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The Denver Broncos' 2025 season is expected to be one of the team's most anticipated in recent years. The Broncos have made several key additions on offense and defense to keep themselves in the playoff conversation.
While adding tight end Evan Engram, safety Talanoa Hufanga, and an entire draft class to the roster, the season hinges on how well second-year quarterback Bo Nix performs. With 3,775 yards, 29 touchdowns, and four scores on the ground, Nix had a stellar rookie campaign, and building upon it will be no easy feat, but he has the grit and mental fortitude to take the next step.
With all that being said, there are several intriguing matchups for Nix this upcoming season, and it’s important to highlight which games will be pivotal for his development, starting with an AFC rematch from last year.
Week 4: Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow and the Bengals bested Nix and the Broncos in last year's nail-biting overtime slugfest. While Cincinnati’s defense isn’t exactly elite, Nix still has a chip on his shoulder and needs to prove that he can go toe-to-toe with the best quarterbacks in the league.
Last year, the Broncos traveled to the jungle, but this time around, Burrow and the Bengals will trek to the Rockies and play at Mile High. If Nix wants to win, he’ll have to go throw for throw and touchdown for touchdown with one of the top signal callers in the NFL.
Week 5: Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles will be the toughest test for Nix in 2025, and it’s not particularly close. The Eagles' defense, led by former Broncos head coach Vic Fangio, is terrifying on all levels, with absolute killers like Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis on the defensive line, Zach Baun lying in wait over the middle, and the tandem of Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean clamping down on whoever they lineup against.
Nix will have a difficult time with pressure and must make quick throws and be decisive. Pressure makes diamonds, and Nix will be tested heavily versus the defending Super Bowl Champions, but it’s exactly the push he needs to take the next step.
Week 11 & 17: Kansas City Chiefs
Both games against the Chiefs are of paramount importance to Nix. The Chiefs have run the AFC West since 2016, and Nix and the Broncos were a field goal away from vanquishing them on their turf.
Yes, the Broncos went on to beat the Chiefs in Week 18, but Kansas City had little to no starters with the first seed already locked up. For Nix to solidify himself as the Broncos' quarterback for the foreseeable future, he has to step up and put the team on his back to beat their most heated rivals when it counts.
Both Chiefs games this year will be challenging, but Nix must rise to the occasion to dethrone them and become a force in the AFC.
Week 13: Washington Commanders
Much of Nix’s success last season was overshadowed by the rookie sensation Jayden Daniels, who led the Commanders to the NFC Championship Game. Nix and Daniels battled for Offensive Rookie of the Year, but they’ll meet on the gridiron for the first time in what should be an exciting matchup.
Nix had 34 total touchdowns in 2025, three more than Daniels, and if Nix and Denver won a game or two more, we may be talking about him as the OROY, not the Commanders quarterback. While Nix may not outwardly care about awards, I think it burns him up on the inside, based on his ultra-competitive nature.
Nix may have been the last quarterback selected in the first round in 2024, but he’ll fight to prove that he should have been the first, and besting Jayden Daniels would give him a great case.
The Takeaway
Nix has several matchups this upcoming season that will test him mentality and physically. It’s up to him to push himself to solidify himself as the team's signal-caller going forward and take the Broncos not just back to the playoffs but eventually to the Super Bowl.
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Justin Fields Called 'Biggest Loser' In Jets Training Camp
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Al Horford to Warriors Receives Update After Jonathan Kuminga News
The Golden State Warriors’ offseason has been dominated by the unresolved standoff with forward Jonathan Kuminga. After a 2024-25 season where he averaged 15.3 points per game, Kuminga declined the team’s two-year, $45 million offer, citing issues with the second-year team option and the lack of a no-trade clause. Kuminga has also drawn interest from other teams—most notably the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns—but Golden State has shut down all trade discussions, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The franchise has instead chosen to wait, leaving major offseason decisions on hold, including the potential signing of veteran big man Al Horford, who remains a free agent. Kuminga Set to Stay With the Golden State Warriors With the Warriors determined to stand their ground on the Kuminga saga, and the 6-foot-7 forward yet to accept their terms or the $7.9 million qualifying offer, all signs point to one likely scenario – Kuminga remaining a Warrior for at least one more season. According to Tim Kawakami of the San Francisco Standard, Golden State has no plans to trade Kuminga for the bare minimum this summer. He is expected to return to the Warriors’ roster—either by signing their current offer or accepting the qualifying offer. “The word I got when I checked in with a Warriors source on Sunday: Kuminga won't be traded this summer,” Kawakami wrote. “He'll be back on the Warriors' roster to start the season. And it'll either come when he signs the Warriors' offer or accepts the $7.9 million one-year qualifying offer.” The Warriors refusing to budge on their Kuminga stance means they will maintain the flexibility needed to make other moves that have been on hold — like the signing of Boston Celtics free agent Al Horford. What the New Jonathan Kuminga Report Means for Al Horford As it stands, it appears that the Warriors’ signing of Horford could be happening sooner than later. ESPN’s Anthony Slater noted towards the end of last month that Golden State identified Horford as its main target for a stretch-shooting center since the start of the offseason. However, his decision was believed to hinge on how the Kuminga situation played out. ESPN’s Marc Spears also recently noted that even players like Gary Payton II are waiting to see what Kuminga decides, further illustrating how his contract saga is impacting the entire roster. “I saw Gary Payton II two days ago. I'm like, what's going on? He's like waiting on [Jonathan Kuminga]. He is, Al Horford is.” With Kuminga presumably set to return next season, and seemingly under the Warriors' financial terms, the team will retain cap flexibility and avoid losing a core piece for nothing. It also positions them to move quickly on Horford or similar targets to solidify their frontcourt. If Kuminga opts for the qualifying offer, Golden State keeps his rights but risks future complications with trade leverage. Either way, the outcome of this standoff will likely shape how the Warriors enter training camp—and whether they can maximize what may be the final competitive window of the Stephen Curry era.
