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2/25/15: Everybody continues to say the right things in Denver. QB Peyton Manning says he is good to go (though has not officially declared to the team that he is playing next season), while president John Elway maintains that the Broncos want Manning back. The question is if the Broncos want him back at $19 million for next season. There are those out there that say Manning should take a pay cut considering his age, injuries and struggles in the second half of last season. Of course, Manning is still an elite QB, and it is seems unlikely that he will take less money.

2/18/15: There is no word or finality yet in Denver's favorite soap opera "As the Manning Turns", though it has been reported that QB Peyton Manning did make a trip to the Mile High City to meet with president John Elway. Manning is deciding whether or not to retire, and the coaching changes may play a part in his decision. Additionally, he will have to pass a physical, if he does return. Finally, if he is on the roster by March 9, 2015, then his entire salary for the next season is guaranteed. Most feel that he will come back for at least one more season, but, again, there is no official word yet.

2/11/15: There are certainly a lot of questions about the Broncos offense next season, the first under new head coach Gary Kubiak. Kubiak was the offensive coordinator for Denver several years ago and it will not be too tough to figure out what type of offense he wants to run. Of course, there are the daily questions about whether or not Peyton Manning is coming back. But there are also serious concerns about the offensive line. Louis Vasquez should be moving back to his natural right guard spot and Ryan Clady should be the left tackle. Aside from that, the Broncos may need to replace three starters on the O-Line.

2/5/15: We are now entering week four of the will he or won't he return saga of Broncos' QB Payton Manning. Manning's father, Archie, spoke publicly about the situation and said that Peyton will 'consider everything' in his decision. There are a lot of variables in play, including a new head coach and offensive coordinator. That new head coach, Gary Kubiak, wants Peyton to come back and says they will design an offense around him. The rumor mill will get swirling even more over the next couple of months, but considering Peyton's competitive drive, the smart money should be on his return.

1/28/15: This is an offseason of major change for the Denver Broncos. First the entire coaching staff was released and the team went into action in hiring a new head coach. That, of course, is former Broncos backup QB and offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak. As he puts his staff together, the team has to wonder about the future of QB Peyton Manning. Manning has two years left on his five year contract, but struggled mightily in the last month or so of the season and actually was injured. He is contemplating retirement, though wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders says that he is coming back for at least one more year.

1/21/15: Welcome back, Gary Kubiak. Kubiak is now the new head coach of the Denver Broncos, which many people (correctly) figured would happen. He was with the Broncos for several years and is friends with czar John Elway. He had a pretty successful run in Houston as their head coach until quarterback problems did him in. He spent last season as the offensive coordinator the Baltimore Ravens and revived their offense in a hurry. Now, he has a team that is loaded on talent but needs to take one more step before winning it all - not a bad place to be.

1/14/15: San Diego was not able to replicate their success from 2013 this past season, falling just short of making the playoffs after losing their final regular season game to rival Kansas City. One reason was the drop off at the wide receiver position. Second year wide out Keenan Allen took a step back early in the season and was injured later on. To help get them back up to speed next season, the Chargers signed former Ram Austin Pettis. Pettis is not a bad slot receiver, but really is there to add depth to the receiving corps. With their deficiencies at the position, do not be surprised if San Diego takes a receiver or two in the draft.

1/14/15: It is time to cue the chants that Peyton Manning is too old and crumbles under pressure since the Broncos were upset 24-13 by the visiting Indianapolis Colts in the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs. Manning managed only 211 yards passing and one touchdown, which are well below the norm for him. He did not get much help from the defense, though, and the Colts defense was strong all night. A few weeks ago, Manning said he would play next season, but has since changed his tune. It may be that this was his last game in the NFL - though we will see over the next few months. That question looms even larger since the Broncos dismissed the entire coaching staff the day after being eliminated.

1/7/15: The Broncos finished the season with a solid 12-4 record which earned them the second seed in the AFC for the playoffs as well as a first round bye. With the extra week, offensive coordinator Adam Gace made the rounds throughout the NFL to interview for a head coaching position. Gace has had the luck of having Peyton Manning, which would make any offensive coordinator look good. Gace declined similar overtures last season and is probably looking for the right opportunity - which means he probably would want to go some place that already has a franchise QB in place. In the meantime, the Broncos host the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday in the Divisional Round.

12/3/14: One cannot say that the Kansas City Chiefs have lost control of the season, but one can have cause for concern after dropping two division games in a row (one of them being to the previously zero-win Oakland Raiders). Playing host in the Sunday Night Game last week, the Chiefs spotted the rival Denver Broncos with a 17-0 lead. The Chiefs are not made to play from behind and are yet to have a touchdown pass to a wide receiver this season. That is a bad combination and KC lost 29-16, and fell to third in the AFC West. They have a good chance at a win this Sunday at Arizona, who is depleted with injuries.

11/19/14: The Broncos were supposed to march into St. Louis and come away with an easy win. St. Louis' defense has not been the strength that it was supposed to be this season and the team re-installed Shaun Hill as quarterback. But the Rams had different ideas and implemented a very physical game. Running back Montee Ball, wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and tight end Juilus Thomas all left the game early with injuries and the Rams limited the Broncos to just seven points on the day - the lowest point total of any game since Peyton Manning arrived. Ultimately, the Broncos fell 22-7 in the game and 7-3 overall. Denver is home this weekend to host the Dolphins.

11/12/14: Sometimes this game is too easy for Peyton Manning. In three quarters of work against the lowly Oakland Raiders he threw for 340 yards and five touchdowns. He did have two early interceptions, but those may have been gifts to try to make it a fair fight. It wasn't as the Broncos easily rolled the Raiders 41-17. The only bad news was that running back Ronnie Hillman got hurt and will be out a couple of weeks. But the Broncos are now 7-2 on the season and in control of the AFC West. They visit St. Louis this Sunday.

11/5/14: Going into their game at New England, the narrative was that whoever one the game would have the inside track on hosting the AFC Championship Game in January. There is still a lot of football to be played before then, but Broncos learned that they have a lot to work on. New England won 43-21 by basically putting the game away with 24 second quarter points. Peyton Manning threw for 429 yards and two touchdowns, but also threw two costly interceptions. The Broncos dropped to 6-2 on the season, but are still in first place in the AFC West. They are on the road again on Sunday to face Oakland.

10/29/14: The NFL loves having Denver play in primetime, giving them two primetime games in five days. The Broncos trounced the 49ers last Sunday Night, while Peyton Manning broke the NFL record for most passing touchdowns in a career. They had a great turnaround and beat AFC West rival San Diego 35-21 on the Thursday Night Game. Manning was again outstanding, putting up 286 yards, three touchdowns with no interceptions. Both Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryus Thomas topped 100 receiving, and Sanders scored three times. The Broncos are in firm control of the division now with a 6-1 record and head to New England to face Tom Brady and the Patriots this Sunday.

