History Favoring Healthy Denver Broncos Heading into Divisional Playoffs

The Denver Broncos know the injury bug can bite at the wrong time. Last year, they were missing several key players in the postseason—including their two best defenders and starting left tackle. The injuries cost them dearly in the Super Bowl when the Seattle Seahawks quickly exposed their weaknesses on offense, defense and special teams.

This year is different because the Broncos are a healthy team by NFL standards, with just seven players on injured reserve—including just one starter. For the Broncos, the regular season was about getting through without major injuries as much as it was anything else.

Now history favors the healthy Broncos as they head into the divisional round.

Out of 11 games, only two teams won a postseason game last year that had more players than their opponent on injured reserve, out, doubtful or otherwise unable to contribute due to injury. The Broncos beat the San Diego Chargers, who had one fewer player out, and the Indianapolis Colts needed the second greatest comeback in NFL postseason history to beat the Kansas City Chiefs.  

Team	# Players Out (IR, etc.)	1st Round	Opp.	# Players Out	Notes
DEN	7	Bye	-	-	-
CAR	8	Win	ARI	11	QB Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton Out
DAL	9	Win	DET	11	-
NE	10	Bye	-	-	-
GB	10	Bye	-	-	-
IND	13	Win	CIN	10	WR A.J. Green Out
SEA	15	Bye	-	-	-
BAL	18	Win	PIT	4	RB Le'Veon Bell Out

In 2014, teams are 2-2 when they have fewer players out, but the two teams that lost were without their best offensive playmakers. The Pittsburgh Steelers were without their star running back, Le’Veon Bell, and the Cincinnati Bengals were without their star wide receiver, A.J. Green.

Of the teams that advanced to the divisional round last year, the Seahawks had the fewest players on injured reserve with seven. The exact same goes for the Broncos this postseason—seven players are on injured reserve, and it’s the fewest of the remaining teams in the postseason.

Team	# Player Outs	WC	Div.	Conf.	SB
SEA	7	-	NO 10	SF 10	DEN 12
SF	10	GB 16	CAR 15	L	-
NO	10	PHI 5	L	-	-
SD	11	CIN 13	L	-	-
DEN	12	-	SD 11	NE 12	L
NE	12	-	IND 16	L	-
CAR	15	-	L	-	-
IND	16	KC 4	L	-	-

None of this means the Broncos will win Sunday or beyond, it merely highlights how overall team health can make a huge difference in tight postseason games. It’s obvious that not every player on injured reserve is equally talented, and so the impact to his respective team can vary wildly.

The fact the Broncos didn’t have outside linebacker Von Miller, cornerback Chris Harris Jr., left tackle Ryan Clady, free safety Rahim Moore or defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson for all or most of the postseason last year shouldn’t be lost. The Broncos figured out a way around their talent issues last year until they ran into the Seahawks in the Super Bowl, but they have far fewer injuries this year—especially to key players.

The bye week did the Broncos good as they are at or near full strength after nursing some bumps and bruises. Quarterback Peyton Manning’s sore thigh is obviously among the bigger concerns, but he got extra time off last week and predictably joined his team on the practice field Monday.

Outside linebacker Danny Trevathan is the only starter who the Broncos won’t have Sunday, but his replacement Brandon Marshall should return after missing the last two games with a foot injury. Marshall has been filling in for Trevathan for most of the season, so it’s not as if the Broncos are scrambling.

In fact, Marshall has been one of the Broncos’ better defenders, and they are thrilled to have him back.

"With Brandon you look up and he has like 15 tackles, two for losses and pass breakups," said Moore via Troy E. Renck of The Denver Post. "You turn on the tape and see it. And your friends are asking, 'Who is 54?' He raises eyebrows and is exactly what this defense needs."

The Broncos are also excited to get strong safety T.J. Ward back from injury since dealing with a neck issue. Ward signed in Denver to have a chance at the postseason, and Sunday’s game will be his first taste of postseason football.

"I feel a lot better. I am straight. I will be good," said Ward, via Renck. "I figured there would be a lot of hype going into this game. The atmosphere will be 10 times more than the regular season, that's what I am expecting.”

Player	Position	Injury	Status (Unofficial)	Notable Reason
Brandon Marshall	LB	Foot	Probable	Missed Last 2 Games
T.J. Ward	S	Neck	Probable	Missed Week 17
Orlando Franklin	G	Concussion	Probable	Injured Week 17
David Bruton	S	Concussion/Neck	Probable	Injured Week 17
Juwan Thompson	RB	Hip/Knee	Probable	Missed Week 17

Not only are Marshall and Ward back, but so is the gaggle of players who got a day or two off last week. All of them should be good to go Sunday. Only offensive guard Orlando Franklin and special teamer David Bruton are truly unknown, but they are progressing through the leagues’ concussion protocol.

"If we played last week, obviously Brandon doesn't play and T.J. might have been rusty," said defensive tackle Terrance Knighton, via Renck. "It's good to see those guys out there."

The first-round bye week certainly gave the Broncos time to get some much-needed rest. Since they had a Week 4 bye week, the Broncos were coming off 13 consecutive games. The grind has the Broncos bruised, but not broken.

"Guys needed the break to heal up," said head coach John Fox, via Renck. "We feel good about where we are right now."

The Broncos should feel good about their injury situation because they are in great shape. Despite all the bumps and bruises, a well-deserved rest day last week has just about everyone on the roster healthy enough to play Sunday.

The rest also helped players like tight end Julius Thomas, who has been playing with a bum ankle for several weeks and hasn’t been nearly as effective as he was before the injury. Thomas caught seven Manning passes for 104 yards and three touchdowns against the Colts in Week 1, and the Broncos could certainly try to replicate that success if he’s at full strength.

Manning’s sore thigh is also a factor in how effective the passing game can be for the Broncos, so the extra rest likely did his aging body wonders. Manning’s velocity has been down recently, and the Broncos gave him two days off last week to rest up.

A healthy, well-rested team is typically a successful playoff team. For once, health and history are on the Broncos’ side.

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Unless otherwise noted, all injury data via Pro-Football-Reference.com.