First Round Bye:

[EmpireOrange]

As training camp get in to full swing, there are only two things for certain: 1) THE Broncos win the West by 2 or more game, & 2) THE Broncos will get a home playoff game.

With the AFC-West laid down at the feet of THE Broncos, let us see how they get to a first round bye:

Week 1:
Sep 11 Broncos at Dolphins.
Now this one is the deceptive game for the delusional doubters. I actually see THE Broncos loosing this game in week 1 @ Miami. I know, it is the effing Dolphins; however Denver is one of the worst teams when visiting Florida, and even worst when playing an early game on the East coast. However, Shanahan is the best opening day coach in the NFL, so Denver very well could win. Nonetheless, if they win its gravy.

Record: 0-1.

Week 2:
Sep 18 Chargers at Broncos.
No brainer, here. Denver trounces this lil team that could. First off, Denver is not going to lose a home opener—it has never been done under Shanny; and secondly it was a fluke that the Sparkerlers wasn’t swept last year.

Record: 1-1.

Week 3:
Sep 26 Chiefs at Broncos.
Man, another no brainer here too. Chiefs @ Denver on MNF… same ole same ole Monday/Sunday night embarrassment.

Record: 2-1.

Week 4:
Oct 2 Broncos at Jaguars.
Can you say PAAAAYYYYYYBAAAACCCCK? “Q” is not toting the rock in the last 30 seconds this time. I predict a tough defensive battle w/ Denver winning decisively in the 4th Qtr with its depth on defense, and running game.

Record: 3-1.

Week 5:
Oct 9 Redskins at Broncos.
Portis returns to his glory. Who cares? This team suks, Portis in NOT a bronco; thus he suks, & a rookie QB will start—hopefully if is still standing by then. Denver trounces this team @ home. No brainier…

Record: 4-1.

Week 6:
Oct 16 Patriots at Broncos.
Good game. However I see Denver winning @ Denver. NE is not going to be the same squad; things are starting to unravel there. Two years ago, thanks to Delta Bungle O’Neil, Pasties stole a game from Denver @ Denver on MNF. Of course Denver was starting its 3rd string QB then; but I see a little azz whomping coming to f@gboy Brady and Co. in this game on the national stage. This is the week that Denver starts becoming the media darlings…

Record: 5-1.

Week 7:
Oct 23 Broncos at Giants.
No brainer-Azz whomping…it just keeps on rolling…

Record: 6-1.

Week 8:
Oct 30 Eagles at Broncos.
Good game. Might be the Super Bowl preview. Eagle could very well come in to Denver and win; however I will give it to THE Broncos simple due to home field advantage. By this time, Mile High should be a rock’n.

Record: 7-1.

Week 9:
Nov 13 Broncos at Raiders .
No brainier here. Azz-Whomping is a coming. Walls will open some eyes in this game.
Record: 8-1.

Week 10:
Nov 20 Jets at Broncos.
Broncos win. Jets will be leading the AFC-East Division here too. Will be a good game, but I will give home field advantage to Denver. Not a no brainer, but Denver wins nonetheless

Record: 9-1.

Week 11:
Nov 24 Broncos at Cowboys.
1977 Super Bowl revisited here. Broncos loose and embarrassing road game in Dallas on Thanksgiving. Dallas has a great record on Thanksgiving; and I see a little bump in the road here for Denver.

Record: 9-2

Week 12:
Dec 4 Broncos at Chiefs.
Broncos finally hit the skids (momentarily) at this point. The will drops this game to a last place KC team, once again playing for nothing at this point. The only AFC-W game that Denver loses this season will be @ KC. After this game, Denver media will be in a tizzy, doubters will come out of the sewer again.

Record: 9-3.

Week 13:
Dec 11 Ravens at Broncos.
A lot of bad Bronco history with this piece of poop. I see a wounded Bronco team rebound right in the middle of Lewis’ face this week. And it is back on the tracks and a rolling again!

Record: 10-3.

Week 14:
Dec 17 Broncos at Bills.
Good game, here. Tough to call, not sure where Buffalo will be at this point and it will be cold; However at this point Denver already has its eye on the prize.

