2016 Broncos: 6-10 or 7-9?

[iknowftbll]

You guys may have already read this on MHR, but Football Outsiders ranked draft positions for each team going into the 2017 draft. The Broncos were at 14th overall, implying a finish around 6-10 or 7-9. Naturally we are not likely to see too many Broncos fans agree with this prediction. I certainly don't, but I love stuff like this because it makes for worthwhile debate to get us through the offseason. I also like how the continues to be dismissed by the press as a legit defending champion. This team thrived on the doubters last year. There's a lot to be excited about going into 2016, too. Predictions like this are probably going to fuel their fire!

Football Outsiders projects 6-7 wins for the Broncos in 2016

 

[Mingo]

Broncos can't get no respect.

I thought it was remarkable leading up to Super Bowl 50 - interviews with Bronco players showed them so relaxed and eager to after it. This team still has that spirit.

 

[LGM]

lol, most dominant D last year, lost a few fill in players, a DE and ILB, and now I guess we're just shot.

Oh well, better get ready for that high draft pick in 17!

 

[iknowftbll]

Broncos can't get no respect.

I thought it was remarkable leading up to Super Bowl 50 - interviews with Bronco players showed them so relaxed and eager to after it. This team still has that spirit.

The team's focus leading into the Super Bowl really gave me a lot of confidence. The Panthers were heavily favored, with 4 out of 5 analysts picking them to win (and many of them predicting a win by several scores) and the Broncos quietly went about their media obligations and preparation. Anyone not completely distracted by the Panthers flashiness, dabbing, selfie taking, etc could see the storm brewing. The Panthers defense played a heck of a game but the Broncos really controlled it from start to finish. Plus the Broncos opening drive and ensuing FG was the first points scored on the Panthers in an opening drive all season. Their defense responded well but it sent a loud signal: This Broncos team is not going to follow the script and roll over for the favorite to just cruise to their entitled glory. And of course there was the Broncos defense. And the mentality that team held going into that game, the unity, and the quiet confidence in the face of a lot of doubters still defines the team.

 

[Draft Crazy]

Am I the only one who likes not getting respect?

Less pressure. Look what it did for us this year compared to years past when we were expected to win.

I love being the underdog, the team everyone doubts.

I love that in life in general.

Prove people wrong, less pressure and motivation.

 

[iknowftbll]

I'm with you, DC. I remember years ago that sort of thing really bothered me. I'm not sure how or when my outlook changed but now I LOVE it when the Broncos don't get respect. You figure, maybe they don't perform and never deserved the respect to begin with or they prove all the doubters wrong and winning is so much more satisfying. Oh, another benefit is it drives a-hole fans of our rivals crazy to see our team succeed where their team has failed!

 

[Mingo]

And - this is why I like to point no respect out.

 

[iknowftbll]

And - this is why I like to point no respect out.

Certainly. Me too. That's why I start threads like this because they're a lot of fun to revisit in future months.

 

[Draft Crazy]

I'm with you, DC. I remember years ago that sort of thing really bothered me. I'm not sure how or when my outlook changed but now I LOVE it when the Broncos don't get respect. You figure, maybe they don't perform and never deserved the respect to begin with or they prove all the doubters wrong and winning is so much more satisfying. Oh, another benefit is it drives a-hole fans of our rivals crazy to see our team succeed where their team has failed!

and sometimes your own fans don't even respect you.

Like people hoping we'd lose at the end of the season "since we were going nowhere"

 

[nflbronco]

Honestly unless we are really banged up or turn ball over like crazy. I can't see us that bad in 16. I'm not saying impossible but, chances are very very very slim.

 

[Southieinnc]

10-6 at the worst.....

 

[SpringStein]

seems like they are saying we won a lot of close games last year and that will even out this year. Do they take into consideration we may win some of those close games by a wider margin?! Also we had a pretty brutal schedule last year - one of the hardest. This year looks better, with the majority of the hardest non-conference games at home.

 

[Draft Crazy]

Yeah and to be honest, who really cares what someone else writes about what they think will happen? New year, things will be decided on the field. I love articles like this. We are gonna have a lot less pressure on us then most teams coming off a SB win and I loooove it!

Super Bowl Champs!

 

[Manimal Sighting]

Going into the Super Bowl this past year I was much more confident than with Seattle. I told a bunch of people before the game started 'I don't want to predict a broncos win and doom them but this year's Carolina team reminds me a whole hell of a lot of the broncos in '13. They are cocky and seem like they are overlooking the game. It is just a rematch of that year with the roles reversed' This year's Denver squad actually seemed focused and really embraced that underdog role

 

[SpiritOf77]

6-10 and 7-9

I thought you were talking about OTA and camp dates

 

[Mingo]

You know - based on my track record - I'd love the Broncos anyway if they had a bad season (but I would be hard to be around).

 

[Draft Crazy]

Going into the Super Bowl this past year I was much more confident than with Seattle. I told a bunch of people before the game started 'I don't want to predict a broncos win and doom them but this year's Carolina team reminds me a whole hell of a lot of the broncos in '13. They are cocky and seem like they are overlooking the game. It is just a rematch of that year with the roles reversed' This year's Denver squad actually seemed focused and really embraced that underdog role

Same here. I had the same feeling about Seattle that I did when we lost to the Steelers in the AFC Championship game when they upset the Colts.

As each day grew and grew I felt less confident by the time of gameday for both matchups I knew in my heart we weren't winning.

 

[Malibu]

It's a waste of time listening to anything on sports radio or ESPN. I'll leave it at that.

 

[cdumler7]

What cracks me up is how much this off season people have been calling the season such a fluke. I mean the Broncos did it completely opposite of how the NFL has tried to set up the league of it being a very QB driven league. Yet we did it with some of the worst QB play in the league. So they are still trying to figure out how in the world that happens.

Also those close games we won were won because of very good coaching decisions (amazing how much of a difference this makes) and because we have great leadership especially on the defensive side of the ball that just doesn't back down from the moment. They loved having the pressure put on them and for the most part that unit is still together ready to do it again.

Another amazing part of this team is the brotherhood they have together. I mean on the Garcia/Paradis thread we see them taking a trip together. We have seen that all over the place with guys taking trips together. These guys love playing together. This group has taken this beyond it just being their job. Honestly I think this is one of the hardest things for a team to do is get such a close group. When rosters have huge turnover and honestly difficult personalities it really is hard to find that group that wants to play for each other. Well I think we still have the core of the group that pushed for that to happen.

 

[SpiritOf77]

A "fluke" is a 20 yard FG banging off the upright or Eric Decker tripping on his own in the open field - a fluke is one isolated anomaly ..

An entire 16 game NFL season followed by two playoff games and a dominating Super Bowl victory is about as far from a "fluke" as can be .. Especially when you take into consideration the fact that one of the all time great QBs hit a wall midseason, making a first year coaching staff scramble to get a guy ready who had never started an NFL game ..

Last season's Bronco team and the SB victory was about as well earned and unfluky as they come