Chiefs, the Broncos have averaged 3.79 yards per carry. It has not necessarily been for a lack of trying: Denver’s rushed it around 30 times per game in those six matchups. Payton and the coaching staff have emphasized a commitment to the run game this season. We’ll see how earnest that dedication is. Edge: Chiefs

When Broncos pass: Last year, Kansas City had two strong starting cornerbacks in All-Pro Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. Both players departed to the Los Angeles Rams this offseason and the Chiefs are breaking in first-round rookie Mansoor Delane, Nohl Williams and L’Jarius Sneed on the boundary. Nix was reluctant to push the ball downfield against the Chiefs last year, averaging 6.36 yards per attempt. But the addition of Waddle should help free up the middle of the field and force Spagnuolo to play more two-high coverage. Plus, Nix should be able to feather in more layer passes against the Chiefs’ zone without McDuffie. Edge: Broncos

When Chiefs run: This matchup could swing the contest. The Chiefs have pointed to a revamped running game all summer; Travis Kelce said offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, back for a second stint in Kansas City, has revitalized the team’s toughness and they signed Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III in the offseason to aid Mahomes. But in big games, the Chiefs always seem to put the ball in Mahomes hands, and Denver’s rushing defense was the second best in the NFL last year. Slight edge: Broncos

When Chiefs pass: Mahomes is the most accomplished quarterback of this decade and coach Andy Reid is renowned for his passing concepts and play calling. It’s one of the top QB-coach duos in league history. And still, the Broncos have had success slowing down the two-time MVP in recent matchups. In his last four games against Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, Mahomes has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns, been sacked 12 times and completed only 67% of his passes. If Denver’s pass rush can get home, or its secondary can hold up against Chiefs’ weapons (including Kelce), it should be in a good spot. Edge: Broncos

Special teams: Broncos punter Jeremy Crawshaw is the only new specialist among the rivals. Will Lutz and Harrison Butker are two of the top veteran kickers in the league. Denver does have an advantage in the return game, as Marvin Mims Jr. more than doubled Nikko Remigio’s punt returning yardage last year. Slight edge: Chiefs

Coaching:

Tale of the tape (2025 season)

By the numbers

15.75: Chiefs’ points per game with Mahomes under center against Vance Joseph since 2023.

10-2: The Broncos’ record when they have an extended break (more than six days) between games under Payton.
73.1%. Bo Nix’s completion percentage against the Chiefs. Nix is 3-1 against Kansas City in his career.
25.7: Kansas City’s average age on its roster, the third youngest in the NFL, according to .

X-factors

Broncos: Que Robinson and Jonah Elliss. Jonathon Cooper won’t play in this game, which means the Broncos will have a new face alongside Nik Bonitto. Robinson’s emerged in training camp as a potential breakout candidate and Elliss is listed as the starting outside linebacker on the team’s depth chart. They’ll face the benefit of facing undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson, who is expected to replace the injured Josh Simmons. Expect the Chiefs to send plenty of help toward Bonitto, so Robinson and Elliss should get some 1-on-1s. Let’s see if the young edges are ready.

Chiefs: Xavier Worthy. A former first-round pick, Worthy has not capitalized on the blazing speed that made him a touted prospect out of Texas. He had a solid rookie season, but he injured himself on his third snap of the season and wasn’t productive after he returned. Patrick Surtain II should spent plenty of time on Rashee Rice, leaving cornerback Riley Moss on Worthy. Moss has struggled with penalties and does not possess the same speed as Worthy. If the third-year wideout can unlock the Chiefs’ deep passing game, that could flip Week 1 in Kansas City’s favor.

Post predictions

Parker Gabriel, Broncos writer: Broncos 23, Chiefs 20
It will be quite a scene at Arrowhead Stadium with Patrick Mahomes returning from a December ACL tear to a Monday Night Football crowd. For familiar foes, there are also wrinkles galore here to sort through. Denver’s been up to the task recently against Kansas City and now adds Jaylen Waddle and Webb to the mix.

Sam Jane, Broncos writer: Broncos 21, Chiefs 14
This will be one of the toughest tests of Bo Nix’s career. The Chiefs will be motivated to prove they’re still the premier team in the AFC West and Patrick Mahomes’ return will galvanize the fans in Arrowhead Stadium. But Mahomes is returning from major injury, and Kansas City’s offensive line will be starting an undrafted rookie at tackle. The Broncos’ defensive line will lead the Broncos to a 1-0 start.

Troy Renck, columnist: Broncos 23, Chiefs 20
Patrick Mahomes has never lost to the Broncos in Arrowhead. But that version of Mahomes is now compromised by his recovery from ACL surgery on his left knee and the dimming cast around him. Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has shown he can temper Mahomes’ greatness, and Davis Webb, with the benefit of unpredictability, will dial up enough play-action strikes for the Broncos to continue winning close games just like they did last season.

Sean Keeler, columnist: Broncos 22, Chiefs 20

Former Buff alert! Kahlil Benson is a nice kid who kept Shedeur Sanders upright in 2024, left Boulder for a return to Bloomington, and won a national title with Indiana last fall. Monday Night Lights at Arrowhead won’t faze him. Nik Bonitto, though, is a different kettle of fish. Bo Nix gets the ball last, the Broncos kick a field goal late and steal one from Magic Mahomes.

