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The Denver Broncos are riding a nine-game winning streak, sit at 10-2 and hold the AFC’s No. 1 seed going into Week 14. But one longtime columnist thinks the best thing that could happen to them is a defeat.
In a “Kickin’ It with Kiz” column, Mark Kiszla of the Gazette responded to a reader’s comment that the Broncos aren’t just being called the “worst 10-2 team in NFL history.” The commenter added, “they are.” Kiszla went on to lay out why a loss is good for Denver. He argues that Denver’s run of close, dramatic wins is unlikely to continue all the way through February and that a loss in December could serve as a needed reset before the postseason.
Kiszla points to the math: the Broncos have lived on the edge in one-score games and have had to escape late against multiple opponents, most recently in a 27-26 overtime victory over the Washington Commanders that required a blocked two-point try.
His conclusion: better to take a punch now — against teams like the Packers, Jaguars or Chiefs on the remaining schedule — than to have the first stumble come in January.
Broncos’ Close-Game Magic and Sean Payton’s Role
The argument isn’t purely negative. Kiszla also frames Denver’s season as proof that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts and suggests Sean Payton deserves serious Coach of the Year consideration.
Denver’s run has been built on late-game execution on both sides of the ball. Bo Nix has delivered clutch throws, including a highlight touchdown in Washington, while players such as running back RJ Harvey and linebacker Nik Bonitto have delivered game-deciding plays in recent weeks.
At the same time, the Broncos’ statistical profile — heavy on narrow wins, lighter on blowouts — feeds skepticism from computer rankings and national analysts who continue to hover Denver outside the very top tiers despite the record. Kiszla leans into that criticism to make the case that a humbling result might sharpen the focus of a team living dangerously.
What a Loss Would Actually Mean for Denver
From a standings standpoint, Broncos fans are unlikely to sign up for the “they need a loss” theory. Denver is locked in a tight race for the AFC’s top seed, with homefield advantage and a potential path through Denver’s altitude hanging in the balance.
Dropping even one game could be the difference between hosting the AFC Championship and flying across the country in January. For a team built on defense, clutch special teams and crowd energy in tight contests, that’s no small factor.
Where the column hits is on psychology. Coaches often talk about “correctable mistakes” being easier to sell to players after a loss than after yet another escape. A flat performance could give Payton fresh leverage to hammer home issues that keep popping up — inconsistent run game, penalties, and stretches where the offense stalls.
The Broncos say they aren’t listening to the “fraud” chatter and are more than happy to be the league’s ugliest 10–2 team if it ends with a Lombardi Trophy. But the idea that this group still has another gear might resonate inside the building, even if no one is openly rooting for a loss to find it.
For now, Denver heads into its Week 14 matchup against the Raiders with a chance to quiet some of that noise the old-fashioned way: by winning again, comfortably this time.
Erik Anderson is an award-winning sports journalist covering the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. Anderson is also the host of The Rip City Pod on The I-5 Corridor, where he dives into the stories and personalities shaping the Portland Trail Blazers. His work has appeared in nationally-recognized outlets including The New York Times, Associated Press , USA Today, and ESPN. More about Erik Anderson
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