By Jason Leach
When the NFL season started, the Broncos were clearly one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl. But no one could have imagined the record breaking pace the Broncos would be on.
When the Broncos signed free agent receiver Wes Welker in the offseason it gave Peyton Manning possibly the best trio of receivers that he’s ever had in Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker and Welker. If that wasn’t enough fire power, the emergence of third year tight end Julius Thomas has made this passing attack unstoppable.
Through the first 5 games of the season the Broncos have outscored their opponents 230 to 139. At this pace the Broncos will shatter the single season scoring record of 589 points by the 2007 New England Patriots. While it might be a little early to discuss the possibility that the Broncos can have an undefeated regular season as the Patriots did in 2007, they have a favorable schedule and if they keep winning the discussion can begin.
The Broncos could have four receivers amass over 1,000 receiving yards this year in Welker, Decker, Demaryius Thomas and Julian Thomas. That feat has never been accomplished in the NFL. All of this would not be possible if not for their legendary quarterback Peyton Manning.
Peyton Manning is having the best start to a season in his NFL career. Through the first 5 games he has thrown for over 1,800 yards, 20 touchdowns and only 1 interception. With those numbers he’s on a fast track to winning an unprecedented 5th NFL MVP award. On top of that he’s on pace to throw for at least 60 touchdowns which would shatter the record of 50 set by Tom Brady in 2007. It’s hard to imagine that just two short years ago the fear was he may never play football again after his fourth neck operation.
Even though other teams have gotten off to hot starts such as the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots, the Broncos are playing at a higher level than anyone else. The discussion from week to week is not if they’re going to win but how much are they going to win by. In their week 6 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Broncos were favored to win by 27, the single largest point spread in the history of the National Football League.
After last year’s devastating 38-35 double overtime loss to the eventual Super Bowl Champions Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, the Broncos know what they do in the regular season does not matter if they falter in the postseason. If the Broncos are to continue the regular season into the postseason, they’ll wind up in MetLife stadium in February for Super Bowl XLVIII. Ironically it will give Peyton Manning an opportunity to win a a Super Bowl in the stadium where his brother Eli plays, just as Eli had won a Super Bowl two years ago at Lucas Oil Stadium which is where Peyton played as an Indianapolis Colt.
If Peyton and the Broncos are able to win the Super Bowl this year, then he will become the first starting quarterback in NFL history to win a Super Bowl with two different teams, which will be the most important record the Broncos.