DENVER — So, Peyton Manning, how about that AFC West?
“I think our division is the toughest division in football,” the Broncos quarterback said before a Week 2 game against Kansas City. “I thought it was last year as well.”
Gas can, meet match. What about the big, bad NFC West?
Guess we’ll find out soon enough. While the Broncos would rather get the NFL schedule-makers in a padded room, fans of hard-hitting football should mail the league a Hallmark card. Denver’s schedule looks like a survival hunt from Hunger Games 3 (R, violence).
“I believe, over the years, we (the NFC West) have definitely gained a persona of being very physical, very tough, wanting to play smash-mouth football,” Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson told The Gazette. “Obviously I believe all four teams in the NFC West predicate their teams off defenses. You want to play tough defense. You want to play smash-mouth defense.”
Hey, that’s what the Broncos want, too. Sunday, NFC West-leading Arizona is the next opportunity for Denver to prove it can hang with the meanest division in football.
The Cardinals don’t have the Super Bowl pedigree of the Seattle Seahawks. But over the past 12 regular-season games, no team has more wins than Arizona’s 10. Its defense hasn’t allowed more than 17 points in three games this season.
Denver hasn’t scored fewer than 17 points in 35 regular-season games with Manning at quarterback. The only time Manning’s offense failed to reach 17 points was, yes, against the NFC West (Seattle 43, Denver 8).
Two weeks ago at Seattle, the Broncos lost an overtime game but proved a point. Denver learned it can play hard ball against a division that smashed its ego in the Super Bowl. Denver delivered as many bruising tackles as the world champs did.
In the same offseason the Broncos were writing handsome paychecks to toughen their defense, the NFL scheduled four games against the NFC West as a litmus test.
Not only will we learn the burning question that hovers over Mile High — are these Broncos tough enough to win a Super Bowl? — we’ll learn the answer to this one:
Which is the best division in football?
Manning said it’s the AFC West.
The Super Bowl result said it’s the NFC West. Last season said the NFC West had the Super Bowl champs, while the AFC West had more playoff teams (3 to 2).
The head-to-head matchups this season (NFC West 2, AFC West 1) says it’s too early to tell. The three matchups between the AFC West and NFC West have been decided by an average of 5.3 points.
Like an athletic director lobbying for his conference in the college football playoff, the Broncos suggested the AFC West deserves more respect.
“Everybody talks about their division, and rightfully so, but our division isn’t bad, either,” coach John Fox said.
The bye week allows football players to heal their bruises. It is particularly helpful after a game against the NFC West.
“We feel great,” Broncos cornerback Chris Harris Jr. said.
It also allows NFL writers to watch a full day of football. After watching 12 hours of games and memorizing the words to every Peyton Manning commercial, here is one observation: The balance of power has shifted to the AFC. While Seattle remains king of the NFL until proven otherwise, the Broncos, Bengals, Chargers and Ravens offer more depth at the top than what the NFC has shown through four weeks.
By pairing the AFC West against the NFC West, the NFL made certain none of their teams will have an easy road to the playoffs. The five toughest schedules in the NFL are from the western divisions (Oakland, Denver, St. Louis, San Diego, San Francisco).
“It kind of gives you a measuring stick for your football team,” Peterson said. “Playing against Denver now, a year removed from the Super Bowl last year, is going to be a great measuring stick.”
The Broncos measured their progress against the NFC West’s Seahawks. The Cardinals are measuring theirs against the AFC West’s Broncos.
What’s the best division in football? Go West.
After the bruising game in Seattle, a pair of Broncos defenders compared big hits like 8-year-olds compare Christmas toys.
“Remember that one?” Aqib Talib shouted.
“He was like.” T.J. Ward replied, reminiscing a certain tackle.
The Broncos are embracing the bash. The NFL schedule-makers forced them to.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
