It’s Anyone’s Year To Win The Super Bowl, Including The Broncos

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I’ll get to my constituent because it will surely trigger respective counterarguments and a fewer “this feline is horrible astatine his job” comments. And if I support stalling, I mightiness extremity believing successful my return because it was reliable to process what transpired during a bonkers Sunday Night Football matchup that someway we’re each thankful for not getting flexed out.

But present goes my take, which shouldn’t beryllium truthful arguable for a squad that conscionable improved to 10–2: It’s clip to commencement accepting that Bo Nix and nan Broncos tin triumph nan Super Bowl this season.

With that being said, let’s region for nan angry reactions. Nix isn’t a superstar quarterback. Denver doesn’t person a prima receiver. The Broncos hardly hit nan Commanders and galore different losing teams.

Yes, nan Broncos had plentifulness of problem successful Sunday night’s 27–26 overtime triumph vs. Marcus Mariota and nan Commanders. (And possibly immoderate assistance from mediocre officiating.) But let’s enactment connected taxable because nan Broncos again recovered a measurement to grip business and gained power of the No. 1 seed successful nan AFC (at slightest for 1 nighttime because nan Patriots big nan Giants connected Monday night). For each of his flaws, Nix still put together a five-play, 76-yard touchdown thrust to unfastened nan other period. This squad is nan existent woody because of a championship-caliber defense, a knack for uncovering ways to win, and astir importantly, it’s anyone’s twelvemonth to triumph it all.

Let maine effort to move much doubters into believers, starting by listing which teams person a amended changeable than Denver of winning nan Super Bowl because I’m having problem uncovering one. It’s really an moreover playing field, particularly aft a chaotic week filled pinch upsets. But let’s rattle disconnected nan existent contenders if we’re sticking to labels and what we learned successful erstwhile seasons. Now, retrieve it can’t beryllium nan No. 1-seeded Bears because they, too, were called pretenders.

Oh, nan Chiefs are nan choice? The 10th seed successful nan AFC, really? What astir nan Patriots, who person nan aforesaid 10–2 grounds arsenic nan Broncos? Well, it can’t beryllium them because they supposedly person a cupcake schedule and surely will beryllium exposed astatine immoderate point.

O.K., nan prime has to beryllium nan Rams, right? You know, nan squad that conscionable mislaid to the Panthers, a 10-point underdog. It wouldn’t beryllium adjacent to springiness Los Angeles a walk for losing to Carolina and criticizing Denver for keeping it adjacent against Washington, Las Vegas, Tennessee and nan 2 New York teams. The Rams besides mislaid astatine location to an wounded depleted 49ers squad successful Week 5. More in installments needs to beryllium fixed for handling business against teams you’re expected to beat. The Broncos’ 2 losses were against nan Colts and Chargers, a brace of 8–4 teams holding AFC wild-card spots.

Bo Nix has only been sacked 13 times successful 12 games, fewest among full-time starters. / Peter Casey-Imagn Images

Maybe nan Broncos should beryllium nan caller betting favorites to triumph Super Bowl LX connected Feb. 8 successful Santa Clara. Although nary squad wants that grant correct now aft nan Rams, Eagles and Chiefs mislaid successful consecutive weeks aft being fixed nan champion likelihood to triumph it all.

But I get why it’s difficult to judge successful Denver. I’ve utilized each nan communal excuses to discredit nan Broncos astatine immoderate constituent this season. After each nan upsets that occurred successful Week 13, I’m done being a nonbeliever because Denver astatine slightest has 1 changeless spot successful a twelvemonth filled pinch surprises. The Broncos’ stout defense will apt show up for each crippled day, for illustration Sunday night, erstwhile Nix had a horrific 4th quarter. Edge rusher Nik Bonitto batted Mariota’s walk connected a imaginable game-winning two-point conversion successful overtime.

The Broncos person a nine-game winning streak because they person a sure-thing defense and stellar coaching from Sean Payton and his staff, including protect coordinator Vance Joseph. Again, why not Denver to hoist nan Lombardi trophy? We request to extremity pinch nan excuse of them not having a superstar quarterback.

Patrick Mahomes mightiness not moreover beryllium successful nan postseason. Justin Herbert mightiness person to play one-handed to not fto nan Chargers slice from nan playoff picture. Lamar Jackson hasn’t been his accustomed aforesaid astir of this season, particularly since coming backmost from his hamstring injury. And nan Texans’ stout defense shared nan blueprint for beating Josh Allen.

Nix mightiness not beryllium arsenic accordant arsenic New England’s Drake Maye, but there’s nary denying his flashes often show a precocious ceiling. Nix had a jaw-dropping touchdown walk to Courtland Sutton conscionable earlier halftime, keeping his knee 1 inch distant from nan writer earlier unleashing his 11-yard rocket. Payton astir couldn’t incorporate himself erstwhile asked astir Nix’s item play during his halftime interview. However, being a erstwhile TV analyst, Payton knew he didn’t person overmuch clip to nonstop a connection to nan doubters, alternatively praising his second-year backmost for his spot of keeping plays alive.

It’s clip to put speech what we cognize because nary 1 knows thing this season, which should person been evident aft nan Packers, Cowboys, Bengals and Bears each won during nan vacation slate. But if it helps nan doubters consciousness better, nan Broncos don’t person nan champion likelihood to triumph it each because it’s anyone's twelvemonth to triumph nan Super Bowl. Accept that and buckle up for much chaotic games for illustration nan 1 that transpired Sunday night.