10/22/14: The Broncos hosted the San Francisco 49ers in primetime on the Sunday Night Game, though the story was QB Peyton Manning searching for passing touchdown number 509, which would put him ahead of Brett Favre and in first place on the career list. He got that score on his third passing TD of the game (he would finish with four), an eight yard strike to Demariyus Thomas. Denver rolled over the 49ers 42-17 to improve to 5-1 on the season, and took over sole possession of first in the AFC West with a Chargers' loss. Denver hosts San Diego on the Thursday Night Game this week.

10/15/14: The Broncos improved to 4-1 on the season with an efficient, if unspectacular, win over the New York Jets on the road. QB Peyton Manning was held to under 300 yards, but did have three touchdown passes: one to Demaryius Thomas and two to tight end Julian Thomas. Running back Ronnie Hillman got the start and put up 100 yards on the ground. Cornerback Aqib Talib sealed the victory with the interception returned for a touchdown with just a few seconds left in the game. The Broncos are on primetime national television this coming Sunday night when they host the San Francisco 49ers.

10/1/14: Denver remains at the top of the AFC West (along with the San Diego Chargers) after easily dismissing the previously unbeaten Arizona Cardinals 41-20. QB Peyton Manning continues to shine, throwing for 479 yards and four touchdowns against two interceptions. His first passing TD of the day was his 500th for his career. The bad news was that running back Montee Ball was injured and looks to be out for two or three weeks. Ronnie Hillman filled in well for him. The Broncos now head east to face the struggling New York Jets in Week 6.

10/1/14: Denver may be taking their bye week to figure out what went wrong up in Seattle, but they could just as easily be looking at what went right. They went into the most hostile stadium in the country and rallied late to force overtime. They may have lost in OT, but did show everyone that they are not just finesse team and can play rough. Wide receiver Wes Welker got back in action and now has another week to rest his concussed head. The Broncos are back in action in Week 5 with a 2-1 record and face the Arizona Cardinals.

9/24/14: The Denver Broncos were looking for some sort of redemption last Sunday when they went up to Seattle for a rematch of the Super Bowl last Sunday. While beating the Seahawks could never avenge the beat down they took in the championship game last February, a win would validate their progression. The Broncos battled back from a big deficit to force overtime, but were unlucky in the coin flip, and ended up losing 26-20. At the same time, they did prove that they are now tough enough to battle any team. They have a week to lick their wounds and get back on a winning streak after their bye in Week 4.

9/17/14: The Broncos improved to 2-0 on the season and stayed in control of the AFC West by taking down division rival Kansas City 24-17 on Sunday. The KC loss dropped them to 0-2 on the season, and in an early season hole. QB Peyton Manning was his usual self, throwing for 242 yards and three touchdowns, and not throwing any interceptions. WR Emanuel Sanders had eight catches for 108 yards, while five other Broncos caught passes as well. Denver gets another shot at Seattle this Sunday, though they will be playing in Seattle, where the Seahawks are pretty difficult to beat.

8/28/14: The Broncos have one of the best place kickers in the league with Matt Prater - and he has booted the rare sixty yard field goal. But Denver will be without his services for the first four weeks of the season. The NFL has suspended Prater for a quarter of the regular season for violating league rules on substance abuse. In his case, it was alcohol. Prater has issued the standard apology to his teammates, coaches, fans, etc. Fortunately for the Broncos, the team is loaded this season and missing their place kicker is more of an inconvenience that a major loss.

8/21/14: Broncos tight end Julius Thomas was one of the major breakout stars from last season. He emerged as Peyton Manning's go to tight end target and ended up as one of the best in his position in the entire NFL. The Broncos expect more of the same from Thomas this season and he is expected to be a key contributor to the offense. He made his preseason presence felt in Denver's game against the 49ers by scoring the first touchdown at the brand new Levi's Stadium. While it may not go in the record books because it was an exhibition game, it still stands the he was the first to break the plane.

8/14/14: The NFL is very fickle. A team is either rebuilding or going for the Super Bowl. Or they are the Oakland Raiders, which does neither. The Broncos are all-in on this season after losing in the Super Bowl to the Seattle Seahawks in February. The offense is already set, but they have upgraded on defense by brining in Aqib Talib as a cornerback and DeMarcus Ware as a pass rusher. Ware showed his worth in the first preseason game against Seattle by being a constant force in the Seahawks' backfield. And that is why the Broncos signed him.

8/7/14: The NFL has done a pretty good job of publicizing their renewed emphasis in calling defensive holding, illegal contact and pass interference. Those were some of the regular tactics that the Seahawks used all last season as they bet (correctly) that the refs would be hesitant to repeatedly call those fouls and that would slow up games. The Broncos were victims of this type of physical and illegal defense in the Super Bowl and seemed helpless for much of that game. For the record, the NFL did a similar thing in 2004, and fouls increased from 79 to 191 over the previous season a decade ago.

7/31/14: Broncos' owner Pat Bowlen is among the most respected owners in all of the NFL. He seems to be beloved by his employees and the team's fans. So it was a sad day when the team announced that he was stepping aside from daily operations to fight Alzheimer's disease. Under his leadership, the Broncos won two Super Bowls, appeared in several others and have remained one of the most competitive franchises in a league that values parity. Apparently, Bowlen has battled the disease for the past several years, but now needs to focus on treatment. Best of luck to one of the best owners in all of professional sports.

7/24/14: Broncos' QB Peyton Manning is obsessed with football - that much has been known for years. The veteran passer is in the second half of his career, but wants another Super Bowl ring before he hangs up the cleats. Manning and offensive coordinator Adam Gates spent their first allowed day of working together to review every play of the Super Bowl loss to Seattle. They are searching for the places they went wrong and figuring out how to fix them. Denver is a stacked team this season and seems to be 'all in' on claiming the Lombardi Trophy in early 2015.

7/17/14: Exactly zero downs have been played in the 2014-15 season, but that does not mean that there are not lists of who will win the MVP award after the season. Broncos' QB Peyton Manning is the early favorite to win his sixth MVP. If he plays like he did last season, then he is probably a shoo-in for the award. Meanwhile, Eric Decker's replacement, Emmanuel Sanders, claims to be in football 'heaven' because he is catching balls from Manning. Sanders had a great 2013 season with the Steelers and could be one of those under-the-radar guys that help average guys win their fantasy leagues.

