Gil Brandt Predicts Chiefs to Win AFCWest

[Mingo]

Gil Brandt can go pound sand.

 

[Draft Crazy]

That's what she said.

 

[RP-29]

If I was a Broncos fan, I'd be concerned about Manning's late-season slides. As the season wears on Peyton has been getting slower, weaker and more inaccurate - and his decline has been triggered earlier and earlier each season. I think the Broncos will need a hot start to make it five straight and the first half of their schedule includes some very tough games.

 

[WalkerBoh]

If I was a Broncos fan, I'd be concerned about Manning's late-season slides. As the season wears on Peyton has been getting slower, weaker and more inaccurate - and his decline has been triggered earlier and earlier each season. I think the Broncos will need a hot start to make it five straight and the first half of their schedule includes some very tough games.

That's what Osweiler is for ;-)

 

[Mingo]

If I was a Broncos fan, I'd be concerned about Manning's late-season slides. As the season wears on Peyton has been getting slower, weaker and more inaccurate - and his decline has been triggered earlier and earlier each season. I think the Broncos will need a hot start to make it five straight and the first half of their schedule includes some very tough games.

This is what John Elway has moved to address - your perceptions are accurate. Peyton Manning has faded in the last couple of seasons - I don't think it was a conditioning problem - even though - based on news reports Manning has addressed that - it has been injury problems and his inability to take himself out of a game that I attribute to this phenomena. This is the reason for bringing in Kubes and the Kubes offense - to take the pressure off Peyton Manning to win every game - by giving him a running game and a diversified offense and a defense that will concentrate on giving the offense more opportunities to get the ball in good position on the field.

 

[Broncosr0k]

If I was a Broncos fan, I'd be concerned about Manning's late-season slides. As the season wears on Peyton has been getting slower, weaker and more inaccurate - and his decline has been triggered earlier and earlier each season. I think the Broncos will need a hot start to make it five straight and the first half of their schedule includes some very tough games.

When was his slide in 2013?
How much was the quad tear?
How will the new coach/system address this?

I think the "Manning gets tired" argument is overplayed. The broncos have already started adjusting by letting vets take some practices off. They will also run more which will help Manning. It sounds like the same stupid argument that Manning is only one good shot away from IR that broncos fans have been hearing for years.

Plain and simple, Manning should not have to work as hard this year as in the past. Better defense and run games means Manning does not have to sling it 50 times to win a shootout.

And I disagree with the 5-0 hot start, all we need is to win the division and tha does not require the 5-0 hot start. Chiefs and chargers have not improved that much.

 

[RP-29]

When was his slide in 2013?
How much was the quad tear?
How will the new coach/system address this?

I think the "Manning gets tired" argument is overplayed. The broncos have already started adjusting by letting vets take some practices off. They will also run more which will help Manning. It sounds like the same stupid argument that Manning is only one good shot away from IR that broncos fans have been hearing for years.

Plain and simple, Manning should not have to work as hard this year as in the past. Better defense and run games means Manning does not have to sling it 50 times to win a shootout.

And I disagree with the 5-0 hot start, all we need is to win the division and tha does not require the 5-0 hot start. Chiefs and chargers have not improved that much.

To be clear, I said "hot start to make it five straight" - as in division titles.

As a third party observer of the AFCW with absolutely no bias towards or against any team in the division, I've got the Broncos, Chiefs and Chargers all penciled in at 8-8 ±2 wins. Denver does have the benefit of playing 3 of 4 at home to finish the season, but that could also be somewhat of a detriment if those December games are < 40°F.

 

[WalkerBoh]

To be clear, I said "hot start to make it five straight" - as in division titles.

As a third party observer of the AFCW with absolutely no bias towards or against any team in the division, I've got the Broncos, Chiefs and Chargers all penciled in at 8-8 ±2 wins. Denver does have the benefit of playing 3 of 4 at home to finish the season, but that could also be somewhat of a detriment if those December games are < 40°F.

You're buying into the myths again. And don't be surprised if Denver finishes at 12-4 or so. Your 10-6 ceiling is set too low.

 

[RP-29]

You're buying into the myths again. And don't be surprised if Denver finishes at 12-4 or so. Your 10-6 ceiling is set too low.

Denver has a pretty tough schedule, their leader's body is breaking down and the talent gap in the division is narrowing. That all leads to a pretty even division from this unbiased set of eyes.

Those are my own observations, my friend.

If Denver finishes 12-4, it will be on the strength of a top-10 defense and some good fortune.

 

[SpringStein]

14-2 - twice
13-3 - four times
12-4 - four times
10-6 - three times
6-10 - once
3-13 once

I certainly wouldn't bet on less than 10-6.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Kansas City Chiefs set to dethrone Denver Broncos in AFC West - NFL.com

I do think KC will be an improved team. But I don't see them overtaking the Broncos. They still have a game manager at QB and a non-game manager at head coach. Week 2 will be a good test for sure. If the Chiefs dominate Denver that game, I'll get worried.

Looking at the make up the 2015 Chiefs.

OFC...OL is still a work in progress, WR Maclin is 2nd tier WR1 imo, but better than Bowe. I'm not sure if I see a ton of improvement on this side of the ball...Maybe Smith gets more aggressive down field, but that's not his nature.

DEF...with Poe this front 7 is one of the better pass rushing units, but not as good stopping the run...strange. You get 2 scores down in the 2nd half and that DL can create havoc...especially in KC. I coveted Peters, I think he'll be a solid starter at camp.

I have to agree with you...just not sure if the OFC will be consistent enough to beat out DEN.

 

[Broncos6482]

When was his slide in 2013?
How much was the quad tear?
How will the new coach/system address this?

I think the "Manning gets tired" argument is overplayed.

