Denver Broncos: Predicting the 2018 Win-Loss Record
By Tylor Walden
Andrew Wade (Staff Writer)
Denver will win 11 games (11-5)
Some may call me a homer, but I truly think the Denver Broncos have a unique opportunity to flip their record from 5-11 in 2017 to 11-5 in 2018.
It all starts with the defense. People are sleeping on how good this defense can be. Last season the entire defense took a step back, but they quietly finished third in the NFL in yards allowed. While they finished 22nd in points allowed with 23.9 much of that can be contributed to the terrible field position that the offense continually put the team in every game.
The only main departure from this good defense was Aqib Talib, who may still be playing at a high level but is aging quickly and can be, at times, an issue in the locker room when things are going poor. Many may disagree, but this was the right move and taking over in his place is Bradley Roby who put together an outstanding season last year. Additionally, the team has added Bradley Chubb to bolster an already talented pass rush along with the ageless wonder Adam “Pacman” Jones to shore up the secondary depth.
This talented defense combined with a significantly improved offense will allow Denver to compete and win quite a few games on their relatively weak schedule. One highlight of last season’s misery is that the Broncos now face the last place team of each AFC division, and their cross-conference matchup is the weak NFC West. The Rams and possibly the 49ers are the only real playoff contenders in that division.
Furthermore, Denver has one of the top-five homefield advantages in the league and they get the Rams and the Steelers at home. I can see Denver losing at Kansas City in Week 8, at the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 11, and at San Francisco in Week 14. Despite their home field advantage, I think they will lose one of the two games against the Rams and Steelers and one of the two games at the Raiders and at the Ravens.