Predominantly Orange
FanSided

3 major questions for the Denver Broncos heading into training camp

By Sayre Bedinger

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 17: Strong safety Justin Simmons #31 of the Denver Broncos runs onto the field during player introductions before a game against the Dallas Cowboys at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on September 17, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 17: Strong safety Justin Simmons #31 of the Denver Broncos runs onto the field during player introductions before a game against the Dallas Cowboys at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on September 17, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – JANUARY 06: Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens walks off the field after being defeated by the Los Angeles Chargers in the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium on January 06, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Chargers defeated the Ravens with a score of 23 to 17.(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – JANUARY 06: Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens walks off the field after being defeated by the Los Angeles Chargers in the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium on January 06, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Chargers defeated the Ravens with a score of 23 to 17.(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Question 1: Can Joe Flacco elevate the offense (enough)?

One of the biggest questions facing the Denver Broncos this year is whether or not Joe Flacco can play at a high enough level to elevate the offense.

The Baltimore Ravens won a Super Bowl with Flacco in the 2012-13 season, but many wrote it off as a Fluke. He helped keep the Ravens in “contention” for a couple more years and they almost had another magical playoff run in 2014, but it was cut short when the New England Patriots pulled off some late theatrics in the 2014 playoffs.

Since that 2014 season, Flacco has been stuck in no man’s land, basically leading the Ravens through a period of frustrating mediocrity.

Sometimes, a change of scenery can do wonders for a guy. Sometimes, it doesn’t matter at all. Which will it be for Flacco and the Broncos? It wasn’t like he was trying to play poorly with the Ravens, and honestly, it wasn’t just his average/below average play that kept the Ravens from competing.

What are we expecting from Flacco? His career high in passing touchdowns is 27. The year after he won Super Bowl MVP, he threw a whopping 22 interceptions.

More recently, Flacco has written his name among the league’s mediocre QBs in permanent ink. He seems like the quintessential journeyman, but can he be more than that for the Broncos, even for just this year?

Sure.

There are more examples than just 2012 or 2014 to indicate Flacco is actually capable of being an above average and even ‘good’ (not elite) NFL quarterback. The Broncos don’t need him to be elite. They don’t even need him to be surprisingly good.

They just need Flacco to be steady. Take what’s given and make plays that are out there to be made.

Is Flacco the ‘inches’ of difference between winning and losing games like the Broncos’ home game against the Chiefs last year where Demaryius Thomas was open down the sideline for a game-winning touchdown?

Here’s hoping.

Home/Broncos News