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After the huge success we had with our last Point-Counterpoint article, we felt we should get moving and get another question out there for you great members to answer. Now first off we need to display the results of the last Point-Counterpoint that pitted myself against Bronco Mike Gomez about whether the Broncos should have added cornerback Stanford Routt. The results clearly went Mike's way and we like to reward a winning argument (his argument won 67% of the vote) so that makes our current records:
- Topher: 0-1
- Mike: 1-0
Today we'll be pitting two veteran staffers against each other as they debate who will be the biggest threat to the Broncos in the AFC. Here are the contenders:
Strengths:
- Balance
- Skill Position Talent (RB, WR, CB)
- Coaching
Weaknesses:
- Depth at WR
- Special Teams
Strengths:
- Offensive talent and depth
- Coaching
- Special Teams
Weaknesses:
- Running game consistency
- Defense is young and inconsistent
Strengths:
- Quarterback and wide receiver
- Defensive front seven
Weaknesses:
- Running back health
- Secondary
- Offensive line
Strengths:
- Running game
- Defense
- Special Teams
Weaknesses:
- Inconsistent quarterback
- Offensive line
- Lots of injuries
The Pittsburgh Steelers and the New England Patriots by Sayre Bedinger and Bronco Mike Gomez
Sayre:
The biggest threat/s are Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger. Those guys have been there time and time again, and are winners in this league. It's extremely important that the road to the Super Bowl in the playoffs goes through Denver in the AFC, in my opinion. I think the Broncos are good enough offensively to hang with anybody as of right now, but I think the two biggest threats are the teams who are getting hot and have been there before. I think Houston is as good right now as any team, but down the road, they haven't proven much to me.
Mike:
The Broncos biggest threat in the AFC come playoff time are the NE Patriots. Coaching wise, Belichick and even McDaniels offensively concocted a perfect game plan for our defense. What is even more disturbing than that though, the strategy in game and adjustments made throughout definitely favored their coaching staff. Fox is a great leader and motivator, but he isn't going to match wits with a coach like Belichick.
Furthermore, the little hoodie wearing clown McDaniels seems to have a better grasp of both his personnel and playcalling this year. I think Manning is greater than Brady and I've never been shy about stating why. This year just reinforces that in my mind---what a fantastic talent we have at QB position. Manning after coming off more than a year away from the game, serious physical issues, a new team, and a new cast to meld with is putting together a career year.& I very much doubt Mr. Brady would have the same level of success in the same circumstances, but that is neither here nor there. Brady, and more accurately Brady's team, have usually found a way to better Manning on the scoreboard.Brady has had his number, and you can't ignore that trend.
NE's D is not scary at all, really no D is. But given the high level that the NE coaching staff operates and the weapons that Brady has to play with, I still feel that NE and the ghosts of failures past is the biggest threat to our potential playoff run.
The Houston Texans by Kaptain Kirk Davis and Topher Doll
Kirk:
It has to be the Houston Texans. Gary Kubiak and Wade Phillips have their guys playing top-notch right now. They have the 3rd ranked Defense in the league, they are scoring 29.6 points per game while giving up 17.1. Those are Super Bowl contending numbers. The Bronco are right behind them in points scored with 29.4, but they are giving up 21.9 on Defense. The Texans have the inside track for home field advantage throughout the playoffs right now.
Topher:
This is easy, the Texans. While they don't have the offense of the Patriots, they are far more balanced than any other team in the AFC. They have are the 4th ranked scoring defense and are the 2nd ranked scoring offense. They haven't given up a rushing touchdown and have created more turnovers (14) than touchdowns allowed (13). When you can create more turnovers than TD's allowed that's going to get a team a very long way.
Throw in they can run the ball well (Foster, Tate and Forsett), throw the ball well (Schaub, Johnson, and Daniels), and don't have any real weaknesses, and that's a winning combination. I mean if this team can win a playoff game last season with their 3rd string QB, hard not to imagine what they can do with a healthy Matt Schaub. I think people forget Schaub has put up top 10 numbers (and wins) since arriving in Houston and has 12 TD's to only 4 INT's this season.
Throw in they have one of the best defensive coordinators of the NFL in Wade Phillips, oh and the fact they've beaten the Broncos, and that's a tough team.
So MHR, what do you think, whose the biggest threat in the AFC?