Denver Broncos Season To Be Decided In Week One at Jacksonville Against Jaguars

Well, the NFL season is officially underway.

For most people, who aren't insanely obsessed, this is just another day in the 365 day a year devotion that is following the NFL. For the rest of us, this is a huge time of year .

It feels like the draft was yesterday.

Regardless, over the years, I have become convinced that the single biggest separation of teams occurs in Week One. Of course, a Week One loss can be overcome or a team can collapse, but Week One really decides the momentum for a season.

Some people love looking at a team's record and seeing "0-0." They find it to be pure, or a sign of a fresh start.

I feel that way about the records "1-0" and "0-1." There won't be another time in the NFL season in which teams are so clearly divided up as the "haves" and the "have-nots."

For the Denver Broncos in this particular season, Week One will be even more important. The Broncos get a shot at Jacksonville, which is a particularly winnable game. Then they'll take on the Seattle Seahawks shortly.

However, the rest of the first half of the season is a particularly daunting task, with matchups against the Indianapolis Colts, the Tennessee Titans, the Baltimore Ravens, the New York Jets, and eventually, the San Francisco 49ers in London.

And Oakland in Week Seven will not be a guarantee: the Broncos consistently split with the Raiders and Oakland has improved in the offseason (by how much is a matter of debate, but they did get rid of JaMarcus Russell, so that helps).

If the Broncos don't make a serious statement against the Jaguars that they are ready to play, this could be a very long season. Denver's goal, given the difficulty of the early schedule, is going to be hitting 4-4 to head into the bye week and then making up ground later in the season.

If the Broncos don't beat Jacksonville, that can be kissed goodbye; if they can't beat the Jaguars they won't have any luck with the rest of the early schedule and will be lucky to end the season at 8-8.

So know that there is a lot more riding on this first game than just the beginning of the season. It will divide the entire NFL into two distinct groups.

And for the Denver Broncos and their fans, it will divide the season's possibilities into one of two clear directions.