Where do they rank the Denver Broncos?
CBS Sports: (Week 3: 24th; Week 2: 21st). See what I mean? Right off the bat, an outlet cites the Broncos’ injuries suffered last week as their reasoning for placing them three spots lower than they did in week 2.
Bleacher Report: (Week 3: 25th; Week 2: 18th): Down seven spots from last week, the Broncos aren’t very popular with Bleacher Report. Big statement here. Harsh but maybe true: “Denver must get healthy before the team actually matters.”
Ouch.
We don’t know how the Broncos will do with Lock out for a number of weeks. It’s awesome to be optimistic. Can the Broncos find ways around these massive injuries? Time will tell.
Pro Football Talk (Week 3: 22nd; Week 2: 16th): “Two close losses against significantly better teams are still two close losses.“
Here’s the thing. Yeah, close only counts in horseshoes. That’s the sad reality. Moral victories don’t count and won’t add to the ‘W’ column.
Pro Football Network: (Week 3: 23rd; Week 2: 21st): PFN again states the team’s injuries as an issue. However, they acknowledge the fight in the Broncos no matter the issues they’re going through.
It’s really admirable how they didn’t lose focus. The problem is finishing. It’s been that way for the last couple of years. Now, without Lock and Sutton, it feels like it will be quite a bit tougher to finish games out.
Final Thoughts
Look, the Broncos do have odds stacked against them. It is up to them to come out and prove doubters wrong.
They came so close to beating the Steelers despite Lock going out early in the game with the shoulder injury. If and when they start to get key players back, they’ll continue to get back into a groove.
There is no doubt that these injuries have set them back this season. That’s sad and disappointing to say as we’re only entering week 3 of the season.
I’ll be interested to see how the chemistry is between the stars that return in the coming weeks and if the absence of Sutton will be dooming.