2023 Denver Broncos Season
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The 2023 season was the
Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football franchise based in Denver. The Broncos compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The team is headquart ...
' 54th season in the
National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the ...
(NFL) and their 64th overall. It was also their third under the leadership of
general manager A general manager (GM) is an executive who has overall responsibility for managing both the revenue and cost elements of a company's income statement, known as profit & loss (P&L) responsibility. A general manager usually oversees most or all of ...
George Paton, their second under the ownership of the Walton-Penner family group and their first under
head coach A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches. In some sports, the head coach is instead called the "manager", as in assoc ...
Sean Payton Sean, also spelled Seán or Séan in Irish English, is a male given name of Irish origin. It comes from the Irish versions of the Biblical Hebrew name ''Yohanan'' (), Seán (anglicized as ''Shaun/ Shawn/ Shon'') and Séan (Ulster variant; anglici ...
. During the off-season, the Broncos released longtime kicker
Brandon McManus Brandon Tyler McManus (born July 25, 1991) is an American football placekicker for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He was a member of their Super Bowl 50 championship team, beating the Carolina Panthers, and as of 2022, ...
after spending nine seasons with the team. He was the last player from the
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Super Bowl 50 Super Bowl 50 was an American football game to determine the champion of the National Football League (NFL) for the 2015 season. The American Football Conference (AFC) champion Denver Broncos defeated the National Football Conference (NFC) cha ...
-winning team still on the roster. His release made safety Justin Simmons, who has been with the team since
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, the team's new longest-tenured player. After a 1–5 start, the team's first since
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, the Broncos started to surge, going 5–0 in the process to improve upon their 5–12 record from the previous season. However, the Broncos went 2–4 in their final six games, suffering their seventh consecutive losing season and missed the playoffs for an eighth consecutive season. After his worst statistical season in 2022, quarterback
Russell Wilson Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played his first 10 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson is widely regarded ...
improved on his touchdown passes, but was benched for the team's final two games in favor of backup quarterback
Jarrett Stidham Jarrett Ryan Stidham (born August 8, 1996) is an American football quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). After transferring from Baylor, he played college football at Auburn and was selected by the New Engl ...
.


Coaching changes

On February 3,
Sean Payton Sean, also spelled Seán or Séan in Irish English, is a male given name of Irish origin. It comes from the Irish versions of the Biblical Hebrew name ''Yohanan'' (), Seán (anglicized as ''Shaun/ Shawn/ Shon'') and Séan (Ulster variant; anglici ...
was named as the 20th
head coach A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches. In some sports, the head coach is instead called the "manager", as in assoc ...
in franchise history. Payton previously coached the
New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans. The Saints compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. Since 1975, the te ...
from 2006–2021, with the exception of
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, and the Broncos agreed to draft compensation with the Saints— ''see Draft section''. Payton was the Broncos' seventh different
head coach A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches. In some sports, the head coach is instead called the "manager", as in assoc ...
since
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, and their third since
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. He replaced
Nathaniel Hackett Nathaniel Hackett (born December 19, 1979) is an American football coach. A former long-time assistant to Doug Marrone, Hackett previously served as the offensive coordinator for the NFL's Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills, ...
, who was fired on December 26, 2022, and replaced by
Jerry Rosburg Jerry Rosburg (born November 24, 1955) is an American football coach, who most recently served as the interim head coach for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). In 2008, he was hired as assistant head coach/special teams co ...
on an interim basis for the last two games of the
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season. In the weeks that followed Payton's hiring, the Broncos underwent the following coaching changes: :


Roster changes


Future contracts

All players listed below were signed to reserve/future contracts on January 9, unless otherwise noted. Each player was officially added to the active roster on March 15—the first day of the
2023 Events Predicted and scheduled events * January 1 ** In the United States, books, films, and other works published in 1927 will enter the public domain, assuming there are no changes made to copyright law. ** Croatia will adopt the eu ...
league year.starting


Free agents


Unrestricted

Note: Unrestricted free agents who were originally Restricted free agents (RFA) had three accrued seasons whose contracts expired at the end of the previous season, and did not receive a qualifying offer before the start of the
2023 Events Predicted and scheduled events * January 1 ** In the United States, books, films, and other works published in 1927 will enter the public domain, assuming there are no changes made to copyright law. ** Croatia will adopt the eu ...
league year on March 15.


Exclusive-rights


Signings


Departures


Draft

Draft trades


Undrafted free agents

All
undrafted free agents In professional sports, a free agent is a player who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under contract at present but who is a ...
were signed prior to the team's rookie minicamp on May 12, unless noted otherwise.


Suspensions

Eyioma Uwazurike On July 24,
defensive end Defensive end (DE) is a defensive position in the sport of gridiron football. This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formation (American football), formations over the years have substantially ...
Eyioma Uwazurike was suspended indefinitely by the
NFL The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the major ...
for violating the league’s gambling policy. Uwazurike, the team's 2022 fourth-round draft selection, bet on NFL games during his rookie season. Kareem Jackson
Safety Safety is the state of being "safe", the condition of being protected from harm or other danger. Safety can also refer to risk management, the control of recognized hazards in order to achieve an acceptable level of risk. Meanings There are ...
Kareem Jackson Kareem Jackson (born April 10, 1988) is an American football strong safety for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the first round of the 2010 NF ...
has twice been suspended by the NFL for repeated violations of the league's policy on unnecessary roughness. On October 23, Jackson was initially suspended four games following the Broncos' Week 7 win over the
Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. It ...
after being ejected for a forceful blow to the head & neck area of Packers'
tight end The tight end (TE) is a position in American football, arena football, and Canadian football, on the offense. The tight end is often a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like ...
Luke Musgrave Lucas Stone Musgrave (born September 2, 2000) is an American football tight end for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oregon State. He is the nephew of football coach Bill Musgrave. Ear ...
, when Musgrave was determined to be a defenseless receiver. Jackson was also ejected during the Broncos' Week 2 loss to the
Washington Commanders The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) E ...
for a similar hit on Commanders' tight end
Logan Thomas Logan Lamont Thomas Sr. (born July 1, 1991) is an American football tight end for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He was the starting quarterback at Virginia Tech in the early 2010s, where he finished as the sch ...
, which resulted in Thomas suffering a concussion. Jackson was fined for a total of $89,670 for a series of illegal hits, including violations in three other games—Week 1 against the
Las Vegas Raiders The Las Vegas Raiders are a professional American football team based in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. The Raiders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West divis ...
, Week 3 against the
Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami metropolitan area. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member team of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. The team pla ...
and Week 6 against the
Kansas City Chiefs The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The tea ...
. One day later (October 24), Jackson's suspension was reduced to two games following an appeal hearing. On November 20, in his first game back from suspension, Jackson was hit with another four-game suspension for lowering his helmet on
Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) North division. Founded in 1960 as an expansion ...
'
quarterback The quarterback (commonly abbreviated "QB"), colloquially known as the "signal caller", is a position in gridiron football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive platoon and mostly line up directly behind the offensive line. In modern Ame ...
Joshua Dobbs Robert Joshua Dobbs (born January 26, 1995) is an American football quarterback for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Tennessee, and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth rou ...
, during the Broncos' Week 11 win over the Vikings. Jackson was not flagged for the hit, and he unsuccessfully appealed the suspension. After he was a healthy scratch for the team's Week 16 loss to the
New England Patriots The New England Patriots are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston area. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East divisio ...
, Jackson was waived on December 25 following a roster exemption, and was claimed off waivers by the
Houston Texans The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston. The Texans compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division, and play their home ga ...
the following day.


