A win on Sunday against Cleveland will put the Broncos at 6-0, the exact same place they were six games in to the 2009 season in which they finished 8-8 and failed to make the playoffs.
This year, Denver has played a fortunate schedule that includes five teams who are below .500 (including one winless team) – a trend that continues when they face the 2-3 Browns with a chance to go 6-0. Denver got off to a hot start in 2009, surprising quite a few teams (as the defense has done so far in 2015), but came crashing down to earth with four consecutive losses and another four to close out the season.
Joe Rico of The Final Word sees more than a few similarities between the 2009 team and this year’s team.
“It all starts with the quarterback,” he notes. “Who did they have in ’09? Kyle Orton. Maybe we’re seeing the Kyle Orton version of Peyton Manning in 2015.
“It’s apparent that Manning isn’t capable of lifting his play any more. His arm is shot – it was never great to begin with – and he’s either taking self sacks or making bad decisions because he’s afraid of playing behind this offensive line.”
It’s the line that Rico thinks will be the team’s ultimate undoing.
“With the status of this o-line, it’s a wild card if Manning is even going to be able to finish the season. He’s on pace to be sacked more than 40 times this year. His career high is 29 and his average is 16. Can he withstand that kind of punishment?”
Unfortunately for Broncos fans, Rico says Denver’s worst games are ahead of them.
“Manning couldn’t score a touchdown on one of the worst secondaries in the league. They might not crash as hard as the ’09 Broncos (losers of four straight after starting 6-0), but I can foresee three games in the month of November in which the offense doesn’t score a touchdown.
“Will they be 8-8? Probably not. But they’re a lot closer to being 8-8 than 13-3. This defense can’t stay this miraculous forever.”
Rico also reminds us that the 2006 Broncos allowed just 44 points en route to a 5-1 record to start the season, but failed to make the playoffs after finishing 9-7.
“9-7 could win the division this year if things continue to play out the way they have been in San Diego and Oakland so far, but the Broncos won’t just run away with the West like everyone is thinking they will.”
Where do you weigh in? Are the Broncos more likely to turn this undefeated start into a 13-3 season or an 8-8 season? Give us your thoughts in the comments section below.
