Funny what a difference a year can make. To be fair, it's funny what a difference even a few weeks make.

Currently sitting at the #7 seed going into the NFL playoffs, if the season were to end today, the league has taken notice of the Denver Broncos as an up-and-comer amongst teams fighting for a playoff spot.

It used to be as Broncos fans, we were spoiled by at least three to four prime game games each year, but that has changed somewhat in recent years thanks to some pretty mediocre records since Peyton Manning and the Super Bowl 50 championship team has ridden off into the sunset.

Now, however, rookie quarterback Bo Nix, head coach Sean Payton and a young group of guys playing lights out football as the league and the media who covers it taking notice of the Broncos and their rise from the ashes the last several years.

One way to recognize the impact of a team's place in the league is to "flex" them out of a mundane Sunday spot into a prime time position and that's exactly what's happened to the Sunday, December 22 matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers - a game that will likely have playoff implications for both teams down the stretch.

Instead of Sunday afternoon, the Broncos will travel to LA and play the Chargers on Thursday Night Football, December 19 instead, nationally "televised" on Amazon Prime. It's the first time ever the league has flexed a game out of Sunday and to a Thursday slot, replacing what would likely be a bit of a snoozer between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns.

The Broncos play this Sunday in Las Vegas, against the Raiders.

Jersey Numbers the Denver Broncos No Longer Use

These jersey numbers hold special reverence to the team and thus aren't allowed to be worn any longer. When longtime fans see these numbers they say, "He was the best!" "The GOAT!" "They couldn't have done it, without him!"

Gallery Credit: Dave Jensen

See the Denver Broncos Full 2024-25 Season Schedule

The 2024-2025 season is right around the corner, and it just might be the year the Denver Broncos finally rebound to become a competitive team. With a cupcake schedule like the one below, there's no reason the team can't make a run for the playoffs (finally)!

Gallery Credit: Wesley Adams