Broncos Match Last Year's Record

Denver Broncos general manager Troy Renck and reporter Sean Keeler disagree on whether the current roster has improved over the previous campaign. Both teams reached the nine-game mark with an identical 7-2 record. The 2026 squad set a National Football League record on Sunday by securing its 16th consecutive one-score victory, surpassing the 2009 Indianapolis Colts.

Keeler argues that schedule difficulty favors the current team. ESPN’s Football Power Index ranks the Broncos' first nine opponents as the second-most difficult in the league, behind only Arizona. Sharp Analysis places the slate at fourth-hardest, while TeamRankings.com lists it as the toughest. By comparison, the 2025 schedule was ranked 29th and 25th toughest by those respective sites. Keeler notes that six of the current team's first eight opponents could reach the January playoffs.

Renck counters that the 2025 team was statistically superior through the same point in the season. Last year's squad averaged 25 points per game compared to 22 this year. The 2025 defense allowed 18.4 points per game, whereas the 2026 unit has given up 20.6. The previous team also generated fewer turnovers, with 65 pass and 379 rushing yards, compared to 395 and 281 respectively for the current group.

Keeler believes the 2025 Broncos would win a hypothetical matchup on November 10. He cites the previous quarterback's quicker decision-making and a healthier defense. He notes that the 2026 unit, led by Vance Joseph, has relied heavily on reserves such as Jonah Coleman, J.L. Skinner, Devon Key, and Kris Abrams-Draine.

Renck points to quarterback Bo Nix’s development as a key differentiator. Nix finished the 2025 season with 17 touchdowns and six interceptions, along with 207 rushing yards on 42 attempts. This season, he has 11 touchdowns and four interceptions with 116 rushing yards on 37 carries. Renck suggests Nix has overcome early timidity and is trending toward a top-15 finish.

Keeler sees more upside in the 2026 roster if health returns. He notes that the team has not yet seen a full complement of projected starters on the field together for an extended period. He argues that a healthy 2026 squad is particularly dangerous at home and that the fanbase provides a postseason advantage.

Renck identifies two conditions for the current team to surpass the previous one. Nix must maintain his recent pace and the team must improve its running game identity. He states that achieving these goals would settle the debate in favor of the 2026 Broncos.

Keeler concludes that while the 2025 team might win a close game, the 2026 group has greater potential. He attributes this to the depth of the reserve players who have performed well during the season's first half.