Nate Peterson, sports editor: Broncos 28, Chiefs 24

The Chiefs just don’t scare anymore. Patrick Mahomes is coming off ACL surgery and will have an undrafted rookie protecting his blind side against Vance Joseph’s ferocious pass rush. Travis Kelce, at 36, is a better podcaster and pitchman than game-wrecker at this point. Yes, Andy Reid is still dialing up the plays, but if the Broncos shut down Kenneth Walker III and the run game, the options on the play sheet for Reid and Eric Bieniemy could get real limited real fast. Sean Payton, in Year 4, finally gets his first win over Mahomes at Arrowhead.

Pat Bryant began to emerge late last season as a player to watch in Denver’s receiver room after he posted at least three catches in the regular season’s final five games. But after the Broncos traded for star wideout Jaylen Waddle this offseason, Bryant’s path to significant playing time was narrowed.

The second-year receiver responded with an excellent offseason, emerging as Denver’s No. 3 wide receiver. Bryant’s caught a majority of the balls thrown his way, earning the nickname “Patty Ice” from offensive coordinator Davis Webb during training camp. He can line up on the outside or in the slot, and his strong technique and route running have made him a favorite target of quarterback Bo Nix. Expect Bryant to play a big role in the Broncos’ passing attack this season.

Breakout Bronco from training camp?

Denver returns an established roster, but a few unproven players emerged this summer.

Denver enters the year as an established Super Bowl contender. It returns almost the entirety of a roster that was one win away from the NFL’s final Sunday. But as fans saw with Nix’s ankle injury in the Broncos’ playoff win over the Buffalo Bills, the margin for sustained success in the NFL is slim.

The reporters covering the 2026 iteration of the team had differing opinions on what could determine the Broncos’ fate this season. Some pointed to health, including the defense’s front seven and running back J.K. Dobbins, as key factors. After Denver’s defense finished tied for the fourth-lowest takeaways in the league last year, others thought turning opposing offenses over more was critical. And while the Broncos set the NFL record for second-half comebacks in 2025, two reporters pointed to Denver earning earlier leads as something to watch for.

What’s the swing factor for the season?

Here’s what reporters think could change the trajectory of Denver’s year.

As you can see, the reporters covering the Broncos are buying a leap from Nix. The third-year quarterback will be surrounded by the most talented core of his career and potentially the strongest running game of the Sean Payton era to aid him.

Several reporters said they envisioned Nix being in the MVP conversation, with one comparing Nix’s potential season to Patriots quarterback Drake Maye’s 2025 year. If Nix does take those strides, it’s not difficult to envision Denver playing far into the winter.

Team MVP for the year?

Several reports said they expect Bo Nix to be in the MVP conversation this season.

Only four players from Denver’s seven-person 2026 class remain on the 53-man roster after the preseason. Fourth-round rookie running back Jonah Coleman earned ubiquitous praise from the media.

Ironically, Coleman’s been advertised as an ahead-of-schedule player this offseason. Payton said Coleman “doesn’t feel like a rookie,” and draft analysts said the former Washington running back’s pass-protecting skills could get him on the field earlier than anticipated.

Coleman’s joining a talented room. J.K. Dobbins was one of the AFC’s top backs when healthy last year and R.J. Harvey is a skilled receiver out of the backfield who will play a large role on third downs. Coleman might not get many carries in the early portion of the season, but multiple reporters said the running back might be Denver’s “RB1 of the future.”

Kage Casey, a fourth-round guard out of Boise State, won’t start along the offensive line to begin the year, but could be in the Broncos’ future plans at guard.

Best rookie from Denver’s 2026 class?

Jonah Coleman, a fourth-round pick out of Washington, could play a larger role than anticipated in Denver’s backfield.

Every reporter predicted the Broncos would finish with a better record than the oddsmakers’ over/under win total prediction of 9.5 wins. Although both 11-6 and 12-5 would be a regression from last season’s 14-3 finish, the Broncos would almost assuredly make the playoffs with either record. Only two teams in the Super Bowl Era have missed the playoffs after finishing with 11 regular-season wins — the 2008 Patriots and the 1985 Broncos. Since the NFL expanded to a 14-team playoff in 2021, a team with 11 wins has never missed the postseason.

Record prediction for Broncos season?

Oddsmakers set the Broncos’ regular-season over/under win total at 9.5 wins.

Physically Unable to Perform — OL Nick Gargiulo (knee)

Injured reserve — DL Matt Henningsen (Achilles)

Did not practice — WR Jaylen Waddle (muscle strain), WR Marvin Mims Jr. (groin), WR Michael Bandy, C Luke Wattenberg (shoulder), C Alex Forsyth, TE Caleb Lohner (foot/ankle), OLB Dasan McCullough.

Left practice — C Michael Deiter

The Broncos are running low on healthy centers

Eventually, the Broncos expect to have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL with all five starters back for a third year together.

Regardless of how many snaps the other starters play Friday in Atlanta, who is snapping the ball could be a storyline to follow after another depth center went down with an injury Tuesday. Michael Dieter was injured during a running play. The Broncos’ training staff examined his right leg before he needed help onto a cart to exit the practice field.

Dieter is the third center to sustain an injury during camp. The team’s starter, Luke Wattenberg, sustained a shoulder injury early last week. He’s been in pads the past couple of days but has not participated beyond stretching.

“We’ll work through it,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said. “We have guys that are flexible. We’ll be fine.”

Alex Forsyth has missed the past two days, elevating Dieter to the No. 1 spot. The next man up with Denver’s top three options at center unavailable was rookie undrafted free agent Gavin Ortega. Veteran backup lineman Calvin Throckmorton also took some snaps with quarterback Bo Nix.

