Denver Broncos: Power ranking team’s top rivalries

OAKLAND - OCTOBER 19: John Elway #7 of the Denver Broncos scrambles during an NFL game against the Oakland Raiders played on October 19, 1997 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California. Greg Biekert #54 of Oakland pursues. (Photo by David Madison/Getty Images)
OAKLAND - OCTOBER 19: John Elway #7 of the Denver Broncos scrambles during an NFL game against the Oakland Raiders played on October 19, 1997 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California. Greg Biekert #54 of Oakland pursues. (Photo by David Madison/Getty Images)
1 of 6
Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs
KANSAS CITY, MO – DECEMBER 15: Running back Darwin Thompson #34 of the Kansas City Chiefs runs upfield against strong safety Kareem Jackson #22 of the Denver Broncos during the second half at Arrowhead Stadium on December 15, 2019, in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)

The Denver Broncos are one of the league’s proudest and most successful franchises, and along the way, the team has acquired several hated rivals.

The Broncos have won three Super Bowls while playing in the big game eight times. Only the New England Patriots have made it there more often.

The Broncos have a storied history that dates all the way back to the AFL. Two of the best quarterbacks in the history of the league — John Elway and Peyton Manning — have donned the orange and blue.

While there have been some incredible games and amazing individual performances over the years, much of what makes a game so good or a feat so impressive is the opponent that it comes against.

Playing in the AFC West since the merger in 1970, the Broncos have become bitter rivals with a few of the teams around the league, and those teams will be discussed here.

What makes a rivalry so great? The classic individual battles on the field, the strategy between the coaches on each sideline and the bickering that goes on in the stands between fans of each team is what brings out the best in a rivalry.

But a good rivalry must include the success and failures of each team. A good rivalry is a back-and-forth battle for supremacy and generally doesn’t stay too one-sided.

Which rival team of the Broncos do you dislike the most? Are they No.1 on the list?

Schedule