Thoughts on the Upcoming Season

Just some of my thoughts and predictions for the upcoming season, with a focus on the Broncos but some things concerning the entire league (that may or may not affect the Broncos) in the later part of the post. I will make no predictions on what happens in the playoffs, as all bets are off once they start.

Broncos

Kyle Orton will be solid, though not spectacular. He may make the Pro Bowl as an alternate if multiple AFC quarterbacks with more votes don't play.

Knowshon Moreno should be able to get over 1000 yards rushing and around 300 receiving.

Matt Prater has a great season, but gets almost completely ignored by the national media..... again.

Tim Tebow will be put in in some redzone situations just so teams have to account for the possible dual threat. He won't play as much early, but by the end of the year will be seeing significant playing time. He'll be on the field for about 10 touchdowns all year, accounting for at least half of them, while on those he didn't account for the defense was paying too much attention to him.

The defense finishes in the top 10, thanks in part to the line being able to hold up better with a more balanced rotation.

Darcel McBath threatens for Renaldo Hill's starting spot by midseason, but Hill holds on for the entire year.

Spencer Larsen will blow at least one person's helmet off on special teams.

Eddie Royal gets 1000 receiving yards with the transition to the slot. He will not see much time as a return man.

Demaryius Thomas shows flashes of greatness, and has an above average rookie season, finishing with around 700 receiving yards. We'll be seeing him in the Sportscenter Top 10 once.

Eric Decker will catch on towards the end of the year, especially when Tebow is on the field.

Jabar Gaffney will be the third leading receiver, with around 500 yards.

The offensive line will be solid, but we'll still see Orton run right into a pass rusher or five. Clady should make the Pro Bowl, and Harris will be ignored.

The secondary shows their worth, with Brian Dawkins and Champ Bailey being voted to the Pro Bowl as backups. We'll still occasionally find ourselves yelling at Andre Goodman to learn how to tackle.

Elvis Dumervil will get his extension after all of the draft picks have signed, and will have at least 12 sacks and three forced fumbles on the year, making the Pro Bowl again.

Champ won't get an extension done during the year, but talks will open up once the season is over.

There will be somebody on full censorship alert at all games, so another "We just want to win a MF game!" doesn't get broadcasted, especially if NFL Network is covering the game.

Robert Ayers gets at least three sacks, and many more hurries.

Alphonso Smith wins the job as nickel corner, in part because the coaching staff wants to use Perrish Cox as a return man.

The inside linebacker spot next to D.J. Williams is still in question at the end of season.

Rod Smith talks Demaryius Thomas into using the Mile High Salute whenever he scores.

The Broncos will finish the season with a record of at least 10-6, winning the AFC West.

NFL

The Colts will win the AFC South and get home field advantage.

The Patriots will win the AFC East and get a first round bye.

The Ravens will win the AFC North.

The AFC Wildcards will be the Jets and Texans.

The Packers will win the NFC North and get home field advantage.

The Cowboys will win the NFC East and get a first round bye.

The 49ers will win the NFC West.

The Falcons will win the NFC South.

The NFC Wildcards will be the Vikings and Saints.

The Chargers will be in striking distance of the AFC West title for part of the year, but get bit by Ryan Mathews hitting the rookie wall.

Vincent Jackson will be traded at the deadline for less than the Broncos got for Brandon Marshall. The national media praises the Chargers for making the move.

Marcus McNeill holds out for 10 games, but comes back after that. In the mean time, we will enjoy seeing Philip Rivers get pounded into the ground.

The Chiefs will improve their record to 6-10, while the Raiders once again finish 5-11.

The Madden Curse will hit Drew Brees, but late enough in the season that the Saints will barely be able to get a wildcard spot.

Brett Favre will not retire.

The Bills trade Marshawn Lynch before the season starts.

Tom Brandstater plays decently for the Colts while Peyton Manning rests at the end of the year. Some media outlets will claim that this is proof that Josh McDaniels is an idiot for cutting him, though many will hardly bring that up.

The Redskins trade Albert Haynesworth ASAP.

Sam Bradford gets absolutely killed by opposing defenders, and some start to wonder if he will be the next David Carr if the Rams don't improve quickly.

Jake Delhomme is starter for the Browns at the beginning of the season, but is benched in favor of Seneca Wallace after a few games, who is benched after five games in favor of Delhomme, who is benched in favor of Colt McCoy once Eric Mangini is fired.

Tom Cable will be fired once somebody figures out where Al Davis is locked up.

The Jaguars will fire Jack Del Rio either mid-season or after the season.

The Bears fire Lovie Smith after missing the playoffs again.

The Panthers choose not to retain John Fox after the season.

Chan Gailey is on the hot seat for the Bills by the end of the season.

Jay Cutler leads the league in interceptions again, but also brings the Bears back to win four games in the fourth quarter.

Jimmy Clausen is named the Panthers starting quarterback after five games.

Defenders will go out of their way to hurt Ben Roethlisberger.