7/10/14: It is common, heck even expected, that when an employee leaves a company for another that he or she may take some parting shots at his or her former employer. It happens in the sports world as well, and the Broncos' T.J. Ward is the most recent proof. He admitted last week that part of the reason he left Cleveland and came to Denver as a free agent was due to the 'winning culture'. While that certainly sounds like a jab at the Browns, Ward certainly is entitled to his opinion and cannot be blamed for searching for, at least what he perceives, as a better situation for himself and winning a championship.

7/3/14: New Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib may be looking at yet another legal situation soon, but this time, it is really not his fault. Talib's brother, Yaqub, was arrested in Dallas over the weekend and the Dallas Police Department publicly misidentified him as Aqib on Twitter. The Dallas PD has since apologized for the error. However, Aqib may have a civil case against the Dallas PD for harming his reputation. That would require a lot of resources on both sides and could always have unintended consequences, just like it did for Roger Clemmons a few years ago. Maybe the best move would be to ignore it and move on.

6/26/14: Former Steelers' QB and Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw has only good things to say about Broncos' QB and future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning. Well, with the caveat that the conversation only includes the regular season. Bradshaw said that Peyton is the guy you want if you want to lose the Super Bowl. He is in the camp that only rings matter, and he has four. Do not mention to him that most of his rings were built on the Steelers defense and not his quarterback abilities. Bradshaw is paid to be an analyst, but there is a difference between justified criticism and being self-serving.

6/19/14: Denver has been fairly active and successful at acquiring big name free agents. While that model has not worked out well in most places (most notably in Washington), John Elway has been pretty good. Now he is turning his attention to keeping a few of his own. The Broncos and wide receiver Demaryius Thomas are working towards an extension that is expected to be in the five year range. He has one year left on his contract and the Broncos do not want him going into free agency. They are also looking to lock up tight end Julius Thomas, who had a breakout campaign in 2013. They are in a good situation in Denver, with one of the best teams and best QBs in the league.

6/12/14: Wes Welker has lived a charmed life since college. He earned a way on to the Miami Dolphins and showed that he was reliable. He had a great few seasons in New England and led the league in receptions a few times, with Tom Brady throwing to him. Now he is in Denver with Peyton Manning, and doing great things. He won big at the Kentucky Derby and has a horse in Belmont Stakes. Welker is doing alright for himself these days. Actually, his horse (Undrafted) won the $300,000 Jaipur International Stakes. Not bad, Mr. Welker. Not bad at all.

6/6/14: Broncos QB Peyton Manning did a little more to cement his legacy as a good teammate and leader recently at the Broncos annual team golf outing. He requested rookies Cody Latimer(wide receiver) and Michael Schofield (offensive tackle), as well as free agent wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders play in his foursome. It may sound a bit silly, but he was making an effort to get to know his new teammates and develop a relationship with them. It also goes to show that he is not bigger than the team, even though he is obviously the biggest star they have. Funny thing, though, Latimer had never played golf. May have been a long day.

5/29/14: The Broncos will sport a new look in the backfield, of sorts. Longtime late season star Knowsean Moreno is now gone and offensive coordinator Adam Gase says he expects second year running back Montee Ball to be a big part of the offense this coming season. The Broncos will continue to utilize multiple running backs, but Ball is expected to be the primary ball carrier with everyone else jostling for second on the depth chart. Gace even went so far to say he wants 350 caries from Ball, which is over 20 per game - and an inside tip for all of those dreaming of their fantasy leagues in May.

5/22/14: Getting away from football briefly. It was widely reported that Broncos' wide receiver Wes Welker won big at the Kentucky Derby a few weeks ago, making out with $57,000 - or a year's pay for many Americans. Welker was seen handing out $100 bills to strangers after the windfall. Now it seems that Churchill Downs wants about $15,000 back. They claim that a computer error overpaid Welker (and others). While $15,000 is a lot of money to most people, it does seem like Welker can afford it, even after giving cash to strangers after he won the bet.

5/15/14: Apparently Broncos' president John Elway does not care too much about a person's past particularly at cornerback, because he is getting guys with checkered histories. A few months ago, the Broncos signed Aqib Talib and his arrest record to replace veteran Champ Bailey. Then, in the draft, the team selected Bradley Roby from Ohio State, who was recently involved in a legal incident. The Broncos have a limited timeframe with QB Peyton Manning, so it looks like they are trying to add big talent at whatever the price in order to win another Super Bowl in the very near future.

5/8/14: The Bronco's Von Miller has not been an ideal citizen since he was drafted by the Broncos in 2011. Of course several of his off-field transgressions are fairly minor - like simple traffic citations and failure to show up in court for traffic violations. That, of course, is not enough to scare the team away from keeping him around for awhile. The Broncos exercised their fifth year option on Miller after three years. He has proven to be one of the better interior defensive lineman. Denver may try to make a deal to move up in the draft to get him some help in the draft, and that would only help the team get back to the Super Bowl.

5/1/14: More than any other team in the NFL, the Broncos are in 'win now' mode. The Team has been very good, if not excellent since landing QB Peyton Manning in free agency two years ago. Of course, they made it to the Super Bowl last season, but were blown out (like most Broncos teams that make the Super Bowl and do not win) by the Seattle Seahawks. It looks like that they are getting back defensive end Derek Wolfe. Wolfe suffered a scary seizure last November, which ended his season. He says he feels as well as he ever has, so that should be a big plus as the team is going 'all-in' on another title.

4/24/14: Broncos' QB Peyton Manning is renowned for the way he continuously tries to improve his game. Now in his late 30's, it is admirable that he still tries to find new methods to get better. That included a trip to the University of Alabama and head coach Nick Saban. However, Bronco's offensive coordinator Adam Gace may have been present, which may be a violation of the collective bargaining agreement. According to the CBA, coaches and players have prescribed times that they can meet, lest it be an unfair competition. It will be interesting to see if the NFL will take an interest in this or not.

4/17/14: The big craze among teams seeking tight ends in recent years is to delve into the basketball world. That worked out pretty well for the Chiefs (and later the Falcons) with Tony Gonzalez, the Saints with Jimmy Graham, and the Broncos with Julius Thomas. Thomas broke through last season as one of the best tight ends in the league. Denver may be trying to do that again as they worked out University of Miami basketball player Erik Swoope. Swoope did not have much of a basketball career at the U and never played football there. However, big tight ends that can catch and move are always in demand.

