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The Denver Broncos entered the 2003 season with high expectations, but coach Sean Payton and QB Russell Wilson were unable to co-exist. The relationship seemed rocky from the start, and eventually Payton benched the veteran in favor of QB Jarrett Stidham, and that was the last straw.
Wilson was released in early March, and the team took a $85 million dead-money hit just to get rid of him. He eventually signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers on a 1-year prove-it deal.
The Broncos brought in QB Zach Wilson from the New York Jets, and they went out and drafted QB Bo Nix out of the University of Oregon, as Denver looks to start anew.
Payton was expected to come in and change the culture with the Broncos, but it was more of the same disappointment in 2023, with the team going just 8-9. The thing which might be remembered most is when the Miami Dolphins hung 70 points on Payton’s defense in Week 3 in South Florida. That’s not what you want to be remembered for. We’ll see if 2024 brings any improvement, but if not, Payton’s seat could be heating up.
Below, we look at the Denver Broncos’ 2024 NFL Super Bowl odds from FanDuel Sportsbook along with projected win total, playoff, conference and division odds as we make our best NFL picks and predictions.
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2024 Denver Broncos schedule
| WK | DATE | OPPONENT | TIME |
| All times ET | |||
| 1 | Sept. 8 | at Seahawks | 4:05 p.m. |
| 2 | Sept. 15 | vs. Steelers | 4:25 p.m. |
| 3 | Sept. 22 | at Buccaneers | 1 p.m. |
| 4 | Sept. 29 | at Jets | 1 p.m. |
| 5 | Oct. 6 | vs. Raiders | 4:05 p.m. |
| 6 | Oct. 13 | vs. Chargers | 4:05 p.m. |
| 7 | Oct. 17 (Th) | at Saints | 8:15 p.m. |
| 8 | Oct. 27 | vs. Panthers | 4:25 p.m. |
| 9 | Nov. 3 | at Ravens | 1 p.m. |
| 10 | Nov. 10 | at Chiefs | 1 p.m. |
| 11 | Nov. 17 | vs. Falcons | 4:05 p.m. |
| 12 | Nov. 24 | at Raiders | 4:05 p.m. |
| 13 | Dec. 2 (M) | vs. Browns | 8:15 p.m. |
| 14 | BYE WEEK | ||
| 15 | Dec. 15 | vs. Colts | 4:25 p.m. |
| 16 | Dec. 22 | at Chargers | 4:05 p.m. |
| 17 | Dec. 28 or 29 | at Bengals | TBD |
| 18 | Jan. 4 or 5 | vs. Chiefs | TBD |
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Broncos over/under win total
Odds provided by FanDuel Sportsbook – last updated May 21 at 12:04 a.m. ET; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list.
- 5.5 wins: (Over: -150 | Under: +120)
According to the Sharp Football Analysis, which based its calculations off the Vegas Forecasted Win Totals, the Broncos have the 8th-most difficult schedule in the NFL. Their implied line of 5.75 wins is slightly below the projections by the sportsbooks, but not by much.
While we’re talking about Payton, who isn’t accustomed to losing, we’re also either talking about Zach Wilson being under center after wearing out his welcome with the Jets, or a rookie in Nix. Either way, Drew Brees isn’t walking through that door for Payton, and 2024 is shaping up as potentially another long season.
It also doesn’t help that the Broncos have to face the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs twice as AFC West rivals. And the road schedule is pretty challenging, too, with non-divisional trips to Seattle, Tampa Bay, N.Y. Jets, New Orleans, Baltimore and Cincinnati. Ouch. The Broncos went 3-5 on the road in 2023, and it will be a tall order to replicate that number.
Looking at the home schedule, that’s no bargain, either. The good news is that there are a handful of winnable games in the Mile High City prior to November. But if the Broncos get off to a slow start, watch out. One of those winnable games is in Week 2 against old friend Russell Wilson and the Steelers. If that doesn’t go well, it could get ugly quick in Denver.
The lean is to OVER 5.5 (-150), but confidence is not terribly high.
Broncos Super Bowl odds
- +15000 (bet $100 to win $15,000)
The Broncos have the 3rd-longest odds to win the Super Bowl, tied with the Washington Commanders. The books aren’t terribly high on Denver doing much of anything in Payton’s 2nd season in the Mile High City.
The team parted with WR Jerry Jeudy in a trade with the Cleveland Browns, and Wilson was unceremoniously dumped. WR Josh Reynolds was brought in to replace Jeudy, and WR Troy Franklin was drafted in the 4th round for depth.
RB Audric Estime was added to provide depth at the running back spot, and with Javonte Williams, Samaje Perine and Jaleel McLaughlin, that’s a position of strength. In fact, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Broncos use that depth to make a trade to fill some other glaring holes.
This roster is a mess, though, and it isn’t anywhere close to being Super Bowl caliber. In fact, it’s a lot closer to a team challenging for the No. 1 overall draft pick, than one challenging to be the No. 1 team in February.
The San Francisco 49ers (+550) are the favorites, followed by the Kansas City Chiefs (+600) and Baltimore Ravens (+950).
At +15000, Denver has an implied probability of winning the Super Bowl of just 0.66% or 150/1 fractional odds.
The Carolina Panthers have the longest odds in the NFL at +30000, while the New England Patriots have the longest odds in the AFC at +18000, with the Broncos and Commanders not far behind at +15000.
You could burn your money, or bet on the Broncos to win the Super Bowl. The result would literally be the same thing.
AVOID.
Will Broncos make the playoffs?
- Yes +590 | No -950
The books are very bearish on the Broncos heading into 2024. Denver won 8 games a season ago, but that was with a veteran quarterback, not a bust and/or rookie, although Payton might debate you on that.
The Broncos have some really attractive players in the running backs room. That’s the position of strength. Unfortunately, the receiver spot is just so-so, and this team will likely be behind plenty, taking the run game off the table early on.
The Broncos do not look close to being one of the top 7 teams in the AFC at this point, although they might not be as far away as the books think. Still, laying 9 1/2 times your potential return on No (-950) is not a recommended betting strategy, and backing the Broncos as a long-shot to make the playoffs seems like a waste.
PASS.
Odds to win AFC West Division
- Chiefs -230 (bet $230 to win $100)
- Chargers +350 (bet $100 to win $350)
- Raiders +900 (bet $100 to win $900)
- Broncos +2000 (bet $100 to win $2,000)
Denver’s implied probability of winning the AFC West is 4.76% or 20/1 fractional odds. The Chiefs are the overwhelming favorites to run it back, costing you more than 2 times your potential return, while the Chargers are the dark-horse with Jim Harbaugh taking the reins.
Unless disaster strikes in both Kansas City and Los Angeles, specifically at the quarterback position, Denver doesn’t stand a chance. Even then, Las Vegas would still have something to say.
AVOID this wager, too, as there is very little chance the Broncos are sniffing contention past Thanksgiving.
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Broncos odds to win AFC
- +7000 (bet $100 to win $7,000)
The Broncos aren’t a Super Bowl contender, or anything close to resembling one. In fact, Denver has the 2nd-longest odds in the AFC to represent the conference, with only New England (+9000) with longer odds to go to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.
Man, would Payton love to bring his Broncos team to NOLA for the big game, but in order to do that, he’ll have to buy everyone general admission tickets and an airplane ride, because this team isn’t going to be in the playoffs to earn a trip on the field.
PASS. This is a team capable of 6 or 7 wins as their ceiling. That’s not going to get the job done.
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