It's insane in hindsight that the Broncos were 11.5-point dogs in this Super Bowl since the Packers were defending champions and had a better record while the Broncos were a Wild Card. The Broncos led the league in SRS (and were three points better than the Packers) and they were a tenth of a percentage point away in DVOA. I think they're pretty clearly the best WC of all time.1997
yeah that 1997 team had tough breaks loseing @ KC at the gun loseing to pitt bad and @ SF bad as well but got some lucky breaks too does denver win if NE beats Pitt in 1997 IDK NE was the 1st or 2nd best AFC team that year and even with denver on talent wouild had homefield in 97It's insane in hindsight that the Broncos were 11.5-point dogs in this Super Bowl since the Packers were defending champions and had a better record while the Broncos were a Wild Card. The Broncos led the league in SRS (and were three points better than the Packers) and they were a tenth of a percentage point away in DVOA. I think they're pretty clearly the best WC of all time.
It's insane in hindsight that the Broncos were 11.5-point dogs in this Super Bowl since the Packers were defending champions and had a better record while the Broncos were a Wild Card. The Broncos led the league in SRS (and were three points better than the Packers) and they were a tenth of a percentage point away in DVOA. I think they're pretty clearly the best WC of all time.
For some reason I totally forgot about the '10 Packers even though they're the most recent ones to do it. They lost two games to bad teams with Rodgers, but their overall profile is very similar to the '97 Broncos and they played almost two games without him. The one quibble I'll make is although they led the Eagles the whole way, the Eagles were driving late where a TD would've given them the lead when Vick threw an interception in the end zone. Both playoff runs were very impressive:Third best in my opinion. The 2010 Packers were a 10-6 team that had a 12-4 point differential and the losses were:
2 losses with the back up QB
2 overtime losses
2 losses on last second kicks
They were 4th in DVOA, 7th in Offensive efficiency, 2nd in Defense, but peaked mightily in the second half of the year with the exception of the two games Rodgers missed for injury. They won three straight playoff games on the road, none of which were ever really competitive, and then got out to a big lead in the Super Bowl, but had to survive a comeback after their defensive Captain (look up and left) was injured at half time.
The 1980 Raiders:
Were just really lucky to win road games in Cleveland and San Diego (the real best team that year) on an intercepted pass that should never have been thrown and a long touchdown that bounced off of two DBs before landing in the waiting arms of Raymond Chester.
Ok, the 97 Broncos were better than the 80 Raiders.
At the time, the AFC hadn't won a Super Bowl in 14 years. And 11.5 points seems like a huge spread now, but only 3 of the previous 14 Super Bowls had been that close. Almost every exciting Super Bowl happened after that game. We'd gotten used to expected an NFC blowout win in the SB every year.It's insane in hindsight that the Broncos were 11.5-point dogs in this Super Bowl since the Packers were defending champions and had a better record while the Broncos were a Wild Card. The Broncos led the league in SRS (and were three points better than the Packers) and they were a tenth of a percentage point away in DVOA. I think they're pretty clearly the best WC of all time.
You're absolutely correct - that superseded how good the Broncos were and that the Packers were more like an 11-12 win team than a 13-win one. The line the year before was 2.5 points higher, but the '96 Packers are on one hand of the best teams of all time while the '97 team was merely very good and the '97 Broncos were considerably better than the '96 Pats. It was also amazingly the lowest line in four years (the '94 49ers were 19-point favorites and covered easily!) and was the fifth straight year the NFC was a double-digit favorite.At the time, the AFC hadn't won a Super Bowl in 14 years. And 11.5 points seems like a huge spread now, but only 3 of the previous 14 Super Bowls had been that close. Almost every exciting Super Bowl happened after that game. We'd gotten used to expected an NFC blowout win in the SB every year.
But you're right that that was a really good Broncos team that just had the misfortune of being in the same division as the 13-3 Chiefs. Denver split with KC, the loss a last-second, 54-yard field goal to lose by 2 in KC (the "Pete Stoyanovich for President!" game).
They had a better record in 96 but they scored 81 more points in 97 while only allowing 12 more. 98 had everything - a 13-0 start with a dominant playoff run (although they trailed by 10 in the second half of the CG) and a 192 point differential. That being said, the Jacksonville game was certainly a massive upset. The Broncos were 12.5-point favorites and it probably could've been more - they had a 9.1 SRS edge with an obviously huge HFA. Somehow the Jaguars won two road games and made the CG with a negative point differential. The line in that SB might've been 20 if they beat the Pats.The Broncos may have been better in 96 than 97 and 98. Still can’t believe they lost to Jacksonville. They obliterated the Pats in Foxboro. I was there. Massacre. The Shannon Sharpe call in the national guard game.
The other factor driving the line was that an AFC team hadn't won the Super Bowl in 14 years before that. The AFC was looked at as the JV conference and Denver's resume as inflated by playing in the weaker conference.It's insane in hindsight that the Broncos were 11.5-point dogs in this Super Bowl since the Packers were defending champions and had a better record while the Broncos were a Wild Card.
that 80 raiders team was really good beat 3 really good teams to win the super bowl that year shouild also have rings in 74 and maybe 77Third best in my opinion. The 2010 Packers were a 10-6 team that had a 12-4 point differential and the losses were:
2 losses with the back up QB
2 overtime losses
2 losses on last second kicks
They were 4th in DVOA, 7th in Offensive efficiency, 2nd in Defense, but peaked mightily in the second half of the year with the exception of the two games Rodgers missed for injury. They won three straight playoff games on the road, none of which were ever really competitive, and then got out to a big lead in the Super Bowl, but had to survive a comeback after their defensive Captain (look up and left) was injured at half time.