Record: 11-3.

Week 15:
Dec 24 Raiders at Broncos.
No brainer here. Denver is running away with the division, and possibly the AFC at this time. Shanny stops in to put one more foot in Al’s azz just before he dies!

Record: 12-3.

Week 16:
Dec 31 Broncos at Chargers.
This is a tough game to call. Once again, New Years night, and at this point Denver has first round bye probably locked up. Starters will probably sit for this one too. However @ this point the S-a-n—D-ieeee-A-GO SUPER CHARGERS have fallen back down to the pits of the NFL where they belong. Cinderella crap is over, and Rivers will be the starter.

Record: 13-3.

On to the playoffs…

Talk amongst yourselves.

[Crushaholic]

I think we CAN beat Miami in Week 1. Ronnie Brown is behind the curve because of his holdout and Shanahan has a fantastic record winning the first game of the season. I agree that we usually have trouble in Florida, but I'm still looking at this game as a win. We'll probably lose a game we weren't supposed to lose, like usual. That would still make our record 13-3.

[NFLBRONCO]

Miami game is a lock we win.

[ScottXray]

As training camp get in to full swing, there are only two things for certain: 1) THE Broncos win the West by 2 or more game, & 2) THE Broncos will get a home playoff game.

With the AFC-West laid down at the feet of THE Broncos, let us see how they get to a first round bye:

Week 1:
Sep 11 Broncos at Dolphins.
Now this one is the deceptive game for the delusional doubters. I actually see THE Broncos loosing this game in week 1 @ Miami. I know, it is the effing Dolphins; however Denver is one of the worst teams when visiting Florida, and even worst when playing an early game on the East coast. However, Shanahan is the best opening day coach in the NFL, so Denver very well could win. Nonetheless, if they win its gravy.

Record: 0-1.

Week 2:
Sep 18 Chargers at Broncos.
No brainer, here. Denver trounces this lil team that could. First off, Denver is not going to lose a home opener—it has never been done under Shanny; and secondly it was a fluke that the Sparkerlers wasn’t swept last year.

Record: 1-1.

Week 3:
Sep 26 Chiefs at Broncos.
Man, another no brainer here too. Chiefs @ Denver on MNF… same ole same ole Monday/Sunday night embarrassment.

Record: 2-1.

Week 4:
Oct 2 Broncos at Jaguars.
Can you say PAAAAYYYYYYBAAAACCCCK? “Q” is not toting the rock in the last 30 seconds this time. I predict a tough defensive battle w/ Denver winning decisively in the 4th Qtr with its depth on defense, and running game.

Record: 3-1.

Week 5:
Oct 9 Redskins at Broncos.
Portis returns to his glory. Who cares? This team suks, Portis in NOT a bronco; thus he suks, & a rookie QB will start—hopefully if is still standing by then. Denver trounces this team @ home. No brainier…

Record: 4-1.

Week 6:
Oct 16 Patriots at Broncos.
Good game. However I see Denver winning @ Denver. NE is not going to be the same squad; things are starting to unravel there. Two years ago, thanks to Delta Bungle O’Neil, Pasties stole a game from Denver @ Denver on MNF. Of course Denver was starting its 3rd string QB then; but I see a little azz whomping coming to f@gboy Brady and Co. in this game on the national stage. This is the week that Denver starts becoming the media darlings…

Record: 5-1.

Week 7:
Oct 23 Broncos at Giants.
No brainer-Azz whomping…it just keeps on rolling…

Record: 6-1.

Week 8:
Oct 30 Eagles at Broncos.
Good game. Might be the Super Bowl preview. Eagle could very well come in to Denver and win; however I will give it to THE Broncos simple due to home field advantage. By this time, Mile High should be a rock’n.

Record: 7-1.

Week 9:
Nov 13 Broncos at Raiders .
No brainier here. Azz-Whomping is a coming. Walls will open some eyes in this game.
Record: 8-1.

Week 10:
Nov 20 Jets at Broncos.
Broncos win. Jets will be leading the AFC-East Division here too. Will be a good game, but I will give home field advantage to Denver. Not a no brainer, but Denver wins nonetheless

Record: 9-1.

