(Photo Credit: Milehighreport.com)
The journey begins tonight when the Broncos will start their Super Bowl campaign by playing the 49ers in a preseason matchup at Candlestick Park.
Expectations are high for both teams, which they are supposed to win the Super Bowl. That’s why tonight is a starting point for both teams to see how good they can be.
For the Broncos, there is a sense of urgency. They have to win the Super Bowl. Many opportunities don’t come often, so they have to strike when it’s there. This is a team that features many players who are up there in age such as Peyton Manning, Wes Welker, Champ Bailey, Ryan Lilja, Quentin Jammer and Mike Adams.
Even young players know this is an opportunity they can’t let it slip by. They know they may not be in this situation few years from now.
It’s hard to believe the Broncos will take the preseason lightly. This is a veteran group that is motivated by disappointment after the Broncos fell short in the playoffs by losing to the Ravens in the divisional round at home. That’s what makes the preseason interesting. This is a team that is hellbent on beating any team that is in their way of winning a championship.
The veterans and rookies know the preseason is not the time to fool around this year. They don’t want to pick up bad habits that are not conducive to winning. They don’t want this to start festering to the regular season. That’s why preseason football is interesting this season unlike other seasons.
For the experts, the preseason record does not mean much. No one rewards teams for winning in the preseason.
For the Broncos, it does mean something. They want to be sharp to start the season. They start the season by playing the Ravens and Giants in their first two games of the season. This is where they can make an impression by dominating both teams.
A good start does not mean much, but it does for the players and the coaches. They want to feel good about themselves, especially coaches who tend to be paranoid. Confidence goes a long way for players to feel like they can achieve their objective.
There is so much pressure for the Broncos to win it all. This is their best shot. There are not many good AFC teams out there. Here’s why:
The Patriots’ defense is nothing to write home about, so it’s hard to take the Patriots seriously.
The Ravens lost many players from last year’s team such as Ed Reed (signed with Texans as free agent), Paul Kruger (signed with the Browns as free agent), Anquan Boldin (traded to the 49ers), Ray Lewis (retirement) and Matt Birk (retirement).
The Texans are a question mark until Matt Schaub proves he can take the Texans to the AFC Championship Game.
The Bengals are improved as a franchise, but they have to show they can win a playoff game.
The Steelers score points, but their defense has to get back to being effective.
Anything can happen in the NFL, but there is no reason the Broncos can’t play at MetLife Stadium for the right to win a Super Bowl championship. They are good enough to win it all. It’s about performing in January, and they know it. That’s why this season is a season of intrigue.
To the Broncos’ credit, they embrace high expectations. John Elway and his staff should be commended for finding guys that understand what the deal is. That was clear when Peyton Manning was signed last year, and when Wes Welker was signed this offseason.
It will be interesting how the Broncos handle this journey. There are going to be ups and downs for four months. Even if they handle the regular season seamlessly, it will come down to what they accomplish in January. The NFL is not as easy as the 90s where the best teams such as the Broncos always win. It takes good fortune to win now.
The high expectations make the Broncos a storyline in the 2013 NFL season.
It all begins tonight, and the Broncos hope it ends with them hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy at MetLife Stadium on a cold February Sunday night.
Leslie Monteiro
Leslie is a contributor for Lightning Rod Sports. He covered high school sports in Bergen County out in North Jersey, and has written op-ed columns on sports such as Bleacher Report and NY Sports Digest.
Peyton isn’t good in the playoffs and your secondary is older and not anything special. Not a recipe for SB success.
All fair points.
Another issue I have is John Fox. I wonder if he is a championship coach. He is conservative. He rather go for FGs than go for touchdowns at third downs. How about when he decided to go for OT in a playoff game against the Ravens than go for the win? Why give Joe Flacco another chance to beat you after he torched the Broncos’ secondary in the divisional playoff game?
Thanks for reading.