Nik Bonitto says Broncos were ‘definitely the better team’ than the Patriots

Denver Broncos edge-rusher Nik Bonitto had a great year.

Unfortunately, he made little impact in the AFC Title Game.

Bonitto didn’t register an official stat in the box score against the New England Patriots on Sunday. He had a handful of pressures against Drake Maye, but couldn’t bring him down.

The Broncos lost 10-7 and their season is over. New England heads to the Super Bowl while Denver is done.

And while a lot of the focus will be on Sean Payton’s questionable decisions and Jarrett Stidham’s bad turnover, Nik Bonitto said something curious postgame.

Nik Bonitto after losing to the Patriots in the AFC Championship:

“Sickening… Knowing we definitely the better team, but it just didn’t work out that way today.” pic.twitter.com/HR8aM4oGRN

— Denver Sports 104.3 (@DenSports1043) January 26, 2026

“Sickening bro, I mean to think of all we fought through this year. All the games we had to win, knowing we’re definitely the better team, but it just didn’t work out that way today,” Bonitto said.

The Broncos might be on their way to the biggest game in American sports, but the offense went cold. Stidham led a touchdown drive early but Denver didn’t score again.

Still, reporters wanted to make sure that Nik Bonitto was clear with his words.

“Yeah, we know,” Bonitto said when asked to confirm the Broncos are the better team.

Perhaps on another Sunday, that would’ve been this case. Instead, the defense played great and the offense was horrid as the snow fell at Empower Field at Mile High. Only three points were scored the entire second half, all by the Patriots.

“Didn’t make enough plays to win the game, really, they made more plays than we did. They found a way,” Bonitto said.

And finding a way means New England heads to Santa Clara while Denver heads home. That’s sports and that’s life. It’s not always fair.

It doesn’t mean Nik Bonitto is necessarily wrong.

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