Another potential option is all-Pro guard Quinn Meinerz, who took some reps at center earlier in his pro career. Meinerz did some snapping between practice periods Tuesday but did not get any actual reps at the position.

“I sharpen that tool every single year just in case,” Meinerz said. “I’ve got to have it in the back pocket. I know that it����ap important to add that value to the offensive line room in an emergency situation. Even last year against the Chargers at the end of the year, I was technically one snap away from having to go play some center.”

Payton seemed to downplay turning to Meinerz, noting his team still has enough options before him. Meinerz said former Broncos offensive line coach Mike Munchak moved him to center at times during his rookie year in 2020 after he spent a couple of days at Senior Bowl practices getting some reps at the position.

While Meinerz never saw himself as a potential center, that experiment has helped his evolution into one of the NFL’s best guards.

“I learn the offense consistently from a center’s perspective,” Meinerz said. “I think you, as a guard, if you can understand our scheme from a center’s perspective, it will allow you to identify the defense quicker. If a new center comes in, like a younger guy or someone that����ap played guard and center, I can help them identify the ‘Mike’ (linebacker) and stuff like that. It����ap a tool I constantly keep sharpened, just in case it����ap needed. I hope I don’t have to use that tool, but if I do, I’m ready.”

Pat Bryant’s impressive camp continues

While new No. 1 wide receiver Jaylen Waddle continues to miss time with a muscle strain, second-year wideout Pat Bryant continued to be one of the stars of this camp Tuesday. He went up high over a defender to haul in a touchdown pass from Nix on a fourth-down play during a best-on-best team period, much to the delight of the fans in attendance — and his teammates.

“Pat Bryant, man, he’s a guy who literally can do everything on the field,” Broncos star linebacker Nik Bonitto said. “I mean, you see it — he’s making amazing play after amazing play every day. He’s out here and just his route running, all the things he does for the offense. He’s going to be a player for sure.”

Undrafted rookie wideout Kolbe Kastis also had an acrobatic touchdown catch on a pass from Sam Ehlinger late in practice during a two-minute drill.

Thumbs up

Under the radar? It’s not often a player with 104 targets to his name in the previous season flies under the radar, but that might be happening a bit with Troy Franklin. The third-year wide receiver hasn’t made the laundry list of highlight-reel grabs that Bryant has, but he’s been steady in camp. It’s not going to be easy for anybody to carve out a big role in the passing game behind Waddle, Sutton and maybe Bryant, but Franklin’s come a long way from his rookie year in 2024 in terms of understanding the offense and the ability to play multiple positions.

Thumbs down

Leave that one in the bag … During one situational period, the No. 1 offense faced a fourth down from the 22-yard line with seconds remaining and down six points. Nix ended up rolling to his right and tried to force a ball to a double-covered R.J. Harvey near the front-right corner of the end zone. It fell incomplete. If the Broncos face a similar scenario in a game, expect them to try something else.

Odds and ends

*  The past couple of practices have focused pretty heavily on specific situations during team scrimmage periods. It’s been a staple for Payton-coached teams. The Broncos went 11-2 in one-score games in 2025, tying an NFL record for most one-score wins and playing a huge role in the team’s ability to both win the AFC West and land the No. 1 seed in the playoffs.

“Well, the situational part of the game, there’s like 53 — a lot of them are two-minute related — that come up each week,” Payton said. “It’s knowing how to react, knowing how to react defensively to what they’re thinking, offensively to what we’re thinking. You want to get to a point where you know them cold.”

* Bonitto has improved his sack total each year since entering the league, and has finished in the top-10 of the defensive player of the year each of the past two seasons. He has 27.5 sacks over the past two years. One of the resources at his disposal that has helped fuel his ascension? The guy he faces in practice, left tackle Garett Bolles.

“He’s been in this league for so long, and he’s gone against so many different types of rushers,” Bonitto said. “He’s probably, in my opinion, the best as a pass blocker in the game for sure. I’m always trying to just pick his brain about things, and what can help me in my game, and just how I can take that next step as a rusher to improve myself.”

* The Broncos opened the week with a pair of long practices in pads — “two bangers in a row,” All-Pro guard Quinn Meinerz told The Post — and now will transition to preparing for their preseason opener at Atlanta, which is Friday. Wednesday’s practice, originally slated to be open to the public, is instead closed and will be more of a game-planning session. Or at least as much of one as happens in the preseason. “It’ll be a couple evenings, call it two practices and maybe a walkthrough. Again, the most important thing is just getting the proper evaluation on (your own) guys.”

No one gets motion sickness from watching the Broncos offense. Or from playing in it.

The Broncos ranked 32nd in pre-snap motion last season. Oh, they had movement. They collected 26 pre-snap penalties. But Payton has long created mismatches with personnel groupings, something former offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi called a non-negotiable.

It is something to remain mindful of when recalling that the Broncos won more close games than anyone could imagine last season. They won in more ways, rallying past the Eagles, stunning the Giants, paralyzing the Bills, than anyone thought possible.

But they lost the offseason, acquiring one player with star power in receiver Jaylen Waddle. Which pales in comparison to what they could lose next: their status as an AFC bully.

For the Broncos to avoid the next-season fate of teams that led the league in one-score wins, they need a fix. They must improve significantly on first and second down, particularly early in games.

