Bo Nix, Javonte Williams gets angry and more

Playoffs? Broncos Country is talking about the playoffs?

It may be crazy to believe, but here we are. The Broncos are 5-3 in second place in the AFC West and given how teams like the Bengals, Jets and Dolphins have played below expectations thus far, Sean Payton’s squad has a chance to do something that didn’t seem possible in August.

There is a sense of hope in Denver, but the organization still has a way to go before it can truly escape the dark abyss it has found itself in since 2016. If the Broncos want to end their eight-year playoff drought, there is a road map to get there. Here’s what it looks like:

Maintain defensive success

Payton said the identity of a championship team is consistent, rushing offense and defense. The Broncos have been successful in the latter, which is one of the biggest stories in the league considering last year’s struggles and the offseason loss of Justin Simmons, one of the league’s best players.

The Broncos held their opponents under twenty points in six of eight games. Led by defenseman Zach Allen and edge rushers Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper, Denver has one of the best pass rushes in the league. Bonitto is on pace to record double-digit sacks, while Cooper has a good chance of doing the same. New additions such as Malcolm Roach and John Franklin-Myers have helped improve the team’s run defense. And the Broncos have given up four rushing yards per carry — tied for fourth in the league and a vast improvement from last year’s 30th-ranked rushing defense.

In the secondary, cornerback Pat Surtain II is once again playing at the All-Pro level. Meanwhile, sophomore cornerback Riley Moss was solid in the starting role. Part of Denver’s pass rush success is the ability to play man coverage, which gives the players up front enough time to get behind the quarterback.

The next three weeks against Baltimore, Kansas City and Atlanta should serve as a benchmark for how good Denver’s defense really is. If they play meaningful football in any way in January, it will be because the defense has maintained its high level of play.

Nix must continue to limit sales

From a numbers perspective, Bo Nix was arguably the best starting quarterback in October. The Broncos rookie threw for 870 yards, seven touchdowns and an interception while completing 66.7% of his passes.

The interception total is a sign of progress after Nix had four picks in September. While there is still a lot of room to improve, the ability to protect the ball is crucial for Payton’s club to achieve success.

Until then, the Broncos are 5-0 if Nix doesn’t throw an interception. If he does that, it will be 0-3.

Denver understands there is no room for error. Payton said after Wednesday’s practice that one of the keys to beating the Ravens on Sunday is controlling time of possession. To do that, Nix will have to continue to prevent the ball from being compromised.

“Sometimes you go to put the ball in play and (the opponent) makes a good play,” Nix said. “We have to eliminate them and continue to gain revenue margins. If we do that, we will be successful.”

A rush attack needs more angry Javonte

Good things seem to be happening as running back Javonte Williams moves down the field like a runaway freight train.

Similar to Denver’s success when Nix doesn’t pick, the team is 8-0 when Williams rushes for at least 60 yards dating back to the 2023 campaign. The only problem is consistency. Williams was held under 50 yards rushing five times this fall, most recently in the Week 8 win over the Panthers when he ran for 44 yards on 17 carries and averaged 2.6 yards per attempt.

Through the first three games of the season, Williams totaled just 52 yards and was held under 20 yards twice. But other than last week, the last five games have been encouraging, with the former North Carolina Tar Heel tallying 293 yards during that stretch.

It’s worth noting that five of the top six offenses – Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington, Green Bay and Detroit – are in the playoffs. Those teams also have a combined record of 28-11. Denver is in the middle of the pack, ranking 14th in rushing yards per game (121.4). If the Broncos see themselves as playoff contenders, they will need regular production from Williams and the rest of their running backs.

More big plays in the passing game

Nix, who threw for a season-best 284 yards last week, has had no problem showing off his arm strength. According to Next Gen Stats, the former Oregon signal caller is averaging 8.2 air yards per attempt.