Denver Broncos knocking at a Members-Only door for the first time in too long

“Members Only… When you put it on, something happens.”
– Members Only original tagline

Something really did happen when you put on a Members Only jacket, especially for the first round of wearers who popularized the brand in the mid-70’s. Any “cool” or cachet one might have associated with the look of the original jacket was already on the downhill side by the time this 1982 gem came out…

Wow. Something happens, alright. Happened? Yeah.

These last few NFL seasons, the Denver Broncos orange and blue has often fit like football’s version of a Members Only jacket, both for fans and players alike. What had long been the proud symbol of names like Elway and Manning was starting to ring more hollowly, and the cachet of those colors and that snorting equine had suddenly gone the way of narrow epaulets and collar snaps.

But just like the original idea behind the brand, today’s Denver Broncos find themselves members of a more elevated and respected club this week amongst both local and national opiners. This shift is not only due to last week’s narrow loss to the still-undefeated champs, but after respectable showings and noticeable growth all season long.

Suddenly, a .500 record after ten games leaves the very real and tantalizing possibility of the teams first winning season since 2016. Four of the remaining seven opponents currently have losing records (Raiders, Browns, Colts, and Bengals), and the remaining three – Falcons, Chargers, and Chiefs – are all not-impossible measuring sticks for a team that is quickly realizing how to put together the pieces to win.

One of the strongest indicators these Broncos are tapping at the door for membership to the next level is their readiness and even excitement to move on from the heartbreaking loss to the Chiefs last weekend. The commitment at every level to recognize all of the great things that came out of the game and not dwell on the remainder shows how close Denver is to being back in the mix for postseason contention.

And that’s the eventual club we’re hoping for, yes? While a winning record is a great (and nearly heroic) next step, a 9-8 record didn’t get anyone into the AFC Playoffs last year. If that math holds in 2024, that means these Broncos would need a 5-2 finish to find their way into the postseason, an accomplishment very few were even considering heading into Bo Nix’s rookie campaign.

Maybe no conversation was more telling of the respect these Broncos are gaining than the quick postgame handshake between Nix and three-time Super Bowl champ and three-time Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes, who was caught on audio telling the rook this looked to be one of many battles he anticipates between the two. Can’t get a much better recommendation for club admission than that in today’s NFL.

Is it too early to call a .500 Broncos club resurrected? Maybe, but no moreso than saying so about a brand that has risen from the ashes to still charge a cool hundred bucks for those sweet skinny epaulets. The fact that this Denver team has folks outside of Colorado having this conversation is at very least an invite to come hang out with the cool kids for a while. How long the Broncos stay at the party and whether they eventually host it is all up to these new hipsters in orange and blue.

If Payton, Nix, and the rest have their way, they’ll be crashing the party with or without an invite. Should they make it that far, it’s then only a couple more very difficult steps until they are calling the shots as to who gets membership and who does not. But that’s a ways away. Baby steps, Broncos Country. For now, let’s just keep enjoying the fact that they could get the invite.