Trades


Injuries


Practice squad elevations


Staff


Final roster


Preseason


Regular season


Schedule

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.


Game summaries


Week 1: vs. Las Vegas Raiders

The Broncos kicked off the
2023 Events Predicted and scheduled events * January 1 ** In the United States, books, films, and other works published in 1927 will enter the public domain, assuming there are no changes made to copyright law. ** Croatia will adopt the eu ...
season against their
AFC West The American Football Conference – Western Division or AFC West is one of the four divisions of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL). The division comprises the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Las ...
division rival
Las Vegas Raiders The Las Vegas Raiders are a professional American football team based in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. The Raiders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West divis ...
. This marked
Sean Payton Sean, also spelled Seán or Séan in Irish English, is a male given name of Irish origin. It comes from the Irish versions of the Biblical Hebrew name ''Yohanan'' (), Seán (anglicized as ''Shaun/ Shawn/ Shon'') and Séan (Ulster variant; anglici ...
's debut as the Broncos'
head coach A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches. In some sports, the head coach is instead called the "manager", as in assoc ...
. The Raiders grabbed the early lead on their initial possession, with quarterback
Jimmy Garoppolo James Richard Garoppolo (born November 2, 1991), nicknamed Jimmy G, is an American football quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Eastern Illinois, where he set the school r ...
connecting on a 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver
Jakobi Meyers Jakobi Meyers (born November 9, 1996) is an American football wide receiver for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at NC State and signed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free ...
. The Broncos responded on their first possession, with a 5-yard touchdown pass from quarterback
Russell Wilson Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played his first 10 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson is widely regarded ...
to wide receiver
Lil'Jordan Humphrey Lil'Jordan Humphrey (born April 19, 1998) is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football at Texas. Early years Humphrey attended Carroll Senior High School in Southlake, Texas. He played running back and ...
. However, placekicker
Wil Lutz William “Wil” Lutz (born July 7, 1994) is an American football placekicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia State. Early life Lutz was born in Newnan, Georgia. Both his ...
missed wide-right on the extra point attempt — a miscue that would prove to be critical to the game's outcome. A 24-yard field goal by placekicker Daniel Carlson gave the Raiders a 10–6 lead early in the second quarter. The Broncos took their first just lead before halftime, with Wilson's second touchdown pass of the first half — a 5-yarder to wide receiver
Courtland Sutton Courtland Sutton (born October 10, 1995) is an American football wide receiver for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at SMU, and was selected by the Broncos in the second round of the 2018 NFL ...
. Lutz missed wide right on a 55-yard field goal attempt on the initial possession of the second half. The Raiders then marched down the field and faced a 3rd-and-goal from the Broncos' 6-yard line. However, Garoppolo was intercepted by safety
Kareem Jackson Kareem Jackson (born April 10, 1988) is an American football strong safety for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the first round of the 2010 NF ...
in the end zone for a touchback, late in the third quarter. The Broncos then had a first-and-goal from the Raiders' 8-yard line; however, they failed to score a touchdown, and instead, settled for a 24-yard field goal by Lutz midway through the fourth quarter. The Raiders took a 17–16 lead six plays later, with another touchdown pass from Garoppolo to Meyers — from 6 yards out. The Broncos went three-and-out, and were forced to punt. The Raiders faced a 3rd-and-8 from their own 44-yard line with exactly three minutes left in the game. Meyers was stopped one yard short of a first down on a pass completion from Garoppolo; however, Jackson was flagged for an unnecessary roughness flag for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Meyers, giving the Raiders a first down. The Broncos' defense was unable to stop Garoppolo from scrambling for a game-clinching 8-yard first down run.


