DENVER BRONCOS
2020 Record - 5-11-0
Head Coach - Vic Fangio
Key Additions - Teddy Bridgewater (QB), Mike Boone (RB), Ronald Darby (CB), Kyle Fuller (CB), Bobby Massie (OL), Cameron Fleming (OL), Shamar Stephen (DL)
OFFENSE - Teddy Bridgewater was brought in this off-season to compete for the starting quarterback job with Drew Lock, who passed for 2,933 yards last year with 16 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Bridgewater (with Carolina last season) passed for 3,733 yards with 15 touchdowns and eleven interceptions while also rushing for 279 yards and five touchdowns.
Melvin Gordon will be the primary running back after rushing for 986 yards (4.6 ypc average) and nine scores a year ago. He also had 32 receptions with one touchdown. Royce Freeman (4.9 ypc average) and rookie Javonte Williams (North Carolina) will provide the backup in the running game. The wide receivers include Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy (52 receptions, 856 yards and three TD), KJ Hamler (30, 381, three TD) and Tim Patrick, who caught 51 passes for 742 yards and six touchdowns. Tight end Noah Fant led the team last year with 62 receptions for 673 yards and three touchdowns.
DEFENSE - Mike Purcell (nose tackle) and ends Shelby Harris and Dre'Mont Jones man the front line for the Broncos while former All-Pro Von Miller (coming back from severe ankle injury), Josey Jewell, Alexander Johnson, Malik Reed (team high eight QB sacks) and Bradley Chubb (7 1/2 sacks) will be the linebackers. Rookie Baron Browning (Ohio State) will look to be in the mix as well. Shamar Stephen comes in via free agency to provide depth on the defensive line.
In the secondary is Ronald Darby and Kyle Fuller at the corners along with Justin Simmons (five interceptions) and Kareem Jackson at the safety spots. Both Darby and Fuller are coming in this year from different teams. Bryce Callahan (two picks) is another cornerback along with rookie Pat Surtain II (Alabama). Two more rookie safeties include Jamar Johnson (Indiana) and Caden Sterns (Texas). Nate Hairston provides depth as well.
The Broncos defense fell back to 25th in scoring defense (allowing 27.9 points per game in 2020) while finishing 20th overall, giving up 368 yards per game. The run defense allowed 130 YPG (25th ranked) and the pass defense was 16th last year, allowing 238 yards per game. Denver had 42 QB sacks last season, but managed just 16 takeaways.
2021 SEASON OUTLOOK - Since winning the Super Bowl in the 2015 season, the Broncos haven't hit double digits in wins since then and Head Coach Vic Fangio would like to see that change or else he will more than likely be on the "hot seat" this season.
The primary battle for the starting quarterback spot with Bridgewater and Lock will be interesting to watch unfold. Denver averaged just 20.2 PPG last year (28th ranked in the NFL) and the passing game averaged 216 yards, which was 26th overall. The running game managed 120 YPG (13th in NFL) to account for 336 yards per game in total offense, which was 23rd in the league. More scoring is the priority in the Mile High City in 2021 while the defense will look to get more turnovers and stop opponents from piling up the points. The offense should get a big boost with WR Courtland Sutton back healthy this season. Sutton had 117 receptions for 1,882 yards and ten touchdowns in 2019, but missed 15 games last year with a knee injury.
With key players on both sides of the ball back this year, the Broncos should see more consistency during the 17-game schedule. The passing game must improve so that enemy defenses cannot stack the box and contain Gordon and company in the running game. As long as Denver can keep up with opponents on the scoreboard, they should be better this year. A 9-8 season is not out of the question, which would be a four-game improvement from last year.
Stay tuned.
2021 SCHEDULE
Week 1 - at N.Y. Giants
Week 2 - at Jacksonville
Week 3 - vs. N.Y. Jets
Week 4 - vs. Baltimore
Week 5 - at Pittsburgh
Week 6 - vs. Dallas
Week 7 - at Cleveland
Week 8 - vs. Washington
Week 9 - at Dallas
Week 10 - vs. Philadelphia
Week 11 - BYE
Week 12 - vs. L.A. Chargers
Week 13 - at Kansas City
Week 14 - vs. Detroit
Week 15 - vs. Cincinnati
Week 16 - at Las Vegas
Week 17 - at L.A. Chargers
Week 18 - vs. Kansas City
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