Tag: Playoff drought

Broncos’ record by season during 8-year playoff drought

The Broncos have the second-longest active playoff drought in the NFL. They’ll aim to change that on Sunday.

After winning Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season, the Denver Broncos had a winning season in 2016 (9-7) but failed to make the NFL playoffs in their first year following Peyton Manning’s retirement.

Since then, the Broncos went seven-straight years without a winning season and eight-straight years without a playoff berth. Denver has the second-longest active playoff drought in the NFL, only trailing the New York Jets (14 seasons). The Broncos could pass the No. 2 spot to the Carolina Panthers (seven seasons) on Sunday.

Denver can clinch a spot in the 2024 NFL playoffs with a win (or tie) against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 18. With the team potentially on the verge of snapping it’s eight-year playoff drought, here’s a look back at the Broncos’ last ten seasons.

Broncos records since Super Bowl

2015: 12-4 (won Super Bowl)
2016: 9-7 (missed playoffs)
2017: 5-11
2018: 6-10
2019: 7-9
2020: 5-11
2021: 7-10
2022: 5-12
2023: 8-9
2024: 9-7 (one game left)

Sunday’s game will be regionally televised on CBS (TV map). With the Chiefs resting starters, the Broncos are considered favorites in Week 18.

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Broncos enter 2023 with NFL’s 2nd-longest active playoff drought

The Broncos haven’t reached the playoffs in seven years, the NFL’s 2nd-longest active drought, tied for 5th-longest among U.S. sports teams.

The Denver Broncos entered 2022 with high expectations due to the partnership of new quarterback Russell Wilson and new head coach Nathaniel Hackett. With Hackett’s background with Aaron Rodgers and Wilson’s success in Seattle, the Broncos’ six-year playoff drought appeared to have an end in sight.

Until it wasn’t.

The Broncos will enter the 2023 NFL season with the second-longest playoff drought in the NFL, as last season marked their seventh consecutive season without a playoff birth. Their last playoff appearance? Their 2015 NFL season which culminated in the franchise’s third Super Bowl win. Denver is proceeded by the New York Jets, who have a 12-year drought. New York’s last playoff appearance was in 2010. 

The Jets have it even worse, though. After the Sacramento Kings finally snapped their 17-year playoff drought, the Jets officially have the longest playoff drought among teams in the “Big Four” sports in the United States — the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL (the Broncos are tied for fifth on that list). 

Fans in Denver can only hope the arrival of Sean Payton will help the Broncos end their playoff drought this fall. 

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