The 2021 Broncos have to avoid the trap that ensnared the 2009 team

Similarities between this year's team and the one that collapsed after a 6-0 start exist, which is why Broncos Country should be caution

BY JOHN DAVIS

Oct 1, 2021, 6:00 AM

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The Denver Broncos are 3-0 and for the first time in a long time and look like they could be making their first postseason appearance since winning Super Bowl 50. Many are still skeptical, however, because the Broncos victories have come against opponents with a combined record of 0-9.

The narrative is that the Broncos can silence the naysayers with a victory over the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens are a Super Bowl contender and have one of the most explosive and dynamic players in NFL history in quarterback Lamar Jackson.

A victory over the Ravens would be a big victory. No doubt. The Broncos haven’t beaten a playoff team in what seems like forever and a win this Sunday would possibly signify the Broncos are returning to contender status.

Beating the Ravens would legitimize the Broncos 3-0 start and starting 4-0 would greatly increase their odds of making the playoffs. As great as that all sounds, however, the truth is that we won’t know how real the Broncos are until later in the season.

In 2009, the Broncos snuck up on the NFL in a similar manner as the 2021 Broncos. While it started out magical, the 2009 Broncos season is infamous for one of the biggest collapses in NFL history.

There are similarities between 2009 and 2021 Broncos teams. The 2009 team started with three wins over unimpressive teams in the Bengals, Browns and Raiders. Most were not buying into the Broncos.

The Broncos answered the critics by winning their next three over the Cowboys, Patriots and Chargers. All were serious contenders in 2009.

In 2009, the Broncos shocked the NFL by starting their season 6-0. They beat bad teams, but they also beat good teams. Quarterback Kyle Orton lead the 6-0 start and was praised for his decision-making capabilities.

Orton was a foot note in the Jay Cutler trade, but early on looked like the steal of the 2009 offseason. The Broncos were coached by Josh McDaniels, who as hilarious as it sounds now was looking like the next big thing.

Of course, we know all that the bottom fell out. McDaniels was a fraud and the Broncos would go 2-8 the rest of the way, finishing 8-8.

The 2021 Broncos are in a similar position.

They have started 3-0 against the league’s worst and now the quality of competition levels up. The Broncos fan base wasn’t excited about Teddy Bridgewater, like they weren’t about 2009 Kyle Orton.

A fast start that nobody was expecting can only last so long. If the Broncos are for real, that will show in the second half of the season. Not Week 4 against the Ravens.

The Broncos are still very much a mystery to the rest of the NFL. That plays to their advantage and a win is very much possible for the home team this Sunday.

It’s just important to remember that victory this Sunday doesn’t mean we should all start planning a parade in February. The Broncos have to prove they can be consistent over a full season before they can be discussed as a postseason threat. Basically, we should hold off on calling them a playoff team until they’re a playoff team.

The Broncos could very well be for real. These wins they’ve stacked up could be a sign of the organization rediscovering the winning culture it was once known for.

The similarities between the 2009 and 2021 Broncos do exist, but there are differences between that do create better optimism for this season’s squad. The main and most important differences are Vic Fangio and Teddy Bridgewater. Both are far more liked by the locker room than Josh McDaniels and Kyle Orton.

This team could be starting to come together, but the Broncos have presented fool’s gold too many times in recent memory. A Week 4 matchup with the Ravens isn’t enough for anybody to get all the way on board.

The 2009 Broncos, the Tim Tebow offense, Brock Osweiler and Trevor Siemian were all eventually figured out after enough game film had been accumulated. Teams can only trick opponents for so long before they figure out tendencies and adjust.

A win over the Ravens this weekend will only temporarily quiet the Broncos critics. Yes, it will be impressive if they pull it out, especially when you consider the number of players on Denver’s roster who are currently injured. If the Broncos win, nobody will be able to argue that at that particular moment, the Broncos are for real.

However, a win over the Ravens isn’t an automatic ticket to the playoffs. It will be a reason to celebrate, but the season is long and teams still have time to figure out this Broncos team.

If the Broncos keep this pace all season, the Ravens win will be looked at as the catalyst. If the Broncos are exposed and have a late-season collapse, nobody will care about Week 4. Just like nobody cares that Denver beat Tom Brady in 2009.