Can be a Dud No. 2 – Demaryius Thomas
Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas put up more than 1,300 yards on 105 catches this season, yet at times Broncos fans and the media were darn near calling for him to be cut. That’ll happen when you only find the end zone six times and have several critical drops after signing a goliath offseason contract. But despite his struggles (yes, they were real, not perceived), Thomas was still the top receiver on the top team in the AFC.
Thomas certainly cost his team at times – his fumble against Oakland being a key example – but his presence on the field, especially late in the game, makes the Broncos one of the most dangerous teams in the hurry-up offense. His ability to catch and run – see San Diego and Cincinnati – force teams to double-cover him during the uptempo offense, freeing guys like Emmanuel Sanders and Owen Daniels to make chain-moving plays.
Kansas City is the only AFC team remaining with at top-10 passing defense. If both Denver and New England can take care of business at home, the stats play out in the Broncos’ favor to make it to the Super Bowl. There they could face any one of three top-10 passing defenses in Seattle, Arizona or Green Bay (with the Panthers lurking at No. 11).
DT might not get such a pass if and when it comes to the biggest game of the year, but he’s certainly not going to be solely to blame if Denver can’t get there. With two soft secondaries potentially on the docket, the Broncos should have plenty of other weapons available if Thomas isn’t at his best. And let’s not forget, a “not at his best” Thomas was yet again the best receiver Denver put on the field.
