The Denver Broncos were an utter disaster last year despite trading for likely future Hall of Fame quarterback Russell Wilson last offseason. They were so bad that coach Nathaniel Hackett didn’t even last the full year. What to expect from the 2023 Broncos under Sean Payton?
Check out an in-depth NFL betting lines and analysis for the Denver Broncos.
Denver Broncos In-Depth Betting Analysis | MyBookie NFL Preview
Denver Broncos: 63th season in the NFL
Owner: Walton-Penner Family Group
Head Coach: Sean Payton
Home Field: Empower Field at Mile High | Denver, Colorado
Super Bowl Odds: +4000
Odds to win AFC: +2500
Odds to win AFC West: +550
Regular-season wins: 8.5
To make playoffs: No -225, yes +190
It’s almost hard to explain how over his head Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett was last year as the former Green Bay offensive coordinator never called plays with the Packers and his inexperience showed big time in Denver as Hackett was dumped with a 4-11 record, the day after an embarrassing 51-14 loss to a bad Rams team. The Broncos missed the playoffs for the seventh consecutive year, the longest playoff drought since the franchise’s earliest years, when it missed the playoffs between 1960 and 1976.
Until Hackett’s firing, Josh McDaniels had the shortest tenure as the team’s noninterim head coach in the post-AFL-NFL merger era. He was fired in 2010 with four games remaining in his second season on job. The Broncos were 3-9 when he was fired.
No doubt the team upgraded at head coach with Sean Payton, considered one of the great offensive minds in the game and of course owner of a Super Bowl ring while coach of the Saints. Payton spent last year in the TV booth. Payton still had two years remaining on his contract with New Orleans, which is why Denver had to negotiate a trade for the coach’s rights. The Broncos had to send first- and second-round draft picks to the Saints in exchange for a third-round pick and the rights to Payton.
Payton is the fifth head coach to be included in a trade for a first-round pick since 1970. Three of the previous four coaches led their new teams to a Super Bowl triumph within three seasons — Don Shula (traded from Colts to Dolphins), Bill Belichick (Jets to Patriots) and Jon Gruden (Raiders to Buccaneers).
Super Bowl Pick | Bet Denver Broncos to Win
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In his 15 seasons as head coach of the Saints, Payton won nine playoff berths, seven NFC South division titles and Super Bowl XLIV (2009). No coach ever has won Super Bowls with different teams. Payton worked magic with Drew Brees and the Broncos hope he can do the same for Russell Wilson who comes off his worst season by far. He finished last year 4-11 as the starter, averaging 16.9 points per game with a 60.5 completion percentage, a 16-11 touchdown-interception ratio and 84.4 pass rating.
The Broncos discussed trading WR Jerry Jeudy this offseason but decided against it. Over the final six games of the 2022 season, Jeudy totaled 37 receptions for 523 yards and three touchdowns. Extrapolated over an entire 17-game season, that put him on a tear for 104 receptions, 1,481 yards, and nine touchdowns.
As for Mims, he averaged more than 20 yards per catch in two of his three seasons with Oklahoma. The Broncos had just one wide receiver — Jeudy — with more than two touchdown receptions last season. Payton figures to expand the play-action passing game.
The Denver offense has a bunch of other players coming back from more serious injuries/surgeries, namely RB Javonte Williams (ACL), LT Garret Bolles (broken leg) and WRs Tim Patrick (ACL) and KJ Hamler (torn pectoral).
Even so, Wilson should be set up better under Payton aided by pricey additions at left guard (Ben Powers) and right tackle (Mike McGlinchey) and a second-round pick at wide receiver (Marvin Mims). Wilson still was a solid runner last year with 55 carries for 277 yards and three scores, an improvement from 43-183-2 in 14 games his final season in Seattle.
Looking for a Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate? Third-round cornerback Riley Moss from Iowa. Moss had 11 career interceptions, including two he returned for touchdowns in the same game during the 2021 season. The Broncos have one All-Pro cornerback spot in Pat Surtain II, but they have an opening at the other outside cornerback spot. The team did add pass-rushing help in signing former Frank Clark. The three-time Pro Bowler spent the previous four years of his career with the Chiefs. He recorded 23.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, an interception, 59 quarterback hits and 32 tackles for loss during that span.
Denver’s schedule ranks as the 12th-toughest in the NFL this season as its opponents combined for a .517 winning percentage (148-138-2) last year. The Broncos are 3.5-point home favorites for Week 1 vs. Las Vegas despite having lost six straight in the series. A new quarterback will be under center for Las Vegas, as Jimmy Garoppolo takes over for Derek Carr. Denver has won seven of its last eight Week 1 matchups at Empower Field at Mile High.
The Broncos have four prime-time games this season. According to the NFL vice president of broadcast planning Mike North, having a new coach in Payton and continued respect for nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback Wilson still made Denver a desirable team for several of the league’s biggest broadcast opportunities.
Expert Prediction
Over 8.5 wins, wild card contention if Wilson stays healthy
2023 Denver Broncos Regular Season Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| All times ET | |||
| 1 | Sep. 10 | Las Vegas Raiders | 4:25pm ET |
| 2 | Sep. 17 | Washington Commanders | 4:25pm ET |
| 3 | Sep. 24 | at Miami Dolphins | 1:00pm ET |
| 4 | Oct. 1 | at Chicago Bears | 1:00pm ET |
| 5 | Oct. 8 | New York Jets | 4:25pm ET |
| 6 | Oct. 12 | at Kansas City Chiefs | 8:15pm ET |
| 7 | Oct. 22 | Green Bay Packers | 4:25pm ET |
| 8 | Oct. 29 | Kansas City Chiefs | 4:25pm ET |
| 9 | Nov. 2 | BYE | |
| 10 | Nov. 13 | at Buffalo Bills | 8:15pm ET |
| 11 | Nov. 19 | Minnesota Vikings | 8:20pm ET |
| 12 | Nov. 26 | Cleveland Browns | 4:05pm ET |
| 13 | Dec. 3 | at Houston Texans | 4:05pm ET |
| 14 | Dec. 10 | at Los Angeles Rams | 4:25pm ET |
| 15 | Dec. 16 | at Detroit Lions | Time TBA |
| 16 | Dec. 24 | New England Patriots | 8:15pm ET |
| 17 | Dec. 31 | Los Angeles Chargers | 4:25pm ET |
| 18 | Jan. 7 | at Las Vegas Raiders | Time TBA |
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