Week 11:
Nov 24 Broncos at Cowboys.
1977 Super Bowl revisited here. Broncos loose and embarrassing road game in Dallas on Thanksgiving. Dallas has a great record on Thanksgiving; and I see a little bump in the road here for Denver.

Record: 9-2

Week 12:
Dec 4 Broncos at Chiefs.
Broncos finally hit the skids (momentarily) at this point. The will drops this game to a last place KC team, once again playing for nothing at this point. The only AFC-W game that Denver loses this season will be @ KC. After this game, Denver media will be in a tizzy, doubters will come out of the sewer again.

Record: 9-3.

Week 13:
Dec 11 Ravens at Broncos.
A lot of bad Bronco history with this piece of poop. I see a wounded Bronco team rebound right in the middle of Lewis’ face this week. And it is back on the tracks and a rolling again!

Record: 10-3.

Week 14:
Dec 17 Broncos at Bills.
Good game, here. Tough to call, not sure where Buffalo will be at this point and it will be cold; However at this point Denver already has its eye on the prize.

Record: 11-3.

Week 15:
Dec 24 Raiders at Broncos.
No brainer here. Denver is running away with the division, and possibly the AFC at this time. Shanny stops in to put one more foot in Al’s azz just before he dies!

Record: 12-3.

Week 16:
Dec 31 Broncos at Chargers.
This is a tough game to call. Once again, New Years night, and at this point Denver has first round bye probably locked up. Starters will probably sit for this one too. However @ this point the S-a-n—D-ieeee-A-GO SUPER CHARGERS have fallen back down to the pits of the NFL where they belong. Cinderella crap is over, and Rivers will be the starter.

Record: 13-3.

On to the playoffs…

Talk amongst yourselves.

It would be great if we did go 13-3....and right now it's still possible!

We'll see how it goes. The key to the season is to get started off right (1st 4 games). Lose two or more and the wheels might never get rolling.

Hope your'e right.
:Broncos:

[Old Dude]

I was worried that I'd jinx us, but now no one can blame it on me.

[Crushaholic]

I was worried that I'd jinx us, but now no one can blame it on me.

As long as we can keep TJ from starting a prediction thread, we'll be OK... ;)

[orinjkrush]

whew. full blown homer mode. while i would love to see it, methinks tis a tad rosey. gotta be at least a coupla surprises in there.

[EmpireOrange]

whew. full blown homer mode. while i would love to see it, methinks tis a tad rosey. gotta be at least a coupla surprises in there.

Those are not predictions, pal, it’s a road map. A logical, feasible road map!

[EmpireOrange]

I think we CAN beat Miami in Week 1. Ronnie Brown is behind the curve because of his holdout and Shanahan has a fantastic record winning the first game of the season. I agree that we usually have trouble in Florida, but I'm still looking at this game as a win. We'll probably lose a game we weren't supposed to lose, like usual. That would still make our record 13-3.

I just see them losing in Miami. With the excitement of opening day, playing for a new coach, topped with Denver playing in FL in an early game on the East coast wreaks of a loss to me.

[ludo21]

Great now i dont have to watch the season with predictions like this.

[EmpireOrange]

Great now i dont have to watch the season with predictions like this.

I'm glad I freed up your Sundays. Maybe you can get a flock of sheep and tend to them.

[Hogan11]

I've already had enough of this bullshat about the f'n Cowboys on T-Day.

I'm on record right now for Denver winning in Dallas on T-Day.

Mark it down and remember it. I don't care what the Cowboys record on T-Day is...that means nothing and I'm sick of hearing about it....Denver will be the better team at that point and they will win by 10.

I don't even have to bring out Criswell to make such a prediction, I believe in it that much.

[Rohirrim]

Well, at least we're getting the first of blush of rampant homerism out in the open. ;D

Seriously though, I'm not real confident in the O yet, but if the D turns out to be as good as my initial gut reactions tell me it's going to be, there may be some very nice surprises in our future. Not to mention STs.

[Arkie]

The Miami game will be one of the toughest on the schedule.

[Dr. Broncenstein]

Miami will suck nuts and fold....

