The sheriff is ready, bring it on.
The Denver Broncos have the easiest schedule in the NFL, according to NFL.com. The Broncos will be playing teams that were a combined 110-146 (.430 win percentage) in 2013. This is misleading due to the fact the AFC West was so poor last year. The Chargers, Raiders, and Chiefs were a combined 13-35, double that up and you get 26-70 for division opponents....in 2013. I think it is safe to say the Chiefs are improved from 2-14 last year with the addition of Andy Reid and Alex Smith. The Chargers are always a threat, even though their window of opportunity to compete for a championship seems to be closed. The Raiders.....well yeah....they aren't very good and won't be for a long time. That is what happens when you trade a first round pick and a second round pick for an aging, "me first guy", never elite Quarterback in Carson Palmer. I told Raider fans at the time it was a terrible move, I think they may finally agree.
But enough about the division, that is the boring part of the schedule. This season is filled with old friends turned enemies, all-time great rivalries, returning home, and family feuds. Let's look at some intriguing match ups:
Let's start where the Broncos left off...
The Baltimore Ravens, here in Denver. This match-up has some extra sizzle with the recent events. On December 16th 2012, the Denver Broncos went into M&T Bank Stadium and absolutely embarrassed the Baltimore Ravens. They not only won the game 34-17 (not as close as the score indicates), they left the Baltimore Ravens questioning whether they could make the playoffs, let alone win the division. Joe Flacco was intercepted right before halftime by Chris Harris who returned the INT for a 99 yard touchdown and left Joe Flacco laying face down, embarrassed to get up, wondering if the Ravens organization would even re-sign the 28 year old QB.
Well it was a different story on January 12th, 2013 for the Divisional Playoff game. We all know the Rahim Moore play by now, the debacle that occurred that day will hopefully resonate with every Broncos player just like the Divisional Playoff loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on January 4th 1997 (worst loss in Broncos Franchise history). The Broncos had a legitimate chance to win the Super Bowl in 1997 and blew it, but they came back next year with a fire to complete the mission and they did by winning Super Bowl 32.
I am getting off topic...my thoughts are wandering...that Ravens loss always does that to me.
So not only will it be a chance at payback, but an old friend will be coming back to Denver, Elvis Dumervil. In his 6 productive seasons with the Broncos, "Doom" recorded 63.5 sacks and was a fan favorite. You can find # 92 jersey's all over Sports Authority Field and the streets of Denver. That's what happens when you become one of the greatest edge pass rushers in Broncos history. Elvis wanted to be a Denver Bronco...well kind of...but not really...actually no he didn't. The Broncos asked Elvis to take a pay cut, because his contract was "out of whack" according to John Elway. Elway was right, the market showed Elvis wasn't worth 12 million a year, but closer to 8 million. Elvis was hurt that his boss asked him to take a pay cut, I don't blame him, I would be too. So after waiting to the last minute, and actually beyond the last minute, Elvis decided he wanted to stay in Denver, but it was too late. Then "Fax-gate" happened, a huge failure on Elvis and his agent, Marty Magid. So the Ravens took advantage and wound up signing the free agent. Elvis, we will see you in Denver, be prepared to be schooled by Ryan Clady.
Mike Shanahan will be returning to Denver as an opposing coach for the first time since being fired on December 30, 2008. Shanahan spent 14 seasons as the Broncos head coach, winning two Super Bowls and returning the franchise to championship expectations. Now Mike Shanahan will lead RG3 and the Washington Redskins into battle against the Denver Broncos in 2013. John Elway texted Mike Shanahan, "put in a good word for us" when Peyton Manning was scheduled to have a meeting with Shanahan and the Redskins...maybe he did. Shanahan no longer lives in Denver, perhaps he was tired of having such a dump of a house in Cherry Hills...
...or not. Shanny's house was on the market for 2 years before being sold for a cool 7 million, 10 million less than what he purchased it for, ouch. But have no fear, Shanahan's Steak House is still alive and kickin' in Denver, maybe Mike will drop by before game time for a 24 oz. Prime Porterhouse for an easy $52.
Peyton Manning vs Tom Brady, it doesn't get any better than that. Oh wait...it does...
Wes Welker vs Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, and the Patriots. Add that to an already great rivalry and this game might set ratings records for the most watched regular season game ever. I would be shocked if this isn't a prime time game. Broncos vs Patriots is already huge because these two teams will most likely be the two favorites to represent the AFC in Super Bowl 48. This game will be played in Foxborough, so it will be a tough match up for the Broncos. Manning now has Brady's favorite target on his team, I expect Wes Welker to have a monster game against his former team.
Eli vs Peyton in New York. The two Manning brothers have each said they do not enjoy playing against each other, oh well, everyone else does. Peyton is 2-0 against his younger brother and that trend should continue in 2013 when the Broncos travel to New York to play the Giants. Even though Eli Manning has 2 Super Bowl wins compared to Peyton's 1, nobody doubts that Peyton is the better all-time quarterback. This is most likely the last meeting between the two brothers and Eli's last chance to get a head to head win.
Peyton Manning was supposed to finish his career an Indianapolis Colt. However, when you have a chance to draft Andrew Luck, the second coming of Peyton Manning, the Colts didn't have a choice but to release Peyton and start over. What makes this game so interesting is it will be in Indianapolis. I anticipate the Colts fans to cheer Manning pre-game and to wear their #18 jersey's, but when the game starts it will be a fan base 100% behind Andrew Luck and the Colts. Don't believe Manning when he says playing in Indianapolis is just another game, this game means more to him then he will let on. As for Andrew Luck, the kid will be in Peyton's shadow until he wins a Super Bowl. I am not sure who will be more nervous that game, Manning or Luck? I expect Peyton to do everything he can to win that game, perhaps a game winning touchdown pass to Jacob Tamme would be the perfect ending.
There is one more game that intrigues me...Gary Kubiak facing the Broncos once again in Houston...no that's not it. Let's just assume the Jets trade one of their high profile QB's to his home town...in Jacksonville. Well Jacksonville is on the schedule to play in Denver. So maybe, just MAYBE...an old face would be coming back to play in Denver...
It should be a great season.
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