2014 Denver Broncos Odds | Season Preview

2014 Broncos NFL Handicapping

Super Bowl Or Bust For Manning, Broncos After Offseason Reload

Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos were punched in the mouth at Super Bowl XLVIII. After being embarrassed by the Seattle Seahawks the Broncos spent the offseason retooling with hopes that this year they can get the job done.

2014 Denver Broncos Team Preview/Predictions

2013 Record: 13-3

ATS Record: 10-6

2014 Broncos Futures

Super Bowl Odds: +650

Conference Odds: +240

AFC West Odds: – 350

2014 NFL Regular Season Wins: Over 11

Manning is back to lead the most explosive offense in the NFL and Denver’s defense was upgraded with key additions in both free agency and the draft. The Broncos will once again challenge for an AFC title but it’s Super Bowl or bust for a franchise with its sights set on the Vince Lombardi trophy.

Manning threw an NFL-record 55 touchdown passes and secured his record-fifth MVP award as he led the first offense in NFL history to score more than 600 points in a season.

If there was one negative it was that the Denver offense became too predictable when it mattered the most and was absolutely dominated by Seahawks’ defense on the biggest stage of them all.

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Eric Decker signed with the New York Jets as a free agent and will be replaced by Emmanuel Sanders but Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker, and tight end Julius Thomas return. The Broncos also drafted Cody Latimer in the second round and he should contribute immediately as a big target at 6’3, 215 pounds.

Latimer and Sanders should help stretch the field and open up room underneath for Welker. The offensive line will be better with left tackle Ryan Clady set to return after missing most of last year.

Chris Clark will move back to right tackle while Orlando Franklin moves inside from tackle to left guard. 2013 second-round pick Montee Ball takes over as the No. 1 running back after Knowshon Moreno left in free agency.

As talented a back as Ball is, Denver could run in to trouble at the position if injuries become a factor with Ronnie Hillman and CJ Anderson listed behind him on the depth chart.

The biggest upgrades came on the defensive side of the football where the Broncos added cornerback Aqib Talib, safety TJ Ward, and defensive end DeMarcus Ware in free agency and then used their first-round pick on cornerback Bradley Roby.

The hope is that the veteran Ware can be even better with more one-on-one matchups opposite Von Miller and he could thrive if he has anything left in the tank. Denver is set at the defensive tackle position with last year’s first-round pick Sylvester Williams teaming with Terrance Knighton in the middle.

The same cannot be said at defensive end where Derek Wolfe is listed as the starter opposite Ware despite dealing with career-threatening seizure-like symptoms a year ago and Malik Jackson is the top backup.

Linebacker Danny Trevathan came in to his own opposite Miller last season and will start next to middle linebacker Nate Irving unless rookie fifth-round pick Lamin Barrow can beat him out for the starting job.

Talib replaces the departed Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie with Roby expected to challenge Chris Harris for the other starting cornerback job. Ward adds a more physical element in the secondary next to free safety Rahim Moore.

The Broncos are one again set to challenge for an AFC title and the best record in the NFL.

The key for them is what comes after that as they hope the roster upgrades are enough to challenge for a Vince Lombardi trophy.

Denver is a lock to win the division as long as Manning is the quarterback and the team avoids a rash of injuries, but beyond that it will come down to improvements on the defensive side of the ball and an explosive offense getting the job done when it counts the most in order to win it all.