Week 2: vs. Washington Commanders

The Broncos took a 21–3 lead over the
Commanders Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countries this naval rank is termed frigate captain. ...
with touchdowns on each of their first three possessions, consisting of a 5-yard touchdown run by running back Jaleel McLaughlin and two touchdown passes from quarterback
Russell Wilson Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played his first 10 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson is widely regarded ...
— a 60-yarder to wide receiver
Marvin Mims Marvin Mims Jr. (born March 19, 2002) is an American football wide receiver for the Oklahoma Sooners. Early life and high school Mims grew up in Frisco, Texas and attended Lone Star High School. He was named the District 5-5A-I Offensive MVP i ...
and a 16-yarder to wide receiver
Brandon Johnson Brandon Johnson (born March 27, 1976) is an American educator and politician serving as the 57th mayor of Chicago. A member of the Democratic Party, Johnson was elected mayor in April 2023. He previously served on the Cook County Board of Commi ...
. However, the Broncos' offense would sputter for the remainder of the game and their defense was unable to stop the Commanders. After Wilson was strip-sacked by linebacker
Jamin Davis Jamin Davis ( ; born December 12, 1998) is an American football linebacker for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Kentucky and was drafted by Washington in the first round of the 2021 NF ...
, the momentum shifted to the Commanders. Quarterback
Sam Howell Sam Howell (born September 16, 2000) is an American football quarterback for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Carolina, setting school records for most touchdown passes in a si ...
connected on a 4-yard touchdown pass to tight end
Logan Thomas Logan Lamont Thomas Sr. (born July 1, 1991) is an American football tight end for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He was the starting quarterback at Virginia Tech in the early 2010s, where he finished as the sch ...
on a 4th-and-goal, with a two-point conversion that was initially ruled unsuccessful, but overturned by review. The Broncos' lead was narrowed to 21–14 just before halftime, with a 49-yard field goal by Commanders' placekicker
Joey Slye Joseph David Slye (born April 10, 1996) is an American football placekicker for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Virginia Tech and signed as an undrafted free agent with the New Yo ...
, who missed from 49 and made from 44 in the first quarter. After a Broncos' three-and-out to start the second half, the Commanders tied the game at 21–21, with Howell throwing a 30-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver
Terry McLaurin Terry McLaurin (born September 15, 1995) is an American football wide receiver for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Ohio State and was drafted by Washington in the third round of the ...
. Following an interception of Russell, Slye missed wide-right on a 59-yard field goal attempt. The Broncos reached the red zone on the ensuing possession, but were forced to settle for a 31-yard field goal by placekicker
Wil Lutz William “Wil” Lutz (born July 7, 1994) is an American football placekicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia State. Early life Lutz was born in Newnan, Georgia. Both his ...
. The Commanders took their first lead of the game early in the fourth quarter, with running back
Brian Robinson Jr. Brian Robinson Jr. (born March 22, 1999) is an American football running back for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama, where he was two-time CFP national champion before being se ...
rushing for a 2-yard touchdown, then added to their lead, with another rushing touchdown by Robinson — a 15-yarder midway through the fourth quarter. After being outscored 32–3 since early in the second quarter, the Broncos found themselves trailing 35–24. A 32-yard field goal by Lutz on the first play after the two-minute warning pulled the Broncos to a 35–27 deficit. After burning all of their team timeouts and forcing a Commanders' punt, the Broncos had one last possession at their own 13-yard line and with 48 seconds remaining. With 3 seconds remaining, Wilson heaved a desperation hail mary pass that was caught by Johnson for a touchdown. The Broncos needed a two-point conversion to send the game to overtime. However, Wilson's pass that was intended for wide receiver
Courtland Sutton Courtland Sutton (born October 10, 1995) is an American football wide receiver for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at SMU, and was selected by the Broncos in the second round of the 2018 NFL ...
fell incomplete.


Week 3: at Miami Dolphins

The Broncos were overwhelmed by the
Dolphins A dolphin is an aquatic mammal within the infraorder Cetacea. Dolphin species belong to the families Delphinidae (the oceanic dolphins), Platanistidae (the Indian river dolphins), Iniidae (the New World river dolphins), Pontoporiidae (t ...
, in an embarrassing 70–20 loss. The Broncos' defense surrendered franchise worsts in points (70), yards (726) and overall touchdowns in one game (10), and tied a franchise record for rushing touchdowns in one game (5). The 50-point loss was the third-worst margin of defeat in Broncos' franchise history, behind a 59–7 loss to the
Kansas City Chiefs The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The tea ...
in
1963 Events January * January 1 – Bogle–Chandler case: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation scientist Dr. Gilbert Bogle and Mrs. Margaret Chandler are found dead (presumed poisoned), in bushland near the Lane Cov ...
and a 51–0 loss to the
Oakland Raiders The Oakland Raiders were a professional American football team that played in Oakland from its founding in 1960 to 1981 and again from 1995 to 2019 before relocating to the Las Vegas metropolitan area where they now play as the Las Vegas Raide ...
in
1967 Events January * January 1 – Canada begins a year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of Confederation, featuring the Expo 67 World's Fair. * January 5 ** Spain and Romania sign an agreement in Paris, establishing full consular and ...
. Dolphins' quarterback
Tua Tagovailoa Tuanigamanuolepola Tagovailoa ( ; born March 2, 1998) is an American football quarterback for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama, where he was the Offensive MVP of the 2018 College Fo ...
threw for four touchdowns, and running backs
Raheem Mostert Dominique Raheem Mostert (born April 9, 1992) is an American football running back for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Purdue. Mostert attended New Smyrna Beach High School in New Smyrna B ...
and De'Von Achane accounted for six other touchdowns. Broncos' quarterback
Russell Wilson Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played his first 10 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson is widely regarded ...
threw for 306 yards and only one touchdown, while wide receiver
Marvin Mims Marvin Mims Jr. (born March 19, 2002) is an American football wide receiver for the Oklahoma Sooners. Early life and high school Mims grew up in Frisco, Texas and attended Lone Star High School. He was named the District 5-5A-I Offensive MVP i ...
returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown. The 70 points scored by the Dolphins was tied for the second-most in a single game in
NFL The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the major ...
history, only trailing a 72-point output by the
Washington Redskins The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) N ...
in
1966 Events January * January 1 – In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa takes over as military ruler of the Central African Republic, ousting President David Dacko. * January 3 – 1966 Upper Voltan coup d'état: President Maurice Yaméogo i ...
.


