A week from today we will all be immersed in the first week of the NFL season and the Denver Broncos will kick off the Peyton Manning era versus the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Broncos made the most noise in the off-season with the signing of Manning but games are not won in March and April, just ask the Washington Redskins. The question is, what are realistic expectations for the Broncos.
I won’t keep you in suspense, the Broncos will go 10-6, win the AFC West and win a playoff game. Having said that, the Broncos could be and should be playing their best football when the playoffs begin, and will be a very dangerous team in January. If they get the right match up, even if it is on the road then it is possible that they advance even farther into the playoffs. In terms of winning it all, 2013 is a little more realistic but if things break right in 2012 then you never know!
I believe the Broncos from a talent standpoint are an 11 or 12 win team, but the schedule is so tough that it would be a mistake to discount it totally. Schedules are often difficult to predict just because you never know who is going to surprise and who is going to disappoint, but the Broncos schedule looks difficult. That’s the primary reason for the 10-6 record.
There are some that believe, and I was one of them up until a week ago, that the Broncos and Manning are going to struggle early until they knock off the rust. What everyone has discounted or at least under estimated is Manning’s work ethic, and desire to be the best. Don’t get me wrong, there will be growing pains for the offense but they are still going to average 24-26 points a week. As the season moves along, I do expect the offense to be better but the idea that they are going to struggle to get to 20 points early in the season flawed thinking.
The defense for the Broncos will be better simply because their offense is going to score more points. As we’ve talked about through training camp, the defense is set up to play with a lead. They can rush the quarterback and their secondary in much better than it was in 2012. If Manning is able to get the Broncos an early lead, then the defense has a chance to be very disruptive and cause turnovers. The run defense is a concern but it was better in the preseason game versus the San Francisco 49ers. The Broncos are playing some very good offenses this season and the defense will have to do their part if they are going to get to that 10 win mark.
If you combine the schedule with the fact that there might be some growing pains early, then 10-6 is very realistic. Keep in mind the New York Giants were 9-7 before rolling through the playoffs and winning the Super Bowl last season. The Denver Broncos might be playing their best football at the best possible time if all goes according to plan.
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