My Predicted Schedule Versus the Actual 2014 Denver Bronco Schedule
By Craig Hurst
January 19, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; General view of a Denver Broncos mascot blowup before the game against the New England Patriots in the 2013 AFC Championship football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The Saturday before the release of the 2014 NFL schedule I posted my prediction for the 2014 Denver Bronco schedule on Predominantly Orange. Needless to say, let’s just hope the Broncos perform better in 2014 than I did when attempting to predict their upcoming schedule. For my 2014 Bronco schedule predictions, click here. Please continue reading for my random thoughts, frustration, results, and brief analysis on my predicted schedule versus the actual schedule.
The good: I nailed the Broncos home opener – Indianapolis Colts in Denver on Sunday Night Football in week one! Unfortunately, this was the only game I predicted accurately when it comes to the opponent and when they’ll be playing (normal Sunday game or in prime time on Thursday, Sunday or Monday).
The ok: While I didn’t get the time right, I did guess the correct opponents in weeks nine & sixteen – at the New England Patriots and at the Cincinnati Bengals respectively. While I thought the Broncos and Patriots would be an awesome Monday night match up, the league disagreed with me and made the Broncos and Bengals a Monday night game instead.
Even though I didn’t get the teams and weeks entirely correct, I did predict the Broncos would appear in prime time a total of five times, which was quite easy to determine if you’ve been a professional football fan for any length of time. I had the Broncos appearing once on Thursday Night Football, twice on Sunday Night Football, and twice on Monday Night Football; the league gave the Broncos a Thursday night game, three Sunday night games, and one game on Monday. In addition to accurately predicting the Colts in Denver on Sunday night, I also predicted the Broncos game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City would be a Sunday night game. The San Francisco 49ers game in Denver will be a prime time game but it will be on Sunday night, not Monday night like my schedule had it slated.
The bad: While I was way off with the Broncos bye week, I am sure the actual Broncos and their fans would much rather have the bye when I put it (after week seven) instead of the leagues schedule (after week three). The first three weeks in November may be challenging for the Broncos (more so for the fans than the team?) – three consecutive road games in weeks nine through eleven; my schedule had the Broncos travelling in consecutive weeks once and then it was only two weeks.
Like professional football, an NFL team’s schedule – either predicted or the actual schedule could be analyzed many different ways, while utilizing a number of different tactics! Thankfully, the NFL has released the 2014 schedule so my predictions are null and void. Thank goodness the stage is set so now it is just a waiting game. Unfortunately, September is just over four months away. I guess we can predict the NFL Draft – like that ever happens!
In the next few weeks, check Predominantly Orange and I will continue to dissect the 2014 Bronco schedule and opponents in various ways!
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