Commanders QB not seen at practice, starting WR out
The Washington Commanders are dealing with a few absences ahead of their preseason opener against the New England Patriots on Friday night. Five players missed practice to begin the week as quarterback Marcus Mariota, wide receiver Noah Brown, offensive lineman Brandon Coleman, defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste, and linebacker Jordan Magee were not with the team on Monday. Mariota is expected to be the backup to rising star Jayden Daniels in 2025 while Brown started in nine of his 11 appearances with the Commanders last season. Coleman actually limped off the field over the weekend and he was the only player that head coach Dan Quinn provided a direct update on during his press conference. Quinn is unsure if he'll be able to participate in joint practices with the Patriots. As for the others, this could simply be a rest day. It's unclear if Quinn plans to play his starters in the first exhibition game in New England. Marcus Mariota To Assume Critical Role Behind Jayden Daniels A former No. 2 overall pick himself, Mariota understands what it takes to get done at the professional level. After all, he's been doing it for a decade. After signing with the Commanders last season, Mariota played an important role off the bench as a mentor for Daniels. He'll be able to do that once again this fall, only now the two are even closer after establishing a relationship. In a pinch, Mariota can still bring it between the lines. He appeared in three games last season, finishing off Washington's 23-19 victory against the Dallas Cowboys in the regular season finale. Overall, Mariota completed 34/44 passes for 364 yards with four touchdowns to zero interceptions while rushing 18 times for 92 yards and another score. Daniels remains healthy and is thriving ahead of his second season. The Commanders also have second-year quarterback Sam Hartman and veteran Josh Johnson on the roster. Noah Brown Produced Washington's Most Exciting Play Last Season Though Brown only reached the end zone one time in 2024, it came on a moment that was arguably the most exciting in the entire league. Brown corralled a tipped pass on a 52-yard Hail Mary to deliver the Commanders an electric win over the Chicago Bears on October 27. On the season, he appeared in 11 games and made nine starts, catching 35 passes for 453 yards and the lone touchdown. Brown suffered a kidney injury late in the year which forced him onto injured reserve. Back healthy, Brown is battling for his spot in Washington's wide receiver room. The team traded for Deebo Samuel this offseason, convinced Michael Gallup to come out of retirement, and drafted Jaylin Lane in the fourth round. As things stand, Brown is listed as a starter alongside Samuel and McLaurin on the unofficial depth chart. The competition has increased and that should only lead to increased consistency from the unit this season, especially if the Commanders are able to work out a deal with star Terry McLaurin. Washington Commanders Preseason Information The Commanders will return to the field later this week to kick off the preseason against the New England Patriots. Washington and New England will kick off at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, August 8, from Gillette Stadium.
Broncos' Sean Payton adds to Bo Nix hype with bold prediction
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton believes his team is a legitimate Super Bowl contender after quarterback and 2024 first-round draft pick Bo Nix was better than advertised as a rookie starter. During a recent chat with Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, Payton gave the Nix hype train some extra momentum via a bold prediction regarding what the 25-year-old will be a couple of years down the road. "I honestly think he’s gonna be one of the top quarterbacks within the next two years," Payton said about Nix. "I think he’s going to be a superstar." Some suggested in the spring of 2024 that Payton and Co. reached when they made Nix the 12th overall pick of last year's draft. Nix then went 10-7 as a starter as he guided the club to a playoff berth. Per Pro Football Reference, Nix ended the 2024 regular season ranked sixth in the NFL with 29 touchdown passes, 12th with 3,775 passing yards and 19th among qualified players with a 56.8 adjusted QBR. In total, 23 quarterbacks took more sacks than Nix (24) during the campaign. According to StatMuse, no signal-caller took more sacks than Russell Wilson did with the Broncos from Week 1 of the 2022 campaign through the end of the 2023 regular season. "Who gets the blame? 'God, the line’s gotta get better.' And it’s always the line. The sack is a quarterback stat," Payton added. "We had 24 [in 2024]. I had Bobby Hoying [in the late 1990s], third-round pick. Man, he was a great-looking prospect. He took three or four sacks a game. It’s a processing thing. It’s decision-making, multi-tasking, ball out." As of Monday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Broncos at -140 betting odds to make the playoffs for the upcoming season. Somewhat interestingly, that same outlet had Nix and Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams at +3500 odds to claim the Most Valuable Player Award for the campaign. If Nix can follow in Stafford's footsteps through early 2026, Payton could be right about the current Denver squad competing for more than just a postseason berth.
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