4/10/14: The Broncos have been fairly active this offseason as they try to add the pieces to get them not just back to the Super Bowl, but to win the championship. While they have let WR Eric Decker, cornerback Champ Bailey, and running back Knowshon Moreno walk, they have added a few pieces including cornerback Aqib Talib. They agreed to a new contract with head coach John Fox. Fox signed a three year deal that will keep him in Denver through the end of the 2016 season. Under Fox, the team has won three AFC West Championships and one AFC Championship. The next logical step, of course, is winning the Super Bowl.

4/3/14: John Elway was always a winner on the football field and is considered to be in the top five or ten quarterbacks of all time. People can disagree on his ranking, but he was among the best ever. He is showing that he is a pretty good at running a football team as well. There may not be anyone in the league at this point who is better at closing a deal than Elway. A couple of years ago, he got Peyton Manning. This season, he got DeMarcus Ware and Aqib Talib. The Broncos are certainly in 'win now' mode, and with the team that Elway has put together, they may well be the next Super Bowl Champions.

3/27/14: The Broncos were able to land a top caliber cornerback when they signed Aqib Talib a few weeks ago. He follows wide receiver Wes Welker from a year ago in defecting from the Pats to the Broncos. Talib is talking now, and cites that the New England offer was a 'little shaky' compared to Denver's. That may mean that the Patriots' offer contained language in the contract to protect the team in the event of major off-field incidents. Talib has an off-field history, so the Pats were probably trying to protect themselves from another Aaron Hernandez situation, which is completely understandable.

3/20/14: Denver really looks like a team that is going all in on the next couple of seasons. We all know that QB Peyton Manning only has a few good years left and the Broncos want to win a Super Bowl. They are making the moves to get them to the top and not just runner up. The Broncos signed defensive lineman DeMarcus Ware to complement Vonn Miller, in what should be a great defensive line. They also signed Aqib Talib as an upgrade to Champ Bailey at cornerback. They did lose WR Eric Decker, but that should not be too much of a loss since Manning can make a star out of any receiver.

3/13/14: Peyton Manning recently had his annual physical, primarily to determine the health of his neck which forced him to miss all of the 2011 season (and ultimately forced Indy to cut him, from where he signed with the Broncos). He passed the physical, which many believed would be a formality anyhow, so he should be all ready to go for next season. The Broncos are now waiting on WR Eric Decker, who is a free agent. Denver does not want to give him a big money contract, and Decker may be able to convince another team that his is a number one receiver (though he was certainly helped by Manning and his fellow receivers in Denver).

3/6/14: The Broncos, as everyone knows, got roughed up pretty good in the Super Bowl by the Seattle Seahawks. While the Broncos offense was outstanding all season until that game, the defense was always a bit suspect, so it makes sense that the speculation on the team is that they will address defense this offseason. First up is former Cleveland Browns linebacker D'Qwell Jackson, who is coming in for a visit on his free agent tour. The Broncos may also be trying to pry Darrelle Revis from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and let go of Champ Bailey.

2/20/14: Running back Knowshawn Moreno has likely played his last down for the Broncos. He was drafted with high expectations several years ago, and while he has been solid, he never lived up to those expectations due to injury and other running backs and a couple of bad Broncos teams. He was almost an afterthought heading into 2013, especially when the team drafted Monte Ball from Wisconsin. Ball struggled in his rookie season and Moreno played very well. But it looks like it is Ball's turn to be the feature back, and Moreno will probably be wearing a new uniform come September.

2/13/14: The Broncos set records on offense this past season, and made it to the Super Bowl. They were the best team in the AFC, and at least one of the top three clubs in the league (depending on who is keeping score). Wide receiver Eric Decker was a big part of that offense, along with Demaryous Thomas, Wes Welker, and Knowshon Moreno (and of course, Peyton Manning). But Decker is a free agent in a month. He says he wants to stay in Denver, but if someone offers big money, he will likely be gone. Don't worry, Denver. Manning has a way of making unknown receivers stars.

2/6/14: The Broncos were blown out in the Super Bowl 43-8 by the Seattle Seahawks last Sunday. Many people will claim that this tarnishes QB Peyton Manning's legacy, now that he is 1-2 in Super Bowls, but the real story here was the Seattle defense. The front four got pressure all night, the secondary punished receivers, and Denver's high flying offense was effectively nullified throughout the game. Many may wonder if Peyton will retire now, but indications are that he does not want to leave with a bad taste in his mouth, so expect him to return for another go at it next season.

1/30/14: The Super Bowl is on Sunday, ad it will pit the best offense against the best defense. That sounds fun. However, a good rivalry is missing. The Broncos have been nothing but complimentary to their NFC counterparts. Champ Bailey calls Percy Harvin 'dangerous' and WR Demaryous Thomas thinks that Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman is great. That being said, the Broncos are looking for an edge, and apparently QB Peyton Manning is leaning on brother Eli for some tips on how to play the wind in MetLife Stadium. Eli probably knows the field better than anyone, but that did not seem to help him this past season.

1/23/14: The Denver Broncos survived the week long media assault of Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning, as well as the other 52 players on the Patriots and the entire New England coaching staff, to win the AFC Championship Game 26-16. Manning led an aerial assault that the Patriots could not handle once their best cornerback, Aqib Talib, was knocked out of the game with an injury. The Pats had a chance at the end when they scored a touchdown to get within 10 points. The two-point conversion failed and that was all she wrote. Denver is on their way back to the Super Bowl for the first time since John Elway in the 1998-99 season.

1/16/14: So it looks like it is all chalk in the AFC. The Patriots (with the number two seed) took down the Indianapolis Colts to punch their ticket to the AFC Championship Game, while the Denver Broncos knocked off the pesky San Diego Chargers to earn their birth. The Broncos shut down the Chargers completely in the first half. San Diego rallied in the the second half to make a game of it, but it was not enough. The Broncos game plan of simply attacking soft zones worked out very well, and Denver got the 24-17 win. All the talk now is Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady for the right to go to the Super Bowl.

1/9/14: Denver will see a familiar opponent this weekend in the Divisional Round of the Playoffs when they host NFC West rival San Diego. The Chargers entered the postseason as the sixth seed with a 9-7 record and beat the #3 seed Cincinnati Bengals 27-10 in Cincinnati to earn the right to advance. The Broncos are the #1 seed in the AFC and will have homefield advantage so long as they are playing (except in the Super Bowl). Denver and San Diego each won one game in the regular season and know each other very well. Should be a very good game.

1/2/14: It's a nice week off for Peyton Manning and company. The Broncos earned a first round bye by virtue of a 13-3 record in the regular season. Manning threw even more touchdown passes during the finale with Oakland, stretching his NFL record in a single season to 55. He also earned the most yards passing in a season, knocking off Drew Brees (2011) by one yard. Denver will host a playoff game next week, though the winner has yet to be determined. In other news, OC Adam Gace has declined an offer to interview with the Cleveland Browns, saying he will not do any interviewing until the Broncos' season is over.