Week 4: at Chicago Bears

The Broncos took the early lead over the
Bears Bears are carnivoran mammals of the family Ursidae. They are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans. Although only eight species of bears are extant, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the North ...
on their initial possession, with quarterback
Russell Wilson Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played his first 10 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson is widely regarded ...
connecting on an 18-yard touchdown pass with running back Jaleel McLaughlin. The Broncos' offense would then sputter, failing to advance past their own 44-yard line on their next four possessions, and the Bears reeled off 28 unanswered points. The Broncos' defense yielded four touchdown passes to Bears' quarterback
Justin Fields Justin Skyler Fields (born March 5, 1999) is an American football quarterback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). Following a stint with Georgia, he played college football at Ohio State, where he twice won Graham–Ge ...
—two to tight end
Cole Kmet Cole Kmet (born March 10, 1999) is an American football tight end for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Notre Dame, and was drafted by the Bears in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Ea ...
, and one apiece to wide receiver
D. J. Moore Denniston Oliver "D. J." Moore Jr. (born April 14, 1997) is an American football wide receiver for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played college football at Maryland. He was drafted by the Carolina Pant ...
and running back
Khalil Herbert Khalil Herbert (born April 21, 1998) is an American football running back for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Kansas before transferring to Virginia Tech in 2020. Herbert was drafted by the B ...
. The Broncos trailed 28–7 with 4:10 remaining in the third quarter, but proceeded to score the final 24 points of the game. Wilson threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver
Brandon Johnson Brandon Johnson (born March 27, 1976) is an American educator and politician serving as the 57th mayor of Chicago. A member of the Democratic Party, Johnson was elected mayor in April 2023. He previously served on the Cook County Board of Commi ...
near the end of the third quarter, followed in the fourth quarter by a 13-yarder to wide receiver
Courtland Sutton Courtland Sutton (born October 10, 1995) is an American football wide receiver for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at SMU, and was selected by the Broncos in the second round of the 2018 NFL ...
. Then the Broncos' defense came up with a crucial turnover, with linebacker
Nik Bonitto Nikolas Bonitto (born September 26, 1999) is an American football outside linebacker for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oklahoma. Early life and high school career Bonitto grew up in Fo ...
forcing a strip sack and fumble off Fields, and linebacker
Jonathon Cooper Jonathon Cooper (born January 8, 1998) is an American football outside linebacker for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Ohio State. Professional career Cooper was drafted by the Denver Bro ...
returning the fumble 42 yards for a game-tying touchdown midway through the fourth quarter. The Bears then marched down the field, and faced a 4th-and-1 at the Broncos' 18-yard line with 2:57 remaining in the fourth quarter. However, instead of a go-ahead field goal, the Bears decided to go for a first-down, but turned the football over on downs when Fields was tackled for no gain by linebacker Alex Singleton. Five plays later, a 51-yard field goal by placekicker
Wil Lutz William “Wil” Lutz (born July 7, 1994) is an American football placekicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia State. Early life Lutz was born in Newnan, Georgia. Both his ...
put the Broncos ahead to stay with 1:51 remaining in the game. The Bears attempted a rally, but after reaching their own 47-yard line, Fields was intercepted by safety
Kareem Jackson Kareem Jackson (born April 10, 1988) is an American football strong safety for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the first round of the 2010 NF ...
for the Broncos' first win of the season.


Week 5: vs. New York Jets

Following a 30-yard field goal by Jets' placekicker Greg Zuerlein, the Broncos grabbed the lead, with a 22-yard touchdown pass from quarterback
Russell Wilson Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played his first 10 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson is widely regarded ...
to running back Jaleel McLaughlin. On the Broncos' next possession, Wilson was penalized for intentional grounding in the end zone for a safety. The Broncos led 13–8 at halftime, after two short field goals by placekicker
Wil Lutz William “Wil” Lutz (born July 7, 1994) is an American football placekicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia State. Early life Lutz was born in Newnan, Georgia. Both his ...
—from 22 and 23 yards out, with a 26-yard field goal by Zuerlein in between. After the Broncos went three-and-out to start the second half, Jets' running back
Breece Hall Breece Hall (born May 31, 2001) is an American football running back for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Iowa State, where he was a two-time All-American and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Y ...
ran for a 72-yard touchdown—the first of 16 unanswered Jets points. Zuerlein added three more field goals—a 27-yarder in the third quarter, followed by 27- and 49-yarders in the fourth quarter. The Broncos trailed 24–13 midway through the fourth quarter, after two punts and a lost fumble in Jets' territory. A 3-yard touchdown pass from Russell Wilson to tight end
Adam Trautman Adam Trautman (born February 5, 1997) is an American football tight end for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Dayton and was drafted by the Saints in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. ...
, coupled with a successful two-point conversion by fullback Michael Burton, pulled the Broncos to within a 24–21 deficit with 4:48 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Jets were attempting to run out the clock, and faced a 3rd-and-5 at the Broncos' 27-yard line; however, quarterback
Zach Wilson Zachary Kapono Wilson (born August 3, 1999) is an American football quarterback for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at BYU, where he was a two-time bowl game MVP, and was selected second overa ...
was intercepted by cornerback
Patrick Surtain II Patrick Frank Surtain II ( ; born April 14, 2000) is an American football cornerback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama and was drafted ninth overall by the Broncos in the 2021 NFL ...
near the goal line. With 2:14 remaining in the game, the Broncos attempted a rally, but Russell Wilson was strip-sacked by Jets' defensive tackle
Quinnen Williams Quinnen Williams (born December 5, 1997) is an American football defensive tackle for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama and was drafted by the Jets with the 3rd overall pick in the 201 ...
, and cornerback
Bryce Hall Bryce Michael Hall (born August 14, 1999) is an American social media personality known for his TikTok and YouTube videos. , his TikTok account has 24 million followers, and his YouTube channel has 3 million subscribers. Early life Hall was ...
returned the fumble 39 yards for the game-clinching touchdown.


Week 6: at Kansas City Chiefs

The Broncos' defense limited Chiefs' quarterback
Patrick Mahomes Patrick Lavon Mahomes II (born September 17, 1995) is an American football quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). The son of former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher Pat Mahomes, he initially played co ...
to one touchdown pass and four field goals by placekicker
Harrison Butker Harrison Butker (born July 14, 1995), nicknamed Butt Kicker (a play on words on his last name and position), is an American football kicker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia ...
, but the defensive effort was wasted by a poor performance by the offense. Quarterback
Russell Wilson Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played his first 10 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson is widely regarded ...
completed 13 of 22 passes for only 95 yards, and the Broncos trailed 16–0 at the 9:22 mark of the fourth quarter. Wilson finally got the Broncos on the scoreboard, with a 11-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver
Courtland Sutton Courtland Sutton (born October 10, 1995) is an American football wide receiver for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at SMU, and was selected by the Broncos in the second round of the 2018 NFL ...
that was initially ruled as an incomplete pass, but overturned by a booth review. The subsequent two-point conversion by running back
Javonte Williams Javonte Williams (born April 25, 2000) is an American football running back for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Carolina and was drafted by the Broncos in the second round of the 2021 ...
pulled the Broncos to within a 16–8 deficit with six minutes remaining in the game. However, Butker's fourth field goal of the game—a 52-yarder at the two-minute warning, put the game out of reach. It was the Chiefs' 16th consecutive win over the Broncos—a streak that ended two weeks later in Denver.


