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Denver Broncos: Recapping the AFC West after the first quarter

By Mason Yellico

DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 1: Head coach Vance Joseph of the Denver Broncos shakes hands with head coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs after a 27-23 Chiefs win over the Broncos at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on October 1, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 1: Head coach Vance Joseph of the Denver Broncos shakes hands with head coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs after a 27-23 Chiefs win over the Broncos at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on October 1, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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Denver Broncos (2-2)

BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 23: Case Keenum #4 of the Denver Broncos throws a pass in the second half of the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on September 23, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens won 27-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 23: Case Keenum #4 of the Denver Broncos throws a pass in the second half of the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on September 23, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens won 27-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

The Broncos got of to a quick start, winning their first two games of the season behind Case Keenum’s late game heroics. But losses to two of the better teams in the NFL in Baltimore and Kansas City have them sitting tied with Los Angeles at .500.

The record feels a bit disappointing, especially considering they could easily be 3-1 and tied for the division lead with Kansas City if just one or two plays down the stretch on Monday night went differently.

However, there is no need to panic just yet. The Broncos boast one of the best run offenses in the league, led by rookies Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman. Both players are already over 200 yards rushing and have combined for five total touchdowns.

If the Broncos are going to make the playoffs this season, they are going to need Case Keenum to play a lot better. He is dead last in the division in yards (988), touchdown/interception ratio (3-6), and completion percentage (61.7%). Denver doesn’t need to rely on Case as heavily as some other teams rely on their quarterback, but he still needs to play winning football.

Winning passers can’t be turning the ball over twice as many times as they are getting it across the goal line. That is why the Broncos rank 13th in total offense but just 21st in points per game (21.0).

Defensively they haven’t been terrible, but its safe to say they also aren’t playing up to their potential. They have been dominant for stretches of the season, and beatable for stretches of the season. Hopefully, more consistency is on the way.

Von Miller got off to a hot start with four sacks in the first two games, but he hasn’t added on to that total in either of the last two games.

The season is far from over for the Broncos, but whether or not the team improves at quarterback and on defense will likely be the deciding factor in whether or not they finish the year where they are capable of.