12/26/13: It is pretty much unfair to have the Broncos facing the Texans this late in the season, but the schedules were made long before Houston suffered a rash of injuries and a double digit losing streak. Denver won last Sunday pretty easily, routing the Texans 37-13. Peyton Manning improved his MVP credentials by tying, then breaking Tom Brady's record for passing touchdowns in a season. Manning threw four TDs and finished with 51 on the year. But the season is not over yet. Denver has another game at Oakland this Sunday. The Broncos have clinched the division and now are trying to get homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.

12/19/13: The Broncos played their worst game of the season last Thursday, losing at home to San Diego in a key game. The loss means that Denver will need some help to get home field advantage throughout the playoffs. San Diego simply went into the Mile High City and physically dominated the Broncos. The Denver offense managed 20 points in the 27-20 loss, but almost everything was in the air - they only had 18 yards rushing all night. Perhaps this would have been a different game if it was on a standard week's rest, but as it stands, Denver is looking up at New England right now.

12/12/13: That theory that QB Peyton Manning cannot play in cold weather should be tossed out after the Broncos blew out the Tennessee Titans 51-28 in the bitter Denver cold. To be fair, many of Manning's cold weather games have been played on the road in the playoffs against some of the best teams (read: defenses) in the league, throughout his career. So to say he cannot play in cold weather is not a fair label. He threw four touchdowns in this game and the Broncos became the first team ever to have four players with 10 or more touchdowns in a season.

12/5/13: If anyone thought that the Denver win over the Chiefs two weeks earlier was a fluke, that notion should have been thrown out the window after the rematch. This game was in Kansas City, but not even the raucous crowd at Arrowhead Stadium could rattle Peyton Manning as he rallied the Broncos from a 21-14 halftime deficit to a 35-28 win. Manning threw for 400 yards and five touchdowns. Four of those touchdowns were to Eric Decker, who had a career day and pleased a lot fantasy football owners. Denver (10-2) will host the Titans (5-7) this Sunday.

11/28/13: Denver faced New England in the 14th edition of Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady. And much like the most of the previous 13, Brady and Patriots came out on top. The weather was cold and windy as the Broncos built up a 24 point first half lead. But the Broncos collapsed in the second half as the Pats came alive to tie the game and force overtime. New England wound up winning 27-24. Denver stayed in first place in AFC West, though, as the Chargers shocked the KC Chiefs. Denver has their rematch with the Chiefs this Sunday for AFC West supremacy.

11/21/13: The champagne bottle were popping in Miami on Sunday night when the Denver Broncos beat the Kansas City Chiefs 27-17. KC was the last unbeaten team in the NFL and their loss ensures that the 1972 Dolphins will remain the only team to go undefeated (and win the Super Bowl) in NFL history. Bad ankles and all, QB Peyton Manning was able to dissect the vaunted KC defense in the win. The bad news is that star receiver Wes Welker suffered a concussion and may not play this Sunday against Peyton's old rival - Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, who are coming off of a controversial loss at Carolina.

11/14/13: The Broncos continued to roll even with head coach John Fox out for a couple months following heart surgery. Defensive coordinator Jack del Rio is the interim coach. He has plenty of head coaching experience as the leader of the Jacksonville Jaguars for nine seasons. Denver easily handled San Diego 28-20 with Peyton Manning throwing for 330 yards and four more touchdowns. Denver has a chance this Sunday night to get back into first place in the AFC West when they host the 9-0 Kansas City Chiefs in the most anticipated game on the Week 11 slate.

11/7/13: Scary moments for the Broncos during their bye week as head coach John Fox was taken to a hospital after feeling lightheaded while playing golf. The team stressed that he did not have a heart attack but he will undergo heart surgery. Recovery time from the procedure is expected to be up to a couple of months, which could put him back on the sidelines during the playoffs. The Broncos are fortunate to have quality veteran leadership on hand so there may not be too much of a drop in production from arguably the best team in the league.

10/31/13: Denver had one last bit of business to clean up prior to their bye week: Robert Griffin III and Washington came to town. It was a homecoming for former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, but that only lasted one half. Washington took a 21-7 lead early in the third quarter, but then it was all Denver. The Broncos racked up 38 points in the second half and completely broke Washington. RG3 and Kirk Cousins combined for four interceptions in the second half and Denver never let Washington back into the game. Manning reportedly played on two sprained ankles, but still threw for over 350 yards and four touchdowns.

10/24/13: Peyton Manning's homecoming back to Indianapolis was not the return he wanted. Manning was his typical self with 386 yards in the air, three touchdowns, but one interception. That was not enough to keep the Broncos undefeated, however, as the Colts won 39-33. Denver had difficulty running the ball, with their top two rushers combining for only 65 yards and one TD. The wide receivers were effective, with Eric Decker posting 150 yards and a touchdown and Wes Welker adding 96 more. The loss puts the Broncos (6-1) in second in the AFC West, as the Kansas City Chiefs won and stayed unbeaten at 7-0. Denver hosts Washington (2-4) this Sunday.

10/17/13: Denver entered Sunday as the consensus best team in the NFL. They played the consensus worst team in the NFL, the Jacksonville Jaguars. Sports books put the line at 28 points (if betting were legal) - the highest spread for an NFL game in history. The previous record was 27.5 with the Steelers over the Buccaneers in 1976. Denver won (of course) but they did not cover the spread. The final was 35-19 in a methodical, business-like game. Peyton Manning had less than 300 yards with two touchdowns, but this was more of a 'take care of business game' than a blowout. Denver heads to Indianapolis in the Peyton- Indy reunion this Sunday night.

10/10/13: Denver remained undefeated by beating the Dallas Cowboys 51-48 in the most entertaining game of the week. This was completely an offensive game with defense optional. The Broncos offense did not punt once on the day. QB Peyton Manning continued his torrid pace with over 400 yards passing and 4 more passing touchdowns and even one rushing TD. The Denver defense was exposed, however, as Tony Romo threw for over 500 yards and 5 TDs. The Broncos were able to win with a late interception followed by a walk-off field goal. Denver plays winless Jacksonville this Sunday.

10/3/13: Denver continues to roll as expected - perhaps even better than expected. Last Sunday, the Broncos overwhelmed the Eagles 52-20 in another blowout win. Peyton Manning threw for 327 yards and 4 touchdowns and Knowshon Mareno added 78 yards on the ground with a touchdown in the rout. Manning's 16 touchdowns are the most in the opening month of a season since Don Merrideth in 1966 (14). The Broncos' defense kept Michael Vick off the scoreboard and generally limited what the Eagles could do. Denver is now 4-0 on the season and will head to Dallas (2-2) this Sunday.