Week 7: vs. Green Bay Packers

Midway through the third quarter, all of the scoring came by way of the placekickers—three field goals by the Broncos'
Wil Lutz William “Wil” Lutz (born July 7, 1994) is an American football placekicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia State. Early life Lutz was born in Newnan, Georgia. Both his ...
, and one by the
Packers The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) North division. It is the thi ...
' Anders Carlson. The Broncos increased their lead to 16–3, with the game's first touchdown—an 18-yard pass from quarterback
Russell Wilson Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played his first 10 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson is widely regarded ...
to wide receiver
Courtland Sutton Courtland Sutton (born October 10, 1995) is an American football wide receiver for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at SMU, and was selected by the Broncos in the second round of the 2018 NFL ...
. However, the Packers' responded, with two touchdown passes by quarterback
Jordan Love Jordan Alexander Love (born November 2, 1998) is an American football quarterback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Utah State and was drafted by the Packers in the first round of th ...
—a 16-yarder to wide receiver
Romeo Doubs Romeo Izziyh Doubs ( ; born April 13, 2000) is an American football wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Nevada Wolf Pack football, Nevada and was selected by the Packers in ...
, followed by a 4-yarder to wide receiver
Jayden Reed Jayden Reed (born April 28, 2000) is an American football wide receiver. He played college football at Western Michigan before transferring to Michigan State in 2019. Early life Reed grew up in Aurora, Illinois. He initially attended Metea Vall ...
that gave the Packers a 17–16 lead midway through the fourth quarter. Nine plays later, the Broncos re-claimed the lead, with Lutz's fourth field goal of the game—a 52-yarder with 3:54 remaining in the game. The Packers attempted a rally, but Love was intercepted by safety P. J. Locke deep in Broncos' territory. The Broncos then ran out the clock.


Week 8: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

The Broncos' defense forced five turnovers—three fumbles and two interceptions off Chiefs' quarterback
Patrick Mahomes Patrick Lavon Mahomes II (born September 17, 1995) is an American football quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). The son of former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher Pat Mahomes, he initially played co ...
, and limited the Chiefs' offense to three field goals—all in the first half—in a 24–9 win. It was the first time since Week 13 of the 2021 season in which Mahomes did not throw a touchdown pass. Broncos' quarterback
Russell Wilson Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played his first 10 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson is widely regarded ...
threw three touchdown passes—one apiece to running back
Javonte Williams Javonte Williams (born April 25, 2000) is an American football running back for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Carolina and was drafted by the Broncos in the second round of the 2021 ...
and wide receivers
Jerry Jeudy Jerry Davarus Jeudy (born April 24, 1999) is an American football wide receiver for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama, where he was awarded the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the nation's ...
and
Courtland Sutton Courtland Sutton (born October 10, 1995) is an American football wide receiver for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at SMU, and was selected by the Broncos in the second round of the 2018 NFL ...
. The Broncos held a 14–9 lead early in the fourth quarter, and after Chiefs' return specialist
Mecole Hardman Carey Mecole Hardman Jr. (born March 12, 1998) is an American football wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia Bulldogs football, Georgia and was drafted by the Chiefs i ...
muffed a punt, Wilson threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Sutton and placekicker
Wil Lutz William “Wil” Lutz (born July 7, 1994) is an American football placekicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia State. Early life Lutz was born in Newnan, Georgia. Both his ...
later capped the scoring off with a 28-yard field goal with only 31 seconds remaining. With the win, the Broncos snapped a 16-game losing streak to the Chiefs, dating back to
2015 File:2015 Events Collage new.png, From top left, clockwise: Civil service in remembrance of November 2015 Paris attacks; Germanwings Flight 9525 was purposely crashed into the French Alps; the rubble of residences in Kathmandu following the Apri ...
.


Week 10: at Buffalo Bills

The Broncos' defense forced two turnovers off the Bills' first two possessions—a fumble and an interception off quarterback
Josh Allen Josh or Joshua Allen may refer to: * Josh Allen (offensive lineman) (born 1991), former American football player * Josh Allen (quarterback) (born 1996), American football quarterback in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills since 2018 * Josh Allen (defen ...
, but only got one scoring a play—a 40-yard field goal by placekicker
Wil Lutz William “Wil” Lutz (born July 7, 1994) is an American football placekicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia State. Early life Lutz was born in Newnan, Georgia. Both his ...
. The Broncos added to their lead midway through the second quarter, with quarterback
Russell Wilson Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played his first 10 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson is widely regarded ...
completing a pass to wide receiver
Courtland Sutton Courtland Sutton (born October 10, 1995) is an American football wide receiver for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at SMU, and was selected by the Broncos in the second round of the 2018 NFL ...
along the side of the end zone that was initially ruled an incomplete pass, but ruled a touchdown after instant replay revealed that Sutton dragged his toes in bounds. However, Lutz hit the left upright on the extra point attempt. The Bills responded, and got on the scoreboard, with Allen connecting on a 22-yard touchdown pass to tight end
Dalton Kincaid Dalton Mosser Kincaid (born October 18, 1999) is an American football tight end for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the San Diego Toreros and Utah Utes and was selected by the Bills in the f ...
, with a successful two-point conversion. Lutz added two more field goals—from 49 and 40 yards out, to give the Broncos a 15–8 halftime lead. The latter field goal occurred after another interception of Allen. After an exchange of punts to start the second half, Sutton lost a fumble at the Bills' 45-yard line, and the Bills capitalized, with running back
Latavius Murray Latavius Rashard Murray (born January 18, 1990) is an American football running back for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at UCF Knights football, UCF and was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in ...
rushing for a 3-yard touchdown to tie the game midway through the third quarter. After a pair of punt exchanges, the Broncos reclaimed the lead with 5:10 remaining in the game. Wilson connected with running back
Javonte Williams Javonte Williams (born April 25, 2000) is an American football running back for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Carolina and was drafted by the Broncos in the second round of the 2021 ...
for a 3-yard touchdown pass. However, the extra point attempt was botched, leaving the score at 21–15. The Bills then drove down the field, and on the first play after the two-minute warning, Allen scrambled for a 6-yard touchdown run to give the Bills their first lead of the game. Wilson engineered a comeback that was aided by two crucial penalties on Buffalo. First, the Broncos faced a 3rd-and-10 from the Bills' 45-yard line with 35 seconds left. A pass attempt intended for wide receiver
Jerry Jeudy Jerry Davarus Jeudy (born April 24, 1999) is an American football wide receiver for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama, where he was awarded the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the nation's ...
was incomplete, but pass interference was called on Bills' cornerback
Taron Johnson Taron Johnson (born July 27, 1996) is an American football cornerback for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Weber State Wildcats football, Weber State. He played high school football at Sheldo ...
at the 17-yard line. Following a quick kneel down, and without any timeouts, the Broncos rushed their field goal unit onto the field. Lutz missed the 41-yard attempt wide right; however, the Bills were flagged for having 12 men on the field, giving Lutz a second chance with only four seconds left. Lutz then redeemed himself—kicking the game-winning 36-yard field goal as time expired.


