The Broncos clinched a playoff spot in Week 18 with a dominant win over the Chiefs, ending one of the longest active playoff droughts in the league. The franchise earned the No. 7 seed after a 10-7 regular season, but they now turn their focus to ending the playoff win drought.
Denver is not typically an organization associated with playoff droughts, but the last decade has been rocky for the team. Since their last playoff win in 2016, the Broncos have had six head coaches and 14 different starting quarterbacks.
This year, Sean Payton finally got the Broncos back to the playoffs in his second season at the helm, in large part thanks to the play of rookie quarterback Bo Nix. While they enter the playoffs as one of the biggest underdogs in the postseason, they hope to make another iconic playoff run.
The Broncos' last playoff win was a memorable moment not only in the franchise's history but in NFL history. The Sporting News examines Denver's last playoff win.
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When was the Broncos' last playoff win?
The last time the Broncos won a playoff game was also the last time they made the playoffs, as Denver went on a memorable Super Bowl run to win its third NFL championship.
The Broncos played in Super Bowl 50 after going 12-4 in the regular season. Their opponent was a Panthers team that had just one loss all season. Denver was led by its defense, as stars like Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware and Chris Harris Jr. helped form a dominant unit.
This game also happened to be Peyton Manning's last in the NFL, as the Hall-of-Famer got to go out with a win. Manning was noticeably diminished in his final season — he had just nine touchdowns in 10 games during the regular season — but he managed the offense as Denver relied on its running game.
In Super Bowl 50, the Broncos got off to a good start with a field goal on its opening possession. It was followed by a Miller sack of Cam Newton that the Broncos returned for a touchdown. Later in the game, with Denver up 16-10, Miller sealed the deal with another sack and forced fumble of Newton, this time in Carolina's territory.
.@VonMiller in Super Bowl 50: 😤
— NFL (@NFL) November 1, 2021
Forever a legend out in #BroncosCountry pic.twitter.com/ORkr2lvIPL
The Broncos won the game 24-10, and Miller totaled 2.5 sacks on the night which helped him earn Super Bowl MVP. Manning had 141 passing yards and a two-point conversion in the game, but it was good enough for him to get his second Super Bowl title.
Other key performances in that game included running back C.J. Anderson, who rushed for 90 yards and a touchdown, and Ware, who totaled two sacks himself. In fact, the Denver defense had seven sacks and forced four turnovers in the game, producing one of the most dominant defensive performances in Super Bowl history.
In 2025, the Broncos will face off against Miller, who is now a key member of Buffalo's defense.
MORE: Bo Nix challenges Justin Herbert for rookie passing TD record in Week 18 win
Longest active NFL playoff win droughts
Here are the 10 longest NFL playoff win droughts entering this weekend:
| Team | Drought (Seasons) | Last playoff win |
| Miami Dolphins | 24 | Dec. 30, 2000 |
| Las Vegas Raiders | 22 | Jan. 19, 2003 |
| Washington Commanders* | 18 | Jan. 7, 2006 |
| Chicago Bears | 14 | Jan. 16, 2011 |
| New York Jets | 14 | Jan. 16, 2011 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 9 | Jan. 16, 2016 |
| Carolina Panthers | 9 | Jan. 24, 2016 |
| Denver Broncos* | 8 | Feb. 7, 2016 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 8 | Jan. 6, 2018 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers* | 7 | Jan. 15, 2017 |
*If the Commanders, Steelers and Broncos lose this weekend, their droughts increase by one
Among these teams, the Broncos hold an interesting spot on this list, as they are the only team whose last playoff win was a Super Bowl victory.
In the early 2010s, Denver was a powerhouse in the AFC, making the playoffs in five straight seasons and winning six playoff games. However, since the Super Bowl win, it hasn't been able to return to the postseason until this year, ending the second-longest active playoff drought in the league.
Even if the Broncos don't win this week, they are still nowhere near the Dolphins, who haven't won a playoff game since 2000.
MORE 2025 NFL PLAYOFF NEWS:
- Full NFL playoff schedule
- Updated NFL playoff bracket
- Wild-card picks against the spread
- NFL playoff power rankings, 1-14
- SN's expert playoff predictions, Super Bowl 59 picks