As impressive as their final record was — all praise for exceeding expectations with 14 victories — the offensive numbers were sobering. According to Warren Sharp Football, the Broncos ranked 23rd overall in early down efficiency. Which tracks since Denver finished with 75 punts, and the most three-and-outs of any of the final eight teams in the postseason.

But the deeper the dig, the worse it gets, like , only to reveal an empty bottle.

In first halves, per Sharp, the Broncos ranked 27th in drives that reached the red zone, 26th in scoring drives and 25th in points per possession.

It is no wonder they needed Bo Nix to sprinkle pixie dust with a league-best seven game-winning drives. How unlikely was the success? The Broncos became the first team ever to win 14 games when trailing in 15.

All together now, this is not sustainable. Never has been. And certainly won’t be with the 2026 schedule.

“Trying to win like that puts a lot of stress on the players and coaches,” said Super Bowl 50 champion and NFL Westwood One analyst Ryan Harris. “They cannot continue to wait to change during the season.”

Payton appears prepared to do something about it. He promoted Davis Webb to play-caller, who seems intent on simplifying the offense to make it more consistent.

At first, I figured his focus would be on verbiage. But for the offense to click, let’s be real, it must go far beyond that.

“Part of that is what I talked to Davis Webb about: core philosophies. What are your core run plays that you can run against anything? What will you stick to? Of those core plays, how many passing concepts can you have that look identical and put defenders in major conflict?” explained Mark Schlereth, a former Pro Bowl offensive guard and current Fox NFL color commentator and 104.3 The Fan morning host. “There needs to be a real philosophical shift.”

Think of it in terms of a restaurant. Is it better to feature 60 dishes or six entrees?

Going from a Waffle House play sheet to the In-N-Out menu could mercifully end the slow starts over the past two seasons.

“Running the ball is like saving money. We all know we should do it, but we never do it enough. I can’t blame Sean Payton when you look at how he put together a team that reached the AFC Championship in (three years),” Harris said. “But, right now, opponents look at their offense and believe they want to pass with Bo Nix. They have to prove they are going to run.”

From the outside looking in, there was confusion about the scheme. The offseason was used to introduce the wide zone. It was a topic of conversation during training camp. But the Broncos rarely used it during the season. Complicating matters, Payton has a pattern of never repeating run calls in the first half. So 12 rushing attempts could include 12 different concepts.

That is no way to establish a rhythm. And the production bore this out in the statistics of starter J.K. Dobbins (4.1 yards per carry in the first half, 5.6 in the second) and R.J. Harvey (3.5, 3.9).

Don’t want the Broncos to press their luck in nail-biters? Abandon the potluck run game.

“Mike Tomlin told me once that every play is not a smorgasbord. Dobbins realized that a physical 3-and-half-yard run is a freaking awesome play,” Schlereth said. “They have to get to a place where they are not trying to do everything. When we were winning a ton of games with (coach) Mike (Shanahan), we ran six plays. I would joke about it. But it was true. It’s the 10,000-hour rule. You have defended it 100 times. We have spent 10,000 hours on it, so we don’t care if you know what is coming, we are going to execute it.”

If Webb can take Payton’s offense and retool the run game mix, everything would feel different. The middle of the field would no longer be radioactive. Everybody talks about Waddle delivering 70-yard plays, but what the Broncos need are 15-yard gains against safeties in between the hashes before going deep.

“And that’s where Davis Webb can bring the player’s perspective to the calls,” Harris said. “Don’t run play action until we have run for two first downs.”

If the Broncos impose their will on the ground, nothing is off the table for this team.

Dobbins will become the Broncos’ first 1,000-yard rusher since Phillip Lindsay in 2019. Rookie Jonah Coleman, who has an appetite for contact, will reinforce the identity. Even Harvey might figure it out and stop trying to bounce everything outside.

Nix is fantastic in the clutch. On this, we can all agree. It did not happen by accident. He waved the fourth-quarter wand practically every week. He got good at it.

Run with purpose on early downs, and Nix will become more accurate, more consistent. Run with balance that opens first-half leads, and the defense will double its meager 14 takeaways.

Gaining horsepower sounds simple. It is not.

But if the Broncos improve early-down efficiency, their late-season run will end at SoFi Stadium.

Parker �Ҳ����������:��Well, Troy, I am just a humble beat reporter who stumbled into the debate room this week and I certainly am no betting man, but every time we venture to the desert for AFC West football, I am reminded that the bookmakers seem to be pretty good at what they do. Imagine the electric bills in those casinos. I tend to agree with you that 23.5 feels a little light, though there are multiple factors — some that would be fine for the Broncos and some that definitely would not be — that might be pushing the line a little bit lower. Nix has a new play-caller in Davis Webb, which is being largely hailed as a good thing, including by head coach Sean Payton himself. But perhaps Webb will stay more committed to running the ball. Perhaps it will take him a bit of time to get his sea legs, especially given Denver’s brutal stretch of opponents to open the season. What if Nix gets hurt and misses four games? So much talk about his ankle this offseason, but an aggravation there obviously isn’t the only issue that could cost him time over a long season.

Renck: Put it this way: If Nix goes under the betting number, he is taking the season down into the deep with him. The Broncos want to run the ball more effectively. Payton writes it on his play sheet and will yell it into Webb’s ears on game day. However, the Broncos are a passing team, leaning on the short game. No one has dropped back more over the last two years than Nix. He led the league in attempts last season with 612. Even if that number dips, the addition of Jaylen Waddle screams that Nix will throw at least 25 touchdowns. Why? He threw 29 as a rookie and 25 a year ago. There is no way that number drops unless he or Waddle gets hurt.

