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The Denver Broncos defeated the Carolina Panthers 26-21 on Sunday, earning a big win over a non-conference opponent that was leading its division going into the game.
The Broncos concluded their schedule against NFC opponents with this game and finished 4-1 against the NFC for the season. Well, here's a statistic that bodes quite well for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
Since the beginning of the 2024 season, the Broncos' 13-2 record against the NFC is the best non-conference record in the NFL. That's an interesting starting point, as it's the year that Bo Nix was drafted and became the team's starting quarterback.
Having to go against the NFC West this season, the division many felt was the best before the preseason started, the Broncos have handled themselves well. They were able to get wins over the Los Angeles Rams, Arizona Cardinals and the defending champion Seattle Seahawks. They did lose to the San Francisco 49ers, but that game could have gone either way.
This puts the Broncos in a favorable position. If they reach Super Bowl LXI, they will obviously face an NFC team. There isn't one team from that conference that should intimidate them.
Here is a look at the Broncos vs. the NFC since the start of the 2024 season.
9/8/2024 |
Seattle |
Loss, 26-20 |
9/22/2024 |
Tampa Bay |
Win, 26-7 |
10/17/2024 |
New Orleans |
Win, 33-10 |
10/27/2024 |
Carolina |
Win, 28-14 |
11/17/2024 |
Atlanta |
Win, 38-6 |
10/5/2025 |
Philadelphia |
Win, 21-17 |
10/19/2025 |
N.Y. Giants |
Win, 33-32 |
10/26/2025 |
Dallas |
Win, 44-24 |
11/30/2025 |
Washington |
Win, 27-26 (OT) |
12/14/2025 |
Green Bay |
Win, 34-26 |
9/27/2026 |
L.A. Rams |
Win, 30-26 |
10/4/2026 |
San Francisco |
Loss, 24-14 |
10/15/2026 |
Seattle |
Win, 17-14 (OT) |
10/25/2026 |
Arizona |
Win, 30-16 |
11/8/2026 |
Carolina |
Win, 26-21 |
It should also be noted that Nix and the Broncos have beaten the defending Super Bowl champions in each of his three years as the team's starter. Kansas City in 2024, Philadelphia in 2025 and Seattle this season.
All of this has built a strong contender, one that will be ready for anything and everything it could potentially see this Valentine's Day at SoFi Stadium, the date and site of Super Bowl LXI.