Last season didn't go according to plan for the Denver Broncos, to say the least. Aside from falling short of what could have been their first Super Bowl ring since 1998 with the No. 1 seed in the AFC West, Joe Flacco's late game bomb to Torrey Smith in the AFC Divisional Round Game still haunts those donning the orange and blue. Remember, the Broncos were up 24-0 at the half against the eventual Super Bowl champion Ravens.
But with a 11-2 record heading into the final three games of the season, the Broncos are once again in position to end their season on top. With an offense that poses arguably the best core group of offensive weapons, the Broncos are, in that respect, a better team this season. Simply put, things haven't been this aligned for a Peyton Manning Super Bowl run in regards to his offensive firepower since he won with the Colts back in 2007.
The Broncos currently rank 1st in passing yards (341.2 YPG) and 12th in rushing yards (124.4 YPG).
For the Broncos, it will essentially come down to two main areas in the postseason: defense and execution. Last season, Denver's cornerbacks cost them their trip to the Super Bowl, and there will be similar moments this postseason that will have to go in Denver's favor down the stretch. Knowing that their offense will likely slow down to an extent in the postseason, the Broncos will need to rely on their defense much more - but that isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Also, in a season where the Seattle Seahawks are among the favorites to reach the finals for the opposing side, home field advantage will potentially be another deciding factor. The Seahawks currently boast a league best 14-game winning streak at home.
As of now, the Broncos defense ranks 29th in passing yards allowed (274.3 YPG) and 7th in rushing yards allowed (99.8 YPG). This is down from a Broncos defense that ranked 3rd in passing yards allowed and 2nd in rushing yards allowed last season.
In regards to execution, it'll come down to which players can make big plays down the stretch. Wes Welker is one of the better possession receivers in the NFL and has proven his worth in the clutch, but the question will lie more with where Demarius Thomas, Eric Decker and Julius Thomas will be come playoff time.
Sure, the Broncos rank first in offense in the regular season, but can they keep it going long enough for Manning to get his hands on the Lombardi trophy at age 37?
For Manning, this will be another opportunity to get back to where he's strived to be since he first arrived in the league. Manning expects nothing short of a Super Bowl every season, and for the most part, he's had the opportunities to get there. To make it happen this time, Manning will need to reach the same level he was on back in his 2006-2007 run with the Colts.
In 2006, Manning proved he could compete with the best of them, beating a very high-quality New England Patriots team and eventually the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI. At the age of 37, one year removed from major neck surgery, can Manning do it again? Or will he be stuck on one Super Bowl for the rest of his career?
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