2014 Denver Predictions
The defending AFC Champion Denver Broncos return to the field this upcoming season as an overwhelming favorite to win the Conference again and to make a serious run at another Super Bowl Championship. And why not?
2013 Record Straight Up: 13-3-0
2013 ATS Record: 10-6-0
Broncos Odds to win the 2015 Super Bowl XLIX: 13/2
Broncos Odds to win the 2015 AFC Conference: 9/4
Broncos Odds to Win the 2014 AFC West: -275
Broncos Futures from Bovada
The team will field largely the same offense that set records last season and they have bolstered the perceived weakness of their team – the defense with two Pro-Bowlers. The Broncos will be tough to beat this year – it appears that the injury bug is the only thing that will keep them from a second straight Super Bowl appearance. Let’s break it down.
The Denver Broncos will have a scary offense again this upcoming season – guaranteed. Sure they lost Erik Decker and Knowshon Moreno to free agency but the team will go with highly regarded Montee Ball in Moreno’s place and Emmanuel Sanders from Pittsburgh looks like a more-than-adequate replacement for Decker.
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As long as Peyton Manning is running the team the Broncos are serious contenders to win it all. In his first year back from what was thought to be career-ending neck issues all Peyton did was set the single-season record for touchdown passes with 55 with just 10 interceptions while amassing an incredible 5,477 yards through the air – amazing! Wes Welker, Demaryius Thomas, Julius Thomas and Sanders exist as one of the more dangerous pas catching units in the NFL and Peyton’s O-line is still top notch ready to allow their QB to do what he pleases on the field.
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There are some question marks for the Broncos on offense however – Montee Ball’s fumbling issues are well documented, his pass protecting is a step down from that of Moreno’s and the trust factor just isn’t there quite yet. There is also the question of age – Peyton is no spring chicken – age is going to catch up with him some time, along with Welker who has taken a ton of punishment in his career.
And then there is the schedule! Manning and company had the honor of playing the NFC East last year and the average defenses that came along with that. In 2014-2015 – the AFC West will be matched up with the NFC West which means the Seahawks, the 49ers, the Cardinals and the Rams defenses await. We all saw what the Seahawks defense did to Peyton Manning in the Super Bowl!
Perhaps the biggest and most critical change on the Broncos was on defense. The Broncos added DeMarcus Ware to play on the other side of Vonn Miller – scary indeed! Safety TJ Ward was signed away from Cleveland and Aqib Talib was brought in to secure a cornerback position that hadn’t been the same with the rapid decline of Champ Bailey.
Danny Trevathan took a step forward last year, Rahim Moore returns from injury and Shawn Philips, off a 10 sack season now provides a ton of depth for the Broncos suddenly formidable D-line.
Broncos 2014 Betting Prediction:
There is no reason the Broncos shouldn’t be as good as or better than they were last year – the brutal schedule is all that will stand in their way. But the regular season will simply be a tune up for the post season – getting Peyton his second ring will be the focus this group. At the end of the day Denver still looks like the class of a seemingly weak AFC.
They should go at least 12-4 this year and emerge out of the AFC again! Denver is all in – I like the gamble to pay off!