Well said. The only reason anyone is talking about a Manning slide is because of the way he finished last year. In 2012 and 2013 he finished the season incredibly strong. If last season's poor play at the end was due to the injured quad and not just old age, Manning and the Broncos will be fine.

But saying that Manning has "late season slides" is just factually inaccurate.

 

[cdumler7]

If I was a Broncos fan, I'd be concerned about Manning's late-season slides. As the season wears on Peyton has been getting slower, weaker and more inaccurate - and his decline has been triggered earlier and earlier each season. I think the Broncos will need a hot start to make it five straight and the first half of their schedule includes some very tough games.

Have you actually looked at what Peyton has done in the final 4 games of the season or just going by what the media keeps telling you? So let's see 2012 Peyton throws 8 touchdowns over the final 4 games to only 2 interceptions with a QB rating over 100 during that stretch. In 2013 Peyton throws 14 touchdowns to only 1 interception and easily over a 100 QB rating. So really what you mean is when Peyton had a partially torn quad in 2014 he regressed from what he was playing at earlier in the year.

 

[Broncos6482]

For my money, Denver still has the best qb and the best defense in the division. That's a combo that's going to be really tough to overcome for any other team that wants to win the division.

I do think the Chiefs will be a good team, and will challenge for a wild card spot, but I don't think they've done enough to overcome the gap and pass Denver for the division crown. And I fully expect Denver to beat them in week 2 as well.

 

[cdumler7]

Looking at the make up the 2015 Chiefs.

OFC...OL is still a work in progress, WR Maclin is 2nd tier WR1 imo, but better than Bowe. I'm not sure if I see a ton of improvement on this side of the ball...Maybe Smith gets more aggressive down field, but that's not his nature.

DEF...with Poe this front 7 is one of the better pass rushing units, but not as good stopping the run...strange. You get 2 scores down in the 2nd half and that DL can create havoc...especially in KC. I coveted Peters, I think he'll be a solid starter at camp.

I have to agree with you...just not sure if the OFC will be consistent enough to beat out DEN.

Have to remember for the Chiefs that Smith their best Corner last year (finished top-10 according to PFF) is suspended the first 3 weeks and Poe with his injury is out for quite some time. So 2 of their best 3 defensive players are out for at least the first 3 weeks of the season with one of those games being against the Broncos.

 

[Broncos6482]

Have to remember for the Chiefs that Smith their best Corner last year (finished top-10 according to PFF) is suspended the first 3 weeks and Poe with his injury is out for quite some time. So 2 of their best 3 defensive players are out for at least the first 3 weeks of the season with one of those games being against the Broncos.

That's exactly why I expect Denver to beat them in week 2.

I know the return of Eric Berry will be a huge emotional lift for them, and you know that crowd will really be into it. But we faced a very similar situation against them last year: Sunday night game in KC, right after the news about Berry broke, Chiefs in all red, crowd going nuts, everyone emotional and wanting to make a big statement for Berry...and the Broncos came out and steamrolled them. The Chiefs were never really even in the game after the first quarter.

Emotions will only get you so far, at some point you have to have the talent, and the Chiefs will be missing some serious defensive talent in Smith and Poe. That's not good when you're facing an offense as potent as Denver's.

 

[WalkerBoh]

Denver has a pretty tough schedule, their leader's body is breaking down and the talent gap in the division is narrowing. That all leads to a pretty even division from this unbiased set of eyes.

Those are my own observations, my friend.

If Denver finishes 12-4, it will be on the strength of a top-10 defense and some good fortune.

I could say the same for the Packers, especially considering their recent history on defense. They better be ready for a fight when they meet the Broncos.

 

[cdumler7]

That's exactly why I expect Denver to beat them in week 2.

I know the return of Eric Berry will be a huge emotional lift for them, and you know that crowd will really be into it. But we faced a very similar situation against them last year: Sunday night game in KC, right after the news about Berry broke, Chiefs in all red, crowd going nuts, everyone emotional and wanting to make a big statement for Berry...and the Broncos came out and steamrolled them. The Chiefs were never really even in the game after the first quarter.

Emotions will only get you so far, at some point you have to have the talent, and the Chiefs will be missing some serious defensive talent in Smith and Poe. That's not good when you're facing an offense as potent as Denver's.

Also interested in hearing how Fischer's injury yesterday in practice is going to go. He is supposed to get an X-Ray and MRI today. So that could be the starting LT after they lost the starting RT for the rest of preseason in the last game. A very thin OL is taking some hits for them.

 

[cdumler7]

That's exactly why I expect Denver to beat them in week 2.

I know the return of Eric Berry will be a huge emotional lift for them, and you know that crowd will really be into it. But we faced a very similar situation against them last year: Sunday night game in KC, right after the news about Berry broke, Chiefs in all red, crowd going nuts, everyone emotional and wanting to make a big statement for Berry...and the Broncos came out and steamrolled them. The Chiefs were never really even in the game after the first quarter.

Emotions will only get you so far, at some point you have to have the talent, and the Chiefs will be missing some serious defensive talent in Smith and Poe. That's not good when you're facing an offense as potent as Denver's.

To me in that game especially without Poe I would just run it down the middle and over the left side of the line (averaged almost 2 more yards per carry on the left side compared to the right in the first preseason game). That is the quickest way to take the crowd out of the game is just have one of those 10 minute run it down their throats type drives.

 

[SpringStein]

Also interested in hearing how Fischer's injury yesterday in practice is going to go. He is supposed to get an X-Ray and MRI today. So that could be the starting LT after they lost the starting RT for the rest of preseason in the last game. A very thin OL is taking some hits for them.

Good news for the Chiefs and Fisher, just a sprain:
Eric Fisher out a couple of weeks with ankle sprain | ProFootballTalk