If the Broncos miss the playoffs, the John Elway era should come to an end
Sep 17, 2020, 6:06 AM
Super 50 was the last playoff game the Denver Broncos appeared in. Denver has posted a record of 27-37 since being crowned world champions. They’ve missed the playoffs in all four seasons. That record was before the Broncos started the 2020 season.
With the Broncos starting this season 0-1 after falling to the Titans on Monday night, the chances of the Broncos getting back to the postseason have gotten lower.
Leading up to this point John Elway has failed to find a franchise quarterback after drafting Paxton Lynch, re-signing Brock Osweiler, signing Case Keenum and trading for Joe Flacco. Now, Elway has drafted Drew Lock with the hopes that he will he the savior of “Bronco Land.”
Elway also hired Vic Fangio after failing to make the playoffs under Vance Joseph for two seasons with a 11-22 record. Fangio is one of the smartest defensive minds in the NFL and he should be able to put together a top defense no matter which players he is given, right? Well, we’ll see.
Denver has spent more money on their defense than any other team in the NFL. The one concerning thing about that is that the Broncos don’t have enough depth on the defensive side of the ball. The secondary is uncertain with the unknown at the cornerback position. The Broncos have also failed to add depth at middle linebacker and at edge rush after Von Miller’s season ending ankle injury.
On the offensive side of the ball, John Elway and company decided to not address the tackle position and went with two wide receivers in the first two rounds with Jerry Jeudy and K.J. Hamler. This means the Broncos are fine with Garett Bolles playing another year at left tackle and Elijah Wilkinson at right tackle with Ja’Wuan James sitting out a year.
Elway thinks that his team has been fixed by not addressing the positions of need on the offensive side of the ball after the offense ranked 28th in scoring last season. If he thinks that this offense will be able to compete with the Chiefs, he’s definitely mistaken.
Elway has seemed to turn the curve after his recent bad decisions under Vance Joseph, but he has now made the decisions he wants before his contract ends after next season. This is the final run for Elway and his crew and if they don’t make the playoffs. There are no excuses. The Broncos made the decision to not fix the areas of concern and to not help their young quarterback.
Bottom line, no excuses when they fail to make the playoffs for a fifth straight season after they continue to make the same mistakes year after year since Super Bowl 50.
