Hi Aric, a Dutch Broncos fan here, with the NFL proposing zero preseason games, how much will it affect the Broncos’ playoff chances if this were the case? Beforehand, it was pretty positive (I don’t think both the Raiders and the Chargers as some experts) that the Broncos make the playoffs. But with such a young team and no preseason games, this could be a problem. Best regards! – Jan B.
Jan, thanks for continuing from abroad. I think the Broncos will continue in the playoff conversation for a couple of reasons. First, adding a seventh playoff team to each conference increases each team’s chances. In previous seasons, a 9-7 record would give him an outside opportunity to make the playoffs. This year, I suspect teams will have a greater than 50 percent chance of making the playoffs with a 9-7 record. In each of the past four seasons, at least one nine-win team would have made the playoffs in the seven-team format. I’m also optimistic about the Broncos’ playoff chances because, although Denver has a tough early schedule, the Steelers (returning from injury to Ben Roethlisberger), the Buccaneers (new quarterbacks), and the Patriots are likely. (new quarterback) love having more time to install your systems too. Lack of replays will be a challenge for teams across the league, so I don’t think the Broncos are unfairly affected. If the Broncos can survive the first five games of the season, a week 4 game “Thursday Night Football” against the Jets became easier after they traded Jamal Adams to Seattle, they should be at the heart of the race. playoffs for most of the season. season.
Can the Broncos stop the race? It seems like the 3-4 defense doubles too much. Can you also boost light blue helmets with the same logo? I love the 70’s and 80’s Bronco fans alive and well here on Maui – John B.
John, a change of helmet is above my salary, but I’ll answer your question about career defense. Once Mike Purcell, Alexander Johnson and Kareem Jackson were together on the field in 2019, the Broncos’ career defense improved to seventh in the league during the last 12 weeks of the season. I think most coaches would tell you that the 3-4 vs. 4-3 is probably overkill, as teams spend a lot of time in their subpacks. However, when the Broncos are at their base defense, I think they are more than capable of stopping the race. Von Miller is a strong defender of the run at outside linebacker and Jurrell Casey should also provide a boost on the defensive line. I also believe that Fangio has instilled a toughness and tough attitude that manifests itself in defending the team’s career. After the move to include Purcell and Johnson, and Jackson’s return from injury, the Broncos held the Chargers 35 yards rushing, the Derrick Henry of Tennessee 28 yards rushing and the Vikings 37 yards rushing. Denver may not be the best defense in the league, but I don’t think the Broncos will lose games this season due to their inability to stop the race.
Where is the entire Broncos salary cap spent? There are no big contracts for QBs, WRs, TEs, just Gordon in RB. In defense, outside of Miller, Jackson and Simmons, who has a large number of caps? How come teams like the Chiefs have very well-paid players in almost every position on both sides of the ball, but both teams (Broncos and Chiefs) are in similar salary cap situations? Just trying to figure out where all the money goes and how the Broncos can be competitive with teams that really take care of their players and fairly compensate them. – Thad B.
Thad, it’s nice that the Broncos have so much youthful offense talent that they’re playing on rookie contracts, because it has allowed Denver to invest a little bit in their defense. According to Spotrac, the Broncos currently have 59.3 percent of the salary cap invested in their defense, which ranks first in the NFL. By contrast, Denver ranks 31st for the limit they have committed to their offense, with only 35.2 percent targeting that group. On offense, Ja’Wuan James, Melvin Gordon, Graham Glasgow and Jeff Heuerman are the only players to earn more than two percent of the salary cap. In defense, Miller, Casey, Bradley Chubb, Todd Davis, AJ Bouye, Bryce Callahan, Jackson and Justin Simmons are in that category. In fact, Miller, Casey, Bouye, Jackson, and Simmons are above five percent.
The Chiefs, meanwhile, still rank 12th only in terms of the offense cap percentage and 27th in the quarterback position. Despite his new contract, Patrick Mahomes is still slated to play the next two years under his rookie contract. The Chiefs have the most money in the league devoted to wide receivers and the second most to their line of defense, but while Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins, Eric Fisher and Travis Kelce earn more than five percent of the limit, the Chiefs are confident in many young and recruited players.
In many ways, the Broncos are not far from replicating the same model. If Denver can seize the next few years while Lock, Sutton, Chubb, Noah Fant, Dalton Risner, Jerry Jeudy, and company have rookie contracts, the Broncos will be able to complement that talent with more expensive veteran additions. That’s the key to building the roster in Denver, and the Broncos should soon use that to be a very competitive team.