�Ҳ����������:��Could be, but — and this is strictly a guess from this hazy, early-summer vantage point — perhaps Webb wants Nix not only to not lead in pass attempts but also to come down considerably. That wouldn’t be a knock on his faith in his quarterback. Instead, it would be trying to take some pressure off him. Payton talks all the time about not putting quarterbacks on the high dive, but Nix has spent his first two seasons in the league working mostly from the 10-meter platform. If the Broncos build the kind of running game they think they can, 24 touchdown passes can be just fine. Denver had just 12 rushing scores in 2024 and only one of them was on an explosive run. That was all of 14 yards. The rest came from 8 or closer in. Last year, those numbers jumped to 18 and six. Good, but not great. The 18 TDs tied for No. 11. Their 10-plus run mark overall (51) was tied for No. 15 and their run rate (41.8%) was No. 22. All of those could realistically improve. A year ago, Seattle threw for 25 touchdown passes and finished third in the NFL in scoring. The play-caller, Klint Kubiak, got a Super Bowl title and a head coaching job out of it.

Renck: Webb was schooled in the Air Raid before the invention of the Air Pod. He is a few years removed from playing in the NFL. And he has a catalytic weapon in Waddle. The Broncos’ receivers ranked nearly last in yards per reception last season — 27th at 11.7 yards per catch, to be exact. Waddle averaged 14.2 in 2025. He is not a high-volume scorer, but posting eight touchdowns remains in reach opposite of Courtland Sutton because of his ability to turn short strikes into pay dirt. Realistically, Waddle, Sutton (eight) and Troy Franklin (five) should combine for 21 touchdowns. That means if the tight end position returns from witness protection and RJ Harvey and Jonah Coleman catch a few well-timed wheel routes, Nix should finish closer to 30 touchdown passes than 25. I know they call Las Vegas Lost Wages for a reason. Casinos are built on bettors’ losses. But with Webb in charge and Nix healthy, the quarterback will establish a career-best, not a career-worst, in passing scores. Book it.

Luca �������Բ�:��Well, one reality became abundantly clear from watching Broncos practices through OTAs and minicamp: Coleman is going to play right away. There’s a reason Denver drafted him in the fourth round, stemming from a longtime trust and friendship between Washington head coach Jedd Fisch and Broncos general manager George Paton. And Sean Payton should love Coleman, who doesn’t fumble, doesn’t drop passes and should instantly prove an upgrade from Tyler Badie’s lack of third-down juice last season. Harvey has faded considerably in fan discussion for some reason, but hasn’t faded whatsoever from the Broncos’ plans. He led all NFL rookies in touchdowns last season, for crying out loud. Coleman could just take some difficult touches off Harvey’s plate if (and likely when) Dobbins misses time.

Renck: Coleman is built like Dobbins. He runs like Dobbins. This is not an opinion, but the words of the Broncos after they drafted him. Impact is a vague word, though, don’t you think? I will take advantage of the elasticity in my prediction. Coleman will become a training camp darling and finish second behind Dobbins in rushing yards this season. How does 550 and five touchdowns sound for a prospect who also seems capable in pass protection? Does that mean Harvey blends into the bench? Not exactly. The Broncos had a joker last season; it just wasn’t tight end Evan Engram. You watch the film, Luca, and know it was Harvey.

�������Բ�:��Yes. Absolutely. Harvey is that guy with a truly special ability to simply bounce off contact in the open field. But as long as we’re talking pass-catching ability, don’t rule Coleman out from a 30-to-40-catch rookie season. Harvey didn’t have explosive receiving numbers in college, after all, and Coleman just finished with 31 grabs for 354 yards in 12 games in his final season at Washington. He caught a heap of passes through OTAs and minicamp, and don’t forget Badie had 31 targets in just 192 offensive snaps last season. Plus, Payton’s offenses — think Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles — have consistently been able to field two running backs as pass-catchers out of the backfield. Coleman could have a sizable contribution as a receiver and more of an impact on short-yardage carries this season than Harvey.

Renck: Harvey did not lack talent. He lacked direction. Too often, he ran east and west instead of north and south. He now understands what is required. The days of bouncing runs outside at the first sign of trouble are over. But as Harvey comes off labrum surgery, it presents an opportunity for Coleman to become Dobbins’ backup on first and second downs. That leaves third for Harvey. His work out of the backfield cannot be dismissed. He caught 47 passes for 356 yards, five touchdowns and 18 first downs. It is going to take three backs for the Broncos’ offense to reach its potential under first-time play caller Davis Webb. At season’s end, it will feel like Coleman was a bigger contributor, but Denver requires Harvey to shine as a receiver to become a Super Bowl contender.

���ܳ���:��I actually disagree with you that Coleman will spell Dobbins on first and second downs, although I think there will certainly be plenty of that. In my mind, third downs are now Coleman Central in Denver. Bo Nix threw 93 passes last season in third-down situations facing seven yards to go or more, and a majority of those reps will likely go to Coleman for his abilities in pass protection. Go watch Coleman’s on Sonny Styles for proof. Fantasy-wise, Harvey is the much safer bet for raw yardage and production. But in terms of sheer software updates — as you put it — Coleman’s addition can have a larger impact on taking Denver’s offense up another level.

