2010 Broncos Prediction

My buddy Stan Ball has been ribbing me about my 2010 Broncos -wanting my take on this season so he can (I presume) rub it in at some date and time later.

My good friend and former cohort in crime David Baumgartner has made his prediction. A very middle of the road 8-8. Mediocrity at its best. (Talking about Denver, not David.) Let me say a couple of general thoughts then I’ll get to the record.

First, if any of the front 7 on defense gets hurt, this defense is going to look like the Saints…..of the 80′s. Majorly thin on the line and linebacker positions. Yes, Denver has great/outstanding DB’s but nobody is going to need to pass when they can rush for 300 yards a game.

Second, (I can’t believe I’m going to write this) if Orton gets hurt, the good news is we will have one of the top 3 picks in the 2011 draft. Of course, we may not have football in 2011 but that is another story all together. Tebow will be the #2 QB. Only way Tebow starts this year is if the bottom falls out of the Broncos OR Orton gets hurt. Neither Tebow or Quinn are ready to run this offense.

Third, Bronco fans can handle another playoff-less season as long as they see some fight and finish to the Broncos. What I don’t what to see is what I saw at the end of last season. A complete meltdown and collapse.

Lastly, this summer has made me very nervous about the leadership of Josh McDaniels. He’s cut 2 of his top 2 draft picks this summer, signed veterans to larger than normal contracts only to cut them before ever playing a game, and then there is the whole Tebow experiment. And yes — if he hits on Tebow — all will be forgiven and forgotten.

On to the year…

@ Jacksonville – W
Why? Why not.

Seattle – W
Wish they were still in the division because they are more jacked up than we are.

Indianapolis – L
Ugly. This one could get ugly.

@ Tennessee – L
See CJ run. See CJ get 20% of his quest for 2,000 in this single game.

@ Baltimore – L
This is really looking like a 1st place schedule, isn’t it?

NY Jets – W
It’s not that I think Denver is that good. I just don’t think the Jets are that good. I’m not buying the kool aid on the Jets. I hate the Jets anyway.

Oakland – W
I hate the Raiders more than the Jets. And I’ll never pick the Raiders over the Broncos but honestly — the Raiders have talent. And this could be a loss.

@ San Francisco – L
I think they’ll win this one and lose the Raider game but I’m not picking the Raiders. Ever.

Kansas City – W
KC is better this year…we think. I think Cassell was/is a huge bust of a risk and until they get a decent QB, they aren’t going anywhere. IF they run the ball — they destroy the Broncos. But it always seems to take them a game to figure that out.

@ San Diego – L
I agree with David — SD isn’t as good as people think but neither are the Broncos.

St. Louis – W
Another team that I’m thankful I’m not a fan of at this point but Bradford looks like the real deal. So did Cutler.

@ Kansas City – L
They figure out Denver doesn’t have a run defense.

@ Arizona – L
I think this is a win but I have to count it as a loss because…

@ Oakland – W
I’m never picking the Raiders. Ever.

Houston – L
It took Kubiak longer than expected and he’s in a ridiculous division (Colts, Titans, Jags) but Texans are good. They’d win the West if they were in it.

San Diego – L
SD plays strong at the end of the season, Denver has yet to finish a season strong since…oh….Plummer era?

7-9
And the off-season will consist of dealing with rumblings of whether or not Josh McDaniels will remain the Bronco’s head coach and when will Tebow start. But that’s why they play the games.