Denver Broncos 2012 NFL Preview: Cut That Meat!

Does Peyton Manning still have a laser rocket arm? The Broncos replaced Tim Tebow with one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. Five years ago, this would have been great news. The Peyton Manning the Broncos are getting is 36-years-old and coming off neck surgery. In the preseason he hasn’t shown the same fastball he previously possessed. The Broncos are getting one of the league’s top pitchmen, but are they still getting one of the league’s top quarterbacks? If they are, there is no limit to how far they could go.

Willis McGahee Back? After 3 straight seasons splitting carries in Baltimore (14 TD on just 124 touches in 2009) McGahee saw a career resurgence behind the Broncos line last year. The bad news? He’s turning 31 in October.

Will Knowshon Moreno ever be good? Just wanted to mention him because of the multiple seasons he spent wasting a spot on my fantasy football team.

Giddy Wide Receivers. There might be a little less zip on Peyton Manning’s balls, but Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker won’t know that. They’ll be just be ecstatic to see a football thrown where they expect it.

Von Miller might be better? The 2011 Defensive Rookie of the Year picked up 11.5 sacks last year as he and the rest of the Broncos defense kept Denver in games. This year everyone expects Miller to become a more complete player. Scary stuff for opponents.

D-CAF! If the Broncos defense was able to get the team to a place where Tim Tebow could win games, logic says they shouldn’t have to do quite as much this season to still be in a good position. Right?

Prediction: I know it makes no sense, but I can see the Broncos starting 2-5 and still finishing 10-6. There is no way that happens. The Broncos should be around .500, the question is whether or not that is good enough to win the AFC West. Once they’re in the playoffs, will Peyton still be healthy? How disappointing will this entire experiment be if the Broncos make the playoffs and it comes down to the play of Caleb Hanie or Brock Osweiler?