The 1980 Raiders:
Were just really lucky to win road games in Cleveland and San Diego (the real best team that year) on an intercepted pass that should never have been thrown and a long touchdown that bounced off of two DBs before landing in the waiting arms of Raymond Chester.
Ok, the 97 Broncos were better than the 80 Raiders.
well shanny put in a rookie at QB when if denver SF knew what happhed to steve young in 99 we shouild traded a 1'2'3' 99 and 1'2' 00 to SF for steve young other then loseing al wilson SF needed Draft picks badly and had young played for any other team in 99 he plays a full season only got hurt in 99 because RB L Phillips couild not pass block had this happened denver loses in the 99 super bowl to the rams but beats balt in mile high and wins the 2000 super bowlYou're absolutely correct - that superseded how good the Broncos were and that the Packers were more like an 11-12 win team than a 13-win one. The line the year before was 2.5 points higher, but the '96 Packers are on one hand of the best teams of all time while the '97 team was merely very good and the '97 Broncos were considerably better than the '96 Pats. It was also amazingly the lowest line in four years (the '94 49ers were 19-point favorites and covered easily!) and was the fifth straight year the NFC was a double-digit favorite.
As an aside, it's a shame Terrell Davis' career was cut short. In eight playoff games, he averaged 143 YPG on 5.6 YPC with 12 TDs.
denver lost that game because we couild not sack bruell looking back on it we win that game no neil smith no howard Griffith when we needed both in 97The Broncos may have been better in 96 than 97 and 98. Still can’t believe they lost to Jacksonville. They obliterated the Pats in Foxboro. I was there. Massacre. The Shannon Sharpe call in the national guard game.
Lock has a long road before he’s anywhere near top 10-12. 3/4 yearsquick breakdown going into 2020
QB Lock - he will have growing pains but shouild grow into a top 10-12 QB by mid 2021
RB Gordon Lindsay gordan will start with lindsay on 3rd down combined they should go for 1'300 and 12 td's
WR Sutton Jerdy Hamler / patrick Suttion and Jerdy will be the best 1-2 punch in the NFL late in 2021 hamler should be a az hakim type but needs a reshirt year
TE Fant Albebt O fant is a top 10 te and O was lock teammate in college allready knows him
OL Bollies LT Riner LG Cushberry c Glawow RG James/wilkoning RT the weak spot while the G play will be good big Q at LT C and RT
DE Casey S Harris Pucell NT getting Casey was a steal from tenn Purcell help stop the run game after week 4 harris is the weak spot but gets a little better each year
LB Miller chubb t davis A Johnson if chubb stays on the feald him and von should combire for 20 sacks T Davis cannot cover backs and TE'S but is a great run stuffer A Johnson is a fast al wilson
CB Boyae Callahan Yidom our weak spot boyde is a num 2 at best the rest are nickel guys
S Simmons jackson if healhy the best S duo in the NFL
K Mcmanas not bad
P Martin last year advage 45 yard a punt in det
this is a 9-7 team unlees Lock is a top 3 QB in the AFC then 11-5 but most likely 9-7 with a shot for a big run in 2021
how so he was 4-1 in the last 5 games he only had sutton and fant to throw to on a cont basis now he adds jerdy the best route runner in the draft hamler a solt guy than can stench the field Gordon a guy that is good catching passes in the backfield Albert O a 6-6 dude that can catch and was lock fav target in college now to be fair the ol is a worry but as long as lock gets better footwork he should be fineLock has a long road before he’s anywhere near top 10-12. 3/4 years
Seems likely. Sorry j-manvon miller might be out for the season
denver is 3-5 got blown out today the injury is catching up to us
we can go anywhere from 7-9 to 4-12
part of me wants 4-12 because
1 top 5 pick would guarantee a great OT or lockdown CB
haveing a 4th place means playing Jax and the jets in crossover games
2 denver has their starting 22 set for next year but Q are at QB and OT and what will happen will simmons
3 lock has a chance but is way too up/down
4 Fangio is most likely not the answer but needs to saty on for 2021 but if eric Bellamy wouild leave KC for a rival
5 my dream wouild be MCD gets the houton job wants Watson gone denver trades for watson
6 denver franchise simmons and trades him to mia for their 1st and 2nd pick in 21
denver trades miller to dallas for their 2nd and 4th in 21
uses that saved $ to re-sign bolies and philly Lindsay
of Couse u do want lock denver was in the game until all the INT'S the first haif was even denver run defense is non exist right now that is why booker was able to run it so wellHouston isn't trading Watson.
I don't think the Broncos need to tear it down. I think it is simple as finding a QB and getting healthy. As a fan of a division rival, I want Drew Lock to be the Broncos QB for as long as possible.
If I were Elway, after I got done hating myself and my stupid horse teeth, I would tank the rest of this season and comeback next year with one of Lance / Fields / Wilson. From there you have a really talented defense led by a good defensive coach and an offense with a bunch of good weapons for the young talented QB. Elway cant seem to draft O lineman to save his QB's life, so I would focus FA spending there.