For the first time in a long time, the Broncos enter a season with expectations. The team isn’t hoping to be good. Fans are talking themselves into believing in a pipe dream. And the media isn’t falling for the latest spin job coming out of HQ.

This time, it’s real. The Broncos enter the 2025 campaign with lofty expectations.

A year ago, Denver ended it’s eight-year playoff drought, while also snapping a seven-season stretch of losing seasons. They finished 10-7, earned the No. 7 seed in the AFC and made a postseason appearance for the first time since Super Bowl 50.

In the offseason, they plugged holes on both sides of the ball, adding skill position players on offense and playmakers on defense. As a result, there is no reason to believe the Broncos won’t be better this season. There’s talk of competing for the AFC West, a division dominated by the Chiefs for nearly a decade. And some are even whispering about Super Bowl aspirations.

But free-agent signings and savvy draft picks aren’t what’s really driving the hype train. People are bullish on the Broncos because of two people, both of whom are back for another season in orange and blue.

Sean Payton enters his third season as the Broncos head coach. After going 8-9 during his first campaign, last year’s playoff season demonstrated why the Super Bowl-winning head coach was coaxed away from a cushy TV gig with a five-year, $90-million contract. Say what you will about Payton, the guy knows how to build a winning football team.

Bo Nix will be looking to build upon a dazzling rookie season. Denver’s quarterback started all 17 games during his first year in the NFL, throwing for 3,775 yards and 29 touchdowns. He also made a ton of plays with his feet, rushing for 430 yards and four touchdowns. The No. 12 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft was better than advertised, improving on a weekly basis to become a legit NFL starter.

Having a head coach and QB in place leads to expectations. The Broncos aren’t trying to convince anyone that Vance Joseph, Vic Fangio or Nathaniel Hackett are ready to lead the team to great heights. And they aren’t under the delusion that Trevor Siemian, Paxton Lynch, Joe Flacco, Drew Lock or Teddy Bridgewater have championship mettle.

Payton is legit. Nix is the real deal.

And now, the pressure is on both of them. This season, both men are expected to be even better.

That shouldn’t be hard for Nix. After all, the quarterback got better as his rookie season went along; the upward trajectory should continue. Talk of a “sophomore slump” is overrated; with better talent around him (Evan Engram at tight end and J.K. Dobbins in the backfield), a 4,000-yard, 30-touchdown season seems well within Nix’s grasp.

Should he fail to reach those milestones, it’ll be disappointing. But Nix won’t get all of the blame. That’s why he’s under the second-most pressure.

If the quarterback struggles, or if the team recedes, most fingers of blame will be pointed at Payton. He’ll be the one being asked the tough questions. The head coach will be the one under fire. And for good reason.

At this point, Payton has gotten everything that he’s wanted. Everything that he’s asked for has been provided.

The coach didn’t want to work with Russell Wilson. No problem. The Broncos ate $85 million in dead cap and sent the quarterback packing.

Payton wanted his handpicked QB. No problem. Denver drafted Nix higher than most people projected, gambling on the sixth quarterback taken in the draft.

Need more playmakers? No problem. The Broncos signed Engram, Dobbins, Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga. They also drafted Jahdae Barron, R.J. Harvey and Pat Bryant. They upgraded at running back, tight end, middle linebacker and safety. They added a stellar corner to play opposite the NFL’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year. They brought in youth for the backfield and at wideout.

Everything Payton could want and/or need, the head coach has been given. As a result, there are no excuses if the Broncos fail to live up to expectations.

During his first two seasons, Payton has done a great job of righting the ship in Denver. He inherited a team that went 5-12 and has managed to go 18-17, including a playoff loss, thus far.

That’s a good start. But it’s far from gaudy. So the 2025 season is a tipping point for Payton.

If the Broncos live up to expectations, he’ll go down as a great hire by Greg Penner. Another season with double-digit wins, a playoff appearance and perhaps a division title will account for one of the best turnaround jobs in recent NFL history.

But if Denver regresses, it’ll raise some interesting questions. It might even put Payton on the hot seat.

Last year, the Broncos beat up on a lot of bad teams. They benefitted from playing the AFC South and NFC South, getting eight of their 10 wins against non-playoff opponents. With a tougher slate this year, it’s not outside the realm of possibilities that the Broncos take a step backwards.

If they go 8-9, as an example, it wouldn’t be a disastrous season. But it would put Payton at 26-26 after three seasons. That’s the definition of mediocre, 60 percent of the way through his contract with the Broncos.

It’ll lead people to wonder if the game has passed him by. It’ll generate questions about whether or not he found his QB. It’ll cause some to ask what Payton needs in order to win, if he can’t do it with his preferred quarterback, a great defense and an ownership group that provides him with every tool needed.

That’s why the pressure is on Payton in 2025. There’s no one else to blame things on if things don’t work out. Russ has left the building. His fingerprints are all over the roster, meaning he can’t explain away the crime scene if this version of the Broncos fail to live up to the hype.

For the first time in a decade, there are expectations in Denver. That’s a great thing. It’s an exciting thing. It’s a fun thing.

But for those who may have forgotten, or are perhaps new to the Mile High City, that creates a pressure cooker. Here’s hoping Bo Nix and Sean Payton are ready for the challenge.