Editing Denver Broncos (section)

===Divisional===
{{see also|American Football League}}

The Denver Broncos have three [[AFC West]] rivals-the [[Kansas City Chiefs]], [[Las Vegas Raiders]], and [[Los Angeles Chargers]]. All teams, along with the Broncos, were charter members of the [[American Football League]] (AFL), with each team placed in the AFL Western Division, forerunner of today's AFC West. The four teams have played each other twice a year for over 60 years, making the entire division one huge rivalry. The Broncos were barely competitive during the AFL years (1960–69), going a combined 10–49–1 against the Chiefs, Raiders, and Chargers.

====Kansas City Chiefs====
{{Further|Broncos–Chiefs rivalry}}
The Broncos have had several memorable matchups with the Chiefs, particularly during the years in which [[John Elway]] was the Broncos' starting [[List of Denver Broncos starting quarterbacks|quarterback]] (1983–98). The Broncos defeated the Chiefs at [[Arrowhead Stadium]] in the divisional round of the [[1997–98 NFL playoffs|1997 NFL playoffs]], en route to their first [[Super Bowl XXXII|Super Bowl]] victory. As of the {{nfly|2024}} season, the Chiefs hold a 73–57 series lead over the Broncos, including the aforementioned 1997 divisional playoff game.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Matchups, Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi?tm1=den&tm2=kan&yr=all |access-date=February 24, 2025 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

====Las Vegas Raiders====
{{Further|Broncos–Raiders rivalry}}
Historically, the most heated divisional matchup for Denver is with the Raiders. The rivalry was ignited in its present form in {{nfly|1977}}, when the Broncos advanced to their first [[Super Bowl XII|Super Bowl]] by defeating the defending champion Raiders in the [[1977–78 NFL playoffs|1977 AFC Championship]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Moss |first=Irv |title=1977 Broncos gave Denver first AFC title, paved road to Super Bowl XII |website=The Denver Post |date=January 23, 2016 |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2016/01/23/1977-broncos-gave-denver-first-afc-title-paved-road-to-super-bowl-xii/ |access-date=August 4, 2024}}</ref> The rivalry intensified in the mid-1990s, when [[Mike Shanahan]] was hired as the Broncos' [[List of Denver Broncos head coaches|head coach]] in [[1995 Denver Broncos season|1995]]. Shanahan coached the Raiders in {{nfly|1988}} before being fired four games into the {{nfly|1989}} season. As of the {{nfly|2024}} season, the Raiders hold a 73–56–2 series lead over the Broncos, including 1–1 in the playoffs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Matchups, Denver Broncos vs. Las Vegas/LA/Oakland Raiders |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi?tm1=den&tm2=rai&yr=all |access-date=February 24, 2025 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

====Los Angeles Chargers====
{{Further|Broncos–Chargers rivalry}}
Unlike their record against the Chiefs and Raiders, as of the 2024 season, the Broncos have a winning record against the Chargers, with a 73–57–1 series lead, including 1–0 in the playoffs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Matchups, Denver Broncos vs. Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi?tm1=den&tm2=sdg&yr=all |access-date=August 4, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> The Broncos pulled off one of the largest comebacks in ''[[Monday Night Football]]'' history, when [[Peyton Manning]] led the Broncos from a 24–0 halftime deficit to a 35–24 win at [[San Diego]]'s [[Qualcomm Stadium]] during the {{nfly|2012}} season. The two teams met in the playoffs for the first time on January 12, 2014, at [[Denver]]'s [[Empower Field at Mile High|Sports Authority Field at Mile High]], with the Broncos winning 24–17.<ref name="c686">{{Cite web |title=All Matchups, Denver Broncos vs. Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi?tm1=den&tm2=sdg&yr=all |access-date=February 24, 2025 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>