The Denver Broncos are ripe for a postseason letdown, according to many critics. The team currently sits at 13-3 and will have a chance to be the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
But even if that happens, many NFL fans and those in the media don't buy the Broncos as a strong Super Bowl contender. A loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars at home in Week 16 reinforced those beliefs.
The Broncos are AFC West champions and are going to host at least one game in the playoffs. If they have the No. 1 seed, any team that beats them will have to do so at Empower Field at Mile High, a place the Broncos have lost just once since last October.
But in order for the team to avoid being the playoff flop many think they will be, these six players need to come up big.
6 Broncos who need to step up in the 2025 playoffs
Troy Franklin, WR
Troy Franklin is the Broncos' second-leading receiver on the season, catching 65 passes for 709 yards and six touchdowns through 16 games. But the Broncos have needed a truly reliable No. 2 option behind Courtland Sutton all season and that will only become a greater need in the playoffs.
Bo Nix needs to be able to throw the ball to Franklin with confidence. Franklin does not have a 100-yard game this season and has caught more than four passes in just four games this year. A huge playoff outburst by a player like this would give the Broncos a huge chance to advance to the next round.
Evan Engram, TE
Evan Engram has been a disappointment for this team, there is no way around that. After being the most exciting free-agent signing the team brought in this offseason, big things were expected. But he's caught only 47 passes for 416 yards and just one touchdown on the season.
Engram could erase a poor regular season with a great postseason, however.
Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper, Edge Rushers
The strength of this Broncos team is the defense and, more specifically, the pass rush. At one point this season, it looked like the Broncos were going to shatter the single-season sack record set by the 1984 Chicago Bears, but that is now unlikely. Part of the reason for that is that edge rushers Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper have gone quiet as of late.
Across the last three games, Bonitto and Cooper have combined for just a half sack. That won't work in the playoffs. They need to be able to get to the quarterback and make a big impact on the game.
Alex Forsyth, Center
With Luke Wattenberg being placed on injured reserve, Alex Forsyth will be the team's starting center for at least its first two playoff games, and possibly the rest of the season.
Forsyth played well on Christmas against the Kansas City Chiefs, earning a game ball for his efforts. But he will need to continue that trend, particularly as a run blocker. The Broncos do have Ben Powers back, so the interior of the offensive line is not as compromised as it could be, but having an effective rushing attack is going to be one of the biggest keys to how far the Broncos can go in this postseason.
Riley Moss, CB
It feels like we have seen it coming all season. As discussed here, Riley Moss is going to be involved in a huge, game-changing moment for the Broncos in these playoffs, as teams are going to continue to attack him in the passing game. The question is, will he sink or swim?
READ: Broncos inch closer to No. 1 seed, two teams can still prevent it
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