The next three games are must wins for the Denver Broncos
After the Denver Broncos’ disappointing week one loss in Seattle, the next three games on their schedule are must-win contests. I firmly believe that we’re already approaching this territory for the Denver Broncos. The AFC West is likely going to be an intense race to the finish, and Denver cannot afford to lose ground.
They’re already a game behind the Chiefs and Chargers and are even with the Raiders. Over the next three games, we could see a division lead begin to open up by one of these teams, which would spell disaster if it wasn’t the Broncos at the top.
For that reason, I think the next three contests are must-win games for Denver. Their next two games are at home. They play the Houston Texans this coming Sunday. They aren’t as bad of a team as some think they are– they recently tied with the Indianapolis Colts, which is notable.
The Texans playing in Denver should be an easier win for the Broncos, but if they get caught up with these silly penalties again, it’ll be a disaster. Denver needs to secure their first win early in the season. Their next contest the following week is against Trey Lance and the San Francisco 49ers. Lance looked mostly awful in their first game in Chicago against the Bears.
It isn’t known how long of a leash he has as the starter. The team has Jimmy Garoppolo as the backup, so if Lance begins to seriously drag down the team, Lance could get benched. Either way, Denver would and should have an advantage over the 49ers, in my opinion. If Lance is playing in this game, Denver should be able to take care of business.
The home-field advantage is crucial here. It may be a close game, but the firepower on Denver’s roster should be enough. Their next game is away, against the Raiders. This is a tough divisional matchup, but Denver has advantages all across their roster, especially at quarterback, offensive line, and in the secondary.
The reason I think the next three are must-wins is because of who some of the Broncos’ rivals’ opponents are. The Chargers’ next three games are against the Chiefs, Jaguars, and Texans. It’s a very real possibility that they are either 4-0 or 3-1 at this point.
The Chiefs have a tougher road against the Chargers, Colts, and Buccaneers, but would any of us be surprised in the slightest if Kansas City wins those games? Or perhaps at least is 3-1 at that point? We’ve seen how dominant they can be.
The Raiders’ next three contests are against the Cardinals, who looked awful in week one, the Titans, who just lost to the Giants, and the Broncos. I’m beginning to think that the AFC West could end up in a four-way tie at 3-1 after four games.
It would be quite the disadvantage if Denver ended up as the lone 2-2 team in a different scenario, especially if they lost a divisional game to the Raiders. Since Denver appears to be a strong, playoff-caliber team this year, there is more urgency than in prior seasons.