9/26/13: Denver continues to handle its business the way a true contender should. Not surprisingly, the Broncos easily took care of the Oakland Raiders in the Monday Night Game 37-21. Peyton Manning looks better and better each week. He threw for almost 400 yards and three touchdowns on the evening. Eric Decker hauled in eight passes for 133 yards and one TD. Denver went up 17-0 before Oakland got on the board and by that time it was too late. The Broncos (3-0) stay home this weekend. They host the Eagles (1-2) on a late Sunday afternoon game.

9/19/13: Denver played in the "Manning Bowl" last Sunday, which pits QBs Peyton and Eli Manning against each other. And again, big brother won, this time 41-23. The road win puts Denver at 2-0 on the season and on pace to capture the AFC West crown. In the game, Peyton threw for 307 yards and two TDs, but this was really the Knowshon Moreno show. Moreno was the forgotten tailback, but he paced the Broncos with 93 yards rushing and two scores of his own. Denver returns home for yet another nationally televised game, this time on Monday Night against the Oakland Raiders.

9/12/13: There is good reason the Denver Broncos are considered Super Bowl contenders this season, and they showed it on opening night against the defending Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens. The game was close at halftime, then Peyton Manning threw five second half touchdowns (of his seven - which had not been done since 1968) en route to a 49-27 win. Denver was simply unstoppable in the second half and left the Raven reeling in shame. The Broncos will leave the Mile-High City for Gotham where they will play the 0-1 New York Giant on Sunday afternoon.

9/4/13: Amid all the pomp and circumstance that is the first game of the NFL season, the league has been able to start a bit of a controversy prior to the Broncos and Ravens game. Typically, the defending Super Bowl champion hosts the first game on the Thursday before the opening weekend. Since there was a scheduling conflict in Baltimore, the Ravens will open on the road. The NFL has plastered the city with Joe Flacco banners and the Broncos are not happy about it. They want to see their guys on street poles and buildings. This could be the extra motivation they need to knock off the defending champs on opening night.

8/29/13: The Broncos technically won the their third preseason game against the Rams, but that was after trailing 20-10 at half time when the starters came out. Denver ran 60 plays in the first half. Peyton Manning threw for 234 yards in 30 minutes, as well as a touchdown and an interception. What the score does not show is that the Broncos struggled on special teams and holding on to the ball. The Rams played a vanilla defense that was more that ready for the Broncos' offense - something that should give the coaching staff some pause before opening night.

8/22/13: The Broncos have had a train wreck of a training camp and preseason so far. It seems like every day that another player goes down with a serious injury. At some point, this will have to catch up with the team. The Broncos are heavy favorites to win the AFC West, and for good reason: there is no real competition there. That has not changed. However, they will need to get guys healthy throughout the season if they are going to make any noise in the playoffs. Peyton and the offense can carry them so far, but at some point, the defense will have to prove that they can win games as well.

8/15/13: Injuries during training camp are a fact of life, and there are some injuries that are outside anyone's control. The Broncos have gotten more injuries than most, and also get more publicity than most team. The lost both their starting center and backup center in a matter of a couple days. Then cornerback Antonio Cromartie-Rogers went down. ACR, it turns out, did not suffer a season-ending injury. He is nursing back to health, and, fortunately, is expected to be back by the start of the regular season. If he went down, then Denver's Super Bowl dream may have gone down with it.

8/8/13: It is not often you see a legitimate Super Bowl contender in a state of crisis this early in the season - but that is where Denver is. They lost their starting center for the year to injury. They signed Dan Kopplen. He got injured and is out for the year. Their best pass rusher, Von Miller, is facing a four game suspension for substance abuse violation. But relax, Denver fans. It is still early. Losing the centers hurts, but the QB in charge is strong enough to handle it. Just get through the first four games at 2-2, and everything else will fall into place.

8/1/13: Very bad new for the Broncos as training camp opened - defensive lineman Von Miller is suspended for the first four games of the season. There have been differing reports on the reason for the suspension - but it does not look like it was from performing enhancement drugs. The bigger issue is that the confidentiality agreement between the league and the Players Association has been broken - as the news of the suspension should not be public at this time. In any case, it will put more pressure on the Denver offense to build leads that the defense can protect throug the first quarter of the season.

7/25/13: If teams had reason to fear the Broncos before last week, now they have even more. The Broncos signed franchise left tackle Ryan Clady to a long-term contract, and that was expected. But after the signing, the Broncos are still almost $11 million under the salary cap. That gives them the money to sign their first round pick Sylvester Williams and go shopping for depth where ever they want. Perhaps they will call on free agent Vonte Leach as another fullback to lead the way for their young running backs, or maybe they can pick up another man in the secondary for depth.

7/18/13: Like their division rivals, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Denver Broncos are trying to work out a long term deal with their left tackle Ryan Clady. Clady will play under the franchise tag for about $10 million if no deal is reached. The Broncos have upped their offer to over $52 million for five years - adding $250,000 per year to the deal - and guaranteeing about half of it. The Broncos want to keep continuity on the offensive line to protect their $100 million quarterback and his four neck surgeries for the next few years.

7/11/13: The Broncos and left tackle Ryan Clady are expected to get into heavy negotiations towards a long term deal. Denver put the franchise tag on Clady at $9.8 million for the season. If the two sides cannot get a deal done before July 15, then Clady will have to play out the season at that rate and possibly go to free agency next year. The left-tackle free agent market has been down this season, so the value of the contract is a moving target and may be less than the 5 year, $50 million offer Clady rejected last year.

7/4/13: The Broncos signed cornerback Cromartie-Rodgers in the offseason to play on the opposite corner beside Champ Bailey. CR signed with Denver not because they wooed him with praise and good times. They convinced him because of the way they told him of his faults. They took an honest approach and showed how they could improve his game. For his part, he says that he is improving daily because he is going up against Peyton Manning every day in practice. ACR also hosted a basketball camp for young kids this offseason, doing his part for the community rather than getting arrested.

6/27/13: The Broncos should be good this year. Scary good. QB Peyton Manning has shown that he is in vintage form. The team had two very good recievers in Demarious Thomas and Eric Decker - then they added Wes Welker. Denver released aging running back Willis McGahee, but drafted Montee Ball from Wisconsin. Ball is the X factor here. He had a great college career, and is projected to be a good pro. What will matter is how quickly he picks up the offense and if he can carry a team at the NFL level. Good times are back in Denver.

