John Elway's Bold Offseason Moves Will Bring Denver Broncos Super Bowl Title

The Denver Broncos clearly made some noise this offseason, especially with the addition of Peyton Manning. But even if we take Manning out of the equation, Denver still had a solid offseason to prepare for 2012.

With that, let's take a look at how much better equipped the Broncos are to get through their brutal schedule this season.

Balanced Offense

Obviously, having Peyton Manning under center gives the Broncos a better passing game and takes pressure off the ground game. Still, Denver is a run-first team and needs to remain as such with Willis McGahee and rookie Ronnie Hillman in the backfield.

The two make up a solid, two-back set and open up the playbook to make play-action more relevant. Denver can now run more effectively off tackle and Hillman's acceleration and balance create quicker developed misdirections.

With Manning setting up play-action from anywhere off the ground game, tight ends Jacob Tamme and Joel Dressen can become major role players.

Lest we forget, but Tamme was one of Manning's favorite targets in 2010 with 631 yards off 67 receptions while Dressen had almost 1,200 receiving yards the past three seasons as Houston's No. 2 tight end.

Manning will obviously dish the rock around to Denver's receiving corps comprised of Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas among others. All this then takes even more pressure off the offensive line, because defenses will be kept honest all game long.

Improved Defense

Failure to consistently stop the run hurt the Broncos' defense more than anything in 2011. Not being able to do so makes the pass defense more vulnerable and the entire defense susceptible to play-action pass.

Now Denver did have a great pass rush courtesy of Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil, but improving the trenches via the draft with Cincinnati's Derek Wolfe addressed a dire need.

For one, Wolfe has the lateral athleticism to play defensive tackle or defensive end.

Also, he can draw the occasional double-team to free up the linebackers or beat one-on-one situations to get in the backfield. With D.J. Williams and Wesley Woodyard controlling the box while Dumervil and Miller reside outside, Wolfe will have a solid rookie season.

Elsewhere, the Broncos made strong upgrades with cornerback Tracy Porter and the drafting of Arizona State's Omar Bolden.

Aside from Champ Bailey, Denver has one of the league's younger secondaries. With fast development in 2012, the Broncos have time of their side in regards to pass defense.

And in a pass-happy league, Denver's pass rush will keep the heat on while those in coverage lock it down.

Rough Schedule/Wild Card History

In 2010, we saw the Pittsburgh Steelers make the Super Bowl against one of the league's toughest schedules, and last year the New York Giants won it all despite having faced arguably the NFL's toughest schedule.

As for the Broncos in 2012, they face the entire AFC North, NFC South and the Texans and Patriots to make the postseason. That's seven playoff teams from a year ago and with teams like Carolina and Tampa Bay on the rise, all the Broncos must do is make the playoffs.

Now, had the Broncos not added Manning or Hillman to the offense, or Porter, Bolden and Wolfe to the defense, they wouldn't have addressed the areas of need to compete for the AFC title.

Nonetheless, recent history is also on Denver's side.

Revert back to 1997 and Denver won it all as a Wild Card team like the Steelers did in 2005 while the Colts (2006), Giants (2007, 2011) and Packers (2010) replicated the same, as well.

Not to mention, but the Arizona Cardinals won the NFC as a Wild Card team in 2008.

In short, all the matters is making the postseason and with their brutal schedule, expect the Broncos to finish around 11-5 or 10-6.

John Rozum on Twitter.