Ranking the Broncos best moments at the bye week in the 2026 season

The Denver Broncos have had some stellar moments thus far. Sitting at 7-2, the Broncos are in a great spot to win the AFC West for a second year in a row, and it's not hard to see how this team could earn the AFC's top playoff seed again.

The Broncos schedule after the bye is rather easy, and while nothing is guaranteed in this league, it's hard to see how the team doesn't stack a ton of wins beginning in Week 11.

Up through the team's first nine games, we took a look at some of the best moments and ranked them here.

Ranking the Denver Broncos best moments and plays of the 2026 season thus far

6. Nik Bonitto's strip sack of Bryce Young against the Carolina Panthers

At one point in Week 9, the Broncos secondary was missing all of Riley Moss, Brandon Jones, Talanoa Hufanga, and Kris Abrams-Draine. The Carolina Panthers had taken advantage of this and had thrown the ball with ease down the field, so much so that it felt like Denver was primed to lose what likely would have been a one-score game. However, Nik Bonitto beat Panthers left tackle Rasheed Walker late in the fourth quarter for a strip sack, which gave the ball back to the Broncos and allowed them to clinch the win.

5. Ja'Quan McMillian's overtime interception against the Seattle Seahawks

Ja'Quan "Big Play" McMillian came through for the Broncos back in Week 6 against the Seattle Seahawks, one of the uglier games of the season. The Seahawks had a third down and were in a spot to win the game, but McMillian jumped the route, intercepted Sam Darnold, and set the Broncos up for what turned into a Wil Lutz game-winning field goal.

4. Bo Nix's 62-yard touchdown run against the Arizona Cardinals

It's not everyday you see a quarterback run for a 62-yard touchdown, but it happaned in Week 7 against Arizona:

This had to have been some sort of mental victory for Nix as well, as it felt like he wasn't moving around as much before this run. There really wasn't a single Cardinals defender anywhere to be found, either. While running in a straight line is something that most of us can do, the meaning behind this run and the fact that he was 62 yards makes it one of the best moments of the season.

3. Talanoa Hufanga's two-interception game against the Los Angeles Rams

Late in the fourth quarter of the team's Week 3 game, safety Talanoa Hufanga intercepted Matthew Stafford and returned it for a touchdown, which gave Denver their first lead of the game. And then, on the final play of the game, Stafford threw it into the endzone for what could have been a walk-off touchdown, but Hufanga was again there for the interception.

What made Hufanga's performance notable was how many 'almost' interceptions he dropped in 2025. It felt like he had about 10 chances for an interception last year, so getting two in the fourth quarter of a primetime game was a fitting way for that streak to end. Denver erased a 16-point deficit in this one.

2. JL Skinner's goal line stuff of Kenneth Walker III against the Kansas City Chiefs

JL Skinner blew up Kansas City Chiefs' running back Kenneth Walker III in the hole back in Week 8. Denver had trailed by 11 entering the fourth quarter but had soon taken a 28-24 lead, but in typical Chiefs fashion, they drove down the field and got to the one-yard line.

The one!

In just about every other scenario, the Chiefs find a way to push that ball into the endzone, but Denver's goal line stand helped the team seal the deal. Skinner has been a backup safety his entire career and just does not play much on defense, so his being able to make this play, especially against one of the best running backs in football, is quite something.

Had the Chiefs scored on that play, they likely win, and in that event, the Chiefs are currently 7-1, and the Broncos are 6-3.

1. Malcolm Roach's sack to clinch victory against the Kansas City Chiefs

Malcolm Roach has been awesome this year, and on the final play of the game, after the Chiefs got backed up thanks to a false start, Roach beat the left guard and got to Patrick Mahomes for the sack as the clock struck zero. It was yet another clutch play from this team, but also against an opponent the Broncos simply had to beat.

Roach has been a problem for opposing offensive lines all year and made his presence felt during this play, the biggest, most consequential of the season thus far.

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