Another win over another a bad team means little for the Broncos

Nobody dominates the NFL’s JV teams quite like the Denver Broncos. That fact was reinforced on Monday night, as they dismantled the hapless Bengals in front of a national TV audience.

Following the 28-3 win at Empower Field, those who look at life through orange-colored glasses will be out in droves. They’ll be touting the resurgence of the Broncos, based on the way they manhandled a Joe Burrow-less team that boasts a dreadful defense.

Yes, Bo Nix played well. The Broncos quarterback had his best game of the season, completing 29 of 42 passes for 326 yards and two touchdowns. He had some great throws and his numbers would’ve been even better if not for some head-scratching drops.

But let’s be honest. Cincinnati is among the five-worst pass defenses in the NFL; they can’t stop anyone. And that was before they waved the white flag.

When Burrow was injured in Week 2, leaving with a toe injury that will likely keep him out until December, the season was lost for the Bengals. In their two full games since losing their QB, Cincy has been outscored 76-13; they know that they’re toast.

That’s why everything from Monday night needs to be taken with a grain of salt. It’s best to not get too carried away.

It’s cool that J.K. Dobbins rushed for 101 yards on 16 carries, becoming the first Broncos running back to reach triple digits in nearly three years. It’s great that Denver’s defense held the Bengals to three points, nine first downs and just 159 total yards. It’s awesome that the orange and blue out-gained their hapless opponent 512 yards to 159, while winning the time of possession battle by nearly 16 minutes.

All of that is great. The Broncos deserve credit for pushing a bad team around all night long.

But it’s also nothing more than a continuation of last season. It doesn’t really mean anything.

A year ago, Denver amassed a 10-7 record and earned the No. 7 seed in the AFC by beating up on bad teams. They rolled through bad opponents, often dominating them along the way. In the end, it was wins over the likes of Carolina, Atlanta, Cleveland and Kansas City’s backups that propelled the Broncos to the postseason.

In games against good teams, Denver was 1-8 a season ago. Outside of a Week 3 win over the Buccaneers, they didn’t beat a single solid squad en route to 10 wins. When they played the Bills, Ravens, Chargers, Steelers, Seahawks, Chiefs (with Mahomes), etc., they lost. Nearly every time.

The same pattern is emerging this season. The Broncos are 2-2, posting wins over the Titans, a team that might earn the No. 1 overall pick in back-to-back years, and the QB-less Bengals. When they played the Colts and Chargers, two teams that are a combined 6-2, they found a way to lose down the stretch.

As a result, the early returns on the 2025 Broncos are the same as the ’24 edition. They’re a good team; their dominance over bottom feeders is evidence of that fact. But they aren’t a true contender; their inability to beat a playoff-caliber team is proof of that reality.

That’s not being harsh. It’s not being negative. It’s just the way that it is.

But, the Broncos can change the narrative on Sunday. They start a two-game road trip with a stop in Philadelphia, where they’ll take on the defending champs. The Eagles are 4-0 and look poised to make another Super Bowl run. The crowd at Lincoln Financial Field will be a hostile one. It’ll provide a great test for Denver.

If they ace things on Sunday, it’ll make a statement; it’ll answer a lot of questions. Beating the Eagles will show that the Broncos aren’t just a good team that beats up on bad ones; it’ll show that they’re in the mix for doing something special this season.

If they fail the exam, it won’t be the end of the world. There’s still plenty of time left in the season, with a plethora of good opponents on the horizon. But the questions will persist. And that’s more than fair.

The Broncos beat up on another NFL weakling on Monday night. That’s all well and good; they can’t control who they play and the only unforgivable football sin would’ve been losing to Jake Browning and company. But it also doesn’t mean much.

Wins over bad teams are becoming the norm in Denver. That’s what the Broncos do. It’s time for more.

Go beat Philly. Have Nix put up big numbers against the Eagles defense. Watch Denver’s D shut down Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown and Philadelphia’s talent-laden roster. Then, it’ll be time to crow. That’ll provide reason to dream big.

Beating the Bengals? Who cares? It’s more of the same. It was worthy of a yawn.

The Broncos need to beat a good opponent. And they’ll get the ultimate opportunity on Sunday.

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