Broncos' fatal flaw that will doom them in 2025 NFL Playoffs

The Denver Broncos are heading into the 2025 NFL Playoffs with very little to lose after a successful regular season. The AFC Conference's seven seed will now face a Buffalo Bills' team with championship-sized expectations. Head coach Sean Payton has brought this franchise back to the postseason for the first time since its Super Bowl 50 victory in 2016. That nine drought was broken with rookie quarterback Bo Nix leading a relatively young roster to ten wins overall.

Sean Payton's team has several strengths heading into this postseason that make it very dangerous. Particularly on the defensive side of the ball. This unit has had an incredible bounce back year, allowing just 18.3 points per game, which was third in the NFL. What this defense has thrived on throughout the season is stopping the run. Opponents are only rushing for 96.4 yards per game against the Broncos.

The secondary, on the other hand, has had some struggles stopping teams throughout the year. However, this unit does have a shutdown corner in Pat Surtain II, who was just named First-team All-Pro for the second time. The fourth-year player is the kind of difference maker that can give teams nightmares in the postseason. These qualities combined with a coach like Sean Payton who has won a Super Bowl as a head coach, and the Buffalo Bills cannot take this team for granted.

However, there is a main weakness on the Broncos that will likely limit this team's ceiling. And after their dominant victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, it not easy making this argument. But even considering that result, here is the fatal flaw that will keep Denver from winning its fourth Super Bowl.

The Broncos' inexperienced offense is their fatal flaw

First off, let's list the obvious stat that Bo Nix is facing heading into the 2025 NFL Playoffs. A rookie starting quarterback has never played in a Super Bowl in the history of the league, let alone won one. A few years ago 49ers starter Brock Purdy become the fifth rookie to lose in the conference championship game. Therefore, it's safe to say Nix is up against the odds going into his first postseason with that stat alone.

Still, it does seem that the Broncos are aware of this, and Sean Payton has already shut down the detractors. In addition, Denver's offense has been in good form recently. As Bo Nix hit a historic hot streak in November, the Broncos have scored 24 or more points in their last seven games. Yet, despite this run, this unit has shown limitations throughout the 2024 season that make it hard to imagine Sean Payton's team beating multiple, elite AFC teams in a row.

The Broncos rank tenth in scoring at 25 points per game. Through the air and on the ground Sean Payton's team is 20th and 16th in yards a contest. However, the more concerning stat is that the Broncos rank 19th in time of possession heading into this postseason. Meaning that it is hard for this unit to keep opponents' offenses off the field. When looking at the teams in the AFC, particularly squads like the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens, keeping these dynamic offenses is essential towards beating these teams on their home fields.

The Broncos unfortunately learned that lesson the hard way against the Ravens earlier this year. Leading the possession battle by a little less than four minutes was enough for Lamar Jackson and company to blowout Denver 41-10 in Baltimore. Therefore, it's not necessarily that Denver's offense is abysmal and a clearcut weakness. It's more so that this unit, as of now, does not have the traits to carry this team through this potential gauntlet.

Ultimately, history and personnel indicates that the Broncos' offense is flawed enough to hold them back from football's ultimate prize. Bo Nix and Sean Payton can shut a lot of doubters up against the Bills this weekend. However, even with a win on Sunday, this franchise will be a long way from New Orleans. That fact does not take anything away from this duo, which has proven they are a force to be reckoned with. Regardless of what happens against Buffalo, it won't be another nine years before Denver is back at this stage.