Denver Broncos
· 2026-07-03
The Denver Broncos are the reigning AFC West champs, but they're not getting much respect going forward.
Ben Solak of ESPN predicts the Houston Texans will win the AFC, which is a bold claim considering the Texans' quarterback C.J. Stroud's past performances.
The Texans were quarterbacked by C.J. Stroud last year, who had a disappointing playoff game against the New England Patriots.
The Broncos have a strong defense, but their offense is a concern, especially with quarterback Bo Nix's ankle and health issues.
Solak's prediction is based on the Texans' defense, which is comparable to the Broncos', and the possibility of the Texans having a good ground game in the 2026 season.
The Broncos are currently standing 14th in the National Football Conference with a 5-12 record, on a W1 streak, and their next game is against the Kansas City Chiefs on 2026-09-15.
The Broncos' roster is considered strong, but Solak reserves the right to change his prediction based on more news about Bo Nix's health.
And the Broncos' fans are likely to be insulted by Solak's prediction, given their team's past performances.
But the Texans' defense is a force to be reckoned with, and if they can get a good ground game going, they might just have a chance at winning the AFC.
So the Broncos will need to step up their game if they want to prove Solak wrong and win the AFC title.
The key to the Broncos' success will be their ability to get after the quarterback, which is an area where they have a slight edge over the Texans.