When did the Broncos last make the playoffs? 6 crazy sports events that have happened since

It's been a long time since the Denver Broncos were this good.

I don't necessarily mean that Sean Payton's bunch is a bona fide Super Bowl contender or anything. It's just that it's been a very long time since we saw a likely playoff NFL team in the Mile High City. Over eight years, in fact. But with just one win in their last three regular-season games this year, the Broncos can officially clinch their first postseason berth since ... 2016, when they won Super Bowl 50. That means it can even happen on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Chargers.

With Broncos' history potentially on the line over the next few weeks, I thought it'd be fun to look at what crazy things have happened in the sports world since the last time Denver pro football was this relevant. Suffice it to say, dearest readers, there's a LOT of ground to cover.

Let's dive in.

1. Chicago Cubs win 2016 World Series

On November 2, 2016, roughly 10 months after the Broncos' win in Super Bowl 50, baseball's "lovable losers" finally did it. After a 107-year drought, the Cubs finally won the World Series in seven games over the Cleveland Guardians.

A once unfathomable reality for generations of Chicagoans came to fruition.

In terms of "when pigs fly" or "when hell freezes over," the Cubs finally reaching baseball's highest summit takes the cake in terms of team sports events. There isn't anything else even close.

2. Simone Biles becomes decorated American Olympian gymnast of all time

When the Broncos last made the playoffs in the winter of 2016, Simone Biles was not yet a household name. In fact, that summer's Olympics in Rio de Janeiro was the first for the legendary gymnast. Over the next eight years, Biles would take home seven Olympic gold medals (11 total medals), in turn becoming the most decorated American gymnast of all time on the Olympic stage.

There has never been a greater American gymnast. Someone who inspired as much confidence and calm as Biles the moment she stepped onto a mat. In all likelihood, there may never be someone like her again.

3. Golden State Warriors go on NBA dynasty run

By the time the Broncos won Super Bowl 50 in February 2016, the Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson Warriors already had an NBA championship to their name. The success didn't stop then. They would win an NBA record 73 games during that regular season, sign Kevin Durant in the offseason, and win two more championships with him (2017-2018). Then, without Durant, they capped this golden era (no pun intended) with a fourth title in 2022.

This iteration of the Warriors has a firm place as one of the greatest NBA teams of all time.

4. Lionel Messi cements soccer GOAT status in epic 2022 World Cup Final

Before the 2022 men's World Cup, Messi was already arguably the greatest soccer player in history. He was so productive at the club level and so decorated individually (he won seven of his eight Ballon d'Or trophies from 2009 to 2021) that saying anyone else deserved the "GOAT" title felt pretty foolish. Unfortunately, critics could point to Messi's lack of success at the international level. Namely, his lack of a World Cup victory with Argentina.

That all changed during his ironic 2022 tournament performance, where Messi (two goals) led Argentina to a riveting win in an epic World Cup Final against France. It might be the greatest soccer game ever played. Not only did Messi take home his second Golden Ball in the process (he's the only player ever to do so), but he also set men's World Cup records for appearances (26) and direct goal contributions (13 goals, eight assists).

In other words, the soccer GOAT finally cemented this title for himself.

5. Patrick Mahomes was still over a year away from his first NFL start

Contrary to recent events, the Kansas City Chiefs did not always own the Broncos. In fact, for most of the early 2010s, the Broncos mostly had their way with the Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes would obviously change all that, as, at the time of this writing, Kansas City has now won 17 of its last 18 games with its AFC West division rival.

But when the Broncos won their last Super Bowl, Mahomes wasn't even on anyone's radar.

As a pending junior at Texas Tech at the time, Mahomes was still over a year away from making his first NFL start. Ironically, that happened against the Broncos on New Year's Eve 2017. Somewhere, a monkey's paw had to have curled for Denver (and the rest of the league).

6. Alexander Ovechkin was miles away from Wayne Gretzky's goals record

Alexander Ovechkin is keeping hockey fans waiting everywhere with bated breath. The all-time great is currently working his way back from a broken fibula suffered early in the 2024-2025 season. When he returns, the prolific Washington Capitals winger will resume his chase of Wayne Gretzky's once-insurmountable goals record of 894. At 868 career tallies, Gretzky is just 27 away and could feasibly reach the mark by the end of the season.

But over eight years ago, when the Broncos hoisted their last Lombardi Trophy, Ovechkin wasn't even within striking distance. In fact, at "just" 510 goals on February 7, 2016, he was nearly 400 away from "The Great One." Mind you, Ovechkin was 30 at the time. Crazier things have happened, but Ovechkin adding over 300 goals to his resume to get within earshot of Gretzky over the last near-decade, while he was well into his 30s and past his physical prime, is bonkers.

It's a testament to the legend's consistency and excellence.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: When did the Broncos last make the playoffs? 6 crazy sports events that have happened since