Still Not Sold On These Broncos

I usually follow a ‘Say it Out Loud’ policy before making big decisions in my life.  That same policy goes for the tendency to have a knee jerk reaction when the unexpected or hard to explain happens in sports. 

So before crowning the now 6-0 Broncos as an elite team on its way to a Super Bowl birth I’m going to ‘Say it out Loud’.  After beating the fastly eroding San Diego Chargers on the road, the Broncos are now an elite team. 

Yes, I realize that comes across as a bit sarcastic.  But if you were to examine the Broncos’ wins this season, how impressive have they been?  Think back to what was supposed to be the first test for the Broncos after a fluke touchdown catch by Brandon Stokely propelled them to an opening week win against the Bengals. 

Their first “real” challenge came in the form of the Dallas Cowboys, whose three wins this year came against teams with a combined record of 3-14.  Even as a die hard Dallas fan, I realize that the Cowboys with a regressing Tony Romo are a long way from being a real contender in the playoffs. 

The Broncos’ next real test came in the form of the New England Patriots.  I’m sure the New England faithful will declare Tom Brady as being fully recovered from his knee injury.  I’m sure they’re also certain that the Patriots are Super Bowl bound after crushing Tennessee in a 59-0 win on Sunday. 

But Super Bowl bound teams (or even playoff caliber ones) don’t struggle against a pathetic Buffalo Bills team that’s a 10-point underdog in the opening week at home.  The Patriots also have yet to find a consistent running game, and clearly have issues on their defense with the losses of Richard Seymour, Mike Vrabel, and Tedy Bruschi.

This doesn’t mean that Josh McDaniels doesn’t deserve a considerable amount of credit for transforming the culture of this team.  This team has gone from a pass-happy offense to one that utilizes the running game more.  And the seven new defensive starters have made the Broncos the best defense statistically in the league. 

No one saw this coming.  Not with the trading of franchise quarterback Jay Cutler for Kyle Orton, a guy who lost his starting job to Rex Grossman. 

The likelihood of the Broncos being successful at all this year seemed as probable as Brandon Marshall hugging McDaniels in a press conference after being suspended earlier in the year. 

But fences were mended, Kyle Orton is having a pro bowl caliber start, and here the Broncos sit at 6-0.

To ‘Say it Out Loud’ a first year head coach with Kyle Orton under center reaching the Super Bowl sounds crazy.  It seems even more ludicrous putting it in print.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

BroncosZone Latest

• The Denver Broncos Must Face Their New Reality
• Denver Broncos: The Beginning of a New Era, Or The Beginning of the End?
• Hey Denver, Where’s the Love for Josh McDaniels?
• Josh McDaniels Is the Poster Boy for “Too Much, Too Soon”
• Denver Wide Receiver Brandon Marshall: “I Love Being a Bronco”