Denver Broncos 2017 Season Recap

So what if your team doesn't have a high end quarterback? Football's a team sport, right? If we have a good defense and a pretty good run game, who needs a high priced passer? Well...

The Denver Broncos

2017 Record: 5-11

2016 Record: 9-7

Win Differential: -4

What Happened? In the Broncos' second year in trying to find a successor to the future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, they would wheel out third year pro Trevor Siemian, sophomore project Paxton Lynch, and the returning Brock Osweiler as starters to see which one of them would take control of the offense. The answer to that question would be none of the above, as all three would give the coaching staff and the Broncos' faithful more reason for each man to ride the bench than be handed the reins. This would put Denver in a downward spiral, as this would leave the defense on the field too long and stymie the run offense, as opposing defenses could focus on run stoppage, as they did not fear nor respect the Broncos pass game.

What To Expect: John Elway, Denver's EVP of Football Operations, is not the type of executive to get smacked in the face with a dead fish and not respond accordingly. Elway opted to eschew drafting one of the handful of college prospects in this year's draft and decided to go through free agency, signing Case Keenum, most recently of the Minnesota Vikings. Keenum went from embattled journeyman signal caller to league MVP candidate and a game away from the Super Bowl over the course of one season. Keenum has shown flashes of brilliance over his six year career with three other teams, but had not put it all together in one season prior to 2017. The Broncos are taking a calculated risk, but not a potentially crippling one. Yes, Keenum is slated to average $18 million a year in salary, but the contract is only for two years. If Keenum replicates his form from Minnesota, he will be a highly sought after commodity in spring of 2020. But if he reverts back to his ways when he was with the Houston Texans and LA Rams, then the Broncos will only be out the money and back to square one. And given the uncertainty of the status of the AFC West, they could steal this division if Keenum is as good as advertised. 2018 could repeat the pattern of 2017 for the Broncos; they will go as far as their QB will take them. And they've bet that it will be a damn sight farther.