With the trade deadline passed, NFL teams are now what they are going to be for the rest of the season. Many clubs have made many moves to improve. Others are floundering in mediocrity. And still more are already looking ahead to next year. After a disastrous start to 2023, the Denver Broncos were thought to be sellers for sure. But a recent shift in the season has led the Broncos to surprise fans, the market, and perhaps even themselves. What Denver did is fascinating and important, both for the current squad and for the future of this franchise.
What Denver Did Before the Bye Is So Important
Winning Streak
After starting 1-5, the Denver Broncos rattled off two huge home wins in a row. Beating the Green Bay Packers, 17-19 in a close game, was an important victory. It showed that the team had heart and hadn’t given up on the season quite yet. But what Denver did next was even more impressive. They handled the Kansas City Chiefs, ending a terrible streak, beating their rivals 9-24. These two wins are enormous for the Broncos, showing fans that the team hasn’t given up, and showing the league that this franchise won’t quit, no matter what.
Hoarding Plan
But even more important than a few wins is what Denver did for the future. Yes, now that the Broncos are 3-5 there seems to be a glimmer of hope. It helps that six of their next nine games are quite winnable, with only Buffalo, Detroit, and Cleveland holding winning records. Beating those teams under .500 would make Denver 9-8. And a winning record is not something this team was hopeful for. Not earlier in the season when it seemed that they needn’t win any more games at all. But that has all changed.
And now, more importantly for the locker room, the trade deadline has passed without any movement from the Mile High City. Denver kept its roster complete, not trading any of its veterans. The Broncos did move linebackers Randy Gregory and Frank Clark earlier, but that defensive shakeup was a solidifying move. Trading wide receivers Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy, or safety Justin Simmons, would have resulted in a broken bond of brotherhood within the club. And that would have been disastrous.
Next Steps
The Broncos have put together multiple wins. The Broncos didn’t have a fire sale. And the Broncos are poised to be competitive in every game going forward. Suddenly, a winning season is not out of reach, and what Denver did in the past few weeks set the proverbial table. Going on a winning streak and not dealing with star players makes the team feel like the future could be bright. Watching their team win games and not abandon hope makes fans feel like they are rooting for a reason and with a purpose. How the season will end is still a mystery. And critics have been justified in every roast of the Broncos so far this year. But with the season not even halfway over and Denver on a bye, anything can happen after the break and anything is possible after this momentum shift.
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