ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Week 5 against Eagles. Week 8 against the Cowboys. Week 9 against the Texans.
In the aftermath of each win, Head Coach Sean Payton pointed to the Broncos' advantage at the line of scrimmage as a key to each respective win.
And that edge didn't occur by accident.
Since Payton arrived in 2023, the Broncos have poured resources into both the offensive and defensive line with the intention of securing an advance in the trenches.
In 2023, Payton and General Manager George Paton signed tackle Mike McGlinchey, guard Ben Powers and defensive lineman Zach Allen.
A year later, Denver added defensive tackle Malcolm Roach in free agency, traded for defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers and extended guard Quinn Meinerz, outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper and tackle Garett Bolles.
And before the most recent season, Denver re-signed D.J. Jones and extended Allen and outside linebacker Nik Bonitto.
On Wednesday, the Broncos continued that trend by signing Roach to a three-year extension and center Luke Wattenberg to a four-year extension.
Given the amount of resources devoted to the line of scrimmage, it's no coincidence the Broncos are built to win up front — and it's also a crucial part of their identity as a team.
"I think it's real important," Payton said Wednesday of the investment in that group. "It's not easy sometimes. You're identifying traits. ... I said this internally when I came here, I think really those two key position [groups] are so important. You're building your front on defense and on offense. If you don't pay attention to it, it becomes challenging to do a lot of the other things you want to do."
The continuity — which includes having all five of their 2025 Day 1 starters on the offensive line under contract for next season — has paid dividends. On offense, Denver has allowed the second-fewest sacks in the NFL, as quarterback Bo Nix has been sacked just 12 times this season. The Broncos also feature a top-10 rushing offense through the first 11 weeks of the season.
"It's a huge boost of confidence for us," Wattenberg said of Denver's continuity on the offensive line. "They invest in the trenches, like Sean always says, and I think it pays off for us."
Wattenberg, who has started all 11 games for the Broncos this season and played every offensive snap, has performed a critical role for that group. According to Next Gen Stats, he's allowed the second-lowest quarterback pressure rate of any center with at least 400 pass-blocking snaps this season.
"It's a credit to Luke," Payton said. "We lost a real good center to free agency a couple years ago [in Lloyd Cushenberry III]. Again, there's a vision. [He's a] good, young player, and it's important to keep those guys in your building. I've been in a position where you're trying to draft a center. It's one of those unique positions. If you say in the draft, 'We're going to draft a center that we feel like can start Year 1,' man, that becomes difficult. We're excited for him."
On defense, Denver's sack totals are well noted. The Broncos' 49 sacks are the most through a team's first 11 games since the 1989 Vikings, and Denver also ranks third in run defense.
"I came in here," Roach said Wednesday, "and they told me from the beginning, 'We've got to stop the run better. We've got to do a better job in that.' I said, 'That's something I can do. That's something I know I can bring to the table, but I also know I can bring a great attitude every day.' Just outside of football, I know I could bring a great mentality to this team. … It started coming together slowly last year, but this year I feel like it's really clicking and we're seeing the fruits of the labor."
After ranking 30th in rushing defense in 2023, the Broncos improved to third in 2024 and have remained at that level through Week 12 in 2025. Denver also boasts the best yards per carry average of any defense in the league.
"His versatility," Payton said of what stands out about Roach. "There's a lot of things. His flexibility position-wise and then all the other things that he brings to the team, it was a good fit."
Both Wattenberg and Roach, who wished to remain in Denver and avoid the free-agency process, represent the latest moves in a philosophical commitment to winning up front. And perhaps it is no surprise that the Broncos' edge in the trenches has led to the NFL's best fourth-quarter point differential (+63) and yard differential (+503).
"The offensive line can kind of permeate the building, and then the defensive line, the way they're playing including the outside 'backers [is important]," Payton said. "It's hard to find those type of players in free agency ever year or without paying a hefty fee. Keeping that continuity, I think, is important."
