The Broncos are 3-0 with an elite defense and an improving offense, but who are we kidding? This team will be defined by how they play in January not September. A 12-4 record won’t mean a thing if the Broncos are on the couch after a first-round exit.
A lot of offseason questions focused on if Denver’s title window had closed. But three weeks through the season, it appears as open as ever.
If the playoffs started today, who would you fear as a Broncos fan coming out of the AFC? Of course, New England. The defending champions look just as good as last year. But beyond the Brady bunch, is there another team that instills fear?
The Indianapolis Colts were a trendy Super Bowl pick. And after last season’s divisional playoff win in Denver, Andrew Luck and company seemed to surpass the Broncos.
But this season they don’t look like the same group. Indy was pummeled by the Bills and Jets, and needed a wild comeback victory to knock off Tennessee and avoid an 0-3 start. Yeah, they could get it together, but that group just doesn’t look like they have enough talent.
Then there’s Baltimore, who should have represented the AFC in the Super Bowl last season, if they didn’t choke in the fourth quarter. But the Ravens are 0-3 and don’t look like they’ll even make the playoffs.
Pittsburgh’s secondary got shredded like swiss cheese by Tom Brady in the opener and now Ben Roethlisberger is likely out until November with a knee sprain.
Outside of the main crew, Cincinnati, Buffalo and the New York Jets all show promise to go along with a dominant defense. But all three seem destined to fail with a lack of an elite quarterback.
Even in the Broncos’ own division, San Diego and Kansas City were finally supposed to have enough to challenge for the AFC West crown, but they both started 1-2.
The Chiefs offense, despite offseason additions, still is dismal at best. And the Chargers just look like a mess on both sides of the trenches. Honestly, the Derek Carr-led Raiders might be the biggest challengers.
Without all of their cylinders rolling, the Broncos still find themselves in the AFC’s top tier.
It’s still early, but the way it’s going they appear on a red-carpet road to the playoffs with New England being the main obstacle in their ultimate goal.
CHEW ON THIS
• Safety and focus on being a consummate pro helped him make the game-changing interception Sunday night.
• What are the Broncos going to do with ?
• Where does Peyton Manning come in on our
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• The Broncos are unveiling a at Sports Authority Field Sunday.
• Carlos Gonzalez blasted his 40th home run of the year in a loss to Arizona Tuesday night. With Nolan Arenado, they in the same season since 1997.
• ? “Golf is a fond memory of mine,” Kim said in an interview the Associated Press.
• .
WATCH THIS
Matt Damon and Jimmy Kimmel .
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Rapper and producer T-Pain turns 30 today. While best known for his use of auto-tune, here . We can only hope he’s .
Cameron Wolfe: 303-954-1891, cwolfe@denverpost.com or @CameronWolfe
Online producer Joe Nguyen contributed to this story.
