2011 NFL Predictions: AFC West Denver Broncos

Denver Broncos

Last Season: 4 – 12

2011 NFL Draft: LB Von Miller (Texas A&M, Rd. 1/Pick 2), S Rahim Moore (UCLA, Rd. 2/Pick 13), G Orlando Franklin (Miami (FL.), Rd. 2/Pick 14), LB Nate Irving (North Carolina St., Rd. 3/Pick 3), S Quinton Carter (Oklahoma, Rd. 4/Pick 11), TE Julius Thomas (Portland St., Rd. 4/Pick 32), LB Mike Mohamed (California, Rd. 6/Pick 24), TE Virgil Green (Nevada, Rd. 7/Pick 1), DE Jeremy Beal (Oklahoma, Rd. 7/Pick 44)

Key Additions: RB Willis McGahee, DT Ty Warren

Key Losses: WR Jabar Gaffney

2010 Individual Stat Leaders:

• Passing yards — Kyle Orton — 3,653 yards

• Passing touchdowns — Kyle Orton — 20

• Rushing yards — Knowshon Moreno — 779 yards

• Rushing touchdowns ­— Tim Tebow — 6

• Receiving yards — Brandon Lloyd — 1,448 yards

• Receiving touchdowns — Brandon Lloyd — 11

• Tackles — D.J. Williams — 119

• Sacks — D.J. Williams — 6

• Interceptions — Champ Bailey/Renaldo Hill/Syd’Quan Thompson — 2

2011 Regular Season Schedule:

Week 1: Raiders

Week 2: Bengals

Week 3: @ Titans

Week 4: @ Packers

Week 5: Chargers

Week 6: Bye

Week 7: @ Dolphins

Week 8: Lions

Week 9: @ Raiders

Week 10: @ Chiefs

Week 11: NY Jets

Week 12: @ Chargers

Week 13: @ Vikings

Week 14: Bears

Week 15: Patriots

Week 16: @ Bills

Week 17: Chiefs

Analysis: When the biggest discussion of the offseason is if you should start Tim Tebow or Kyle Orton at quarterback, you know you are doomed for an underwhelming season. I appreciate what Tebow did in college, but unlike all the Denver Broncos fans I have met, I do not think he is the savor of the Broncos. Orton may not be QB Peyton Manning or QB Tom Brady, but he can throw. One of the main issues last season is the Broncos line allowed 40 sacks. Rookie draft selection OT Orlando Franklin out of Miami (FL.) should help in his first season, but the Broncos should have made some noise in free agency or trades. WR Brandon Lloyd had a great 2010, but his 2011 season will determine if Lloyd is for real. Fellow WR Eddie Royal is a playmaker and will look to make an impact as the No. 2 receiver. In the backfield, the Broncos return RB Knowshon Moreno and picked up RB Willis McGahee to help carry the load. Defensively, the Broncos improved, quite a bit. No. 2 overall pick LB Von Miller is a force and second round pick S Rahim Moore will contribute to a secondary of S Brian Dawkins and CB Champ Bailey. Free agent acquisition DT Ty Warren should contribute to a solid defensive line. The problem the Broncos will have again in 2011 is a lack of production from the offense. In half of their games in 2010, the Broncos failed to score 20 points. The line is going to have to protect whoever gets the snaps and the running game is going to have to produce for the Broncos to battle for the AFC West crown.

2011 Season Prediction: 5 – 11, Fourth in the AFC West

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