2009 Schedule and Coaching Expectations

by binford04 on Jan 13, 2009 6:08 PM MST Comment 21 comments

The 2008 Denver Broncos had one of the easiest schedules, as far as strength of schedule is concerned. Their opponents went a combined 114-142 in 2007 with a .445 win percentage.

The Broncos went 8-8 against those teams, in an up-and-down season, resulting in a historic collapse that we are still reeling from around these parts. Well brace yourselves Broncos fans, 2009 does not get ANY easier.

Follow me after the break for my thoughts on next year and how much we should really expect from the new coaching changes.

2009 Home Games (w/2008 records)

Kansas City Chiefs (2-14)
San Diego Chargers (8-8)
Oakland Raiders (5-11)
Cleveland Browns (4-12)
Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)
New England Patriots (11-5)
Dallas Cowboys (9-7)
New York Giants (12-4)

2009 Away Games

Kansas City Chiefs (2-14)
San Diego Chargers (8-8)
Oakland Raiders (5-11)
Baltimore Ravens (11-5)
Cincinnati Bengals (4-11)
Indianapolis Colts (12-4)
Philadelphia Eagles (9-6)
Washington Redskins (8-8)

The Broncos go from having one of the easiest schedules in 2008, to having one of the hardest in 2009. They have to play seven(!) playoff teams (eight if you count the Patriots) and maybe even one Super Bowl champion, all with a brand new head coach and defensive coordinator.

Now what exactly are we expecting from McDaniels in the next season? Given the schedule that the team is facing next year, I personally think that if Coach Mac can get this team to 8-8 by this time next year, he will be a resounding success.

So now the games. Let's look at some facts:

Mile-High Magic?

via media.mnginteractive.com

Let's be honest, the luster of Mile High is long gone. The Broncos have been beaten and even embarrassed numerous times at home since the 2005 season. This last season we saw home losses to Buffalo, Jacksonville, Oakland and Miami. Not exactly the cream of the NFL crop. Can we look at the home games in 2009 and honestly predict more than two, maybe three, wins? The Broncos haven't been blowing anyone out in their wins, even the ones at home. When you barely beat KC, need a phantom call from Hoculi to beat SD and a missed FG against New Orleans to win at home, then there are some serious problems at hand. To get a winning home record next season, the Broncos will have to beat some excellent teams in the process, but I think a 4-4 record seems more likely to me at the moment. McDaniels needs to make defending home field almost as important as defending in general.

Woes on the Road

via cache.daylife.com

The 2008 Broncos surprised a few teams and more than a few fans and pundits on the road, with solid wins at the Jets and Atlanta. But New England, Carolina, San Diego, and STILL Kansas City were houses of horrors for the Broncos. Within the division, the Broncos have only recently looked good at Oakland. The team continues to be jinxed at Arrowhead, and San Diego hasn't had to fear the Broncos at home since '05 when they knocked Drew Brees out. In 2009, both of these games will be very hard to win. Pack in trips to three playoff teams in there too, Philly, Indianapolis and Baltimore, and the road isn't looking very sunny at this point either.

Final Thoughts

So should we throw out all hopes for next season right now? Of course not. A lot can change between now and Week 1. With free agency and the draft (and the McDaniels/Nolan regime change) the Broncos are planning for next season RIGHT NOW. Coach Mac is looking at the same schedule as we are. He knows what he is up against and, hopefully, will have a better plan of attack for going out and winning football games. McDaniels said in his press conference he was going to improve all aspects of the game: offense, defense, special teams. I believe he's going to do that to the best of his ability.

Right now he needs to go out and get the right talent in here to make that happen. And it may take more than a year for it to come together. So let's not call McDaniels a bust should the Broncos lose more games than they win next year. GO BRONCOS!

This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR

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Comments

14-2 (3-0)

I am the eggman...they are the eggman...I am the Mermaid...Goo Goo Gajoob!!!

by PosterNutbag on Jan 13, 2009 6:15 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

12-4 (4-0)

La La Land…Who has the key? I WANT IN.

McDaniels was the best option for this team. You CAN NOT overfocus on the defense and possibley have Jeremy Bates not progress with Cutler. McDaniels will watch over both sides of the ball, especially the O, while letting a defensive guy handle the D along with an intelligent GM.

Mac Daddy mackin' out Denver!!!

by broncodude793 on Jan 13, 2009 6:16 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

10-6

Hey broncodude, when you get the key, make me a copy.

Thanks to Mike Shanahan, a great coach who will be dearly missed. But...
Let's all get on the Mac Daddy Express!
Hillis for starter next year. He wears special thigh pads so his solid brass balls don't give him repeated thigh contusions.

by 53guys on Jan 13, 2009 7:03 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Too pessimistic

I expect the Chiefs, Raider, and even the Bolts to be about the same next year. We should go 3-0 at home and 2-1 or 1-2 on the road in the AFC West.

The Browns and Cowboys should both be wins at home.

Of the remaining three home games, I think we will win one, maybe Pittsburgh will have a post Super Bowl hangover, Manning will have a hang nail or NE will roll over because they still love Josh.

The Bungles and the Skins won’t be much better next year, notch two in the win column.

Indy will be in a post Dungy let down.

