The Denver Broncos have opened up this season as 9-2 odds to win their division, according to the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook. They also set the over/under for wins at seven and their odds to win the Super Bowl at 40-1. After winning five straight division titles, the Broncos have failed to reach the postseason the last two years. A couple factors led to them dominating the AFC West for five straight years and one Super Bowl ring. One being, they had one of the best QB’s of all time playing under center in Peyton Manning.

Manning led the Broncos to 12+ wins in three out of the four years he spent there. In his second season, Manning absolutely annihilated anybody in his way (until meeting the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl) en route to an MVP season. The future Hall of Famer threw for 5,477 yards, 55 touchdowns, and just 10 interceptions. He fell short in 2013 but would redeem himself and get the Broncos a ring in 2015. He would then retire, leaving the Broncos searching for their new signal caller. Denver has failed to find their guy since.

The second reason for their incredible run in the AFC West was their elite defense. Led by Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware, Aqib Talib, Chris Harris, and great play all-around. Their defense was impenetrable. Now, only Miller and Harris are still tenured with the team while a few young guys are stepping in to develop into prominent roles. Their defense hasn’t quite looked the same the past couple years.

This year is different though. Although the Broncos aren’t favorites to take the division, there are a few reasons they can surprise people this year. Let’s take a look at those reasons.

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