2014 NFL Preview: Everything you need to know about the Denver Broncos

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Denver Broncos

Schedule | Roster

Last season was a record-setting campaign for Peyton Manning and the Broncos, but in the end they came up just short. The Denver offense put together one of the best seasons the NFL has ever witnessed last year, scoring the most points in a season in NFL history, while Manning broke the records for most passing yards and touchdowns.

Denver finished as the top seed in the AFC and earned a trip to the Super Bowl with playoff victories over the San Diego Chargers and New England Patriots. That's when the wheels fell off, however, as the Broncos were demolished in Super Bowl XLVIII 43-8 by the Seattle Seahawks, giving an incredible season a disappointing finish.

At 38 years old, the championship window for Manning is shrinking. For the Broncos to have a successful season in 2014, it's Super Bowl or bust.

Preseason Power Rankings - #2

Manning only has so many good years left in him, so the Broncos loaded up in the offseason. They also get back some key players from injury, like Ryan Clady, Von Miller, and Chris Harris, which has the team in good position for a return trip to the Super Bowl. More...

Key Additions/Departures

Key Additions: DE DeMarcus Ware, CB Aqib Talib, S T.J. Ward, WR Emmanuel Sanders

Key Departures: WR Eric Decker, RB Knowshon Moreno, CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB Champ Bailey, LB Shaun Phillips, LB Wesley Woodyard, DT Kevin Vickerson, S Duke Ihenacho

The biggest key for the Broncos in the offseason was to upgrade their defense, and they did just that by picking up three of the top defenders on the free agent market. DeMarcus Ware comes over from the Dallas Cowboys and, if healthy, should drastically improve Denver's ability to rush the passer.

The addition of Aqib Talib should more than offset the loss of Rodgers-Cromarite, as he proved with the New England Patriots last season he can take away a team's best receiver. The loss of Eric Decker to the New York Jets would hurt most offenses, but the Broncos don't lack for weapons and Emmanuel Sanders - combined with an already strong core - should keep the Denver passing game at the top of the league.

2014 Draft Class

Despite picking at the bottom of the first round, the Broncos managed to land a player that can have a significant contribution to the team in 2014. With Chris Harris still recovering from a torn ACL and Champ Bailey and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie gone, there will be plenty of room for Bradley Roby to demonstrate his talent. The former Ohio State Buckeye could end up starting.

Wide receiver Cody Latimer may have a few names above his on the depth chart, but he should still get plenty of use this season. Manning has proven throughout his career (and especially last season) he likes to use a bevy of receivers, and Latimer should be the latest to benefit from Denver's diverse offensive approach.

Coaching Staff

Head Coach: John Fox
Offensive Coordinator: Adam Gase
Defensive Coordinator: Jack Del Rio

John Fox is entering his third season as Broncos head coach and he has led Denver to 13 victories in each of the last two seasons. He did have a little help in 2013, with Jack Del Rio taking over in the interim tag for four games when Fox had an aortic valve replacement. Del Rio led the Broncos to a 3-1 record in Fox's absence.

Adam Gase took over as Denver's offensive coordinator last season after Mike McCoy was made the new head coach of the San Diego Chargers. All Gase did was take an already explosive unit and make it one of the most feared offenses the NFL has ever seen. Now with a season under his belt, Gase should have the offense firing on all cylinders in 2014.

2014 Schedule

The early bye week does the Broncos no favors, although it does come after a Super Bowl rematch with the Seattle Seahawks. A home-heavy start to the season means that six of the Broncos' final nine games will be played away from Sports Authority Field, so getting off to a hot start will be incredibly important.

As a result of winning the division last season, the Broncos have one of the league's most difficult schedules in 2014. Facing the NFC West certainly doesn't help matters, as Denver will play nine of its 16 games against teams that made the playoffs in 2013.

Bold Predictions

Emmanuel Sanders will take Wes Welker’s job. Welker is 33 years old and coming off a season in which he suffered multiple significant concussions. His 2013 stats don’t suggest he’s nearing the end - 778 yards and 10 touchdowns in 13 games - but they don’t tell the whole story. 555 of those yards and nine of those touchdowns came in the season’s first eight games. The Broncos will try to get both Welker and Sanders on the field together, but Sanders’ eventual home will be in the slot role Welker has inhabited (and dominated) since his 2007 breakout. - David Woods

Ronnie Hillman will rush for 1,000 yards. Hillman’s first two seasons in the NFL have been largely forgettable, with a combined 545 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 139 carries. He is still just 22 years old, though, and figures to see increased opportunities following the offseason departure of Knowshon Moreno. Look for Hillman to break out in a big way this season. - Caitlyn Holroyd

Bronco will go 15-1: The Broncos only lost three games in 2013 and they’ve added to their impressive roster with offseason acquisitions. DeMarcus Ware and Aqib Talib should help the defense improve immensely and the signing of Emmanuel Sanders should offset the loss of Eric Decker. Denver does face the Patriots, 49ers, and Seahawks, so saying they will go undefeated is a bit much, but 15 Ws isn’t out of the question. - Michael Amato

Julius Thomas will catch more touchdown passes than Jimmy Graham. With injuries taking their toll on Rob Gronkowski, Jimmy Graham has become the consensus top tight end in football and was rewarded with a four-year, $40-million contract ($21 million guaranteed) this offseason. Thomas had a breakout season for the Broncos in 2013 with 12 touchdown receptions and would like a nice new contract to go along with it. General manager John Elway said that Thomas needs to prove himself in order to get that kind of deal, and he will do so by reaching the end zone more than Graham in 2014. - Mike Dickson