Training camp is underway in Englewood, and the Denver Broncos are chasing something bigger than last year's near miss. With a retooled offense and a defense that remains one of the league's best, expectations in Denver have rarely been higher heading into a season. The Colorado sports betting market will give the Broncos their due, and label them as a contender. But they have work to do, and it all starts in training camp.
A Painful Ending Still Fuels Denver
The Denver Broncos rolled to a 14-win season and the AFC's top seed in 2025, positioning themselves as one of the conference's best teams all year long. Colorado sports betting fans watched that promising run end in gut-wrenching fashion, as the Broncos lost the AFC Championship Game at home in an ugly, snow-soaked contest against the Patriots. Quarterback Bo Nix had fractured his ankle in the divisional round the week before, forcing backup Jarrett Stidham into a spot start he and the offense could not overcome.
An Offense Built to Take the Next Step
Nix is trending toward a full recovery and is expected to be ready for Week 1, a massive relief for a Denver team built around his development. The front office made its biggest swing of the offseason by trading three draft picks to Miami for speedy receiver Jaylen Waddle, giving Nix a true difference-maker alongside Courtland Sutton and Marvin Mims. The defense remains mostly intact and still ranks among the NFL's most feared units. However, outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper's status is clouded by ongoing legal issues stemming from domestic violence charges that could keep him away from the team for stretches of camp.
Oddsmakers Remain Skeptical
Despite reaching the AFC title game, DraftKings lists the Broncos with the 13th-best odds to win the Super Bowl at +2000. That is a notable gap behind teams like the Rams, Bills and Chargers, and it reflects real concerns about a tougher 2026 schedule and lingering questions about Nix's health. The ground game is another question mark, as neither J.K. Dobbins nor rookie R.J. Harvey has established himself as a true workhorse back. Fans using Colorado sports betting apps will find plenty of value hunting in a crowded AFC field where Denver sits just outside the top tier.
A Crowded and Talented AFC West
Denver's path runs straight through a loaded division. Kansas City remains the standard, with three Super Bowl titles and five appearances in the last seven years, and Patrick Mahomes is working his way back from injury with new running back Kenneth Walker III in tow. The Chargers, under Jim Harbaugh and quarterback Justin Herbert, are betting that better offensive line health finally pushes them past the Wild Card round. Then there are the rebuilding Raiders, led by new coach Klint Kubiak and No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, with tight end Brock Bowers, running back Ashton Jeanty and pass rusher Maxx Crosby, who nearly landed in Baltimore before a failed physical sent him right back to Las Vegas. They might not be a finished product, but they can still compete.
For the Broncos, training camp is about proving last year's heartbreak was a stepping stone, not a ceiling.
