2014 Denver Broncos

[74_75_78_79_]

What are your takes on this particular squad, 7Dn, and others?

I look at them and at their SB-participant version of the year before. Yes, 2013's Classic #1 offense was quite more potent at 6.3 per play. But their #3 offense in 2014 not much less at 6.0 per! And 2014's defense was #4 (4.7) as opposed to '13 finishing on that side of the ball at #19 (5.3). I'd like to think 2014, balance-wise, was stronger overall. But whereas 2013 finished 13-3 top-seed and at least made it all the way to the Super Bowl - though, yes, getting bludgeoned - the 12-4, 2nd-seed version did go one-and-done at Mile High to a "good" Andrew Luck Colts team who'd get slaughtered in NE the following week.

FWIW, Denver brought Seattle into OT Week#3 which would be their only defeat their first seven games. Yes, the defending-Champ, 'Hawks, started 3-3 before getting it back together, but still. A simple return to the AFCCG and at least giving the Pats a good game may have allowed for Fox to stay on as HC for 2015. And that, sadly, may have meant no Super Bowl that year yet alone winning it. Despite John likely being the better HC, Kubiak along with Wade Phillips as DC instead of Del Rio (and a little luck, Steelers not being full-strength in the divisional round) would be the adjustment needed to win that very Lombardi.

If judging strictly by their regular seasons, could '14 actually be better than '15? Could that Denver one-and-done to Indy, and the weeks leading up, be seen as the running out of gas for Peyton, thus forecasting his so-called Dilfer-like 2015 campaign?

[Brian wolf]

At the time, I felt John Fox got a raw deal but Kubiak did a great job with the team in 2015. Wade Phillips did a great job, similar to Fangio last year for Philly, unleashing a better pass rush than 2014. Who would have thought the Broncos would win with Osweiler? I am still convinced the Panthers could have won the SB but their QB had other plans ...

[7DnBrnc53]

I wonder what would have happened if Manning fell off earlier that year.

Also, I think that Bowlen should have let Elway go at the end of that season, and made Adam Peters the GM.