Sean Keeler: Like Fox Mulder, But as precedent goes, the best we’ve got to work with is new offensive play-caller Davis Webb’s dry run pushing the buttons during last August’s 27-7 preseason win over Arizona. The Broncos had 39 pass attempts between Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger, who completed 30. But here’s the catch: Of the 36 recorded targets that night, only six went to tight ends — Evan Engram, who logged one for 58 yards and a score; three to Caden Prieskorn for 52 yards in receptions; one for Caleb Lohner, who turned it into a 4-yard catch; and one to Lucas Krull for 3 yards. Small sample size, granted. But color me more skeptical than hopeful.

Troy Renck: Jaylen Waddle comes in and out of breaks better than any receiver on the roster. He starts and stops like a Porsche. He can run deep, and slice like a knife on slants. Why bring this up? His versatility should create room in the middle of the field for tight ends. Based on his roots in uptempo offenses, new offensive coordinator Davis Webb should be more open to using Engram, a player he recruited to Denver. Will Payton let him? Will Engram even be on the team if one of the prospects breaks through in training camp? Last season, the Broncos’ five tight ends caught 78 catches for 719 yards, the latter ranking 26th in the NFL. They combined for three touchdowns, good for 24th. No player had more than one. Bentley and Lohner are intriguing prospects. Bentley can block so he should see the field as a rookie, making him available for sneaky targets. And why not make Lohner a red-zone target with his vertical leap honed from his basketball background? Let’s be real. Waddle cannot make the Broncos more explosive on his own.

Keeler: I was banging the Lohner drum a year ago to try him as an end-zone specialist — you won’t find many linebackers with a 6-foot-7 frame, an 80-inch wingspan, a 4.69 40-yard-dash time and you’ll find even fewer safeties who could match up. If you could combine Bentley’s physicality with Lohner’s (literal) upside, you’d have the perfect Joker. Alas, Payton and Webb are likely going to have to draw the line at one of the two former Utes, once push comes to shove at the end of camp.

Renck: Where Bo Nix must improve over the middle and against zone coverage and tight ends can help. The idea the Broncos cannot incorporate dig, hook and leak routes is preposterous. The running back screen has not worked. Maybe it will improve with R.J. Harvey and Jonah Coleman. Regardless, the tight end must become more of a weapon for the Broncos to produce a top-10 offense and reach the Super Bowl as a top two team.

Keeler: You know what the last two Broncos Super Bowl teams had in common besides Peyton Manning at the controls? The 2013 and 2015 Denver offenses featured at least two tight ends in each of those campaigns who’d snatched at least 25 targets during the regular season. Fast forward a decade, and under Payton, the resurgent Broncos have had one tight end with 25 or more targets (Trautman) in ’23; none in ’24 (Krull led the TE room in targets, though, with 23); and one in ’25 (Engram, with 76). Seam routes matter. Keeping linebackers honest matters. Is Nix averse to throwing the rock across the middle of the field because he doesn’t trust his options, or because his options are so rarely open? It’s your classic chicken-or-the-egg dilemma, and I can’t wait to see Davis take a crack at it.

General manager George Payton and Sean Payton love their roster. They could pretend that jobs are open, that vacancy lights are flashing. But in reality, there is roughly one starting position up for grabs: defensive end.

John Franklin-Myers, who loved talking, sacking and eating Uncrustables, left as a free agent to the Titans. The Broncos wanted to keep him. But after they signed players to in-house contract extensions for more than $400 million over the last 18 months, JFM had to leave to cash in.

So when the Broncos finally got around to picking in the NFL draft — they had no selection in the first or second round for the first time since 1995 — they plucked Texas A&M defensive lineman Tyler Onyedim.

He might not be a dancing bear. But he can play anywhere up front. Just ask him.

“Man, I feel like I am a versatile player. I can play anywhere on the line,” Onyedim, voice still excited after realizing his dream of reaching the NFL as the 66th selection overall. “I have a good first step. I feel like I am a true defensive lineman.”

The numbers add up for him to push for playing time. He is 6-foot-3, 292 pounds with go-go Gadget arms and a thirst for stopping the run. He provides depth and youth, the type of athlete capable of competing for snaps with Sai’vion Jones, who was taken in the third round last season.

He is also familiar with the Broncos Orange Rush. Before transferring to Texas A&M, Onyedim was a teammate of Denver’s Eyioma Uwazurike at Iowa State. The two have remained close, with Onyedim saying they would be in each other’s weddings.

“That’s my big bro. That’s my dog,” Onyedim said. “I have studied all of those boys, you feel me. I can’t wait to learn from the best.”

It is sure not like it used to be, back in the days of desperation, when the Broncos’ draft felt like an expensive game of pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey. In previous seasons, we would start talking about positioning for picks in October.

This spring, we have groused about the free agent yawnfest — they brought in special teams safety Tycen Anderson — and their desire to keep the band together. This could be a bad thing. But there’s no denying that it is a byproduct of a team that has become really, really good.

The Broncos went 15-4 last year, testing the expiration dates on miracle finishes, while suffocating opponents with a relentless defense.

The loss to the New England Patriots remains burned into memory because there are so many scenarios in which they should have won. Had Bo Nix not broken his ankle, had Jarrett “It ain’t pretty, it’s Stiddy” Stidham not turned the ball over inside the 20, had the Broncos run more successfully than a democrat in Wyoming, had Mother Nature not flexed its muscle with the only snow storm that would appear in months, Denver would have advanced to its ninth Super Bowl.

Instead, the Broncos were left with their noses against the windowpane, two wins shy of the most improbable season in franchise history.