So I figure 6-2 at home, 4-4 on the road. 10-6 is very doable. Let’s see how much of a genius our new HC is.

by SlowWhiteGuy on Jan 13, 2009 7:11 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

eh, strength of schedule is hooey

I was actually gonna write about this but then Pat Bowlen went and distracted us. First off, the difficulty of divisional games is never accurately reflected by the record of the teams involved. Then there is the variation from season to season. Of the ten non-divisional opponents the Broncos faced in 2008, six of them had a final record that was 5 or more games different from 2007. Who would have guessed the NFC South would be the best division in football this year? Or that Denver would go 3-1 against them.

And lastly there is variation within a season. Maybe not a great example since Denver lost, but there was a difference between playing Buffalo at the start of the season (when they were 4-1) and the end of the season (when they went 1-4 to finish at 8-8). Or playing SD before and after Rivera got there. Same with Singletary as head coach in SF.

Then again, facing three of the four teams in the conference championships is never an easy task (and Indy and NE are pereniallty solid). If I have to make an early prediction, I will go with 10-6

by MattR on Jan 13, 2009 7:15 PM MST reply actions 3 recs

spot on

This year was a perfect example of how the rating strenght of schedule is overrated. With free agency and the such a lot of teams have good turnover. Who would have thought the AFC East would have 3 teasm with +.500 records, or the NFC South to as good. Plus everyone of the “experts” had Jville beating out Indy, but they only won 5 games. I wont predict because its WAY to early, I want to see what Denver does in the draft and in free agency before I make a prediction. Last year I was saying 12-4, I only missed that by 4 measly games.

somethings wrong, Trying to conquer these fears i thought were gone. And it's been so long, I'm dying to live in a world i don't belong

by broncfanstuckinsd on Jan 13, 2009 7:23 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

I wish Woody Paige was our coach!

by bcfunk on Jan 13, 2009 8:36 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Excellent comment Matt

Concision in style, precision in thought, decision in life.

by styg50 on Jan 13, 2009 9:46 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

+2

I don’t want breakaway speed. I want break-some-poor-fool-as-I-bowl-you-over power getting 6 yards off a play that should have been stopped for 2 at most.

by sadaraine on Jan 13, 2009 10:26 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

rec'd

by CoastalBronco on Jan 14, 2009 8:57 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

theres always teams you think we be good and suck & vica-versa likewise

but who do you think they are?

by RiG on Jan 13, 2009 8:36 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

How do we finish up with a bad record and get a murderous schedule like this !

   someone plays with themselvs at the NFL scheduleing dept !
   we have to play 7 playoff teams next year. thats not right ! what did the miami dolphins
    get for a schedule next year they made the playoffs .? It better be harder than ours!

by broncosfaninphilly on Jan 13, 2009 8:54 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

That´s our schedule for 2009 (Dolphins), one of the toughest ones in the league as well

Home games: Houston, Indy, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, and an AFC North opponent TBD.
Away games: Jacksonville, Tennessee, Atlanta, Carolina, and an AFC West opponent TBD.

by MauMontaV5 on Jan 14, 2009 3:50 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

ur AFC North= Titans, and @ SD

somethings wrong, Trying to conquer these fears i thought were gone. And it's been so long, I'm dying to live in a world i don't belong

by broncfanstuckinsd on Jan 14, 2009 3:55 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

thats right

by MauMontaV5 on Jan 14, 2009 6:30 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Record has little to do with schedule

That’s a myth that MSM propagates.

6 games are predetermined every year – home/away with AFC West
4 games determine by AFC Division match up – next year AFC West Play AFC North, last year in was West v. East
4 games determined by inter-conference match up – AFC West v. NFC East in 2009, last year NFC S v. AFC W
That leaves two games based on 2nd place finish – in this case NE and Indy both finished 2nd in their divisions.

by SlowWhiteGuy on Jan 13, 2009 9:03 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Well I will save judgement until after the offseason

A lot will change between now and the start of next year, coaching changes, freee agents and the draft, plus injuries in training camp, but I agree, next year looks like it will be tougher in many ways and unless the defense and attitude change, it will be a long season.

"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum
"Duffman is thrusting in the direction of the problem" - Duffman

by Broncoman on Jan 14, 2009 10:42 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

I agree...

It’s just too soon to start throwing predictions around. From the sound of it McDaniels is going to make pretty significant changes and until we know what they are I’m reserving all predictions. Now, if Shanny was in charge I would agree with the 8-8 predictions. With McD? We’ll see.

by Jezru on Jan 14, 2009 12:58 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Well seeing we had a coaching change and with that schedule

I will be happy with a 9-7 record. And as I dont see the Chargers returning to their dominent ways, 9-7 will likely compete for the division again.

But it is still waaaay early so I will withhold my predictions. Im just saying I will be happy with 9-7

by purplesocks on Jan 14, 2009 2:17 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Meh. The 7 playoff teams we play next year

are all paper tigers. So is New England.

13-3 baby!!!

"WTF" By Zappa. 1/5/09

I can deal with bears....sharks on the other hand.......of course, I am not talking about if I were menstrual(I’m a guy so that isn’t it), but yeah. I can deal with bears if my arm or something was bleedin’, but sharks? I’ll pass on those. The worst feeling in the world is to be out in the surf and feel something very large brush up against your leg as you were alone waiting for your next wave. I don’t think I’ve gone out past waist deep in the ocean since. lol It was probably just a damn dolphin or something, but yeah. Screw sharks and the evolutionary train they rode in on!

by papigrande on Jan 14, 2009 4:19 PM MST reply actions 0 recs