The Denver Broncos begin their 2025 season on Sunday afternoon with a home matchup against the Tennessee Titans. The Broncos are entering the year with one of the most highly regarded defenses in football and the optimism of having a second-year quarterback who already looks like a leader. Patrick Surtain is the centerpiece of Denver’s defense. After being named Defensive Player of the Year, he comes into the season as one of the league’s premier shutdown corners. His ability to erase an opponent’s top receiver changes how teams approach every game. Around him is a front that looks built to control the line of scrimmage. DJ Jones anchors the interior with power against the run, while Nick Benito brings speed and disruption off the edge. The arrival of safety Talanoa Hufanga adds another playmaker who can cover ground and bring physicality in the secondary. With those four names leading the way, Denver’s defense looks as complete as any in the league. Head coach Sean Payton has emphasized balance and discipline, knowing the defense is strong enough to give his young quarterback favorable situations. The message is clear: play complementary football, trust the defense to create stops, and let the offense grow into its identity. The quarterback conversation in Denver centers on Bo Nix. After a promising rookie season, Nix enters Year Two with confidence and responsibility. He showed in 2024 that he could handle the speed of the pro game, making quick reads, throwing with accuracy, and keeping composure under pressure. His leadership has already drawn praise inside the locker room, and his offseason work ethic has been noted by teammates. Everything about his approach suggests he is ready to take the next step. The Broncos have also reshaped the offense around him. J.K. Dobbins arrives in Denver after his time in Baltimore, giving the team a versatile running back who can contribute both between the tackles and in the passing game. Rookie RJ Harvey adds fresh legs and potential as a change-of-pace option. At tight end, Evan Engram provides another reliable target with size and speed that can stretch defenses. With Courtland Sutton and Marvin Mims Jr. already in the receiving corps, Denver has surrounded Nix with the tools to distribute the ball exactly as Payton envisions. The Titans will come into Denver with their own determination, but the challenge is clear. They will face a defense capable of forcing them into one-dimensional play and an offense that is quietly improving. Tennessee will need to run the football effectively to limit Denver’s pass rush and control time of possession. That will not be easy against a front that looks set on establishing itself as one of the league’s toughest. For Denver, the formula is straightforward. If the defense holds opponents to an average in the range of 17 to 20 points per game, the Broncos will win plenty. That standard puts the pressure squarely on the offense to execute, but with Nix in his second year and Payton pulling the strings, expectations are high. The blend of defensive dominance and offensive growth could be enough to push Denver into contention not only in the AFC West but also in the broader playoff picture. What stands out most is how much belief has returned to Denver. A defense filled with stars, a quarterback who looks the part of a long-term answer, and a head coach who knows how to build winners. If this opener against Tennessee becomes the springboard, Broncos fans may finally see a season that delivers on both hope and results.