Von Miller reacts with Elvis Dumervil after a sack on San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers. (Ron Chenoy-US PRESSWIRE)

Last season the Denver Broncos were picked to finish last in the AFC West. This year, they’re the team to beat, at least on paper.

So what kind of pressure does that put on a team that advanced to the divisional round of the playoffs last season?

“Honestly, arguably we’ve got one of the best quarterback’s of all time on our team so we shouldn’t feel pressure at all,” Elvis Dumervil said Wednesday afternoon. “Coach (John) Fox likes to use the term, ‘We like to apply the pressure.’

Still, expectations are great for this team who has a very reliable roster compared to that of one two years ago.

“I would hope that the longer you’re with an organization, the expectations would increase,” Fox said. “I would hope that everyone in that locker room or in that 4:00 PM meeting today has got great expectations. I think if you look around the other 31 cities in the NFL, I would say everybody’s goal is to win that world championship.”

Cornerback Tracy Porter is new to the Broncos, but coming from a Super Bowl winning New Orleans Saints team, he knows about off seasons full of hype.

“It’s similar to the Super Bowl year we had in New Orleans,” Porter said. “We have extremely high expectations on this team starting with Peyton (Manning) all the way down to the last guy on the roster. Our expectations are not just to get to the playoffs. Our expectations are to get back to New Orleans to play for the Super Bowl and to win the Super Bowl.”

The Broncos Super Bowl odds currently sit at 20 to 1. Then again, a team with a 9-7 regular season record won the whole thing last year. That goes to show just how much paper means in the NFL.

John Fox has one guarantee for the season, however.

“We’re going to do everything we can to make it as special as possible,” Fox said.

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