Denver Broncos Report Card: Surprises, standouts, and disappointments after two thirds of the 2025 season
The Denver Broncos are acing every test through two thirds of the 2025 NFL season
The vibes surrounding the Denver Broncos couldn’t be much higher than they are today.
Fresh off of a thrilling win over the Kansas City Chiefs, the Broncos are atop the AFC West and the AFC standings. Now coming off of their bye week, Denver is aiming to lock up the AFC West and remain in contention for the first overall seed as the playoff race heats up.
What have the Broncos looked like this season? Let’s break it down with superlatives and criticisms.
Offensive superlatives
MVP: OT Garett Bolles
I’m sure there might be other answers here from fans, but to me, Garett Bolles has been the clear best player on the offense this season. If it wasn’t for his high level of play, the Broncos wouldn’t be anywhere near as successful as they are. He hasn’t allowed a sack all season long, and his 12 pressures allowed are fourth among all left tackles in the NFL despite playing at least 100 snaps more than the left tackles ahead of him. Bolles has allowed a 4.8% pressure rate this season, the lowest by any player with at least 100 pass blocking snaps at left tackle
At the end of the year, Bolles deserves to be in contention for the first annual Protector of the Year award. If he keeps up this level of play for the rest of the season and keep the Broncos at the top of the AFC, he might just lock it up.
Glue guy: WR Courtland Sutton
Quite simply: The Broncos’ offense wouldn’t work without Sutton’s presence on the outside. The savvy vet draws the attention of the NFL’s top corners every week, allowing Sean Payton to draw up plays to free up the other skill talents on the roster (more on one of those in a second). Despite seeing such tight coverage from elite players, he’s produced at a high level, boasting the eighth-most yards per route against man coverage and third-most yards in tight coverage among all wide receivers in the league.
Biggest surprise: WR Troy Franklin
It’s tough to label any player as the biggest “surprise”, given that the Broncos returned several players from last year, but Troy Franklin would be my pick. A year after posting just 30 catches for 317 yards and three touchdowns, Franklin and Nix have picked up where they left off at Oregon, with Franklin already at 46 catches for 509 yards and five touchdowns. He’s become a go-to target for Nix in his second season, sitting first on the team in targets, receptions, and receiving touchdowns.
Biggest disappointment: QB Bo Nix
This isn’t totally dumping on Bo Nix, but it’s hard to come away entirely impressed with what he’s done in his second season as a starter for the Broncos. After a promising rookie season, Nix has regressed at an alarming rate, already matching his turnover worthy plays from last year. He’s only 20th in the league in EPA/Play and the offense has largely resorted to screens and improvisational play from him. The flashes have been there, but I don’t think he’s taken enough of a step forward this season to not be overall disappointing.
Turning point of the last six weeks: GW Drive vs KC
If there is one point to look at in defense of Nix and the Broncos’ offense, it was their game-winning drive two weeks ago to take down the Kansas City Chiefs. Beating the Chiefs this season hasn’t been as much of an accomplishment as it has been in recent years, but it was the shot in the arm the Broncos needed to take firm hold of the AFC West.
Tied at 19-19, the Broncos took the ball with three minutes left in the fourth quarter. The drive was in danger of stalling after a holding call on left guard Alex Palczewski, but Nix fired off two superb throws to Courtland Sutton and Troy Franklin for 20 and 32 yards to lead the Broncos to kick a game-winning field goal, finally toppling the Chiefs.
offense overall grade: C+
Defensive superlatives
MVP: EDGE Nik Bonitto
The Broncos lead the NFL at sacks, and Nik Bonitto is the key reason behind that. Bonitto leads the NFL with 51 pressures, creating 28 of them in under 2.5 seconds. That figure leads the NFL this season. According to Next Gen Stats, his 23.0% pressure rate is the third-highest through 10 weeks since 2018, and his 12.6% quick pressure rate is the 2nd-highest since 2019, trailing only Myles Garrett’s 2023 performance (12.9%). Bonitto has been a monster that offenses have to base their entire gameplan around neutralizing, allowing the rest of Denver’s defense to feast elsewhere.
Glue guy: SAF Talanoa Hufanga
As good as the Broncos’ passing defense and pass rush has been, their run defense has been just as stellar, ranking third in the league in rushing yards allowed per game and first in yards per rush. A key part of that has been the presence of Hufanga as an enforcer on the back end. Hufanga is tied for first in run stuffs for loss this season.
Oh yeah, he’s also second among all safeties in pass breakups and has allowed just 44 yards on the season. He’s been lights out all season long on the back end for the Broncos.
Biggest surprise: CB Ja’Quan McMillian
McMillian has been a sneaky quality rotational player ever since the Broncos picked him up as a UDFA following the 2022 NFL Draft, emerging as the Broncos’ nickel back. He’s taken a big step forward this season to his game, and it’s showing in his production. McMillian has allowed the third-lowest completion percentage in coverage this season, and is fresh off of allowing just nine yards to Rashee Rice in Denver’s last outing.
Honorable mention shoutout: DL Eyioma Uwazurike. He’s absolutely dominating up front on the defensive line, and is starting to round into form as one of the most disruptive interior defenders in the league. If Denver’s defensive line wasn’t so crowded, Uwazurike would likely be on his way to being a household name.
Biggest disappointment: LB Dre Greenlaw
The only thing really disappointing about the Broncos’ defense is that Dre Greenlaw has only played in four games so far.
Turning point of the last six weeks: Week 10 vs Las Vegas Raiders
The Broncos’ offense was floundering in one of the sloppiest games of the season. Denver welcomed the Raiders for Thursday Night Football, but scrounged up just 10 points offensively. In a true showing of shouldering the load, the Broncos’ defense completely dominated the hapless Raiders. They didn’t allow a single first down on seven straight drives, forcing a turnover on downs, an interception, and a blocked punt. The Broncos sacked Geno Smith six times and wracked up 11 quarterback hits.
While beating up on the Raiders isn’t exactly medal-worthy, it did demonstrate just how dominant the Broncos’ defense is and their ability to carry the team to a win, even if the offense doesn’t show up to the game.
defense overall grade: A+
2025 draft class superlatives
Overachiever: N/A
We really haven’t seen much from any of the Broncos’ rookies enough to label any as an overachiever. Their seventh-round punter, Jeremy Crawshaw, has been a steady punter and looks like he has solved that position for the Broncos, so…I guess that counts?
Rookie we need to see more from: RB R.J. Harvey
With J.K. Dobbins now done for the year, it’s time for Harvey to step up to the plate and live up to his second round billing. We’ve seen flashes of the rookie ball carrier, especially as a receiving threat, but the opportunity is there for him to make this his backfield as a full-fledged three-down back.
Underachiever: CB Jahdae Barron
Barron hasn’t played poorly this season, but for a first-round pick, you’d like to be getting more than just a tight end matcher who rotates in the slot with your former UDFA nickel. He’s producing well in a small role, but it’s not exactly the role many were hoping for when they added him to this elite defense in the first round.
draft class overall grade: D-
Coaching report card
Grade: A
There’s not much to complain about with this coaching staff. Sean Payton is getting the absolute most out of what he can with Bo Nix under center right now, diving deep into his bag to produce week in and week out. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph is calling one of the most creative defensive schemes I have ever seen, and every position room on the team is playing at a high level. Broncos fans should be thrilled with the product they’re getting right now.
Kansas City Chiefs News
Broncos HC Sean Payton wasn’t afraid to admit how insanely hard it is to prep for Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes
Sean Payton and the Broncos showed why their defense is elite against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.