6/20/13: As many people expected, John Elway and the Denver Broncos released veteran running back Willis McGahee. McGahee was limited last season due to injury, but still led the team with about 750 yards. There is a good chance he will land elsewhere, but his skipping OTAs may have been the last straw. The Broncos drafted Monte Ball from Wisconsin to be the running back of the future, and it looks like he may get his chance sooner rather than later. The team also still has Knowshawn Moreno and Ronnie Hillman on the roster, so there should be some competition for the starters job.

6/13/13: The Broncos have the look of a contender that is determined to win now. At least that is what the rounds of power rankings are saying. Indeed, the Broncos look strong. Peyton Manning is still Peyton Manning. They added Wes Welker to an already impressive group of receivers. Monte Ball adds depth to the backfield, and their secondary is strong. The big question mark is replacing Elvis Dumervil who went to the Ravens in the "Fax You" dilemma. Robert Ayers and Shaun Phillips will get their chances at the starting job, as will rookie Quanterus Smith.

6/6/13: Denver has always had a strong running game - that is part of their tradition. Former first round pick Knowshon Moreno is part of that tradition and finished up the season as the starter after Willis McGahee got injured. Moreno, however, was injured in the playoff loss to Baltimore, and is still hurting. His knee has not fully recovered and he missed OTAs. He will be competing for a spot when he returns, as there is still McGahee and Ronnie Hillman, as well as new draftee Monte Ball. If he does not recover, it does look as though the Broncos will be fine at the running back position.

5/30/13: The Broncos made an offer to free agent veteran defensive back Charles Woodson, but Woodson elected to return to Oakland rather than play with the Broncos. Oakland's offer was worth a million dollars more than Denver, so many may say that Woodson chose money over playing for a contender. However, Denver was not forced into a position where they needed his services on the field or as a locker room leader. The team may have like to added his depth and knowledge, but they did not need it. Anyhow, they have a guy named Manning who is the undisputed leader, so they will be OK.

5/23/13: New Bronco Monte Ball has made his way out to Denver for offseason training activities, and may find himself getting more reps than expected. The Broncos have a lot of running backs on the roster, but it is really between three men: Willis McGahee, Knowsean Moreno, and Monte Ball. McGahee has been around for a long time and is not at OTAs. His agent says that he is working out on his own as always and not sending a message by missing the 'voluntary' workouts. Moreno is still injured and not cleared to play. Ball, however, is now getting more time with the offense and coaches, and may be able to use that to get on the field sooner.

5/16/13: They say that team chemistry is important. In the NFL, it is especially important on the offensive line when you need all five players acting as one. The Broncos signed Louis Vasquez in the offseason and he wanted to get around his new Denver teammates as soon as possible. So he stayed with tackle Orlando Franklin for a few weeks. The two had a chance to bond and get to know each other, which they hope translates into success in protecting Peyton Manning. The Broncos are poised for a big year, possibly a Super Bowl, and this may just help.

5/9/13: Since it is the offsesaon and NFL players are wealthy, young, and have time on their hands, it is also the NFL arrest season. But this is a happier story. Broncos' defensive lineman Von Miller is getting into the poultry business. Miller purchased his first chickens - 38 in all. He says he got interested in raising chickens (for food) as part of a class project and now has the resources to start Miller Farms. The fowl are in Dallas because of Denver's weather. Regardless, Miller seems very excited about the venture and may have a career after football.

5/2/13: Denver went with an obvious need in their first round, selecting defensive tackle Sylvester Williams out of North Carolina. The DT spot had to be addressed after the Elvis Dumervil 'Fax You' fiasco left them short in that area. The Broncos made a surprise pick at running back by selecting Monte Ball out of Wisconsin. Alabama's Eddie Lacy was still on the board at the time, and was widely considered the best running back of the draft this year. Lacy kept falling until Green Bay picked him up late in the third round - at a great value.

4/25/13: Everyone wants the Broncos on their broadcast next year. The Broncos will have five prime time games next season, and all the networks want their Denver games to be nationally broadcast. Peyton, Welker, and the rest will face Eli Manning, Robert Griffin III and a few other big names. When you look at the schedule from a past statistical view, then Denver has the easiest schedule (based on 2012 records). However, when the Broncos got their schedule last year, it appeared to be one of the five most difficult. Once the games were played and the records tallied, it came out that Denver had one of the five easiest schedules in the league.

4/18/13: Peyton Manning was seen working out at Duke University last week. But he was not alone. His primary wide receiver corps, including Demaryous Thomas, Eric Decker, and new Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker. Welker, of course, has the wonderful fortune of being able to catch balls from both Tom Brady and Peyton Manning in his career. How he will be used is yet to be seen, but he has distinguished himself as the premier slot receiver, which should open up the long ball for Thomas during the season. Expect big things from the Broncos' offense in the 2013 season.

4/11/13: The Broncos are already blessed with a quarterbacking legend and three outstanding wide receivers who can stretch the field, play the slot, and even turn a five yard out pattern in to an 81 yard run and catch. They will have some decisions to make in about 11 months. Wide receiver Eric Decker's contract comes due at the end of the 2013 season and Demaryus Thomas is up the following year. Denver must decide if they can keep one or both. Also, young Greg Orton may surprise and force out one of the veterans with his play and lower salary.

4/4/13: Sometimes it is hard to say goodbye. Broncos main man John Elway understands that, but he also understands that professional football is a business first. Wide receiver Brandon Stokely is a the center of this heart tugging saga. When the Broncos signed Wes Welker, there was really no place left for Stokely. Welker is five years younger and is coming off a 118 catch season. On top of that, Welker has led the league in receptions for the past five years. Certainly he is an upgrade, but Stokely was popular in Denver, and the Broncos fans will surely miss him.

3/28/13: The most curious free agent situation was the case of Elvis Dumervil. Dumervil was due $12 million next season and the team asked him to cut that to $8 million. He did not like the pay cut (who wants to lose a third of their salary), but realized that he would make a lot less if he were cut and had to be a free agent. But his agent did not get the paperwork to the Broncos on time, so Denver had to cut him. Most speculated that he would resign with Denver, but instead Dumervil has signed with a rebuilt Ravens defense. This gives the Ravens Terrell Suggs adn Dumervil as a lethal pass rushing combination.

3/21/13: Denver scored a big coup by signing free agent slot receiver extraordinaire Wes Welker. The Patriots had hoped to keep the league's most productive receiver for the past five years at a reduced rate, but Denver came in with a better offer. However, the Broncos were forced to cut Elvis Dumervil. Elvis agreed to reduce his pay from $12 million to $8 million, but did not get the paperwork into the Broncos on time. He then fired his agent and became a free agent. Maybe the Patriots would sign him just to get some revenge on the Broncos.

