Getty Head coach Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos looks on in the first quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at Empower Field At Mile High on January 04, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by C. Morgan Engel/Getty Images) The Denver Broncos are expected to be a top-tier contender in the AFC heading into the 2026 NFL season. Last year, they made a run to the AFC Championship Game before coming up short against the New England Patriots . Unfortunately, the Broncos were forced to play that game