I can cheer for them when they don’t play us…Except the Raiders…may they eternally wallow in the pits of 5 wins or less per season.

That works in theory…but then I realize that if they lose our chances of going to the playoffs raise. Sorry…can’t do it.

It is kinda a toss up to me…especially given that they all play us tough no matter what their records are (look at last year and the year before).

I especially like the point about winning a tough game in KC or Oakland or SD. It should definitely help confidence. Another point I would add is what if those teams aren’t that good. If we go in there and squeak one out when we should win handily, it may lower the confidence level. That said, I find myself pulling for those teams to lose every Sunday.

Let them battle for second best. But jokeland… I prefer to see them wallow in their incompetence. It… sustains me.

Have to mull it over a bit to decide just how fully I agree.

What makes sense: competing against strong divisional rivals can test and strengthen the team. Sort of like the team version of the individual position competitions that McDaniels espouses.

What I struggle with: the concept of wanting to see KC, SD, and Oakland get better — I’ve spent too many years cheering for them to get beat.

But rec’d the post for being tremendously thought-provoking.

The current Chargers’ inability to win with dignitity and class combined with the fact that they are the most underachieving team in recent memory has placed them squarely in my number-one-despised-‘rival’ box. I set ‘rival’ off because you have to win with consistencey and achieve something before you have the honor of being anybody’s rival. Somebody forgot to tell San Diego and their fans that.

In short, I don’t like them.

I agree, broncoman. And Rec’d.

In the immediate – crushing weak divisional opponents has its own Schadenfreude rewards, as well as giving us a leg-up on getting to the playoffs. But in the longrun – facing grueling schedules year after year from going toe to toe against fierce divisional foes…in truly building a team that has battled through the toughest, honing and sharpening, further righting and tightening up formations, drills, routes, everything. Why? Because your rival will take it from you if given the chance. Because you have no choice. Rise up and overcome!

That said. I won’t be actively cheering for Oakland, SD, or KC. Just can’t do it. They’ll just have to get better without me. :-)

I always think the victory is that much sweeter if the opponent is really good. There’s no glory in beating up on pansies, even if they’re the Raiders.

My thought in reading your post, Broncoman, was to reflect on the past few years where a victory over our division opponents seemed to me rather ho-hum. Not to say that it was trivial (cf. KC last year), or not an entertaining game; but I didn’t really feel like we had accomplished something significant… something that would carry us forward as a team.

I too believe that championship teams face adversity, and they get better because of it. Lack of adversity in the West isn’t the sole reason for the Broncos’ lackluster performance, of course, but I agree it does contribute.

Oh, I do love seeing the Raiders fans all dressed up with nowhere to go, as their “team” wallows in hopelessness yet again. BUT, I also recall days long past where a win there was something special – like ‘this might be the year’ to take it all the way. Lately… well, it’s a win; but it’s not like we beat the Steelers, Patriots, or Colts.

Thanks B-man for coalescing my thoughts with your words!

I’ve been thinking this for quite some time, along with many others at the site, including yourself. Especially if the Chiefs and Raiders get better that’d be great (of course not when they play the Broncos). With what happened this offseason though, I think we still have a little bit of a wait until we get there. But hey, you never know.

but on an emotional level I wish they would all go 0-16. The problem with 0-16 is that is an impossibility as they would have to pick up a few wins against each other. What a shame that they can’t even execute something so simple as having 0-16 seasons concurrently.

I like to dislike in this order:
1. raiders
2. Chargers
3. Chiefs (gotta give them credit for wearing scarlet and gold, the colors of the USMC).

Interesting to ponder, but I just can’t do it.

this is blasphemy in my book. I never wish the rest of the division success.

The more they lose, the better the Broncos’ chances are for winning the division. Last year, the NFC West sucked, but the Cardinals made it to the Super Bowl and was a first half int and a tippy-toe catch away from a world championship.

Stronger competition causes one opponent to work harder to defeat the other. Okay I agree with that concept. But, like so many others I don’t want our AFC West foes to do well. But, that creates a little issue with how I feel about the other three teams…….

BTW I think the NFC West is footballs worst division.

I agree to a certain extent……ask the Pats if they agree based on last year…don’t think they would. The Pats suffered last year as the other years really took the pressure off b/c Miami, Buff, and NJY were rarely competitive.

The NFC East really supports your argument. I will say that the big impact you are talking about is PRESSURE. To win big in Jan. you gotta be able to play under pressure AND COACH under pressure. I think w/o the division getting any better (although I think it is gonna be a hella division next year) we have a coach that can coach under pressure. I think the tough schedule will be plenty to get the team prepared to win in Jan. I just hope we can eke out enough wins to get us in the playoffs. So, all in all, I am not really hoping the division is as tough as you hope.