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What If…? Denver Broncos edition: Looking into football multiverse

By Scott Corbridge

Jay Cutler #6 of the Denver Broncos during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado on December 24, 2006. (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/Getty Images)
Jay Cutler #6 of the Denver Broncos during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado on December 24, 2006. (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, COLORADO – DECEMBER 19: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills scores a touchdown during the third quarter against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field At Mile High on December 19, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Every NFL fan deals in hypotheticals and “what ifs”. What if some major events in Denver Broncos history had been different?

Every fanbase ponders the question “what if” in regards to a specific game, call, or event in history that has them wondering just how much one single moment could change the course of a franchise, for better or worse.

The Denver Broncos have been around since 1960 and have experienced a number of highs and lows that many have wished worked out another way. So what if that’s just what happened? Let’s take a look at some of the biggest moments in Broncos history, and how one single moment could have had a different outcome.

1. What if the Denver Broncos had selected Josh Allen instead of Bradley Chubb in the 2018 NFL Draft?

The Broncos have had a less than stellar track record when choosing the successor to Peyton Manning since his retirement after 2015. While Chubb isn’t necessarily a bust by any means, his injury history does leave some to be desired. Enter Allen, the strong-armed quarterback out of Wyoming.

Denver spent a good amount of the offseason with Allen, as they coached him in the annual Reece’s Senior Bowl leading up the draft. While reports surfaced that the team hadn’t even spoken with Chubb up until they selected him, General Manager at the time John Elway saw what he needed to and selected Allen with the fifth overall pick in this scenario.

In his first season in Denver, Allen struggles to get his footing in the first half of the season, as he never faced top-tiered talent throughout college. Then after a narrow victory over the Texans in week 9, head coach Vance Joseph decides to unleash the 6’5″ Allen on opposing defenses and the Broncos go on a 7-game win streak to end the season 11-5 and earn a trip to the playoffs, where they are unfortunately knocked out in the divisional round by Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, 30-24.

From then on the Broncos make the playoffs each season and are in prime position to take on the rest of the AFC West and remain perennial Super Bowl contenders.

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