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.