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It has been 11 straight losses over 5 1/2 seasons for the Broncos in opposition to their AFC West rival. QB play has been one distinction between the groups however not the one.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — As coaching camp approaches, there are expectations of a successful season upon the Denver Broncos.
Current historical past be darned.
Hope comes from renewed religion within the sound offseason work of recent normal supervisor George Paton, the return to well being of key gamers like Von Miller and Courtland Sutton, and the potential next-step improvement of younger gamers like Jerry Jeudy, Dre’Mont Jones, Noah Fant and, if he wins the quarterback job, Drew Lock. And if Lock doesn’t, Teddy Bridgewater as a stable backup plan. Maybe most importantly, there’s additionally a comparatively gentle schedule awaiting final yr’s last-place Broncos, particularly early.
>>Video above: Klis & Inform: Broncos underway with OTAs, completely different strategy vs. Chiefs
Optimism is nicely and good 9 days out from the beginning of coaching camp however the actuality is a successful document is a quantum leap for a crew that completed 5-11, 6-10, 7-9 and 5-11 the previous 4 years. 9NEWS right this moment begins a collection of 9 questions the Broncos should satisfactorily reply if they’re to certainly end with a successful document in 2021.
9. Are the Broncos able to beat the Chiefs?
Challenge: The five-time defending AFC West champions from Kansas Metropolis have received 11 video games in a row in opposition to the Broncos. Denver’s dropping streak in opposition to the Chiefs is so lengthy, it began when Peyton Manning was the Broncos’ quarterback. After serving the compulsory five-year retirement interval, Manning will go into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame months earlier than the Broncos have an opportunity to cease the skid.
A 9-8 or 10-7 document received’t imply a lot if the Broncos lose each video games to the Chiefs this season, which received’t be performed till Dec. 5 at Arrowhead Stadium and Jan. 9 at Empower Discipline at Mile Excessive.
Background: The 11-game, 5 ½-year dropping streak started with the injured Manning experiencing the worst sport of his 293-game profession, at the same time as he set the all-time passing yardage document, within the groups’ last assembly of 2015. Manning accomplished nearly as many passes to the Chiefs protection (4) that November day as to his personal crew (5) and was benched in favor of Brock Osweiler.
Justin Simmons, for all his advantageous play that earned him the richest contract on the security place, has been a part of 9 consecutive losses to the Chiefs. Shelby Harris’ stellar play earned him a $9 million-a-year deal this offseason but counting his 2015 season with the Raiders he’s 0-10 in opposition to the Chiefs.
The first distinction on this collection has been on the head coach and quarterback positions. Andy Reid has been the Chiefs’ head coach all through the run. He’s began solely two quarterbacks throughout his streak in opposition to the Broncos — the regular and underrated Alex Smith via the primary 4 video games, and the sensational Patrick Mahomes within the subsequent seven. The Broncos, in the meantime, have been coached by Gary Kubiak, Vance Joseph and Vic Fangio, who’ve began at quarterback Manning, Trevor Siemian, Paxton Lynch, Case Keenum, Joe Flacco and Drew Lock.
Then once more, journeyman Matt Moore got here off the bench early to switch an injured Mahomes in a 2019 sport to steer the Chiefs to a lopsided victory. And Mahomes’ first win within the collection was in his NFL debut in a meaningless 2017 finale at Mile Excessive. So it hasn’t at all times been concerning the quarterback.
Decision: Shelby Harris acquired an concept of tips on how to beat the Chiefs from watching Tampa Bay destroy Mahomes and Kansas Metropolis, 31-9 again in February.
“Such as you noticed within the Tremendous Bowl, the No. 1 means you get to an important QB is by move rush,’’ Harris advised 9News in late-March. “Strain. I really feel like we simply fortified that so I feel each QB on the market needs to be fearful.’’
Paton additionally got down to decelerate the Chiefs’ high two receiving threats in Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce by including three elite cornerbacks in Ronald Darby, Kyle Fuller and first-round draft decide Patrick Surtain.
Now about that Broncos’ offense that has averaged simply 16.4 factors throughout their Chiefs’ skid. The offense, and the return to type of Von Miller and Bradley Chubb, are query marks for an additional day.
Broncos podcast: Klis’ Mike Drop
Denver Broncos headlines, sport previews and interviews with our 9NEWS insider Mike Klis.
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