They are banking on players improving, believing success through this path is more likely and preferable to adding outside influences to the locker room. Onyedim is, by all accounts, a good teammate who will fit in their culture.

What happened to Thursday and Friday? Jaylen Waddle. And the AFC Championship Game.

The Broncos chose to be strategic, their offseason a laser, not a crabbing net.

They sent away their first-rounder, 30th overall, to the Dolphins in exchange for an explosive, proven receiver. Waddle is everything the Broncos needed, a receiver capable of stopping and starting more effectively than a New York cabbie.

Indiana wideout Omar Cooper ultimately went to the Jets in that spot. No matter how much you like the Hoosier, there is zero chance he would have had Waddle’s impact this season.

In a Super Bowl window, the Broncos have very specific needs.

Now, this does not make them immune to second-guessing. Could they have packaged picks — there is no way seven new players make their roster — to move up in the second round for Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers (Philadelphia traded up and took him at 54), Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. (61st to Titans) or Ohio State’s Max Klare.

With the Rams taking Klare, they now have seven or eight tight ends — lost count — better than anyone on the Broncos. Denver traded back last year and bit them when R.J. Harvey fizzled as J.K. Dobbins’ replacement, making it clear they would have been better off with TreVeyon Henderson.

Listen, I would have preferred they take an offensive player. Payton likes the unit more than the rest of us. And clearly, the Broncos did not think enough of the tight ends to be aggressive. It puts pressure on them, however, to land a running back on Day 3, somebody like Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson or Washington’s Jonah Coleman.

The reality is that the Broncos are now smart and have earned trust. Now that they are a legitimate contender, ����apountry is willing to give the benefit of the doubt.

They are counting on the Broncos to win a Super Bowl in the next few years. With a roster as stacked as it has been since 2015, these are the expectations.

It also means that Paton and Paton don’t see many open competitions.

So, on Friday, after a nearly hour wait, you get Tyler Onyedim.

It is boring. It is also a byproduct of winning.

Not as good as J.K. Dobbins. But a good run nonetheless.

But the time has come to call Merriam-Webster and retire the word from the dictionary because clearly it is misunderstood.

When Dobbins re-signed with the Broncos earlier this month, he popped off on social media when someone questioned paying him for “seven games a season.”

“Go be a fan of a different team; lame (bleep) dude,” Dobbins tweeted. “And don’t try to turn around when I shut down the fluke injury (bleep) up this year.”

The reality is that it would be a fluke if Dobbins stayed healthy.

He has never played a full season in the NFL. He has started 30 of 64 games because of knee, Achilles and foot injuries. He missed the Broncos’ final nine games last season after a hip-drop tackle hurt his foot.

Here’s the thing. I have not interacted with a single person on social media, email or in the community who doesn’t love Dobbins. Or what he did last season. He ranked fifth in the league in rushing when he was sidelined. He emerged as a force in the second halves of games and against stacked boxes.

Dobbins averaged almost a full yard over expected on his carries, and was beloved in the building for his leadership and passion.

So, it was no surprise the Broncos ran it back at running back, especially after they balked at Travis Etienne Jr.’s asking price and became a stalking horse in negotiations given his desire to return home to Louisiana.

Appearing recently on NFL Network, Dobbins remained delusional about his medical files. His optimism is ideal for the Broncos.

But if the team does not add a running back in the draft it will be a mistake.

First, hear Dobbins out.

“We’ve got a great O-line, we’ve got everything. We’ve got an embarrassment of riches on this team of talent,” said Dobbins, who received $8 million guaranteed in his new contract. “I’m excited. I really am, because, call it what it is, I got hurt, I missed the last, what, seven games in the regular season. I’m fresh. I’m gonna be fresh and I’m gonna be pissed off because I’m tired of the unfortunate stuff. I know that I can do it. It’s gonna happen this year. It’s gonna be great.”

Dobbins should believe he will become a stranger to the trainer’s room. That it is his turn for good luck. He deserves it.

The Broncos, though, cannot use hope as a strategy. That is what happened in the AFC Championship Game. Remember how that turned out?

The Broncos were awful on the ground. While R.J. Harvey’s slump continued, the offensive line was not blameless, picking the wrong time to play its worst game.

Denver cannot hinge its offensive balance and performance on Dobbins’ health. It is not fair to the team or Dobbins.

The Broncos have to draft a running back. Filling out the offseason roster with Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie is fine. But if both make the team, then something has gone horribly wrong.

Dobbins, a fighter who has overcome injuries that would have ended careers, will open the season as the starter. The Broncos need a closer, and not an in-case-of-emergency-break-glass option.

There is a possibility Harvey, who became a weapon in the passing game, shows up in training camp and is more aggressive between the tackles. But he has to prove it.

Dobbins turns 28 in December. Even if the Broncos trust Dobbins to become durable, picking his successor is logical.

We all know what needs to be done. Couple “El Toro” with Geico.

There is a realistic possibility that Notre Dame’s Jadarian Price and Arkansas’ Mike Washington Jr. will be available when Denver selects at No. 62.

If Price is on the board, the Broncos should not pass on him. They like him, Price believes, based on his impressive interview at the NFL Combine.

Jeremiyah Love might be the best player in the draft. He split time with Price. That should tell you all you need to know.

Former Broncos tackle Ryan Harris, who serves as an analyst for Irish games, calls Price a “minotaur, an absolute horse who is going to have a great career.”

