Can Denver Come Through As The “Super Bowl Favorites” Of The NFL?
As the NFL prepares for Week 12, the playoff picture is becoming more and more clear. The Denver Broncos are in the middle of a rough stretch of games, as they take on the New England Patriots this weekend and then go on the road to take on the Kansas City Chiefs the following week. However, at 9-1, they have been pegged as Super Bowl favorites by a lot of people. After stumbling out of the playoffs despite a great record last season, can they actually win it all this year?
For starters, a lot of the team’s success rides on the shoulders of Peyton Manning. The future Hall of Famer is on his way towards another MVP award, but he has built this reputation of only being a regular season quarterback. With only one Super Bowl title to his name, the criticism is somewhat warranted. He has a robust team surrounding him this season though, so coming up empty in 2013 might not be as excusable as it has been in the past.
The receiving trio of Wes Welker, Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker has put up outstanding numbers so far this season in fantasy football. They all play off each other well, especially since Welker slid right into the starting lineup after being picked up this offseason. A solid running game for the team, headlined by Knowshon Moreno, balances out the offense. No one could have imagined that Moreno would be a top 8 fantasy football running back this season.
Defensively, the team is solid, but not outstanding. Some people wonder if they have what it takes to help the team pull off a Super Bowl victory. The struggles are mostly in the passing game, as teams have lit them up so far this season. They are one of the best against the run, but a good passer could get hot and outscore Manning head-to-head.
Overall, this is the best shot at a Super Bowl Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos have had in a long time. Expect them to make a nice run at the championship, but it won’t come easy.
