Broncos get wild but realistic record-breaking defensive prediction from ESPN

The Denver Broncos fell to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship round, and had Bo Nix not gotten hurt, they likely would've been in the Super Bowl.

With the team coming back for vengeance in 2026, the Broncos will need to climb the mountain once again. And aside from Nix being healthy, the defense will need to play at an elite level once again.

And if ESPN's Jeff Lagwold's prediction were to come true, and it's a wild one, then the Broncos would almost assuredly be a playoff team with a good chance for a Super Bowl run thanks to a record-breaking season for the third-straight year.

Broncos get wild defensive prediction from ESPN analyst

"With largely the same defensive cast as last season, the Broncos will set a franchise sacks record for a third consecutive season," Legwold predicts.

This prediction is a wild one, as the Broncos breaking the team's franchise sack record would be an impressive feat on its own, but to do it two times in a row would be a huge accomplishment. And he's predicting they do it for a third straight season.

Denver finished with 68 sacks, the most in the NFL. The year prior, they had 63 sacks. If this prediction from Legwold were to come true, the Broncos' defense would need to record at least 69 sacks in the 17-game regular season.

There are two keys to breaking this record: the players on the roster and their 2026 scheduled opponents.

Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper, Malcolm Roach, D.J. Jones, Zach Allen, and some other nice depth pieces are returning, while Tyler Onyedim will be trying to help replace the departure of John Franklin-Myers. This group has what it takes to break the record.

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They will face the Los Angeles Chargers, Las Vegas Raiders, and Kansas City Chiefs each twice. Those aren't terrible matchups for Denver's defense to generate some sacks.

The Broncos also face the following teams in 2026: Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, and the Patriots.

Coming out of the bye in Week 10 might be the team's best chance to really stack up their sack total, since they play the Raiders, Steelers, Dolphins, Jets, and Raiders in Weeks 11 through 15.

Getting to at least 69 sacks in 2026 will be difficult, but with a relatively decent schedule and a mostly returning defensive front, the Broncos do have a real chance to make this prediction from Legwold come true.

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