The whipping probably will sting for a few more days, if not months.
The Broncos had their seventh Super Bowl appearance in their sights. All they had to do was win one more game at home, where they had not lost in nine previous games this season, and the Super Bowl was theirs.
So how come most of the money was bet on the Pittsburgh Steelers? In the end, the football world outside Denver was right. The Broncos weren’t quite good enough. The Steelers came to Invesco Field at Mile High and despite 5,280 reasons why they weren’t supposed to win here, they walloped the Broncos 34-17 in the AFC championship game Sunday.
Oddly, had the Broncos gone to Indianapolis for their beating, few outside the Dove Valley walls would have been disappointed. The Broncos would have been proclaimed overachievers, a team that went as far as it possibly could go.
But to lose at home, not at Indy, against the No. 6-seeded Steelers, not the No. 1-seeded Colts? Somehow, this created a feeling the Broncos blew a great opportunity. That’s what smarts.
“What hurts is you never know if a chance like this is going to come around again,” Broncos tight end Stephen Alexander said.
This was Alexander’s eighth NFL season and fourth team, but only the second time he has reached the playoffs. He appreciates how difficult it is to earn home-field advantage for a conference championship game.
But what’s done is done, and it’s time to look ahead. The question is: How can the Broncos become one win better next year so they can play in the 2007 Super Bowl in Miami?
The best answer, if hardly the most popular, may be to bring back essentially the same team and try again. Adding youthful depth at the few positions that have age might be the extent of the Broncos’ offseason roster changes.
“What I like about this team is people may think we’re a little old, but we’re not,” Broncos general manager Ted Sundquist said. “The players we’ve added are either young or in the prime of their careers. There will be some natural attrition here and there, but I think we have a good core unit here.”
In the April draft, the Broncos, who have two first-round picks, are likely to place their top priorities at safety, the offensive line, receiver, running back, linebacker and possibly quarterback.
The plan to go one game further begins with analyzing each position.
Offensive line
Coach Mike Shanahan met with free agent Tom Nalen on Monday and told the center he wants him back to anchor the Broncos’ offensive line for a 12th consecutive season.
Salary-cap constraints won’t make it easy, but the most likely scenario is Nalen and left tackle Matt Lepsis, who has the right to become a free agent, will return next season. If they don’t, the Broncos probably would move left guard Ben Hamilton to center and insert Chris Myers, a rookie this season, at left guard. Cornell Green would take over at left tackle, George Foster would remain at right tackle, and the Broncos would hope P.J. Alexander could recover from a season-ending knee injury to compete with versatile veteran Cooper Carlisle at right guard.
Quarterback
In his ninth season, third with the Broncos, Jake Plummer just had his best season. Fans shouldn’t allow the pain from the AFC championship game to cloud their thinking. Plummer will be back for a 10th season, fourth in Denver.
“I’m a history major and revisionist history drives me crazy,” Sundquist said. “I remember when people wanted to run John Elway out of town because he couldn’t win the big one. And now his legend is made. I mean, we’ve won 34 games in the three years since Jake’s been here. Take a peek at the other quarterbacks and see what they’ve done.”
Backup quarterback Bradlee Van Pelt showed during the preseason and brief regular-season appearances he can move a team with his legs, but he must refine his passing skills.
Running back
Mike Anderson beat the odds by making a strong comeback at 32. Will the run-oriented Broncos count on a 33-year-old Anderson to be their lead running back again next season?
If not, Tatum Bell will have to break free from his stereotype as a 10- to 15-carry-a-game back. Ron Dayne is a free agent.
“We’ll always create competition at the running back position,” Sund- quist said. “You start with the incumbent until he’s unseated. It’s always been that way here.”
Wide receiver
At 35, Rod Smith just had another season much like his previous eight, so it appears he isn’t done, yet. After a slow start, Ashley Lelie again placed atop the NFL in yards per catch.
There is some clamoring for the Broncos to sign Terrell Owens or use one of their first-round draft choices on a receiver, but don’t be surprised if Smith and Lelie are lined up at receiver again next season.
Tight end
Look for Wesley Duke to work into the mix with Alexander and Jeb Putzier, the Broncos’ third-leading receiver.
Defensive line
Re-signing tackle Gerard Warren, a free agent, is the team’s top offseason priority. Otherwise, the Broncos have good depth here.
Linebacker
With all-pro Al Wilson in the middle and Ian Gold and D.J. Williams on the outside, the Broncos arguably had the NFL’s best three-man linebacker set. The Broncos likely will use the draft to add some depth.
Cornerback
A team can’t do much better than have Champ Bailey at one corner and two players with a season worth of NFL experience in Darrent Williams and Domonique Foxworth sharing the other.
Safety
John Lynch just completed a Pro Bowl season and Nick Ferguson performed well in his first chance to start. But with Lynch turning 35 next season and Ferguson turning 32, look for the Broncos to add young and veteran depth.
Special teams
Kicker Jason Elam, punter Todd Sauerbrun and free-agent captain Keith Burns are expected back.
Season in review
Staff writer Mike Klis explores some of the good and bad of the Broncos’ 2005 season:
THE GOOD
1. A better Jake – Veteran quarterback Jake Plummer had his most consistent season, playing well in 15 of the 18 games.
2. Invesco Field magic – Until Sunday, the Broncos were 9-0 at home this season, including a playoff win against the defending NFL champion Patriots.
3. In this corner, the Champ – Veteran cornerback Champ Bailey had three sensational interception returns – two for touchdowns, another for 100 yards.
THE BAD
1. Pass defense – Plummer had a tough day Sunday, but the biggest goat was the Broncos’ pass defense.
2. Inability to rally – The Broncos mostly played ahead this season, which was fortunate because their hurry-up offense failed.
3. Slow returns – After kickoffs, Denver’s average starting point of the 25.5-yard line ranked 28th in the 32-team NFL.
Staff writer Mike Klis can be reached at 303-820-5440 or nmklis@denverpost.com.