3/14/13: Denver landed one of the biggest coups of free agency by signing Wes Welker, one of the top wide receivers available. Welker has played the last several years with the New England Patriots and has led the league in receptions and yards while teamed with Tom Brady. Now Welker will have another future hall of famer throwing to him with Peyton Manning at the helm. The addition of Welker gives the Broncos three strong receiver options along with Demarius Thomas and Eric Decker. The Broncos may also be hunting for another running back like Steven Jackson.

3/7/13: Denver's star pass rusher Von Miller is already guaranteeing a Super Bowl victory next season. He claims it is not out of cockiness, but confidence in the team he has around him. Miller said he was inspired by his six year old cousin who came out of a coma after a car accident in west Texas. He also admits it was tough to watch Baltimore - who beat the Broncos in double overtime in the playoffs - go on to win the Super Bowl instead of the Broncos. Denver has the team to do it next year, and should be considered one of the favorites going into the season.

2/28/13: Denver had the best record in the NFL regular season last year with a 13-3 record. The team does not have too many deficiencies, and Peyton Manning covers up a lot of mistakes. But they, like all teams, do have some holes. Many believe that the team could use an upgrade in the secondary, and that is why they may look seriously at a top end cornerback in the first round. Dee Milner will likely be off the board by the time the Broncos pick, but Xavier Rhodes out of Florida State may be available - and that pick would allow the Broncos to move Champ Bailey to safety.

2/13/14: Denver's challenge this offseason will be to keep the defense together. Not too many years ago, the Broncos' defense was among the worst in the league. They have done a fine job of turning that around and had the fourth best scoring defense in the NFL last season. However, key players Justin Bannan, Kevin Vickerson, Kieth Brooking, and Jim Leonard are set to be free agents in a month. If the Broncos can keep their unit in tact, then they should have no problem repeating as the AFC Champions next season. It also would not hurt to find another running back in case Willis McGahee cannot return to form.

2/7/13: Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning did not win the NFL Most Valuable Player award, losing to Vikings running back Adrian Peterson. He did however, with the league's Comeback Player of the Year. Manning's story has been well documented. He missed the entire 2011 season with a major nerve injury in his neck and underwent several procedures to get back on the field. He then went out and had one of his best seasons ever, leading the Broncos to the best record in the AFC. Given the fact that the team has had a year together, expect more of the same next season.

1/31/13: Peyton Manning is in the middle of a battle for the NFL Most Valuable Player award for the 2012 season. Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is considered to be the only other real contender for the league's highest individual award. Both returned to elite playing levels after devastating injuries. Manning, of course, missed all of the 2011 season with neck injuries and many doubted he could play at all. In fact, he returned to have one of his finest seasons while leading the Broncos to the best record in the NFL and the top seed in the AFC playoffs.

1/24/13: The Broncos lost offensive coordinator Mike McCoy this past week. McCoy turned in his resignation to accept the head coaching job with the rival San Diego Chargers. The Chargers were off to a good start until the October 15 Monday Night Game against the Broncos. They went up 24-0 at halftime, and ended up losing - sending the team into a free fall the rest of the season. Many believe that Peyton Manning is his own OC, but give McCoy credit for adapting schemes to fit the quarterback's strengths, and getting into the playoffs in consecutive years.

1/17/13: Hard to believe, but Tim Tebow has more playoff victories for the Broncos than Peyton Manning. The Broncos hosted the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional Round, with most experts and betting lines favoring the home team. Manning uncharacteristically threw two interceptions and also had a fumble, giving the Ravens the edge they needed to upset the AFC's number one seed in an overtime thriller. Manning threw a critical INT in the second overtime, which set up the game winning field goal. The Ravens won 38-35 and will advance to the AFC Championship Game this coming weekend.

1/10/13: The Broncos earned the number one seed in the AFC, and with it, home field throughout the playoffs and a bye in the Wild Card Round. The extra week allowed Peyton Manning and the team to rest and learn their opponent. By defeating the Colts, the Baltimore Ravens punched their ticket to Denver for the Divisional Round. Denver met the Ravens in Baltimore less than a month ago and embarrassed the vaunted Baltimore defense. But that team was without emotional leader, linebacker Ray Lewis, who has returned from a torn triceps for one last playoff run.

1/3/13: The Broncos easily handled the Kansas City Chiefs in their regular season finale, 38-3. Peyton Manning had another 300 yard and 3 touchdown game, and the Broncos defense held the Chiefs to only 49 yards in the air. Manning was out of the game by the fourth quarter, having put his final submission in for his fifth MVP award, which he may share with Adrian Peterson. The win was the 11th in a row and gave the Broncos the number 1 seed in the AFC Playoffs. Denver will have an extra week to rest up and prepare for their first opponent.

/27/12: Another week, another victory for the Denver Broncos. This time, the Broncos easily took out the Cleveland Browns 34-12. Peyton Manning and the offense started early, building up a 14-3 halftime lead. The defense then went to work, sacking Cleveland quarterbacks six times in the second half, while the offense continued to roll to another 20 points. The win puts Denver in a tie for the No. 1 seed in the AFC with Houston, though Houston owns the tie breaker. One more win at home against Kansas City will at least ensure a first round bye.

12/20/12: The Denver Broncos look to be in perfect synch these days, and they showed it in a convincing 34-17 win at Baltimore. Peyton Manning and his receivers started clicking several weeks ago, and the defense has been stout all year. The difference on Sunday was that the Broncos showcased a strong rushing attack behind Knowshon Moreno. Moreno ran for 118 yards and a touchdown, while Jakob Hester and Ronnie Hillman combined for another 49 yards and a score. The 11-3 Broncos are ready for the playoffs now, and return home to host the Cleveland Brownson Sunday.

12/13/12: The Denver Broncos are one of the few teams that have truly improved throughout the season. That is no accident, as Peyton Manning has gotten healthier and the offense has had more time to gel. Playing in the Thursday game, the Broncos started quickly and built a 10-0 first quarter lead. It was 26-7 by the start of the fourth quarter, when rival Raiders scored 6 garbage points. With only a bye week and homefield advantage left to play for, the Broncos will make the long flight to Baltimore to take on the suddenly struggling Ravens this Sunday.

12/6/12: Stock in the Broncos is surging. Denver won again on Sunday against the visiting Buccaneers 31-23, and Peyton Manning again showed why he was worth the risk. The win secured the AFC West division title for the second straight year, while also ensuring Atlanta the NFC South championship. This is Denver's seventh consecutive win and they are showing that they deserve to be in the discussion of Superbowl contenders. Manning now has 29 touchdow