The Denver Broncos failed to finish with a perfect 6-0 SU record in AFC West last season. This year, they are boasting of a renewed defense to go along with their vaunted offense for another potential Super Bowl appearance. However, the Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders won’t bow down without a fight.
Read on as we take a look at one of the NFL’s most competitive divisions, and don’t miss our look at the NFC West or NFC East.
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2014 AFC West Preview
How far will improved defense take the Denver Broncos?
Fresh off their 43-8 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, the Denver Broncos decided they needed to bolster their depth in defense.
[sc:NFL240banner ]They did so in free agency signing defensive end DeMarcus Ware, safety T.J. Ward and cornerback Aqib Talib. Of the three, the Broncos will most benefit from Ware’s excellent pass rushing. He puts consistent pressure on quarterbacks, having averaged 64 tackles per season in his 11-year career as well as collecting 117.0 sacks along the way.
Joining Ware as a pass-rusher will be linebacker Von Miller. The linebacker is coming back after suffering a season-ending injury last year. Miller was one of the Broncos’ best defensive players with back-to-back double digit sacks (11.5 and 18.5) from 2011 to 2012. With Ware and Miller actively pursuing opposing quarterbacks, the Broncos will be given a dynamic pass-rushing game entering this season.
While Ware and Miller take care of the Broncos’ pass-rushing, Talib and Ward will be boosting the team’s secondary, which ranked 27th in opponents’ passing yards last season. Talib and Ward combined for 153 total tackles last season.
With all their offseason preparations, the Denver Broncos are -400 favorites to win AFC West. See how the Denver Broncos will fare in the 2014 NFL Season in our complete team preview.
Which AFC West team will challenge the Denver Broncos the most?
AFC West is one of the strongest divisions to be in with the Denver Broncos, San Diego Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs all making the playoffs last season.
However, the Broncos separated themselves from the others with a 5-1 SU division record losing only to the San Diego Chargers in the regular season. Still, the Broncos had the last laugh when they took the divisional playoff game from San Diego.
Nevertheless, the Chargers figure to be a stronger team coming into the 2014 season with the signing of cornerback Brandon Flowers and drafting Jason Verrett. Flowers will fit in nicely with San Diego contributing well from the outside defensive position. On the other hand, Verrett, a first team All-Big 12 selection, will be looking for an explosive start in his NFL career. The two will be welcome additions to San Diego’s secondary, especially going against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos.
Aside from their defense, the Chargers have an excellent quarterback in Philip Rivers (4,478 passing yards with 32 touchdown passes). When San Diego takes to the field, expect them to give the Denver Broncos a run for their money. The San Diego Chargers are +500 to win AFC West.
See the complete San Diego Chargers 2014 season preview here.
Despite losing Super Bowl XLVIII to the Seattle Seahawks, Peyton Manning can rest assured that he is one of, if not the best quarterback in the NFL. Manning set new NFL records for passing yards (5,477) and passing touchdowns (55) en route to his fifth MVP trophy in 2013-2014.
Manning will have a capable cast of receivers to open up his passing game with Demaryius Thomas returning after back-to-back 1,430-yard seasons. Wes Welker and Emmanuel Sanders will also give the quarterback added targets to build an excellent season.
Key Game – December 14 – Denver Broncos @ San Diego Chargers
Last year, the Denver Broncos had their bid to go undefeated spoiled by San Diego at home. This game will also feature a clash between two of the league’s best quarterbacks when San Diego’s Philip Rivers goes head-to-head against Denver’s Manning.
Writer’s Prediction
The Denver Broncos are +600 favorites to win it all and will play their way to a first-round playoff bye after winning the AFC West.
