We have made it! The Denver Broncos will kick off their 2024 season on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. It has been a long offseason but Broncos Country is starting to buzz again, as it usually does around this time of year.
The team is hoping that this year will be different. After several changes at both the head coach and starting quarterback positions, the Broncos now have the combination of Sean Payton and Bo Nix. The hope is that this combination will lead to better results and the team can finally end its playoff drought.
That journey starts in Seattle.
Denver Broncos Week 1 bold predictions
Greg Dulcich starts the season off right
The fact that the Broncos have a healthy Greg Dulcich at tight end seems to be flying under the radar just a bit, but it could be huge for this offense.
Dulcich has missed more games than he has played during his two-year career but with a clean bill of health, he is going to come out firing on all cylinders. He scored a touchdown in the first game he played in the NFL but has not found the end zone since. That changes on Sunday.
His best game, at least statistically, since coming to the NFL, saw him catch six passes for 85 yards against the Baltimore Ravens in 2022. He will also eclipse both of those numbers in Week 1.
Bold prediction: Greg Dulcich makes 7 catches for 90 yards and scores a TD
Riley Moss makes his first career interception
Riley Moss did not play much as a rookie, so he's still mostly an unknown at the professional level. But he did win the No. 2 cornerback job this summer and being on the side opposite of Pat Surtain II, he's bound to see some action.
Moss will make Geno Smith and the Seahawks pay in this one by snaring his first career interception.
Bold prediction: Riley Moss has one interception
Bo Nix puts the league on notice
Much has been made of the Broncos starting a rookie quarterback in Week 1, the first time that has happened since 1983, and those around the league have questioned the Broncos being so confident in the sixth quarterback that was taken in April's draft.
But Nix is not a typical rookie. His experience in college has prepared him for this moment and he will handle playing on the road in a hostile environment against a young defensive mind in Mike Macdonald without any issues.
The Broncos have found their guy and he will leave no doubt with the way he starts this season.
Bold prediction: Bo Nix passes for 250 yards with two TDs and he doesn't turn the ball over once
Who wins it?
It doesn't seem like many people are picking the Broncos to win this game. That includes Pete Prisco of CBS who appears to see the same old Broncos.
But the Broncos are going to surprise some people here. They are going to use the momentum of a great preseason (even if it was against backups) and get off to a 1-0 start. The Broncos have something in Nix and the players they have placed on this roster and things are moving in the right direction.
It's too early to plan a Super Bowl party. It's too early to talk playoffs. But the Broncos win this game.
Bold prediction: Broncos 23, Seahawks 17
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