Are the Denver Broncos Super Bowl Contenders With Peyton Manning?

Being that I am a Denver Broncos fan, I know two things for sure about Peyton Manning:

1. His team wins a majority of their games.

2. He kicks the Denver Broncos’ butts.

Every time Peyton Manning came to Denver or the Broncos went to Manning at Indy, they were thrashed. Manning is 3-0 in Denver against the Broncos and if you can think of a time that the Broncos got the better of him, you are thinking of the ONE time Denver bested Manning.

The Denver Broncos had a very good season last year by recent standards, winning eight games and many in impressive late rally fashion. Tim Tebow was a huge reason why the Broncos were able to win those games, but like I have said recently and Jesse has been saying for over a year, I don’t think John Elway ever believed Tim could be the franchise quarterback of the Denver Broncos and this move is clear evidence of that.

As a staunch Tebow supporter, I have to say, this is probably the only move that would keep me at ease as a Broncos guy more than any other. If we had picked up Brandon Weeden or anyone like that to replace Tebow, I would have probably been really disappointed. However, this is Peyton-freaking-Manning, not some rookie or average free agent signing like Alex Smith (no offense). The Broncos have acquired a legend, and they pulled it off in classic John Elway, fourth quarter comeback style.

Does this make the Broncos Super Bowl contenders?

Well, they were technically Super Bowl contenders a year ago, despite having a really up-and-down defense. Denver suffered huge injuries last year to Von Miller and Brian Dawkins late in the season that really killed their defensive momentum.

I think nobody around the league really respected the Broncos offensively last year, yet they continually made teams pay at the end of games all the way to a division title, so you have to give them credit for that. That being said, one thing this team could not sustain for another year was offensive play like that, where it took miracle after miracle to win games.

I think the Broncos have a very nice couple of receivers to begin building the offensive weaponry with in former first round pick Demaryius Thomas and former third round pick Eric Decker. According to some reports, Manning really liked Decker coming out of Minnesota back in 2010, and Thomas has begun emerging as the deep threat and playmaker the Broncos drafted him to be.

Denver also has a couple of elite, Pro Bowl pass rushers and a lot of assets in terms of cap space and obviously their draft picks. The Broncos also have a good, young offensive line but they could look to upgrade the interior. They were able to help this team get back to their powerful running ways and pave the way for a 1,000 yard back in Willis McGahee.

This is not to say that the Broncos are out of needs now that Manning is in the fold. Denver still needs to add depth in the defensive backfield, shore up their defensive tackle position, and add to the receiver and running back group. They definitely have the ability to do that, and according to reports, they have had a free agency plan in place once Manning signed.

That plan has to include Manning’s buddy from Indianapolis, center Jeff Saturday and one of his favorite targets, tight end Dallas Clark. Both guys would fit in Denver’s offense and both would provide upgrades at their respective positions.

I think this also could change Denver’s draft philosophy. Some have suggested that the Broncos will make a call to Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace, who is a restricted free agent and would require the Broncos’ first round pick, but with Manning on board it might make sense.

Still, some of my sources indicate that the Broncos will not make such a move, and that it’s definitely not their style. I think the Broncos should pursue a guy like Braylon Edwards, who is still pretty young and could possibly rejuvenate his career by joining forces with Peyton Manning.

Whatever the fallout may be, I think Denver is a much better team with Peyton Manning though I do fear for the future without Tim Tebow on board.