Denver Broncos: 5 consequences if they miss the playoffs in 2021

The Denver Broncos have playoff aspirations in 2021. If they fail to make the postseason, there could be some substantial consequences.

The pressure is certainly on the Denver Broncos to reach the postseason again in the 2021 season. After the team won Super Bowl 50 in February 2016, they have gone into a four-year playoff famine. Some fan bases may consider that a fair trade for a Super Bowl win, but for Broncos Country, an annual trip to the playoffs had become the norm and expected thing every football season.

A quarterback carousel, three different head coaches, and back-to-back-to-back losing seasons from 2018-20? Including a last-place finish in 2020?

John Elway stepped down from his role as the general manager, highlighting just how tough the post-Super Bowl years have been.

Nobody in Denver likes the Broncos having a losing record, much less three of them back-to-back. Nobody enjoys this postseason drought.

Although new general manager George Paton is probably in the clear, heads will roll if the Denver Broncos don’t make the playoffs in 2021. The team’s ownership situation is certainly a major factor to monitor beyond this season, and Paton’s decision to pass on the quarterback class of 2021 in favor of Patrick Surtain II could be something that a new owner thinks is a big deal.

With a long 17-game road ahead, the Denver Broncos are still undefeated and should be considered a solid candidate for one out of seven playoff spots in the AFC. Even with some of the best teams in the league coming out of this conference, the Broncos have enough talent on both sides of the ball to get there.

If they don’t?

Again, heads will roll.

This is a future that the Denver Broncos are going to desperately try to avoid, hopefully, to only discuss as an alternate “what if” timeline down the road.

Here are what I believe could be the top five consequences if the Broncos miss the playoffs in 2021.