Melvin Gordon: Broncos being “overlooked” in AFC West

Just a few years removed from the Peyton Manning era, the Denver Broncos are no longer the national draw they used to be.

For example, after 29 consecutive years playing at least one Monday Night Football game per season, the Broncos will not be featured on the program in 2021.

Not to mention that, amid a streak of four consecutive losing seasons, the Broncos play in an AFC West that features:

• A Kansas City Chiefs team coming off back-to-back Super Bowl appearances with a perennial MVP candidate in Patrick Mahomes,

• A Los Angeles Chargers team with a young up-and-comer in Justin Herbert at quarterback, and

• A Las Vegas Raiders team in year four of a rebuild with Jon Gruden at the helm and Derek Carr under center.

So, it’s understandable to Broncos running back Melvin Gordon III as to why Denver doesn’t get as much attention anymore.

But nonetheless Gordon told NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” on Wednesday he believes the Broncos are being “overlooked” heading into the 2021 season.

“We definitely aren’t talked about enough, but it’s expected. If you don’t win as many games as you should, people don’t bring you up,” Gordon said. “It is what it is. But it’s better that way. It gives us a chip on our shoulder. We’re going to give them a reason to talk about us.”

Indeed, the Broncos have been in a franchise funk for the past four years, going 23-41 with no winning seasons since 2017.

But with one of the more exciting wide receiver corps in the NFL and a defense that, on paper, looks to be among the best in the league, Gordon thinks a few wins early could have the Broncos turning heads.

“… It’s easy for us to go overlooked. That just is what it is. We’re in a tough division. Our division has got a lot going on at this point in time,” Gordon said. “But (if) we go out there and win games, a lot of things can change quickly.”