I think we will split the divisional games and road games if we are lucky....

9 wins minimum... 12 wins if everyone is healthy and we get some special teams....

[watermock]

Denver will do no better than 11-5, and that will be good enough to win the division. And THAT'S full blown homer mode. It's all going to boil down to 4 crucial home games. Philly, New England, Baltimore and SD.

[Hogan11]

Denver will do no better than 11-5, and that will be good enough to win the division. And THAT'S full blown homer mode. It's all going to boil down to 4 crucial home games. Philly, New England, Baltimore and SD.

Sub the Jets for SD and I'll agree with you 100%.

I still think SD was a total fluke last year and at this point, I've seen nothing to change that perception yet.

[Rohirrim]

Sub the Jets for SD and I'll agree with you 100%.

I still think SD was a total fluke last year and at this point, I've seen nothing to change that perception yet.

Add to that, they're currently jerking around their number one offensive weapon. ???

[Hogan11]

Speaking about the Jets....I have them against Mock's Hornheads on TV tonight!

Finally, I get something other than a CFL game at work!

[Crushaholic]

Speaking about the Jets....I have them against Mock's Hornheads on TV tonight!

Finally, I get something other than a CFL game at work!

I'm also watching Minny and the Jets. It's 21-7 Jets, currently. I don't care if it's preseason. It's football on a Friday night. :~ohyah!:

[watermock]

I missed the first half. I'm still seething about passing on Mike Williams.

[Ballhawk]

As long as we do not get another first round "Bye Bye"

[Hogan11]

Is it me or does Phil Simms seem to be in a bad mood tonight or something?

Bonnie Bernstein said he looked femine tonight because he was wearing a pink shirt and tie, maybe that ticked him off some Ha!

[orange 4 life]

Well, at least we're getting the first of blush of rampant homerism out in the open. ;D

Seriously though, I'm not real confident in the O yet, but if the D turns out to be as good as my initial gut reactions tell me it's going to be, there may be some very nice surprises in our future. Not to mention STs.

ro,

why exactly WOULDNT you have confidence in the offense?

just look at what we have.
we were a top five offense last year.

coming into this year, we have the EXACT same line except carlisle replaces
dan neil. no difference to me. neil was a walking holding call and overrated in my book.

we have the same qb who threw for over 4k yards and 27 td's. difference this year is that its his third year in the system (even elway said it took him going into his third season to feel 100% confident in shanny's offense), and its HIGHLY unlikely that he'll have ELEVEN tipped ball int's again.

we have tatum bell returning, and we have mike anderson back from injury.
quentin and reuben or bell and anderson? i agree, bell and anderson is a better pair :)
also, kyle johnson goes into his second year in the offense.

at receiver, we have rod. okay, enough said there. we have lelie, who was very good last year in the deep routes, but didnt do as much in the short game. we've heard him, shanny, and jake all talk about it this offseason. ash will be more involved, and thus we will be improved. watts is in his second year and if he can get some confidence back he DEFINATELY has the ability to get open. in the redzone, we have rice, who has lost ALOT of steps, but will still almost always catch the ball when its thrown to him.

at tight end, we have putz returning, but we also have alexander who should make an impact.

bottom line is that the offense is better than it was a year ago, and a year ago it finished fifth in total yards.

jake

[SoCalBronco]

13-3? Every ball would have to bounce our way.

I think 10-6/9-7 is a better guess.

[watermock]

Whoo hoo...there's my boy williamson...bomb, and then a slant for the TD. What a great pick!

[Ballhawk]

13-3? Every ball would have to bounce our way.

I think 10-6/9-7 is a better guess.

It is possible, I think we are a Dominant LT and Guard away from true greatness...man I wish we had two first round picks next year :~ohyah!:

[Cito Pelon]

13-3 is a possibility. Have to see some more mental toughness when the chips are down. Have to see more TO's from the D. Have to see less talk and more action. Have to see a LOT better 2-minute O.

It's not so easy to win a title of any kind. It looked to me like last year the team and the D in particular believed all their own hype, and when other teams took it to them hard, they didn't have enough mental toughness to meet that level of competition.

