In the 30 days leading up to the start of Denver Broncos Training Camp 2016, we’re examining 30 big questions for the season. We’ll make a case for each answer; you’ll vote and tell Broncos Country what’s going to happen this year.
When the 2016 season rolls around, the Denver Broncos will attempt to do something they’ve done once before: win back-to-back Super Bowls. While winning back-to-back Super Bowls is no easy task by any stretch of the imagination, the Broncos schedule certainly isn’t doing them any favors.
The Broncos open the season with an incredibly tough three-game stretch that features games against the defending NFC Champion Carolina, the team that knocked them out of the playoffs two years ago, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati, who has made the playoffs five years running and six of the last seven.
With plenty of questions surrounding the Broncos quarterback situation still up in the air, the season could begin any number of ways for the defending Super Bowl champions.
Here’s a few scenarios the Broncos could face in their opening three weeks.
Week 1: Carolina Panthers
The Panthers offense could once again prove that they are no match for the Broncos world championship defense, which remains mostly intact. Despite having an entire offseason to prepare for the dangerous Broncos defense, Cam Newton again can’t handle the Broncos pass rush. The Broncos offense, with steady quarterback play and an improved Demaryius Thomas, have success against the Josh Norman-less Panthers defense. Denver defeats Carolina.
September rolls around and the reigning world champions don’t have the offense to hang around with the Panthers high-powered offense. The defense can’t recreate the magic that helped them through the Super Bowl, and as a result Cam Newton transforms back into Super Cam. An angry Panthers team exacts their Super Bowl revenge and the Broncos begin the season 0-1.
Week 2: Indianapolis Colts
Since Peyton Manning made the decision to join the Broncos, the Colts have been a thorn in Denver’s side. Not in 2016, though. Despite dropping the 2015 meeting between the two teams, the Broncos defense beat up Colts quarterback Andrew Luck bad enough to end his season. This proves to once again be the case in 2016. The Broncos defense will be too much for the Colts to handle and for the second time in the last five meetings the Broncos will come out on top.
The Colts, like in years past, will once again beat the Broncos. Andrew Luck and the Colts’ offense did what only few quarterbacks did in 2015 when he defeated the Broncos and their defense. With key players like Malik Jackson, Danny Trevathan and David Bruton gone, the Colts offense defeats the Denver defense once more. The Broncos offense, still trying to find its rhythm, is unable to provide any support for the defense and the Broncos fall to the Colts.
Week 3: @ Cincinnati Bengals
The Broncos and Bengals have split their last two meetings in 2014 and ‘15, with the Bengals taking the 2014 matchup and the Broncos winning an overtime thriller in ‘15. Just like last year, the Broncos will come out victorious once again. They are able to bottle up Jeremy Hill and Giovanni Bernard, the two players that killed them in 2014, and punish Andy Dalton every time he drops back to pass. The undisciplined Bengals’ defense gets picked apart by the Broncos offense, who has found their rhythm in their third game together. The Broncos defeat the Bengals in back-to-back seasons.
An injured Andy Dalton proved to be the difference after the Broncos defeated the Bengals in 2015, and the Bengals come out victorious in the third game of the 2016 season. Just like two years ago, the Bengals’ running backs run all over the Broncos and A.J. Green takes advantage of a softened up Broncos defense. The Broncos offense still can’t find their stride and can’t put up enough points against Vontaze Burfict and the scary Bengals’ defense. The Broncos drop the third game of the season.
Any one of these games could go either way, so what does Broncos Country think? What will the Broncos record be after the first three games?
30 QUESTIONS: What will the Broncos' record be through three games (Carolina, Indianapolis, and @ Cincinnati)?
— Mile High Sports (@MileHighSports) July 18, 2016
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