The fervor surrounding the Denver Broncos this season can be traced to one man: quarterback Bo Nix.

The big picture: That's what happens when you take a playoff-starved franchise back to the postseason promise land, as Nix did last year during a stellar rookie season.

• Nix led all NFL rookies in passing yards while throwing for 29 touchdowns last year.

Why it matters: Expectations are elevated for Nix's sophomore season. And under head coach Sean Payton's tutelage — combined with a dominant defense — Denver can play deep into the NFL playoffs.

What they're saying: "It's always been win the division first, try to get the best possible seed and then win a Super Bowl," Payton said this week about this season's expectations during an interview on "The Rich Eisen Show."

State of play: Sports outlets and oddsmakers project the Broncos to finish second in the AFC West, a division that includes the Kansas City Chiefs — recent three-time Super Bowl winners, who are favored to win the division.

• Denver will likely battle for second place against the Los Angeles Chargers. And the Las Vegas Raiders … well, they'll be happy to just be on the field.

Yes, but: The team's chances at making back-to-back playoff berths are solid, with ESPN giving Denver a 54% chance of making the postseason.

What to watch: Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II, the league's reigning Defensive Player of the Year, will anchor a star-studded defense along with tackle Zach Allen, linebacker Nik Bonitto and safety Talanoa Hufanga.

The bottom line: The tools are there for a special season in the Mile High City.

• Nix will need to step his game up, Payton will have to improve his playmaking, and the defense will need to prove why it's the best in the league.

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Denverites feel increasingly optimistic about their city but less so about its mayor, a new poll finds.

Why it matters: The findings are notable given the recent turmoil at City Hall, and serve as a public report card for Mayor Mike Johnston at the halfway mark of his first term.

By the numbers: In three key categories, the city's outlook is improving among likely 2026 election voters, according to results from a bipartisan Colorado Polling Institute survey released Thursday.

• A 51% majority says the city is headed in the right direction, compared to 41% who say it's on the wrong track — an improvement from the prior two years.
• Those who say they feel "very safe" in Denver increased to 30%, a significant jump from 18% in 2023.
• 44% now feel optimistic about downtown Denver's recovery, up from 30% two years ago.

Zoom in: Denver voters are evenly split on Johnston's performance in his first two years at 46%.

• Those who view him unfavorably increased by 8 percentage points from 2024.

Go deeper

Colorado U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. got into a yelling match yesterday during a Senate committee hearing over Kennedy's "clean sweep" of his vaccine advisory panel.

"Should parents and schools in Colorado be prepared for more measles outbreaks as a result of that? How about more mumps outbreaks? … This is not a podcast. It is the American people's health that is on the line here."

The big picture: Bennet was one of numerous Senate Democrats who lambasted Kennedy yesterday for repeatedly questioning the safety and effectiveness of vaccinations.

✏️ Denver Public Schools earned a "green," or Accredited, rating from the state's education department for the 2024-25 school year — the first time Colorado's largest school district has met academic performance expectations since 2019. (Chalkbeat)

📈 Gov. Jared Polis yesterday released a report that shows Colorado's tariff rate under the Trump administration has soared from 3% last year to 21% this year — the steepest level in more than a century, Alayna reports.

😷 Denver's air quality yesterday was ranked among the worst in the world thanks mostly to wildfire smoke from the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia. Unhealthy air conditions could persist through tomorrow. (9News)

🏥 A sales tax city voters approved last year has generated $65 million for Denver Health, but the safety net hospital is likely to stay in the red amid changes to federal Medicaid funding. (DBJ 🔑)

🦫 The town of Palmer Lake's planning commission has recommended against a plan to annex land for Colorado's second Buc-ee's travel center largely due to concerns over water access. (CPR)

🗓️ Mark your calendar with our Event Board.

Daybreaker Denver Coffee Club at Dairy Block on Sept 20: Start your day dancing with DAYBREAKER—yoga or breathwork, live DJs, free coffee & matcha. No booze or VIP. Just movement, music, and a real dance floor. $29-$34.

Hosting an event? Email [email protected].

Steve Atwater made a name for himself for how he hit people. Now, he's trying to build a brand for the way he feeds them.

The latest: The former defensive end for the Denver Broncos introduced his namesake grill this week at Empower Field at Mile High, one of six restaurants debuting this season.

Dig in: The Assassin Burger — a play on Atwater's nickname, the Smiling Assassin — is among more than 50 new dishes spread across the stadium this season.

Best bites: We taste-tested three new plates we think would pair well with a Broncos win.

• The Breakfast of Champions Burger: A classic cheeseburger with a fried egg and hash brown smothered in apple maple bacon jam. Available at Atwater Grill in Section 100.
• House-smoked pulled pork mac and cheese: An elevated take on a classic, the pork is smoky and savory, topped with citrus barbecue sauce. Available in Sections 319 and 517.
• Nashville Hot Sandwich: This crispy chicken sandwich is a simple dish, packing minimal spice but maximum flavor. Available at Birdcall in Section 110.

One more sweet treat