Denver’s defense carried Week 1, chewing up Cam Ward and Tennessee with six sacks and 28 total pressures as the Broncos grabbed a 20-12 win at Mile High. Bo Nix and the offense never found a clean groove, leaning on the run but failing to generate consistent yardage. Riley Moss shined in coverage while Bonitto set the tone off the edge, and Hufanga’s run-coverage mix anchored a relentless unit.

Key stock shifts: Moss up despite heavy attention on Surtain II, Bonitto thriving after his extension, Powers anchoring the line, and Ward’s shaky first impression in a matchup Denver largely controlled on defense. Sutton flashed a big-play capability, but the QB/OL pairing still needs cohesion to unlock the offense. This game signals Broncos fantasy angles skew toward the defense-driven win and selective Broncos skill-players.

Denver beat Tennessee 20-12 behind Nik Bonitto’s relentless rush and a lockdown defense, steering Week 1 drama with a steady hand from the edge. Bo Nix battled early miscues, but the Broncos showed a clear growth arc on offense as the game wore on. The quartet of Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr., and Courtland Sutton delivered splash moments, while the defense locked in late and Payton’s bold fourth-down call underscored the team’s aggressive, win-now mindset.

Talanoa Hufanga and Brandon Jones anchored a swarming back end, and Denver’s outside-zone tweaks keep evolving into a more dynamic run plan. Denver’s added game-management pieces and a two-way chase for Week 2 highlight a team still ironing out Week 1 kinks but poised to grow sharper as the season unfolds.

Denver opens against Tennessee with a Week 1 milestone emphasis. Bo Nix targets three passing TDs in his first 18 starts and 400 completions by then, while Engram, Sutton, and Surtain II chase career-defining marks in the debut. Nik Bonitto looks for two sacks to join a small Broncos club, creating a favorable fantasy angle in Payton's first Week 1 as head coach.

Engram’s push toward 500 catches could boost Broncos volume; Sutton could climb past Emmanuel Sanders in team history with modest yardage, and Surtain II eyes a pick-six milestone. Denver’s defense and sack upside versus the Titans adds another layer for DFS and season-long projections.

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.