Denver’s 2024 playoff run under Payton, led by Bo Nix, has experts buzzing about a real AFC West challenge to the Chiefs. The defense was elite (top sacks, second in points allowed) and offseason add-ons like Talanoa Hufanga, Jahdae Barron and Dre Greenlaw reshape a seasoned unit. Offensively, Evan Engram and J.K. Dobbins give Nix quick-strike options, with RJ Harvey adding depth. A high-variance but tantalizing path to the Super Bowl is now plausible, as Kansas City watches a rival rise and the AFC playoff field tightens.

Across NBC Sports’ Fantasy Football Happy Hour, insiders weighed contenders as the Chiefs remain formidable but visibly wary of Denver’s floor and ceiling. The Broncos are viewed as a legitimate playoff threat with a mature, fast defense and a quarterback who’s maturing quickly. The Bills, Bengals, and Chargers still loom, but Denver’s blend of scheme, talent and proven finish in 2024 raises the stakes in 2025’s chase for the conference crown.