We wrap up our journey through the AFC with the Denver Broncos, a team that seriously under-performed last season. Vance Joseph’s inaugural year at the helm was a complete disaster, ending with a 5-11 record and a cavalcade of starting quarterbacks, only one of whom is still employed by the team today.
Still, this is a team with a ton of talent on both sides of the ball. The oddsmakers at BetDSI Sportsbook have factored that in with their totals, but don’t seem to believe new starting quarterback Case Keenum will make much of a difference. Take a look at the odds.
Denver Broncos 2018-19 Regular Season Win Total
Over 7.5 (+110)
Under 7.5 (+140)
Any discussion about the Broncos and their 2018 potential all revolves around their quarterback situation and Keenum. To say that Keenum had a “career year” last season is to pretend Keenum had a real career before. He was a back up and spot starter with the Houston Texans and the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams, part of the complete quarterback clusterflorp of ruination at the hands of former Rams head coach Jeff Fisher. Keenum wasn’t Fisher’s only victim as Jared Goff, Austin Davis, Shaun Hill, Nick Foles, Kellen Clemens and Sam Bradford all bear the scars of Fisher’s ineptitude on their career stat sheets.
Because of Bradford’s injury with the Minnesota Vikings last season, Keenum was handed the keys to the team. He made 14 starts and played in 15 games in the regular season, completing a career high 67.6 percent of his passes for 3,547 yards, 22 touchdowns and just seven interceptions.
After OTAs Case Keenum will bring #broncos QBs, WRs, TEs down to Houston to workout and throw.
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) May 29, 2018
Of course, there was always a pumpkin at the end of Keenum’s rainbow and the Philadelphia Eagles soundly defeated the Vikings in the NFC title game. Keenum looked a whole lot like the guy Fisher rode into the dirt with the Rams.
So which Keenum are the Broncos getting? Regardless of what you’ll read or see this offseason, nobody knows. Not even Case himself.
Paxton Lynch remains in the building as does Chad Kelly. Both have pro quarterback potential and neither have come close to realizing it yet. It could have a lot do do with who Joseph has on the staff.
Demaryius Thomas on Case Keenum: “He takes control of everything. Not just the offense”
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) May 29, 2018
What the Broncos do know they’ll have is an elite defense filled with playmakers. Even with the trade of cornerback Aqib Talib, Denver just slides up Bradley Roby into his spot and loses very little, if anything. They added the best pass rusher in the draft in Bradley Chubb to go along with Von Miller and a healthy Shane Ray. Quarterbacks are in trouble.
Denver’s schedule is a killer to open the season. They host the Seattle Seahawks and Oakland Raiders, then travel to Baltimore to take on the Ravens before hosting the Kansas City Chiefs. A 2-2 start out of that will be a blessing.
The key to winning this bet with the over comes in the final three games. The Broncos host the Cleveland Browns, then travel to the Oakland Raiders, then host the Los Angeles Chargers. I can see a Denver team coming into that final stretch at 5-8 with a chance to finish .500.
Bradley Chubb with a strip-sack on Case Keenum off the right side of the offensive line
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) May 29, 2018
I don’t think they can do it. I say go the under.
