Denver Broncos Preview and Prediction

Team Preview

After five straight playoff seasons and AFC West division titles, the Denver Broncos finished 9-7 during the 2016-17 season, missing the playoffs and finishing third in the division. Denver won the first four games of the season but lost three of four games to end the season. The defense allowed the fourth-least amount of points last year but ranked 22nd in offensive points per game. If the defense can put up a similar season, a postseason berth is within reach.

Outside linebacker Von Miller leads the defense after recording 78 total tackles and 13 ½ sacks. The 28-year-old is an elite pass rusher and the Broncos will be leaning on Miller to put up similar numbers again this year; just having Miller on the field would be big, so keeping him fresh will be key. 2017 second round pick DeMarcus Walker gets to learn under Miller and will spell him from time-to-time.

Todd Davis (96 tackles) and Brandon Marshall (52 tackles in 11 games) will hold down the middle linebacker slots. Corey Nelson (68 tackles) and Zaire Anderson will serve as depth while Shane Ray (48 tackles, 8 sacks) and Shaquil Barrett will each see time at the other OLB spot.

The defensive line is made up of Derek Wolfe (51 tackles, 5 ½ sacks), Jared Crick (53 tackles, 3 sacks) and Domata Peko (37 tackles with Cincinnati Bengals last year). 2016 second-rounder Adam Gotsis, Kyle Peko and former Indianapolis Colt Zach Kerr serve as depth. The group lacks any true pass rushers, making the play of the pass-rushing outside linebackers that much more critical.

Cornerbacks Aquib Talib (43 tackles, 3 INT) and Chris Harris Jr. (63 tackles, 2 INT) lead a secondary that Pro Football Focus ranks inside the top-five in the NFL. 2014 first round pick Bradley Roby and 2017 third-rounder Brendan Langley will also see time on the field. T.J. Ward (87 tackles) and Darian Stewart (68 tackles, 3 INT) form one of the league's top safety duos and help make up for a lacking d-line. 2016 third-rounder Justin Simmons and 2016 sixth-rounder William Parks serve as depth.

The offense recently got some clarity after head coach Vance Joseph named Trevor Siemian the starting quarterback. Siemian passed for 3,401 yards and 18 touchdowns while completing 59.5 percent of his passes and being intercepted 10 times. If he struggles at any point of the season, 2016 first round pick Paxton Lynch will get the call. Lynch will first have to get over a shoulder injury.

The Broncos plan to employ a running back committee, using CJ Anderson (437 rush yards, 4 TD), Devontae Booker (612 yards, 4 TD), longtime Kansas City Chief Jamaal Charles and 2017 sixth-rounder De'Angelo Henderson. The committee should allow the group to stay fresh, which should help each of them be successful and potentially making the running game a bigger part of the offense this year.

Demaryius Thomas (90 receptions, 1,083 yards, 5 TD) and Emmanuel Sanders (79 catches, 1,032 yards, 5 TD) combine to lead the wide receiver group. Each should again be in for 1,000-yard seasons as the featured WR's on the team. While Bennie Fowler III and Cody Latimer struggled last year, they still could see some targets this season. 2017 third-rounder Carlos Henderson and 2017 fifth-rounder Isaiah McKenzie are expected to eventual fill in as the third and fourth targets and the Broncos are hoping they can assume those roles as early as possible.

The Broncos have not had an elite tight end threat since Julius Thomas, but will instead turn to the combination of Virgil Green, Jeff Heuerman and A.J. Derby. 2017 fifth-rounder Jake Butt could be the team's answer at the TE position, but he is still recovering from a torn ACL he suffered last December and could start the season on the PUP list.

Garett Bolles, the Broncos 2017 first round pick, looks to sure up the offensive line that PFF ranked as one of the worst in the league. As that article mentions, the play of Bolles could really strengthen the Broncos pass and run games.

2017-18 Schedule/Predictions 1 - vs Los Angeles Chargers (W) 2 - vs Dallas Cowboys (L) 3 - at Buffalo Bills (W) 4 - vs Oakland Raiders (W)

5 - BYE 6 - vs New York Giants (W) 7 - at Los Angeles Chargers (L) 8 - at Kansas City Chiefs (L) 9 - at Philadelphia Eagles (L) 10 - vs New England Patriots (L) 11 - vs Cincinnati Bengals (W) 12 - at Oakland Raiders (L) 13 - at Miami Dolphins (L) 14 - vs New York Jets (W) 15 - at Indianapolis Colts (L) 16 - at Washington Redskins (W) 17 - vs Kansas City Chiefs (W)

Season Record: 8-8, 3-3 AFC West

I think the Broncos are going to open the season strong, as they play four home games in their first five weeks of the season. What will burn Denver is a stretch of three straight away games in weeks 7-9 and then a home matchup against the New England Patriots. Expect a lot of low-scoring games with the offense failing to pull out games on the road. I'd expect Lynch to take over the starting job down the stretch and perform admirably, giving the Broncos their starting quarterback for the future. But this season will see the Denver Broncos fall a couple games short of the playoffs.

Next AFC Team Up - Houston Texans

Sources not listed in article: ESPN - stats; Ourlads - depth chart; Playoff Predictors - schedule/record projections.

#DenverBroncos