DENVER BRONCOS 2021 WIN PREDICTION

BY ADAM GREENE

Two very different futures are in store for the Denver Broncos depending on what they can put together over the next month. While they did shore up their quarterback room with the addition of Teddy Bridgewater in the offseason, they are currently at the center of any and all Aaron Rodgers trade speculation, as not only a preferred destination for the future Hall of Famer, but as a team that would see its fortunes change dramatically with his addition.

It can be argued that the Broncos are just a quarterback away, as they have continued to draft well and shore up a defense that won them a Super Bowl back in 2016. Last year was a lost season, with multiple key players done in with injuries before the first whistle sounded. They should be healthy and better regardless, but adding Rodgers would literally make them a potential championship contender.

And create some epic featured match ups with the Kansas City Chiefs in the process.

DENVER BRONCOS

Last season: 5-11, 4^th place AFC West

2021 odds: over 8.5 wins -140, under 8.5 wins +110

2021 NFL Draft: Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama – Round 1, Javonte Williams, RB, North Carolina – Round 2, Quinn Meinerz, OG, Wisconsin-Whitewater – Round 3, Baron Browning, LB, Ohio State – Round 3, Caden Sterns, Safety, Texas – Round 5, Jamar Johnson, Safety, Indiana – Round 5, Seth Williams, WR, Auburn – Round 6, Kary Vincent Jr., CB, LSU – Round 7, Jonathan Cooper, DE, Ohio State – Round 7, Marquiss Spencer, DE, Mississippi State – Round 7

UDFAs: Nolan Laufenberg, OG – Air Force, Adam Prentice, FB – Colorado State, Drew Himmelman, OT – Illinois State, Branden Mack, WR – Temple, Shaun Beyer, TE – Iowa, Curtis Robinson, LB – Stanford, Mac McCain III, CB – North Carolina A&T, Andre Mintz, Edge – Vanderbilt, Warren Jackson, WR – Colorado State, Landon Rice, TE – Jacksonville State, Davontae Dukes, WR – South Florida

Acquisitions: Teddy Bridgewater – Trade, Kyle Fuller – Free Agent, Bobby Massie, RT – Free Agent, Shamar Stephen, DL – Free Agent, Cameron Fleming, RT – Free Agent, Ronald Darby, CB – Free Agent, Eric Saubert, TE – Free Agent, Peter Kalambayi, Edge – Free Agent, Mike Boone – Free Agent

Key Losses: Jurrell Casey – DL, A.J. Bouye – CB, Elijah Wilkinson – RT, Nick Vannett – TE, Jeff Driskel – QB, Jeremia Attaochu – Edge, Ja’Wuan James – RT, Will Parks – Safety, Damar Dotson – RT, Sylvester Williams – DL, De’Vante Bausby – CB, Jake Butt – TE, Troy FUmagalli – TE, Phillip Lindsay – RB

PRESUMED STARTERS

QB: Teddy Bridgewater (or Aaron Rodgers)

RB: Melvin Gordon III

WR: Courtland Sutton

WR: Jerry Jeudy

WR: K.J. Hamler

TE: Noah Fant

FB: Andrew Beck

LT: Garett Bolles

LG: Dalton Risner

C: Lloyd Cushenberry III

RG: Graham Glasgow

RT: Bobby Massie

LDE: Dre’Mont Jones

NT: Mike Purcell

RDE: Shelby Harris

OLB: Bradley Chubb

LILB: Alexander Johnson

RILB: Josey Jewell

OLB: Von Miller

CB: Kyle Fuller

CB: Ronald Darby

SS: Kareem Jackson

FS: Justin Simmons

K: Brandon McManus

P: Sam Martin

FORECAST

Because of the legitimate interest between Rodgers and the Broncos and my feeling that the odds that he won’t suit up in Green Bay again are better than 50-50, you have to come up with two predictions here. Luckily, with an over-under of 8.5, you should be safe either way. With Bridgewater at QB and a healthy defense, there’s every reason this team could be 3-0 (with games against the New York Giants, Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets) before they face their first real test – the Baltimore Ravens. A good defense and defensive scheme can shut down the Ravens’ Pop Warner attack and Vic Fangio certainly can do it. He’s slowed if not completely stopped much better offenses than that playground nonsense in his career.

No, the first real test comes in the middle of October, with a three-game stretch against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Las Vegas Raiders and Cleveland Browns. Denver can build some serious momentum before facing off against the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs four times over the season’s last seven weeks.

Final Record Prediction: (with Bridgewater) 10-7, possible AFC Wild Card, (with Rodgers) 13-4, possible AFC Wild Card or AFC West Champion

The NFL season begins on Thursday, Sep. 9 and the Week 1 Schedule is already up and taking bets at BetOnline.AG.

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