Since Peyton Manning retired at the end of the 2015 season, the Denver Broncos have been trying to find a quarterback. Paxton Lynch, Trevor Siemian, and Case Keenum were all brought in to be the guy, but none of the three players worked out. John Elway went back to the drawing board this offseason, acquiring Joe Flacco from Baltimore and selecting Drew Lock in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Elway is hoping that one of those two can become the quarterback Denver needs to break a three-year postseason drought.
Will the Denver Broncos Make the Playoffs in 2019?
Yes +340
No -481
Odds Analysis
It’s going to be tough sledding for Denver to make the postseason in the AFC West. The Broncos are in the same division as two teams that went 12-4 last season (Kansas City and the LA Chargers), so they are prohibitive underdogs to win the division or make the playoffs per the NFL betting odds.
Breaking Down Denver’s Offense
Joe Flacco will be the starting quarterback for the Broncos at the start of the season, and the plan is for Drew Lock to wait in the wings. Those plans never seem to work out though as either the rookie quarterback usurps the veteran by showing his skill or fails to develop into the player the team had hoped.
Indications are that Flacco will be the starter for at least the first part of the season though. Everyone knows what you’re getting with Flacco. He is a decent quarterback that can make your offense respectable, but he is never going to win you games by himself. He has never thrown for more than 27 touchdowns in a season, and he checks down often too. Flacco averaged 6.8 yards per attempt or less in each of his last four years with Baltimore before departing this offseason.
The Broncos have some weapons for Flacco to use in the passing game to ease his transition into the offense. Emmanuel Sanders remains a great underneath receiver that can consistently get open, and Courtland Sutton gives Flacco options if he decides to look further downfield. Denver used its first-round pick on tight end Noah Fan too, making things as smooth as possible.
Undrafted rookie running back Phillip Lindsay was a revelation for the Broncos last season. Lindsay ran for 5.4 yards per carry and became a solid receiving option out of the backfield too. He will look to build on a Pro Bowl season.
Breaking Down Denver’s Defense
You have to feel at least somewhat bad for Von Miller. Denver has wasted some of its’ star linebacker’s prime seasons, as he has toiled away in relative obscurity while the offense has sputtered. Miller has led the team in Approximate Value for four straight seasons, and it was his performance that carried the Broncos to winning Super Bowl 50 over Carolina. He has made seven Pro Bowls and is the unquestioned leader of this team.
This defense was ranked in the top three in total defense four times from 2013 to 2017, but the Broncos were rated in the bottom half of the league in this category last season. However, much of that had to do with Denver playing two games against the Chiefs and Chargers, as the defense was ranked fifth when using DVOA ratings.
Bradley Chubb had an excellent rookie season, and he could make this defense terrifying in 2019. Chubb racked up 12 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, and 21 quarterback hits while exploiting the side opposite Miller last year.
The Broncos’ two starting cornerbacks make one of the best tandems in the league. Chris Harris has been regarded as one of the NFL’s top cover men for the last five years, and Kareem Jackson is a solid corner. However, the secondary is a concern as the safeties are inexperienced and there is little depth.
Prediction
Denver’s defense will be one of the league’s best units once again in 2019, and Miller and Chubb will have stellar seasons terrorizing offensive lines. Flacco can at least be decent, and I think Denver has put him in the best position possible. Don’t be surprised if the Broncos sneak into the playoffs in the weak AFC.
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