​The Broncos may be early-season favorites to win the Super Bowl, according to newer power rankings originally published by The Sporting News. It’s worth noting that The Sporting News is listed as a preferred source, which readers can add by clicking here. In just three short years, Sean Payton has reshaped the Denver Broncos from a downtrodden franchise that looked as though it might never regain its former glory into one of the more serious contenders to reach Super Bowl LXI after the 2026 season.
Yet many critics outside Broncos Country don’t share that optimistic view. Some see the Broncos as an overrated squad that benefited from fortune more than consistent excellence last season. Still, in his recent power rankings, Brett Sobleski of Bleacher Report may have gained a fresh following in Denver. With training camp approaching, Sobleski placed the Broncos at No. 3, trailing only the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks. Under his assessment, the Broncos sit atop the AFC at this stage of the offseason.
“Sean Payton’s squad was one step away from reaching the Super Bowl. Who knows? If not for awful weather during the AFC Championship Game, Denver could have faced the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX,” Sobleski wrote. “Instead, the Broncos had to take a step back and find ways to improve. One significant acquisition can elevate the entire offense. Jaylen Waddle’s addition via trade should provide Payton’s offense with a difference-maker at wide receiver. The 27-year-old veteran is a proven target with multiple 1,000-yard campaigns already under his belt. If not for the Miami Dolphins’ upheaval in recent seasons, he could have five straight such campaigns to start his career. Instead, he became expendable after a regime change, and the Broncos wisely pounced to give quarterback Bo Nix an explosive receiving threat.”
Sobleski’s reasoning is straightforward. The Broncos’ roster underwent relatively little turnover this offseason, and they added a dynamic new pass catcher to the mix. If the defense can continue to perform as one of the league’s best units and the offense improves, this could be one of the most complete teams in football. And that logic checks out—yet NFL predictions are notoriously fickle, and preseason forecasts rarely come true. The Broncos will face a first-place schedule and contend in what most observers consider a notably tougher AFC West.
Hot reads for Broncos fans note four of the most overlooked players heading into training camp, while additional pieces discuss the big expectations surrounding this team this season. Still, there’s a sense that the Broncos were perhaps more dangerous as an under-the-radar squad last year, and such lofty predictions could place a sizable target on Payton’s squad. How Denver handles being thrust into that spotlight remains an open question.
In any case, the conversation about the Broncos’ ceiling is wide open, with several analysts arguing that Payton’s influence and the addition of a weapon like Waddle could lift Denver into serious Super Bowl contention. As training camp nears, all eyes will be on how this new-look offense and a stout defense come together, and whether this team can translate preseason optimism into postseason success.