| 2015 Denver Broncos season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | The Pat Bowlen Trust |
| General manager | John Elway |
| Head coach | Gary Kubiak |
| Offensive coordinator | Rick Dennison |
| Defensive coordinator | Wade Phillips |
| Home field | Sports Authority Field at Mile High |
| Results | |
| Record | 12–4 |
| Division place | 1st AFC West |
| Playoff finish | Won Divisional Playoffs (vs. Steelers) 23–16 Won AFC Championship (vs. Patriots) 20–18 Won Super Bowl 50 (vs. Panthers) 24–10 |
| Pro Bowlers | 4
|
| All-Pros | 2 |
| Uniform | |
 | |
The 2015 season was the Denver Broncos' 46th season in the National Football League (NFL) and the 56th overall. It was also the fourth season with Peyton Manning as the team's starting quarterback, as well as the final season of Manning's 18-year NFL career.
After losing in the divisional round of the playoffs during three of the previous four seasons, the Broncos underwent numerous coaching changes, including a mutual parting with head coach John Fox, and the hiring of Gary Kubiak as the new head coach. Under Kubiak and offensive coordinator Rick Dennison, the Broncos planned to install a run-oriented West coast offense with zone blocking to blend in with Manning's shotgun passing style,[1] but struggled with numerous changes and injuries to the offensive line.
Manning missed six games due to a partial tear of the plantar fascia in his left foot and had his worst statistical season since his rookie year with the Indianapolis Colts in 1998.[2] Backup quarterback Brock Osweiler filled in for Manning during the second half of the regular season, before Manning re-claimed the starting quarterback position prior to the team's postseason run. Under defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, the Broncos' defense ranked No. 1 in total yards, passing yards, average yards per rush and sacks, and like the previous three seasons, the team continued to set numerous individual, league and franchise records. The team's defense is widely considered to be among the greatest of all time, particularly due to the fact that it was pressured to aid a lackluster offense for most of the season.[3] The team's defensive backfield, arguably the most dominant part of the defense, gave itself the nickname "No Fly Zone".[4][5][6]
The Broncos clinched their fifth-consecutive AFC West division title, fourth consecutive first-round bye and the AFC's No. 1 playoff seed for the third time in four seasons. As was the case during the regular season, the Broncos' defense dominated their playoff opponents. During the Broncos' three playoff games, they recorded 14 sacks, forced seven turnovers, surrendered only one touchdown pass and gave up just 44 combined points (an average of just 14.7 points a game). The Broncos defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 23–16 in the divisional round and the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots 20–18 in the AFC Championship game. The Broncos then defeated the Carolina Panthers 24–10 in Super Bowl 50 to earn the franchise's third Super Bowl championship, and the first since winning back-to-back Super Bowls in 1997 and 1998.[7]
This was the last season the Broncos made the playoffs until 2025.[8] However, it remains the most recent AFC West title for the Broncos, and the last season a team other than the Kansas City Chiefs won the division.
- ^ Legwold, Jeff (August 5, 2015). "Gary Kubiak: Broncos would be 'stupid' not to build offense to fit Peyton Manning". ESPN. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
- ^ "Peyton Manning Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. January 26, 2016. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
- ^ Brandt, Gil (February 17, 2016). "1985 Bears, 2015 Broncos among five best defenses of all time". NFL.com. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
- ^ Heath, Jon (November 26, 2016). "No Fly Zone: John Elway's secondary is built at for long-term success". Broncos Wire. USA Today. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
- ^ Silver, Michael (February 5, 2016). "Broncos' No Fly Zone on the path to defensive greatness". NFL.com. National Football League. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
- ^ Henken, Sam (September 19, 2017). "Chris Harris Jr., Aqib Talib share video of battle with Dez Bryant in style of Mortal Kombat". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
- ^ Kelley, P. (2016). Denver Broncos. Minneapolis: Abdo. p. 30. ISBN 9781680776263.
- ^ "Nix Leads Broncos Past Chiefs' Reserves 38-0 and Into Playoffs for 1st Time Since 2015 Season". US News & World Report. January 5, 2025. Retrieved January 19, 2025.