The Denver Broncos lost just three games last year, winning 11 in a row at one point and finishing 14-3, earning the top seed in the AFC. The Broncos have had two losses since Week 4, when they fell to the San Francisco 49ers, and have since beaten Los Angeles, Seattle, and Arizona.
Denver is obviously dangerously close to losing their third game, but at the same time, the Broncos had two losses after just three games last year. Many have identified the nearly impossible hill the Broncos would have to climb with a third loss, but even if the team falls to 5-3, the season would still be wide open.
While it may not seem like it, it's the truth.
The Denver Broncos still have it all in front of them even in a Week 8 loss
The Broncos losing in Week 8 would give the Kansas City Chiefs their first season-sweep of the Broncos since the 2022 season, but it would still only put the Chiefs one win ahead of Denver. Yes, the two-game difference in the loss column would be tough, but the Broncos would still be second in the division and would still be 5-3 to the Chiefs' 6-1 record.
The Broncos have some very favorable matchups as well in the coming weeks. Of their final nine games after Week 8, six of them are against teams with a losing record. Here is how the rest of the season's schedule looks following Week 8:
Week 9 @ Carolina (3-4)
Week 10 BYE
Week 11 vs. Las Vegas (3-4)
Week 12 @ Pittsburgh (5-2)
Week 13 @ vs. Miami (1-5)
Week 14 @ New York Jets (2-5)
Week 15 @ Las Vegas (3-4)
Week 16 vs. Buffalo (5-1)
Week 17 @ New England (4-3)
Week 18 vs. Los Angeles (0-6)
There is a very clear path here for the Broncos to go on a long winning streak. Their remaining opponents from Week 9 and on have a combined record of 26-34.
Here is what the Chiefs have left after Week 8:
Week 9 vs. New York Jets (2-5)
Week 10 @ Atlanta (3-4)
Week 11 vs. Arizona (2-5)
Week 12 @ Buffalo (5-1)
Week 13 @ Los Angeles Rams (3-4)
Week 14 @ Cincinnati (4-2)
Week 15 vs. New England (4-3)
Week 16 vs. San Francisco (6-1)
Week 17 @ Los Angeles Chargers (0-6)
Week 18 vs. Las Vegas (3-4)
The Chiefs remaining opponents have a combined record of 32-35. If you remove the Chargers from each, as they're 0-6, and both teams play them once, the Chiefs remaining opponents would be 32-29, and the Broncos would be 26-28.
Denver's schedule is easier down the stretch, and with Kansas City having some incredibly tough opponents ahead, their road could get rocky. The Chiefs also already had their bye, so they won't get that extended break.
The odds would absolutely still be against the Broncos in their quest to in the AFC West for a second season in a row, but let's not pretend like those odds would be zero. Denver did just go on an 11-game winning streak last year, so this team is capable of sweeping the rest of the season if they were to lose in Week 8.
The Broncos have also typically responded very well to losses in the Payton era - after their Week 4 loss to San Francisco, the Broncos have since won three in a row. A win gives us a totally different story, but even in a loss, the entire season is still right there for the taking, as the Broncos would have nine winnable games left.
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