Mile High Monday: Are the Broncos the No. 2 team in the AFC West?

The NFL news continues to churn along during this “virtual offseason.” While other sports are still shut down, the NFL is continuing (mostly) with business as usual during this coronavirus pandemic. On Thursday, the NFL released the schedule for the 2020 season and it gives fans hopes that the season is going to start on time later this fall.

I like looking over the schedule and predicting a record the day it comes out. I also like contemplating life and sports when driving around with the top down on my old Jeep TJ – and loving this great weather in May! The following is a result of those trips during the week.

Buckle up, let’s take a ride through my thoughts.

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Attack Position

The schedule opens in a way that the Broncos should be able to show off their new offense right away. I look at the season opener, at home against the Titans on “Monday Night Football,” and think Denver could debut their high-powered offense. Tennessee has a strong rushing attack featuring star running back Derrick Henry, but the Broncos can make them turn away from that part of their game if they build a big lead.

There is no better time than Week 1 to go for the gusto. The Broncos have a tough defense and could play the game close on offense to try and eke out a win. That sounds like the old approach for the team, but it doesn’t sound like this “hyper-aggressive” offense we’re supposed to be seeing this year.

Who’s ready for the rookie’s debut? pic.twitter.com/c6BnN8zPop

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) May 9, 2020

The Broncos added a ton of quality talent on offense this offseason, and at home against a Titans defense that has lost starters like defensive lineman Jurrell Casey and cornerback Logan Ryan, they could take advantage. I’d like to see the Broncos be aggressive on a weekly basis. I don’t need to see this team play down to the competition. Instead, I’d rather see this offense have breakout performances to prove to everyone they are a force to be reckoned with.

Honestly, it would be disappointing to me if this team didn’t score more than 24 points in the season opener. I do understand that a new offense may take some time to ramp up, but I believe that during the game there should be a mantra to keep going for it to rack up those points. The Broncos have graded highly this offseason with their moves, when the time comes it’s fitting for those assets to turn into more points for this once below-average offense.

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AFC West Pecking Order

The entire AFC West is trying to play catch-up with the Kansas City Chiefs. The Broncos are trying to prove this season that they are on the rise and they are the No. 2 team in the division. They’ll want to push for the top spot, but let’s be honest, that is not going to happen so long as Patrick Mahomes is the quarterback for the Chiefs in 2020 (and likely beyond).

That leaves one legit question: Are the Broncos the second-best team in the division or are the Los Angeles Chargers?

There is no doubt that the Chargers have an incredibly talented roster – especially on defense. They added Chris Harris Jr. in free agency, and he’ll play as their third cornerback whereas he was Denver’s No. 1 corner in 2019 and likely would still be at the top of the depth chart if he still was in Denver. The team has a great secondary that is made even better with the pass-rushers up front.

Guys like Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa are two of the best in the game when it comes to creating pressure on a quarterback. You could easily make the argument that those two are at least as good if not better than what the Broncos have in Von Miller and Bradley Chubb. Add in 2020 first-round pick Kenneth Murray and you can see how this team has elite-level talent at all three levels of the defense. Who has a better defense, the Chargers or the Broncos? That’s a fair question to debate and you can answer either way.

Offensively, the Broncos have better talent and more firepower in my opinion. Not only are their skill position players better than the Chargers – including former Chargers starter Melvin Gordon – but the quarterback in Denver is better.

Yes, I know Tyrod Taylor isn’t a bad starter and he’s got a lot more experience than Drew Lock. However, Lock is more aggressive as a passer than Taylor is. Taylor won’t turn the ball over that often, but he doesn’t take enough chances to make big plays happen as a passer. Even if/when the Chargers turn to rookie first-round pick Justin Herbert, Lock will be the better quarterback.

The Broncos have to take care of business in two spots this season. One, they need to be better at home. Rebuild that home dominance that the Mile High City used to be known for. And two, they need to be as good in the division as they can be if they want to get back to the postseason in 2020.

A home-and-home split with the Chiefs would be great, but that might be a little out of reach this year. However, this team is better than the Chargers and they need to prove it.

Just like with the Titans and every other team on the schedule, the Broncos need to be aggressive on offense and prove they are a threat and they are going to be tough to contain this season. Don’t get me started about the Las Vegas Raiders, but the Broncos need to take care of business against them too. Re-establishing home dominance and divisional (near) supremacy will go a long way to helping this team back into the postseason conversation.

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Share Market Changing

Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton led all wide receivers in 2019 with 42.93 percent of his team’s air yards, according to NFL.com’s Next Gen Stats. That was an incredible rate in just his second season, but it was not much of a surprise if you were paying attention to what was going on with Sutton and the rest of the Broncos wide receiving corps.

For one thing, Sutton is an emerging talent and could become one of the best receivers in the game today. In addition, the Broncos didn’t have much else to throw to in 2019. Things are now different in 2020.

The Broncos added not one but two receivers in the first two rounds of the draft. Jerry Jeudy (Alabama) was considered by most to be the best receiver in this class. K.J. Hamler (Penn State) was the second-round pick and is electric as a slot receiver or returner. They’ll boost the Broncos passing game this season. In addition, those two will take the full attention away from Sutton as the Broncos may have too many weapons to truly stop.

While Sutton is still the top target, he may not get as large of a target share because of the improved talent around him at the wide receiver position. That doesn’t mean Sutton’s numbers will go down. In fact, he could just be more efficient with a smaller target percentage in 2020. Sutton is good – very good – but he can be great. With defenses unable to double or even triple-team him consistently in 2020 we could see him post career-best numbers this upcoming season.

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Miss You Much

I hope everyone out there had a great Mother’s Day on Sunday. This day has been tough for me to get through since my mother, Susan Gonzales, passed away in December 2017. I think about her every day and miss her like crazy.

Mothers are so very important to everyone out there, and if you have a good one then you are truly blessed. They need to be appreciated every day, not just on this annual holiday. I really notice all the little things that my mother instilled me with on a daily basis and I feel fortunate to have had her in my life.

I miss my mother every day. It's been 2.5 years since she passed and this day is always tough. I'm so grateful I had a wonderful woman like her to learn from. I'm an artist like her and love completely like her. Happy Mothers Day on Earth and in Heaven! pic.twitter.com/sTprgzA9vz

— Cecil Lammey (@CecilLammey) May 10, 2020

All mothers out there; biological mothers, step mothers, adoptive mothers, mothers-in-law and any other I missed here should be honored for their hard work and sacrifice each and every day. Thank you to all mothers out there for making the world a better place!

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