2015 NFL Season Predictions: AFC West

theinscribermag.com

1st Place- Denver Broncos (11-5)

The Broncos have been a powerhouse in the AFC West for a few years now. Ever since Peyton Manning took over as the quarterback they have been incredibly tough to beat. Last year the Broncos looked as good as ever to start off the season, but began to dwindle as the season wound down. This year they will look to start off hot and maintain it throughout the year.

The Broncos offense is of course led by Peyton Manning. Manning is one of the smartest players in the NFL but as he ages his physical skills are starting to dissipate. This preseason his arm has looked weaker than ever. Manning also admitted that he hasn’t been able to feel his fingertips since his neck injury, so it’s no surprise that his throws may look a bit off. Luckily, Manning has one of the best quick dump safety nets in the NFL when it comes to Demaryius Thomas. Thomas is able to take the shortest screen passes and turn them into explosive touchdowns.

The best news for Manning may even be the arrival of Gary Kubiak. Kubiak has been known to utilize his running backs, and with the emergence of C.J. Anderson, that trend will likely continue. Anderson should be able to give Manning’s arm plenty of rest to keep him fresh for the Broncos inevitable playoff run.

The Broncos have a wildly underrated defense. DeMarcus Ware and and Von Miller combine to create a fearsome pass rush, while Aqib Talib, Chris Harris and TJ Ward form a formidable secondary. Though the defense could certainly be elite once again, they did lose a couple of big pieces in the offseason.

Let’s start with the smaller of the two loses: Terrance Knighton. Knighton had problems with his weight, but when he was in the lineup he was a premier run stopping presence. The second loss was free safety Rahim Moore. Moore was never really viewed as an elite safety, but some believe he may be. Free safety is becoming one of the more vital positions in football in an age dominated by passing. Moore was developing into one of the best middle field defenders into the NFL. He will certainly be hard to replace.

The Broncos have a lot of talent on both sides of the ball. They lost some pieces though, and Manning continues to slowly decline. They won’t be as good as they have been in the past, but considering how good they have been, fans shouldn’t worry much.