After dominating the Saints on Thursday Night Football in New Orleans, the Broncos are above .500 after seven games for the first time since 2016. While that season didn’t end in a postseason berth, it is the last time Denver ended a season with a winning record. Here’s a look at how each of those seasons played out:
Season
Coach
Record after 7
Final record
Note
2016
Gary Kubiak
5-2
9-7
Super Bowl title defense looked playoff-bound before 3-5 run to end season derailed it.
2017
Vance Joseph
3-4
5-11
Broncos enter Week 8 game at K.C. 3-3, but 29-19 loss part of disastrous 8-game skid.
2018
Vance Joseph
3-4
6-10
V.J. gets reprieve after Thursday win at Arizona moved Denver to 3-4, but it was only temporary.
2019
Vic Fangio
2-5
7-9
Four-game losing streak to start season ended Fangio’s debut campaign before it began.
2020
Vic Fangio
3-4
5-11
Comeback win over Chargers offers hope at 3-4, but Broncos won twice the rest of the way.
2021
Vic Fangio
3-4
7-10
3-0 start was squandered by Week 7 after Thursday loss at Cleveland — Denver’s 4th straight.
2022
Nathaniel Hackett
2-5
5-12
Season hits low point with 16-9 loss to Jets in Week 7, and it doesn’t get much better after that.
2023
Sean Payton
2-5
8-9
Upset of Green Bay in Week 7 sparks 5-game win streak that keeps Russell Wilson under center.
2024
Sean Payton
4-3
TBD
With one-win Carolina coming to town next week, Broncos have real shot at 5-3 after eight weeks.