Another week, another NFL Power Rankings list, and this time around, the Denver Broncos have jumped back in the top 10, up one spot from Week 7.
They dropped down to No. 11 last week after they almost squandered away the London game against the New York Jets, and likely would’ve dropped around the No. 15 range this week if they hadn’t pulled off one of the most miraculous comeback victories in franchise history against the Giants. The orange and blue sleepwalked their way through the first three quarters, but a 33-point explosion in the fourth pushed their record to 5-2 and showed that the team has some grit.
The Broncos are in an interesting spot as they near the midpoint of the season. They’re 5-2, hold sole possession of first place in the AFC West for the first time since Week 4 of the 2016 season, and are in third place in the AFC, just a few tiebreaker points in the strength of victory category behind the New England Patriots. This team has shown some flashes that it could be one of the best squads in the entire NFL, but has also had plenty of lackadaisical moments that have raised plenty of concerns.
Whether it’s the play calling, the consistency from the quarterback position, the ability of the corners outside of Pat Surtain II to hold their own in man coverage, whether the offensive line will be the same with the absence of Ben Powers, there are still many questions surrounding this Broncos squad. But there’s one question that sticks out more than the others.
ARE WE SURE THE BRONCOS ARE LEGIT?
Denver has shown some great flashes this season, highlighted by a stunning comeback over the Philadelphia Eagles and a nine-sack performance against the New York Jets. However, they have been abysmal on the offensive side of the football in the second and third quarters this season, and have hung around against some lower competition that some people wouldn’t have expected.
The next couple of weeks will give Broncos Country the answer to that question. They take on the Cowboys this week, one of the best offenses in the NFL, and then take on the Texans, who boast one of the best defenses in the league. After a game against the lowly Raiders, the Chiefs come to town, and that game will be the true test to see where exactly the Broncos are on the totem pole in the NFL.
On the flip side, Broncos fans should be happy with where their team stands. This team hasn’t come close to playing their best football and they are atop the standings and have one of the best records they’ve seen in years.
Can they get any higher than this invisible barrier that’s been around the 9-10 range in the NFL Power Rankings that they’ve been stuck behind all season? They need another signature win to do so, and have a chance to make a statement against the Cowboys on Sunday at home. That game kicks off at 2:25 p.m. MDT.
