Peyton Manning

[Garcia Bronco]

Originally Posted by Rausch

Which, as many predicted, would be easier than the teams on paper.

Don't get me wrong - I think Denver will be in the final 4 of the AFC - but saying this schedule was brutal isn't accurate...

I think when you compound all the factors its been pretty damn brutal. Really everyone's schedule is brutal after re-alignment, scheduling rules, and the salary cap implementations.

The reason we're in this position is 3 fold: A number 2 pick success, a defense that had to defend for Tim Tebow, and 75% Peyton Manning leadership/presence.

I am really interested in how we perform against the Old Browns. If they best us we're solidly the number 4 team in the AFC and might face Indy. Losing those games to the Pats and Texans was huge. Imagine if they were scheduled now instead? I think the Broncos beat the Texans, but still lose to the Pats and that's the bye week. One game...that's brutal.