The Denver Broncos were looking to crack into the top 10 of the NFL power rankings but following a Week 2 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in which self-inflicted mistakes led to a defeat, the Broncos, picked by many as a long-shot Super Bowl contender when the season kicked off, look a little bit different now.
The Broncos should have beaten the Colts, but a late penalty on a 60-yard field-goal attempt gave the Colts a 45-yard field goal that was good on the game's final play. The Broncos' defense, which is supposed to be as good as any in the league, was abused by Indianapolis for nearly 500 total yards of offense.
That loss is going to knock the Broncos down a few pegs. After checking in at No. 11 after Week 1, Vinnie Iyer of The Sporting News has dropped the Broncos to No. 15 this week, right in the middle of the pack.
"The Broncos' defense is dominant at times against the pass but tends to break down against the run. That is what opened the door for the Colts' major upset in Week 2. Sean Payton's team might be a lot more inconsistent overall than it was last season", wrote Iyer.
It would be a major disappointment for the Broncos to be a middle-of-the-pack team this season, particularly with the offseason additions they made. But things are not going to get any easier. Next week, the Broncos go on the road to face the 2-0 Los Angeles Chargers, followed by the Cincinnati Bengals (without Joe Burrow) and then the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles.
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The season could easily start to get away from the Broncos and if they don't soon become the team many thought they were, it will.
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