After watching Sunday’s Super Bowl between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots, Denver Broncos fans likely were thinking one thing: we would have put up more of a fight.

While the Seahawks may still have emerged victorious, the Broncos should have been the team representing the AFC, and they stood a real shot at winning the whole thing. Denver just needed a healthy Bo Nix.

While they were within arm's reach of football’s biggest stage, they missed out on that opportunity, though, and taking strides on the offensive side of the football could make the team’s Super Bowl odds even better.

My Hottest Take: Davis Webb will improve the Broncos’ offense in 2026

Denver, one of last season’s best stories, was responsible for two of the hottest names on the head coach market, and they retained both candidates.

While it felt like defensive coordinator Vance Joseph likely would end up back in Colorado, pass game coordinator Davis Webb was a real mystery. Teams were intrigued by his youth and knowledge of the game, but Webb ended up returning to be the team’s new offensive coordinator.

Most Broncos fans immediately wondered one thing: who’s going to call the plays in 2026?

Likely the main reason Webb wasn’t scooped for a head coaching opportunity was that teams didn’t know if he was capable of calling his own plays, but it also seems unlikely that Webb would have returned to the Broncos if he wasn’t promised a chance at the playcalling.

No one knows quite what a Webb-called offense would look like, but given how much of a player he was in the league’s head coach conversations, it’s worth exploring. Denver will need some players to develop and maybe a couple of new bodies in the room, but even with the current weapons, a bright mind should be able to get more out of this offense.

What You Need to Know: The defense should remain mostly intact

The good news for the Broncos is their defense should still be great while they figure out the offense. Joseph is back as the team’s defensive coordinator, and the team’s best players already are on extensions, but there are a few important players Denver will need to retain or replace.

Nickel corner Ja’Quan McMillian is a restricted free agent, so the Broncos have a good shot at keeping him in the building, but it’s unclear if that’s what they want.

When they selected Jahdae Barron in last year’s NFL draft, they made it known they wanted to see him in the slot corner role. However, McMillian played great again last season, and Barron struggled to find his footing.

If they let McMillian walk, Barron should, in theory, step into that role. With how the two players looked last season, though, it may be a better idea to bring McMillian back on at least another short-term deal.

Denver also boasted an extremely impressive defensive line all season, but one of the key players may be on his way out. John Franklin-Myers is a free agent, and while his fellow defensive players have said he deserves to be paid, Denver hasn’t shown much interest in bringing him back.

The Broncos have plenty of defensive line depth, and there’s a chance they focus on that position in the upcoming draft, but Franklin-Myers is a great player and a big part of that unit.

Last season, the Broncos went out and signed a big-time free agent linebacker in Dre Greenlaw, but this season didn’t pan out well for him. Instead, it was Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad who looked more impressive.

Both Strnad and Singleton are free agents now. While bringing back both might not be the answer, Denver should probably sign one of them to keep the group sufficient.

Before You Go: Firing Joe Lombardi was the right call

Former offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi may not have been calling the plays, but it was clear that a change needed to be made with the Broncos’ offense. Removing Lombardi from the role and potentially giving Webb the playcalling duties is a worthwhile idea to explore.

Last season, Denver was 10th in total offensive yards, 11th in passing yards and 16th in rushing yards. The offense was also 14th in points scored. That’s not quite good enough for a team hoping to make a Super Bowl run, especially when the offense has been mediocre for the entire Payton era.

While the change may not improve the offense, it’s a good sign that Payton was willing to part with Lombardi. Payton and Lombardi are friends and longtime partners in the league. Most know Payton as a loyal, often stubborn, coach. Making a move like firing Lombardi proved at least some self-awareness and willingness to do what it takes to get this team to the Super Bowl.