The Denver Broncos are a vibe.
There have already been many wins for the franchise this offseason, and with any hope, they’ll lead to wins on the gridiron during the grueling regular and postseason.
Denver feels like they got their guy at head coach in Nathaniel Hackett. His hugs and happy-go-lucky attitude are a 180 from the previous staff.
Then general manager George Paton made the biggest trade in NFL history, landing superstar quarterback Russell Wilson.
And most recently, the Broncos became the most expensive sports franchise ever sold in the world, with the most-diverse ownership and leadership group ever assembled in the NFL.
But back to Wilson, who’s got Denver and the team’s training camp buzzing like we haven’t seen since Peyton Manning came to town a decade ago.
Wilson is truly the tide that lifts all ships at Broncos camp, as Peter King explained from his visit to Dove Valley last week. Wilson’s positivity and dedication to the game are infectious, and he’s not only rubbing off on teammates in terms of his attitude. As King explained, Wilson’s at the facility at 5:30 a.m. most days, and on the indoor practice field at 7 a.m. with all 17 receivers hoping to make the Broncos roster.
It could be a reason why the team’s depth receivers — Hall of Famer Kendall Hinton, Seth Williams, Brandon Johnson and Jalen Virgil — all had great days in the team’s preseason opener last Saturday.
Looking over to the defensive side of the ball, Justin Simmons has become the face of the group over the course of his six-year career.
He’s enjoyed a ton of success, both individually on the field, as well as in the Colorado community off the field. Simmons has been named a second-team All-Pro two of the last three seasons, and he’s been the best safety in the league at picking off passes with 14 interceptions over the last three years.
But one thing Simmons hasn’t enjoyed is postseason success. In fact, the Broncos haven’t been to the playoffs since the year before he was drafted, when they won Super Bowl 50 and “The Sheriff” Peyton Manning rode off into the sunset.
There’s no doubt Simmons is hungry for a Broncos playoff berth, and he said today, “I like our chances to host playoff games and eventually hoist the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the year.”
The ceiling for this @Broncos team is a mile high. 👀@jsimms1119 | @gmfb pic.twitter.com/goZGSjc2iC
— NFL (@NFL) August 17, 2022
Hosting multiple playoff games would indicate the Broncos not just making the playoffs, but winning the AFC West. Which, in all likelihood, will be the toughest division in all of football.
Simmons has never even beaten the Kansas City Chiefs during his six-year tenure in the Mile High City and the Broncos have lost 13 straight to Patrick Mahomes and Co.
It’s sad, but true.
Before the Broncos can win the AFC West, they have to dethrone the champs. The Chiefs haven’t just dominated the West, they’ve attended four straight AFC Championships, won two of them, and are 1-1 in Super Bowls in recent years, too.
Still, if you’re a Broncos fan, or a teammate of Simmons, you have to love his confidence.
Denver has inarguably improved this season. Most notably with Wilson at QB, where they know they’ll have a chance to win any game thanks to him. But also with Randy Gregory — if he can stay healthy — and DJ Jones on the defensive line. Plus, Billy Turner should be an improvement at right tackle, as well.
The Chiefs may have actually declined for the first time in half a decade, losing world-beater (and woman-beater) Tyreek Hill. K.C. attempted to fill his shoes with multiple mid-tier receivers, but it seems unlikely they’ll be able to replicate the speedster’s success.
Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Raiders improved on defense by signing Chandler Jones to pass rush opposite of Maxx Crosby and traded for Davante Adams to be Derek Carr’s No. 1 receiver. And the Los Angeles Chargers’ pass rush improved when they traded for Khalil Mack, who pairs with the deadly Joey Bosa.
Simply, every team in the West has a chance of winning the division. It’s going to be a slugfest, and the Broncos last eight games are no walk in the park, either.
But for the first time in six years, the Broncos actually have a chance. A chance to win the division, or to even simply make the expanded playoffs (seven teams per conference) as a wild card.
With little less than a month until the regular season kicks off, Broncos Country only wishes it were even sooner to get this ride going. Alas, Denver fans will have to wait through all of NFL Kickoff weekend, too, playing on Monday, Sept. 12 against the Seahawks in Seattle on Monday Night Football.