I bet teams look at Denver the same way they did last year - stop the run early, don't let them get an early lead, and there's a chance Den will collapse.

Not to say that's gonna necessarily happen this year, but there were so many breakdowns here, there, and everywhere last year by both players and coaches. Everybody noticed how inconsistent the team was from play-to-play, series-to-series, game-to-game. Everybody knows you're not gonna win a title of any kind with that type of operation on gameday.

This weeks story was how Shanny was a little ticked how 8-9 guys were doing everything right on ST's at HOU, but if 2 guys break down, the play's gonna look ugly. The same goes for O, D, and the coaching staff also. If it's the same two guys over and over, you can address that. The Bronco's trouble is it's two different players or coaches that screw up from play-to-play, series-to-series, game-to-game. They get that ironed out, and the sky's the limit. So we'll see how the team looks tomorrow, and see if they get overly-impressed with themselves and think it's ok if they make a mistake here and there, somebody else can pick up the slack.

[Breck Bronc]

Week 2:
Sep 18 Chargers at Broncos.
No brainer, here. Denver trounces this lil team that could. First off, Denver is not going to lose a home opener—it has never been done under Shanny; and secondly it was a fluke that the Sparkerlers wasn’t swept last year.

Record: 1-1.We did lose to the Dolphins on opening night in 1999 at Mile High. That game was on Monday Night Football, Brian Griese made his first start, and John Elway was inducted into the Ring of Fame at halftime. I remember being encouraged with Griese after that game, but we went on to lose the first 4 games of that injury plauged season.

Otherwise you're right, Denver beat the Bills in their home opener in '95, killed the Jets in '96, the Chiefs in '97, Patroits in '98, Falcons in '00, the New York Giants the night before 9/11 in 2001, Rams in '02, Raiders in '03, and the Chiefs last year.

Since 2000 we've been much better early in the season than down the stretch. Hopefully we can keep early season momentum and win the division for the first time since 1998.

[dbroncos31]

i think that our defense will be average, turnover wise, which will make us a top D. we are already great at holding the other team to less yards thatn average, but this year we won't give up the points either. a big reason for that: todd sauerbrun and our punt coverage will make sure that other teams won't always start at our 40. and our offense will be slightly better, thanks in part to better field position b/c of our return game and TOs. i see us at 11-5/12-4 this year, winning the west and being the #3 seed, behind NE and Ind. i hope

[Kaylore]

I say 10-6.

[tk13]

If you can beat the Pats, Eagles, Ravens, Jets, and Chargers twice, you should win the Super Bowl....

[OrangeShadow]

much as i like the optimism they're arent many solid facts to back up each win or loss.

[Dartgod]

As training camp get in to full swing, there are only two things for certain: 1) THE Broncos win the West by 2 or more game, & 2) THE Broncos will get a home playoff game.

With the AFC-West laid down at the feet of THE Broncos, let us see how they get to a first round bye:

Record: 13-3.

On to the playoffs…

Talk amongst yourselves.
Dude, pass that joint over here...

[jspchief]

much as i like the optimism they're arent many solid facts to back up each win or loss.That's kind of what I thought. A team that's capable of a 9 game winning streak and a 4 game winning streak in the same season is going to lose to Miami, Dallas, and "last place" KC?

Now that we have the opinion of the stupid homers....Are there any smart homers here?

[OrangeShadow]

I honestly see us going 10-6 or 11-5 unless we start getting turnovers. If we start forcing turnover and jake plays like he has looked in camp(well and with poise) then and only then do i see us going 12-4 or 13-3

[BroncoBuff]

Yo dbroncos31 - Thought your avatar was Peter Forsberg for a second there . . . these tears kinda cloud the vision, you know?

F * * * (Avs GM) P I E R R E L A C R O I X !!

Wouldn't it be wild if Peter - one of the boatload of guys traded for Lindros - came back to Philly, won the Hart, and took the Flyers to the finals?
Guess they kept the wrong guy back in 94, eh? EH?


Oh!! My dear, sweet Foppa! Where have you gone?! I'm getting ve-klempt! But I'm forgetting myself . . . this is a BRONCOS board! sniff! sniff! Okay ...

