10 days to go until the 2014 NFL season kicks off and Running the Spread Blog has five more divisions to preview. We've covered the AFC East, NFC North, NFC East and today we'll be breaking down the AFC West, where the 2013 AFC Champion Denver Broncos reside.
2013: 13-3, won AFC West. Lost to Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl.
Key Losses: RB Knowshon Moreno, CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, WR Eric Decker
Key Additions: DE DeMarcus Ware, CD Aqib Talib, WR Emmanuel Sanders, rookie WR Cody Latimer
Toughest Match-ups in 2014: Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots
2014 Outcome:
This is a pretty easy choice I think. The high octane offense that we saw in 2013 with Peyton Manning at the reigns, has a new look with Sanders filling the place of Decker who left town for the New York Jets, and Monte Ball now taking over as the true number one at running back. It's going to be tough to repeat what the 2013 Broncos did, and for that reason I don't see them being quite as explosive this season. Still their offense will be dominant again, and they greatly improved themselves defensively with additions like Talib and Ware. The biggest problem for the Broncos last year was that they couldn't stop anyone, but their offense made up for it by showing no mercy. In the Super Bowl we finally saw them come down to earth and they were blown out. With more defensive pressure and an improved secondary the Broncos will be able to both score and prevent scoring. The biggest questions will be if Manning, at 38, doesn't hit that wall where age starts to break him down, and ifBall is ready to carry the bulk of the load in the running game with Moreno now in Miami. Otherwise Denver should have no problem winning the AFC West again and clinching a top seed in the playoffs with an 11-5 record.
2013: 9-7, third in the AFC West. Lost in the AFC Divisional Round.
Key Losses: CB Derek Cox, QB Charlie Whitehurst, FB Le'Ron McClain
Key Additions: RB Donald Brown, CB Brandon Flowers, QB Kellen Clemens
Toughest Match-ups in 2014: Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers.
2014 Outcome:
1. Denver Broncos
2013: 13-3, won AFC West. Lost to Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl.
Key Losses: RB Knowshon Moreno, CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, WR Eric Decker
Toughest Match-ups in 2014: Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots
2014 Outcome:
This is a pretty easy choice I think. The high octane offense that we saw in 2013 with Peyton Manning at the reigns, has a new look with Sanders filling the place of Decker who left town for the New York Jets, and Monte Ball now taking over as the true number one at running back. It's going to be tough to repeat what the 2013 Broncos did, and for that reason I don't see them being quite as explosive this season. Still their offense will be dominant again, and they greatly improved themselves defensively with additions like Talib and Ware. The biggest problem for the Broncos last year was that they couldn't stop anyone, but their offense made up for it by showing no mercy. In the Super Bowl we finally saw them come down to earth and they were blown out. With more defensive pressure and an improved secondary the Broncos will be able to both score and prevent scoring. The biggest questions will be if Manning, at 38, doesn't hit that wall where age starts to break him down, and ifBall is ready to carry the bulk of the load in the running game with Moreno now in Miami. Otherwise Denver should have no problem winning the AFC West again and clinching a top seed in the playoffs with an 11-5 record.
2. San Diego Chargers
2013: 9-7, third in the AFC West. Lost in the AFC Divisional Round.
Key Losses: CB Derek Cox, QB Charlie Whitehurst, FB Le'Ron McClain
Key Additions: RB Donald Brown, CB Brandon Flowers, QB Kellen Clemens
Toughest Match-ups in 2014: Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers.
2014 Outcome:
