The Denver Broncos are one of the NFL’s most proud and storied franchises. As a member of the AFC West since 1960, dating all the way back to the AFL.
In that time, they have crossed paths many times with the Oakland Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers. Fans of the team have become conditioned to strongly dislike each of those opponents and for many years, the Seattle Seahawks were part of that group before they moved to the NFC in 2002.
But which team outside the division is the biggest rival of the Broncos? Let’s take a look at the contenders:
New England Patriots
All-time series record: Broncos lead 26-22
Aside from the teams mentioned above, the Broncos have played the Patriots more than any other team in the league. Those games have had major circumstances more often than not as well.
Many years ago Shannon Sharpe got on the phone on the sidelines and exclaimed “President, we need the National Guard, we need as many men as you can spare because we are killing the Patriots”.
There was also the time that the Broncos knocked the Patriots out in the divisional round in 2006. That was the first postseason loss that Tom Brady and Bill Belichick suffered together.
The two teams have also played in the AFC Championship Game twice and the rivalry between Brady and Peyton Manning, arguably the greatest one-on-one rivalry in NFL history, spilled over into the series.
Indianapolis Colts
All-time series record: Broncos lead 14-10
The Broncos lead the all-time series between these teams, but the Colts have won each of the three meetings that have taken place in the postseason.
But what makes this rivalry interesting is the fact that the two best quarterbacks in Broncos history started with the Colts. Manning was obviously there and put together a Hall of Fame career before coming to Denver and John Elway was originally drafted by the Colts when the franchise was still in Baltimore but refused to play for the team, forcing a trade on draft day.
Seattle Seahawks
All-time series record: Broncos lead 35-19
This team used to be in the division, but the Seahawks have to be on the list.
The Broncos have pretty much dominated the all-time series but the Seahawks trounced Denver in Super Bowl XLVIII to get the biggest win of all between the two teams.
Though the Broncos and Seahawks now only see each other once every four seasons, the 54 games played between the two teams across history paint a picture of a long-standing rivalry.
Still, the biggest rivalry outside of the division has to be the Patriots, right? Brady, Belichick and company draw as much ire out of Broncos fans as the Raiders, Chiefs and Chargers do.
As long as those guys are in place, it’s not likely that will change either.