Based on college tape and combine performances, Price projects as a plus-NFL starter with a higher ceiling than Harvey. He brings size, and is capable of getting dirty work yards, while remaining elusive in space.

Does he project as a three-down starter? Not yet.

As a rookie, he would not need to fill that role. Harvey can play on passing downs. Price could provide a way to keep Dobbins available, and also brings special teams value in the return game, which will be needed if McLaughlin or Badie don’t make the final cut.

Washington works, too. He has the speed to turn any carry into a gash play, and at 223 pounds, he is bigger than any back on the roster. But will he go north-and-south with conviction?

This question hangs over Washington and Harvey. And it is also the reason Sean Payton cut Audric Estime last summer, failing to convince him to run over defenders instead of around them.

The truth of this season lies not in the defense, Jaylen Waddle’s fit, a grizzly bear schedule or Bo Nix’s ankle. It is in the backfield.

The only thing standing between the Broncos and a Super Bowl run is the ability to consistently run.

Dobbins can do it. He has shown it. Trusting him for 17 games, however, is too dangerous. His misfortune derailed last season. And there was nothing fluky about it.

The Broncos need Dobbins. But not as much as they need insurance.

You are welcome, Broncos. This is your free agent wish list. Your offseason orange and blueprint.

Enough with starter by committee.

Enough with sacrificing games to develop a prospect.

Enough with a screen game that should be a drinking scream game.

Enough with under 4 yards per carry.

The Broncos have sprung to life over the past three years under coach Sean Payton. But when it comes to their offense, enough is enough. Payton surrendered play-calling to Davis Webb — it is in name only until evidence arrives in games — but that cannot suffice.

For the Broncos to reach the Super Bowl and win it — the last two steps on this remarkable climb back to relevancy — they have to go for it. Sign free agent running back Travis Etienne Jr.

Take cues from the Avs. No team understands the urgency of operating in a championship window like the local hockey club. The Nazem Kadri trade is a sensational move by an organization that cares about one thing — winning a championship.

Payton deserves praise for his work. As does general manager George Paton for creating a sturdy foundation through the draft.

But there is no longer room for patience. Be proactive, not reactive.

The NFL roster narrative is simple to follow. Construction hinges on having a franchise quarterback, as the Broncos have in Bo Nix.

And when you have one on a rookie contract, it provides an opportunity to take big swings at other positions. The Broncos are good at the most important: edge rusher, cornerback and left tackle.

They are not paying big money to a receiver or a tight end. And this is not the March to max out the credit card on those positions when reinforcements can be added in the draft.

That is not the case at running back. Once Jeremiyah Love comes off the board — possibly in the top five — the infatuation ends.

So pick up the phone and go big.

Etienne checks the boxes. He is dynamic. He is fast, capable of accelerating through the hole and shifting into third gear in the open field. He has soft hands and is better in space than an astronaut.

In many ways, he is a more available version of J.K. Dobbins. Dobbins was a terrific fit, but he played in only 10 games, unable to run away from his injury history.

Etienne, 27, has missed six games in four seasons. Durability is a skill. He has it. And he has also improved as a pass protector, meaning there should be no concern about leaving him in the game on third down.

It is a must to have a player like this. An obvious starter. And upgrade. R.J. Harvey boasts Joker traits in the passing game. He will not be forgotten. But context matters. The Broncos possess a championship-caliber defense. They are close.

This is not the platform to let a second-year player figure it out as he goes.

Enough.

The Broncos must address this position in a meaningful way. It feels like ����apountry would rather step in front of a moving bus than add someone like Rico Dowdle or Kenneth Gainwell.

Kenneth Walker III? Sure. He is coming off the best game of his career. In the biggest game of his life. That requires paying showroom floor prices.

It is not my money, so the $14.6 million annually he will command — using Breece Hall’s franchise tag as the floor — does not bother me.

The issue? It does not make as much sense since Walker is not an every-down back. Even after Zach Charbonnet tore up his knee, Walker still yielded snaps to the backup.

Let the Chiefs set the market. It is clear they will add a runner to take the pressure off Patrick Mahomes as he recovers from knee surgery.

His patience as a runner is the most appealing characteristic, a style that could finally marry the solid blocking metrics with results.

It has been an uncomfortable question after the past two seasons. The Broncos’ offensive line ranks near the top of the pack, and somehow the run game remains mediocre or, as in the case of a huge fourth down in the AFC Championship, unreliable.

Payton and Paton have earned the benefit of the doubt in the way they have built this team. But goodwill will get siphoned without a big splash.

The external and internal expectations should intersect this week.

Last year was different. Objectively, the Broncos were a year ahead of schedule. So they can be forgiven for trying to get by without explosive weapons. Their one stab at it did not work as Evan Engram morphed into a platoon player.

The Broncos cannot afford to try to live on that margin again. The Rams are going for it, acquiring star cornerback Trent McDuffie. The Bills are making a strong push, acquiring receiver D.J. Moore. The Ravens are shipping off two first-round picks for edge rusher Maxx Crosby. And the Seahawks, even if Walker signs somewhere else, are not going anywhere.

This is the type of approach required in Denver. It is easy to argue that this is the most important offseason since the Broncos added DeMarcus Ware, Aqib Talib, T.J. Ward and Emmanuel Sanders in 2014. That was back when John Elway was acting like George Steinbrenner.

This time around, the Broncos are only a fraction of that daring. A dash of that bold.

The Broncos have a problem. Their offense is not good enough for a championship. So, fix it.

Go to the ATM and sign Etienne.

It will be money well spent.