Broncos Lineman Only Has ‘Eyes on Prize’ and Not on Meaningless Rankings

Rankings mean nothing until players prove themselves on game day, yet championship foundations are built on elite protection. Right now, the Denver Broncos find themselves basking in unprecedented offensive line praise.

Veteran right tackle Mike McGlinchey is dismissing external validation because he is laser-focused on championship aspirations, and these feel increasingly attainable.

Pro Football Focus ranked the Broncos as the second-best offensive line unit entering 2025, trailing only the Philadelphia Eagles in comprehensive evaluation. This recognition stems from an exceptional 2024 performance, where Denver’s protection unit anchored an unlikely playoff run that ended nearly a decade of postseason drought. The unit allowed minimal pressure while creating running lanes that transformed an anemic ground game into respectable production.

However, McGlinchey remains grounded in championship reality rather than media hype. “I really don’t care where we’re ranked, I care about how we play,” McGlinchey said. “I think we played well, but at the same time, there’s a ton of room to grow, and we all know that.”

“I think it’s the first time in my career and I am sure a lot of the other offensive linemen can speak to the same that we really didn’t touch anything. I think we have a long way to go in terms of improving that area of our offense and we’re excited for that opportunity because we know if we can accomplish that, we’re going to have a lot of success this year.”

The offensive line’s remarkable stability provides a crucial foundation for quarterback Bo Nix’s critical second-season development. Nix threw for 3,775 yards with 29 passing touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 2024, leading Denver to its first playoff appearance since 2015 while displaying poise beyond his years. His touchdown total ranks among the highest for rookie quarterbacks in NFL history.

His impressive rookie campaign earned teammates’ respect through a relentless competitive drive and a mature professional approach that belied his inexperience. “The way he came back, the energy, the focus, you can tell how confident he is. And that confidence is going to radiate through the whole team,” McGlinchey observed about Nix’s transformative offseason development and leadership emergence.

With remarkable continuity across all five starting positions after each logged significant snaps throughout 2024’s grueling campaign, Denver possesses both the proven foundation and ascending talent necessary to support Nix’s evolution into a franchise cornerstone while pursuing legitimate championship goals.