2013 Broncos named as one of the 15 best NFL teams since 2000

The 2013 Denver Broncos were a force to be reckoned with. Although their hopes of a Super Bowl fell short when they were throttled by the Seattle Seahawks in the Meadowlands, they still put together one of the most historic seasons of all time, led by arguably the greatest offense of all time.

ESPN released its list of the top 25 teams in the NFL since the turn of the century, and the 2013 squad made the cut at No. 15. The 2015 team that won the Super Bowl was not on the list, and instead listed as an honorable mention, even though the Carolina Panthers team that they beat in Super Bowl 50 made the cut at No. 19.

The 2013 Broncos were ranked above great Super Bowl champions like the 2022 Kansas City Chiefs, but didn’t get the nod over some other teams that didn’t win the title either, including the 2007 Indianapolis Colts and the 2001 St. Louis Rams.

Led by Peyton Manning and his outstanding core of receivers, the Broncos offense that year was arguably the greatest unit the league had ever seen. They scored at least 50 points on three separate occasions, tied for a league record. Manning also set the league record that year for passing yards (5,477) and passing touchdowns (55), both of which still stand today.

Other records Manning set that season include most passing yards per game (342.61), most games in a season with at least 350 yards (8) and at least 400 yards (4), and the most passing touchdowns in a single game (7). He also became the first quarterback in league history to win 200 games in the regular season and postseason combined, which he accomplished in his swan song in Super Bowl 50.

He also won the MVP award that year.

All 55 touchdown passes from Peyton Manning's MVP season in 2013 👏 pic.twitter.com/YjI08PEdpb

— NFL (@NFL) June 29, 2025

According to the ESPN rankings, the Broncos’ offense was in the 99th percentile that season, but the defense was in the 35th percentile. That defensive unit finished the season 22nd in scoring and 17th in defensive EPA per play, but were on the field so much because the offense was flying up and down the field as they kept piling the points on the board. They allowed at least 34 points three times in the regular season, including 48 to the Dallas Cowboys in an instant classic of a game, and gave up 43 to Seattle in the Super Bowl.

Oct. 6, 2013 — A decade ago OTD, the Denver Broncos defeated the Cowboys at Dallas—51–48—in an epic shootout! PFM threw 4 TDs, ran for another and passed for 414 yds.@Grindin_59: Huge INT
TDs: @Julius_Thomas (2) @EricDecker87 @WesWelker @knowshonmoreno
Winning FG: @MattPrater_5 pic.twitter.com/HUTiGjmGtf

— Mile High Moments (@MileHighMoments) October 6, 2023

The 2022 Chiefs’ defense ranked in the 46th percentile, the next-lowest unit on the list, which shows just how bad that Broncos team was on the defensive side of the ball that season. However, the offense was that good, so the poor defense didn’t affect them having a high ranking.

Sean Payton’s ’09 Saints slotted in one spot ahead of the Broncos at No. 14. That team, led by Drew Brees, defeated Manning and the Colts in the Super Bowl, 31-17.

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