The Denver Broncos improved from 8-9 to 10-7 in coach Sean Payton’s first two years on the job. Now team owner Greg Penner wants to see the club make the next step.
“Absolutely, yes,” Penner said on Jan. 15 when asked if the team is close to competing for a division title. “I mean we could have very easily been 2-0 against the Chiefs this year. Our absolute goal next year is to win our division. I think Bo [Nix] talking about no prima donnas is a great testament to the culture that Sean is building here, which is we want to be a winning culture.
“We have to have really high expectations, and everybody has to be in it together. I don’t think prima donnas would do really well right now here in this culture. So we’re going to continue to build this way. We want guys that are incredible competitive and want to work and want to succeed.”
Denver lost to Kansas City in Week 10 on a blocked field goal, then the Broncos blew out the Chiefs’ backups in Week 18. A year earlier, Denver and KC split the series 1-1 with the Broncos outscoring the Chiefs 32-28 in those two games.
It certainly appears that Denver has been closing the gap on its division rival, but after nine-straight division titles for KC, actions speak louder than words. The Broncos will aim to back up their talk on the field in 2025.
