Denver survived four turnovers to beat Tennessee 20-12, a win that exposes both the Broncos’ rough edges and their ceiling. Talanoa Hufanga stepped in as a true defensive catalyst, piling up a game-high 10 tackles (7 solo) and forcing a fumble, signaling a leadership leap on a defense that rose to the occasion.

In the backfield, J.K. Dobbins (63 rushing yards and a TD) and RJ Harvey (70 yards on six carries) delivered a promising duo that could shape Week 2 plans against Indianapolis. Bo Nix fought through pocket pressure, finishing 25-of-40 for 176 yards with a TD and two interceptions, while Denver’s defense stymied Titans’ drives, including back-to-back sacks in the fourth that flipped field position.

Turnovers loomed large, yet the Broncos’ defense carried the day. Marvin Mims muffed a punt, and Denver still won minus-two in the turnover margin for only the second time since 2016. The Week 2 test against the Colts looms, and the backfield plus the emerging pass rush could be fantasy levers if the offense cleans up its miscues.

Bottom line: Denver’s defense is for real, Hufanga’s leadership is evident, and Harvey–Dobbins is a backfield to monitor as the Broncos chase a higher ceiling this season.

Denver defenses shone in Week 1, bottling Tennessee as six different Broncos players logged sacks and holding Cam Ward to 112 yards on 12-of-28 passing. The Titans totaled just 133 offensive yards and 131 penalty yards, while Denver closed with a dominant run-friendly, defense-backed effort that survived two late fourth-down gambles by Payton’s squad.

Fantasy takeaway: Denver’s stingy defense is the headline, with high sack volatility and big IDP upside from Bonitto, Elliss, and Allen. Mims’ muffed punt clouds return potential, Sutton’s TD boosts Broncos’ pass-catcher value, and Ward’s struggles hint at Titans’ ceiling without a more efficient attack next week.

Denver opens 2025 with John Franklin-Myers as the glue of the defensive front, yet no extension in hand after this season. Denver piggybacks Courtland Sutton, Zach Allen and Nik Bonitto with big deals, creating a tight cap path that could squeeze Franklin-Myers’ market value. The veteran remains optimistic, while the organization weighs long-term structure and potential restructures to keep him in a crowded line. A Bo Nix extension looms post-2026, further tightening the books and forcing hard choices for Denver.

Bonitto signs four years up to 120 million with Denver, including 70 million guaranteed and about 26.5M per year, ranking 10th among edge rushers by average. In 2024 he delivered 13.5 sacks and 48 tackles as a full-time starter, helping the Broncos snap an eight-year playoff drought. This summer Denver also extended Zach Allen and Courtland Sutton, signaling a high‑stakes, win-now approach as they open the season at home against Tennessee.

Nik Bonitto’s four-year, $106M extension with $70M guaranteed locks him in as Denver’s top edge threat through 2029, signaling a heavy commitment to the pass rush and immediate fantasy upside with incentives pushing to $120M.

The deal comes after a breakout 2024 season (13.5 sacks) and unfolds amid a market-wide edge rush inflation sparked by Parsons’ record deal. Bonitto now pairs with Zach Allen to form a formidable Denver edge duo, boosting IDP and fantasy value for the Broncos’ defenders and pressuring opponents’ protection schemes weekly.

With Denver’s loyalty to core pieces and a front that thrives on pressure, Bonitto’s path points to double-digit sack potential and solid tackle floors if he stays healthy and free to attack. This extends a window of high fantasy upside into 2025–29 for dynasty and redraft managers alike.