Dan Orlovsky made one of the boldest predictions of the season on Thursday. He says the Kansas City Chiefs' stranglehold on the AFC West could be over. His faith lies squarely with the Denver Broncos to end that run.
"I'm on the Broncos train," Orlovsky said in his segment on ESPN's NFL Live. "I don't believe this football team has a hole. I think it's the best combination of offensive and defensive lines in the conference, in the conversation with the Baltimore Ravens."
At the heart of Orlovsky's pick is his faith in Broncos quarterback Bo Nix entering his second year. Choosing Nix over Patrick Mahomes, a three-time Super Bowl champion, is as bold as it gets.
"I really believe Bo Nix is going to take a big, big leap," he said.
The comments will instantly spark debate, as Kansas City has dominated the division for nearly a decade, capturing nine straight AFC West titles and three of the last six Super Bowls.
For many analysts, the Chiefs remain the standard not only in the division but across the NFL.
The Broncos may be Orlovsky's pick to surpass the Chiefs. But that doesn't mean he lacks respect for Andy Reid and Co.
"That's not shots at the Chiefs," he said. "I’ve got a ridiculous amount of respect for them."
The Broncos, however, have not won the AFC West since 2015, the year they captured Super Bowl 50 behind Peyton Manning.
Ending a decade-long drought won't come easy. But if anyone dethrones the Chiefs, it will be among the season's biggest storylines.
Should Kansas City show cracks, like the struggles they displayed against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, the Broncos have reason to dream.