Denver Broncos: Even with three-game skid, perspective is key
Even with 3 straight losses, the Denver Broncos are off to their best start since 2017 and are still the 7th seed in the AFC playoff picture.
The last several posts on Predominantly Orange have been negative, and for good reason, but there are still some positives to take away from the first six weeks of the season for the Denver Broncos.
As a positive person by nature, I want to touch on a few of these things and offer some perspective. Most of us, in a weird way, enjoy the negativity. “The sky is falling” type rhetoric is attractive to a lot of people.
Doomsday scenarios have begun to run through our minds after back-to-back-to-back losses, but being negative all the time is no way to live.
Denver Broncos: Even with three-game skid, perspective is key
Firstly, the Broncos are in a playoff spot. Yes, they’ve just lost both of their starting linebackers for the season. They’re also without KJ Hamler for the year, but after a third of the season, the Broncos are 7th in the AFC playoff race.
We haven’t been close to the playoffs since 2015, so being in the playoff race after 6 weeks has to mean something, right?
Secondly, even though he hasn’t been great, Teddy Bridgewater has given the Broncos a bit of consistent and reliable quarterback play.
Through 6 games, Teddy Bridgewater has 10 touchdown passes, 4 interceptions, is completing 70.2% of his passes, and has a passer rating of 100.9. Even with the bad playcalling from Pat Shurmur at times, Teddy Two Gloves has played at a decent level for the Broncos.
Teddy Bridgewater is on pace for 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions this season. That’s pretty good, and would be plenty good enough to help guide the Broncos to the playoffs.
He’s playing the best football of his career and hasn’t been the main reason why the Broncos have undergone a 3 game losing streak.
Thirdly, the rookie draft class for the Denver Broncos looks very promising, especially Patrick Surtain II and Javonte Williams.
Surtain has already worked his way into the starting lineup, effectively jumping Kyle Fuller on the depth chart. He’s made several excellent plays this season and has lockdown corner written all over him.
Javonte Williams has offered a few explosive plays this season, giving us a preview of when he eventually takes over as the starting running back. He’s currently averaging 4.6 yards per carry and is on pace for 850 rushing yards this season.
With playing behind Melvin Gordon, I think that’s very impressive.
We’ve also seen great play from Courtland Sutton, who is on pace for well over 1,000 yards coming back from a torn ACL. Caden Sterns looks like Kareem Jackson’s replacement; Sterns is an exceptional athlete who looks to be a steal being drafted in the 5th round.
Also, the Broncos are projected to have $80 million in cap space next offseason. The Broncos haven’t committed to a long-term answer at quarterback, so George Paton may use the cap space to swing a trade for a certain quarterback on a large contract.
I understand that some writers think we should make wholesale changes, and I don’t disagree, but finding some positives during this mess is something we should all try to do.