The Denver Broncos made one of the most landscape-changing decisions in the NFL last year when they decided to get rid of Tim Tebow and sign quarterback Peyton Manning as a free agent after he was released by the Indianapolis Colts, as they went from a middle of the pack playoff team to a bona fide Super Bowl contender with the move.
Some fans were worried that Manning wouldn't be his Hall of Fame self for the Broncos after going through four neck surgeries while missing the previous season and he came through in a big way for the team, giving them the number one seed in the AFC after going 13-3, finishing the year with an 11 game winning streak, ending the regular season with a 38-3 victory. During that stretch there was no better team in the league and Manning was exactly what the Broncos expected him to be throwing for nearly 5,000 yards on the season.
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Last season the team finished fifth in the league in passing yards per game with nearly 300 yards behind Manning while ranking 16th in rushing with 114 yards per game. The running attack was the team's most inconsistent part of the offense and that is one reason why the regime decided to select record setting running back Montee Ball out of Wisconsin. The team's defense was one of its biggest strengths after ranking third in both passing and rushing yards allowed per game and Von Miller will only get better at linebacker with another year under his belt and is going to be one of the favorites for the Defensive Player of the Year award.
The team had an amazing stretch last season and has a tough schedule this year, but they are expected to compete as one of the best teams in the AFC after signing Wes Welker to a contract when the Patriots let him go. The offense is expected to be even better than it was last year with the addition of Welker, as both Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker has breakout seasons with Manning in the fold. Both players had 10-plus touchdowns and over 1,000-yards receiving, while Decker led the team with 13 catches for touchdowns. Thomas has proven to be one of the most explosive players in the league after going for 94 catches and 1,434 yards and 10 scores and he should be even better with Welker in the fold, even if his numbers take a slight hit. The team added seven rookies, including Ball and Tavares King at wide receiver.
The schedule starts off with the world champion Ravens at home after the Baltimore teams couldn't figure out how to fix things after a game for the Orioles couldn't be changed and in Week 2 Peyton will go up against brother Eli in New York at MetLife Stadium. The team will then play the Raiders and Eagles at home before playing Dallas on the road and Jacksonville at home before one of the biggest games of the season.
The team will travel to Indianapolis to play the Colts in Manning's return to his old team before they will go up against RGIII and the Redskins before the bye week. Some of the toughest games of the second half include a number of tough divisional games against the Chargers and Chiefs as well as games against the New England Patriots and the Houston Texans.