Week 11: vs. Minnesota Vikings

The Broncos' offense struggled for most of the game, settling for five field goals by placekicker
Wil Lutz William “Wil” Lutz (born July 7, 1994) is an American football placekicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia State. Early life Lutz was born in Newnan, Georgia. Both his ...
through the early portion of the fourth quarter. Each field goal, for the exception of a 52-yarder just before halftime, was the result of the Broncos failing to score a touchdown in the red zone, and three of those field goals occurred after
Vikings Vikings ; non, víkingr is the modern name given to seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway and Sweden), who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded and se ...
' turnovers. Defensively, the Broncos yielded two touchdowns to Vikings' quarterback
Joshua Dobbs Robert Joshua Dobbs (born January 26, 1995) is an American football quarterback for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Tennessee, and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth rou ...
—one passing and one rushing, as well as two field goals by placekicker
Greg Joseph Greg Joseph (born 4 August 1994) is a South African professional American football placekicker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida Atlantic. He made his NFL debut in 2018 with ...
. The Broncos trailed 20–15 with 3:20 remaining in the game, when quarterback
Russell Wilson Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played his first 10 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson is widely regarded ...
engineered a game-winning drive for the second consecutive game—a 10-play, 75-yard drive that culminated in a 15-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver
Courtland Sutton Courtland Sutton (born October 10, 1995) is an American football wide receiver for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at SMU, and was selected by the Broncos in the second round of the 2018 NFL ...
in the back of the end zone, with an unsuccessful two-point conversion attempt. The Vikings had one last possession with 1:03 remaining in the game, hoping to reach field goal range. However, after earning one first down at their own 36-yard line, and burning two timeouts in the process, Dobbs threw four consecutive incomplete passes, including a 15-yard intentional grounding penalty on 3rd down, ending the Vikings' rally attempt. With the win, the Broncos earned their first four-game winning streak since
2016 File:2016 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Bombed-out buildings in Ankara following the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt; the impeachment trial of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff; Damaged houses during the 2016 Nagorno-Karabakh ...
.


Week 12: vs. Cleveland Browns

After achieving only one rushing touchdown the entire season, the Broncos jumped out to a 14–0 lead on a pair of rushing touchdowns—a 3-yarder by running back
Samaje Perine Samaje Perine ( ; born September 16, 1995) is an American football running back for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oklahoma Sooners football, Oklahoma, and was drafted by the Washingto ...
in the first quarter, followed in the second quarter by a 2-yarder by quarterback
Russell Wilson Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played his first 10 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson is widely regarded ...
. The Browns then scored 12 unanswered points—two field goals by placekicker
Dustin Hopkins Dustin Hopkins (born October 1, 1990) is an American football placekicker for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida State and was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round ...
late in the second quarter, followed by a 2-yard touchdown pass from quarterback
Dorian Thompson-Robinson Dorian Trevor Thompson-Robinson (born November 14, 1999), also known by his initials DTR, is an American football quarterback for the UCLA Bruins. He has been a two-time second-team all-conference selection in the Pac-12 (2020, 2021). Early yea ...
to tight end
Harrison Bryant Harrison Bryant (born April 23, 1998) is an American football tight end for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida Atlantic, where he was a unanimous All-American and won the John Macke ...
midway through the third quarter. Wide receiver
Amari Cooper Amari Cooper (born June 17, 1994) is an American football wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama, where he was the Biletnikoff Award winner as the nation's top receiv ...
dropped what would have been the game-tying two point conversion in the end zone. However, the Broncos' defense held the Browns scoreless for the remainder of the game, and the Broncos added 15 more points—two short field goals by placekicker
Wil Lutz William “Wil” Lutz (born July 7, 1994) is an American football placekicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia State. Early life Lutz was born in Newnan, Georgia. Both his ...
, an 8-yard touchdown pass from Wilson to tight end
Adam Trautman Adam Trautman (born February 5, 1997) is an American football tight end for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Dayton and was drafted by the Saints in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. ...
, and Broncos defensive end
Zach Allen Zachary William-Jacob Allen (born August 20, 1997) is an American football defensive end for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Boston College. College career 2015 As a freshman in 2015, A ...
sacked Browns' backup quarterback
P. J. Walker Phillip "P. J." Walker (born February 26, 1995) is an American football quarterback for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Temple, and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Indian ...
in the end zone for a safety. With the win, the Broncos earned their first five-game winning streak since their 2015 Super Bowl-winning season.


