Denver Broncos: Predicting Win-Loss Total In 2015

The NFL schedule for each team was released late Tuesday evening, and as we near the draft at the end of the month the 2015 season is coming into focus fairly quickly.

The Denver Broncos have high expectations for this upcoming season and expect not only to head back to the playoffs but contend for a championship again. A lot will of course depend on Peyton Manning’s health, but momentum can quickly be gained or lost based on when hot teams play cold ones. With all of this as a background it’s time to look at the Broncos schedule in an attempt to predict where their wins and loses will appear. You can find the Bronco’s full schedule on the team’s home page at DenverBroncos.com.

Like they did in 2013, Denver will start off the season with a win at home against the Baltimore Ravens, possibly a good omen as 2013 saw them make it to the Super Bowl. They will follow that win with a quick loss, however, as they head to Kansas City in Week 2. Week 3 and 4 will see them bounce back nicely with wins against a diminished Detroit Lions defense in Week 3 and a still growing team in Minnesota in Week 4. That would put them at a nice 3-1 start and in good position after the 1st quarter of the season.

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The momentum from the back to back wins sees a minor setback with a surprise loss on the road in Oakland, but Denver will get back on the winning track with a blowout win on the road in Cleveland against the hapless Browns and Johnny Manziel in Week 6. The Broncos then hit a wall of sorts after their bye in Week 7. Possibly a little slow to come out of their off-week haze they will lose two in a row with games against Green Bay at home and Indy on the road in Weeks 8 and 9, finishing the first half of the season at 5-3 and making some fans wonder if they are in danger of missing the playoffs for the 1st time since Peyton showed up.

The good news for the Broncos and their fans is that Peyton will rally the troops and regroup to take the next four games and re-establish their foothold in the AFC West. It will start with a come from behind win at home against the Chiefs in Week 10 and a double-digit win over the Bears in Chicago in week 11.

At 7-3, their primetime matchup against the Patriots in week 12 will take on its usual significance, with the winner likely looking at a high playoff seed. The Broncos will avenge 2014’s loss to New England and carry that momentum into San Diego where they will roll over a Chargers team suffering from a case of the Los Angeles blues. At 9-3 and with about a month to go, the Broncos will be looking to finish their season strong yet again.

The last quarter of the season won’t be easy for Denver. They will beat Oakland in Week 14, but will follow that up with two losses in Weeks 15 and 16 against a tough Steelers team in Pittsburgh and at home after a close game against the Bengals.

The final game of the season might mean the difference between a wild card spot and a bye, and a single score win against the Chargers will have them finishing at 11-5. It is not going to be a season finish where everyone assumes the Broncos will steamroll the rest of the AFC, as they will look vulnerable on both sides of the ball and might be gassed from a tough schedule. A deep run in the playoffs should not be counted on like it has in past seasons.

An 11-5 finish might look sensible to some fans, and ridiculous to others. Is it? Let me know what you think.

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