Discuss among yourselves . . .

I'll give you a topic . . .

Monsanto Pope, Mario Fatafehi and Anton Palepoi will be the brutal victims of the Brown-co influx and Trevor Pryce salary accord . . .

DISCUSS!

[BroncoBuff]

Hey, orinjkrush - is that avatar JOHN ELWAY or CRAIG MORTON? I'm serious, I can't tell!

I'll say 11-5 - here's why:

Last year's 10-6 was decievingly low because the team won ZERO close games. ALL 10 WINS were either clear-cut (KC, @Oak, Titans, @NO), or at the very least workmanlike: (@TB, Carolina, SD, Mia).

HOWEVER, only half of their 6 losses qualified as "clear cut": (Atl, Cincy, @KC) The OTHER 3 losses were crazy-ass last-second jaw-dropping heartbreakers! Jacksonville fumble, 4 lucky INT's tipped right into Chargers' hands @ SD, and of course: the Sun nite Oakland game - which was a hair away from a Bronco 'W' THREE TIMES in the last 90 SECONDS!: 1) Raiders 4th and goal w/ 1:30 to go - Collins gets happy feet, but finds a WR with his heels on the end-line - 2) 50 secs later Darius Watts drops a tough, but catchable touchdown, and - 3) 14 secs after that, some Raider gets a paw on Elam's FG - which looked good from the end zone.

So, had the breaks simply EVENED OUT, it wouldda been 11-5 in 2004, maybe even 12-4 (and I think this is why Shanahan was correct when he said we're "on the verge" of being an elite team). NOW - the basic question: Have they improved or regressed since last year??

EASY! With the exception of Nick Ferguson for Kenoy Kennedy, EVERY SINGLE LINEUP CHANGE IS A PLUS!!! (And even Ferguson was probably the best backup on the team!)

Let's re-cap:

OUT - - - - - - IN - - - - - - - DIFFERENCE
Carswell/Jeb - - S. Alexander - - - If you believe the coaches, Alexander is NAILS!
Droughns - - - - Anderson/Bell - - Remember - Droughns was just an injury fill-in for Mike, and he lost the job to Tatum anyway
Dan Neil - - - - - C. Carlisle - - - - This change was made in '04 anyway
J. Baker - - - - - Todd Sauerbrun - Hmmmmmm... gosh, I wonder?
K. Herndon - - - -L. Walls - - - - - Walls was the starter anyway, just hurt
R. Hayward - - - Courtney Brown - If he's healthy... there is NO comparison
Palepoi/Coleman - T. Pryce - - - - Duhhhhh....
Mario Fatafehi - - G.Warren - - - - (see Hayward vs. Brown, above)
Monsanto Pope - - M.Myers - - - - They're both in camp now - take one look at today's depth chart
Kenoy - - - - - - - Hit-Man - - - - - maybe a little drop-off, Kenoy was supposedly borderline Pro-Bowl

AND: do NOT underestimate Keith Burns, Ian Gold and the "Kiddie Corners", all of whom are making the overall texture of the roster feel more substantial.
Of course, there's no predicting chemistry, injuries, etc... but based upon all this, I'm predicting a conservative 11-5, (probably better!) I just see that Miami opener as a "trap game" - new coach, etc... It scares me a little.

[-Slap-]

We did lose to the Dolphins on opening night in 1999 at Mile High. That game was on Monday Night Football, Brian Griese made his first start, and John Elway was inducted into the Ring of Fame at halftime. I remember being encouraged with Griese after that game, but we went on to lose the first 4 games of that injury plauged season.
I was encouraged that Griese took a beating that night and kept his head up. Zach Thomas was finding chunks of Griese in his stool the next day.

[NFLBRONCO]

13-3? Every ball would have to bounce our way.

I think 10-6/9-7 is a better guess.

I agree IMO 13 wins is tough when your D never gets turnovers. 8-10 wins is my guess.

[Atlas]

If you can beat the Pats, Eagles, Ravens, Jets, and Chargers twice, you should win the Super Bowl....

Chef fan said it first!!!!!!