Week 13: at Houston Texans

The Broncos' offense struggled throughout the first three quarters of the game, only managing a 34-yard field goal by placekicker
Wil Lutz William “Wil” Lutz (born July 7, 1994) is an American football placekicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia State. Early life Lutz was born in Newnan, Georgia. Both his ...
late in the second quarter. The Broncos failed to advance past midfield on 6 of their first 7 possessions, excluding a kneel down just before halftime. The Broncos trailed 16–3 after three field goals by Texans' placekicker
Matt Ammendola Matt Ammendola (born December 11, 1996) is an American football kicker who is a free agent. He played college football at Oklahoma State. After going undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft, he played for the Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, Houston ...
and a 3-yard touchdown run by running back
Dameon Pierce Dameon Pierce (born February 19, 2000) is an American football running back for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida and was drafted by the Texans in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Dra ...
. The latter occurred after a personal foul on Broncos' linebacker Alex Singleton on Texans' quarterback
C. J. Stroud Coleridge Bernard "C. J." Stroud IV (born October 3, 2001) is an American football quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes. He played high school football at Rancho Cucamonga High School in Rancho Cucamonga, California. Stroud holds many Ohio S ...
negated a false start on 4th-and-goal. The Broncos finally reached the end zone late in the third quarter, with quarterback
Russell Wilson Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played his first 10 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson is widely regarded ...
connecting on a 45-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver
Courtland Sutton Courtland Sutton (born October 10, 1995) is an American football wide receiver for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at SMU, and was selected by the Broncos in the second round of the 2018 NFL ...
. After forcing a Texans' punt, Wilson was intercepted by cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. deep in Broncos' territory, giving the Texans a short field. The Texans took advantage of the turnover and added to their lead, with a 3-yard touchdown pass from Stroud to wide receiver
Nico Collins Dominique Stephon "Nico" Collins (born March 19, 1999) is an American football wide receiver for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Michigan and was drafted by the Texans in the third round o ...
on the second play of the fourth quarter, with an unsuccessful two-point conversion attempt. The Broncos responded, with a 5-play, 75-yard drive, culminating in a 1-yard touchdown run by Wilson to narrow the Texans' lead to 22–17. After forcing a Texans' punt, Wilson was intercepted again by Stingley, this one at the Texans' 27-yard line. After forcing one more Texans' punt, the Broncos had one more possession at their own 20-yard line at the 4:36 mark of the fourth quarter. With only 23 seconds remaining and no timeouts, the Broncos faced a 1st-and-goal at the Texans' 8-yard line after two successful 4th-down conversions. However, after two incomplete passes, Wilson's pass intended for tight end
Lucas Krull Lucas Krull (born July 11, 1998) is an American football tight end for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida Gators football, Florida before transferring to Pittsburgh Panthers footbal ...
was intercepted by Texans' safety
Jimmie Ward James "Jimmie" Ward (born July 18, 1991) is an American football cornerback and free safety for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Northern Illinois, and was drafted by the 49ers in ...
in the end zone for a touchback.


Week 14: at Los Angeles Chargers

The Broncos' defense dominated the game, holding the
Chargers The Los Angeles Chargers are a professional American football team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Chargers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) West division, and ...
to 0-for-12 on 3rd down and 1-of-6 on 4th down with two turnovers. The Chargers were unable to take advantage of an early interception of
Russell Wilson Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played his first 10 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson is widely regarded ...
deep in Broncos' territory, failing on a 4th-and-3 at the 6-yard line. The Broncos took advantage of an interception of Chargers' quarterback
Justin Herbert Justin Patrick Herbert (born March 10, 1998) is an American football quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oregon, where he won the 2019 Pac-12 Championship and was named ...
, with a 3-yard touchdown run by running back
Javonte Williams Javonte Williams (born April 25, 2000) is an American football running back for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Carolina and was drafted by the Broncos in the second round of the 2021 ...
, and added a 23-yard field goal by placekicker
Wil Lutz William “Wil” Lutz (born July 7, 1994) is an American football placekicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia State. Early life Lutz was born in Newnan, Georgia. Both his ...
just before halftime. Herbert exited the game in the second quarter with a finger injury, and was replaced by backup quarterback
Easton Stick Easton Michael Stick (born September 15, 1995) is an American football quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Dakota State. College career He graduated from Creighton ...
for the remainder of the game. The Broncos added to their lead in the third quarter, with Wilson connecting on a 46-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver
Courtland Sutton Courtland Sutton (born October 10, 1995) is an American football wide receiver for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at SMU, and was selected by the Broncos in the second round of the 2018 NFL ...
. After a 3-yard touchdown run by Chargers' running back
Austin Ekeler Austin Ekeler ( ; born May 17, 1995) is an American football running back for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Western Colorado Mountaineers and signed with the Chargers as an und ...
narrowed the Broncos' lead to 17–7 early in the fourth quarter, the Broncos put the game out of reach, with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Wilson to tight end
Adam Trautman Adam Trautman (born February 5, 1997) is an American football tight end for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Dayton and was drafted by the Saints in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. ...
. With the win, the Broncos snapped an 11-game road losing streak against their
AFC West The American Football Conference – Western Division or AFC West is one of the four divisions of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL). The division comprises the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Las ...
opponents.


Week 15: at Detroit Lions

The Broncos' offense struggled in the first half and never recovered from a 21–0 halftime deficit, in a 42–17 loss to the
Lions The lion (''Panthera leo'') is a large cat of the genus ''Panthera'' native to Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body; short, rounded head; round ears; and a hairy tuft at the end of its tail. It is sexually dimorphic; adult ...
. The Broncos' defense surrendered five touchdown passes to Lions' quarterback
Jared Goff Jared Thomas Goff (born October 14, 1994) is an American football quarterback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at California, where he set the Pac-12 Conference season records for passing ...
and one rushing touchdown to running back
Jahmyr Gibbs Jahmyr Gibbs (born March 20, 2002) is an American football running back for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia Tech with one year at Alabama and was selected by the Lions in the first r ...
. On the offensive side of the football, quarterback
Russell Wilson Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played his first 10 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson is widely regarded ...
threw for one touchdown and ran for another, and placekicker
Wil Lutz William “Wil” Lutz (born July 7, 1994) is an American football placekicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia State. Early life Lutz was born in Newnan, Georgia. Both his ...
added a 23-yard field goal, but the Broncos never got any closer than an 18-point deficit in the second half.


Week 16: vs. New England Patriots

All three of the Broncos' first three possessions started in Patriots' territory—at the 6-, 46- and 25-yard lines; however, the Broncos were only able to achieve one scoring play—a 3-yard touchdown run by running back
Javonte Williams Javonte Williams (born April 25, 2000) is an American football running back for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Carolina and was drafted by the Broncos in the second round of the 2021 ...
. After forcing a strip sack and fumble off Patriots' quarterback
Bailey Zappe Bailey Michael Zappe (, ) (born April 26, 1999) is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played his first three seasons of college football at Houston Baptist and used his last y ...
on the game's first play from scrimmage, the Broncos failed to capitalize on a 4th-and-goal from the 2-yard line and only gained four yards after starting at the 46-yard line. After a 33-yard field goal by Patriots' placekicker
Chad Ryland Chad Michael Ryland (born October 15, 1999) is an American football placekicker for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Eastern Michigan Eagles football, Eastern Michigan and Maryland Terra ...
early in the second quarter, the Broncos reached the Patriots' 38-yard line, only for Williams to commit a fumble, ending the drive. Both placekickers—Ryland and the Broncos'
Wil Lutz William “Wil” Lutz (born July 7, 1994) is an American football placekicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia State. Early life Lutz was born in Newnan, Georgia. Both his ...
, missed long field goal attempts after the two-minute warning, leaving the score at 7–3 in favor of the Broncos at halftime. In the third quarter, the Broncos' offense struggled, with quarterback
Russell Wilson Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played his first 10 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson is widely regarded ...
being sacked four times, the defense surrendered 20 unanswered points. First, Zappe connected on two touchdown passes—a 15-yarder to running back
Ezekiel Elliott Ezekiel Elijah Elliott (born July 22, 1995) is an American football running back for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Ohio State, where he earned second-team All-America honors in 2015. Elli ...
(with a missed extra point attempt), followed by an 11-yarder to tight end
Mike Gesicki Michael William Gesicki (born October 3, 1995) is an American football tight end for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Penn State. He is the record holder for most receptions by a tight end i ...
. The Broncos were victimized by a disastrous play on the kickoff following the latter touchdown, as return specialist
Marvin Mims Marvin Mims Jr. (born March 19, 2002) is an American football wide receiver for the Oklahoma Sooners. Early life and high school Mims grew up in Frisco, Texas and attended Lone Star High School. He was named the District 5-5A-I Offensive MVP i ...
fumbled near the goal line, and safety
Cody Davis Cody Davis (born June 6, 1989) is an American football safety for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the St. Louis Rams in 2013. He also played for the Jacksonville Jaguar ...
scooped up the football for a 1-yard touchdown to give the Patriots a 23–7 lead. After a poor offensive performance for most of the game, Wilson threw two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter—a 3-yarder to tight end
Lucas Krull Lucas Krull (born July 11, 1998) is an American football tight end for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida Gators football, Florida before transferring to Pittsburgh Panthers footbal ...
, folllowed by a 21-yarder to wide receiver
Brandon Johnson Brandon Johnson (born March 27, 1976) is an American educator and politician serving as the 57th mayor of Chicago. A member of the Democratic Party, Johnson was elected mayor in April 2023. He previously served on the Cook County Board of Commi ...
—both with successful two-point conversions, to tie the game at 23–23 with only three minutes remaining in the game. After forcing a Patriots' punt, the Broncos' offense went three-and-out, giving the Patriots the football at their own 19-yard line with 58 seconds remaining in the game. However, after the Broncos called two timeouts on defense, the Patriots marched down the field, culminating in a 56-yard game-winning field goal by Ryland in the final seconds.


Week 17: vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Each placekicker exchanged field goals—a 32-yarder by the Broncos'
Wil Lutz William “Wil” Lutz (born July 7, 1994) is an American football placekicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia State. Early life Lutz was born in Newnan, Georgia. Both his ...
in the first quarter, followed in the second quarter by a 36-yarder by the
Chargers The Los Angeles Chargers are a professional American football team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Chargers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) West division, and ...
'
Cameron Dicker Cameron Dicker (born May 6, 2000), nicknamed "Dicker the Kicker," is an American football placekicker for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League. He played college football at Texas Longhorns football, Texas. He is the first NFL ...
. Broncos' backup quarter
Jarrett Stidham Jarrett Ryan Stidham (born August 8, 1996) is an American football quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). After transferring from Baylor, he played college football at Auburn and was selected by the New Engl ...
, playing in place of the benched
Russell Wilson Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played his first 10 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson is widely regarded ...
, connected on a 54-yard pass to wide receiver
Lil'Jordan Humphrey Lil'Jordan Humphrey (born April 19, 1998) is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football at Texas. Early years Humphrey attended Carroll Senior High School in Southlake, Texas. He played running back and ...
for the game's only touchdown. Lutz added a 43-yard field goal just after the two-minute warning, but missed wide-right on a 48-yard attempt in the final seconds of the first half, for a 13–3 Broncos' halftime lead. A 50-yard field goal by Dicker was the only scoring play of the third quarter, and Lutz countered with a 20-yarder early in the fourth quarter. A 52-yard field goal by Dicker narrowed the Broncos' lead to 13–6 with only 1:21 remaining in the game. The Chargers' onside kick attempt was unsuccessful, sealing the Broncos' win, and their first season sweep of the Chargers since
2019 File:2019 collage v1.png, From top left, clockwise: Hong Kong protests turn to widespread riots and civil disobedience; House of Representatives votes to adopt articles of impeachment against Donald Trump; CRISPR gene editing first used to experim ...
. However, the Broncos were eliminated from postseason contention after the
Houston Texans The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston. The Texans compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division, and play their home ga ...
,
Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. The Colts compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) South division. Since the 2008 ...
and
Kansas City Chiefs The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The tea ...
all won their respective games.


Week 18: at Las Vegas Raiders


Standings


Division


Conference


Statistics


Team leaders


League rankings


Awards and honors


Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections

On January 3, 2024,
cornerback A cornerback (CB) is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in gridiron football. Cornerbacks cover receivers most of the time, but also blitz and defend against such offensive running plays as sweeps and reverses. They create tur ...
Patrick Surtain II Patrick Frank Surtain II ( ; born April 14, 2000) is an American football cornerback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama and was drafted ninth overall by the Broncos in the 2021 NFL ...
,
safety Safety is the state of being "safe", the condition of being protected from harm or other danger. Safety can also refer to risk management, the control of recognized hazards in order to achieve an acceptable level of risk. Meanings There are ...
Justin Simmons and
return specialist A return specialist or kick returner is a player on the special teams unit of a gridiron football team who specializes in returning punts and kickoffs. There are few players who are exclusively return specialists; most also play another position ...
Marvin Mims Marvin Mims Jr. (born March 19, 2002) is an American football wide receiver for the Oklahoma Sooners. Early life and high school Mims grew up in Frisco, Texas and attended Lone Star High School. He was named the District 5-5A-I Offensive MVP i ...
were named starters for the 2024 Pro Bowl Games.


References


External links

*
Denver Broncos news, analysis, roster, stats — The Denver Post

NFL Nation Blog – ESPN
{{2023 NFL season by team
Denver Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the Unit ...
Denver Broncos seasons
Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football franchise based in Denver. The Broncos compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The team is headquart ...