Denver Broncos Predictions 2011: Outcomes for All 16 Regular Season Games

Only a month ago this piece could not have been written without at least mentioning the possibility that some of the games might not happen.

It is extremely lucky for the Broncos that a deal was reached, because the first three games of the season are some of the most winnable on the schedule.

Still, it is a schedule that ranks as the third hardest in the NFL this year and, while optimism in Bronco-Land may be high, realism isn't going anywhere either.

With a lot of preseason left, it is hard to anticipate exactly what every team's roster is actually going to look like, but with the information we have, here are your predictions for 2011.

Monday, September 12th vs. Oakland

Two new head coaches will face off on Monday Night Football in Denver.

The embarrassing defeat laid on the Broncos by the Raiders last season was largely due to the offensive game-plan of then-offensive coordinator, Hue Jackson. Jackson exploited every dismal part of the atrocious Broncos defense and he did it quickly.

The one good thing for the Broncos is that Jackson is not bringing in a team as good as last season's. Look for the Raiders to miss Robert Gallery in the run game immediately, which will negatively impact the Raiders ability to control the game.

The Broncos should be able to throw to both sides of the field with Asomugha now gone from the Raider secondary, which compliments the John Fox running attack. 

In the end, the Broncos' new-look pass-rush will torment Jason Campbell, create turnovers and help the Broncos start 2011 off with a big win at home.

SEASON RECORD: 1-0

Sunday, September 18th vs. Cincinnati

The Broncos pass-rush, and the league's relative lack of knowledge regarding it at this point of the season, will play a key role again this week.

Andy Dalton will still not be comfortable as an NFL starter, and the pressure that the Broncos figure to bring, along with a skilled corner like Champ Bailey on the field, will be a nightmare for him.

If the Broncos can convert on offense and put early points on the board, then Cincinnati will fade away slowly while Fox salts that game away on the ground.

Denver fans are treated to two wins at the newly named Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

SEASON RECORD: 2-0

Sunday ,September 25th at Tennessee

The Broncos take their show on the road and visit Tennessee in Week 3. The Titans will likely be coming off of a drubbing from Baltimore, and that makes it hard to predict what they will bring into the game against Denver.

Assuming that Chris Johnson has gotten his deal done and is on the field, he will be more than up to game speed by now. This will be the first time that Denver has to try and bottle up a legitimate NFL star in the 2011 season.

It is a little early for a trap game, as it would seem that if the Broncos can beat both Oakland and Cincy, they should beat Tennessee as well. However, a dynamic playmaker like Johnson and a savvy veteran like Hasselbeck will have learned their lesson against Baltimore's attacking defense and have a better solution for Denver.

The Broncos lose steam on the road and drop a close one to the Titans.

SEASON RECORD: 2-1

Sunday, October 2nd at Green Bay

This game happens way too early in the season to call for any type of upset. That is, unless Aaron Rodgers gets knocked out in Week 2, in which case anything can happen.

Assuming that the Packers take the field with an even better offensive roster than what they won the Super Bowl with, they will dispatch the Broncos with relative ease. 

There will not be a blitz or coverage that Rodgers does not have an answer for, and Clay Matthews will do a great job of highlighting the lack of mobility that Kyle Orton possesses. The one hope here is that Dom Capers does not completely exploit Orlando Franklin in pass protection, which would be cause for major concern if that word got out around the league.

The Super Bowl champs defend the home field and knock the Broncos back to a .500 record.

SEASON RECORD: 2-2

Sunday, October 9th vs. Chargers

Is there a better time to play the Chargers than early in the season? The answer to that question is, no.

There is no reason to believe that the typical early season struggles of the Chargers won't continue this year. Combine that with the knowledge that this will only be the second away-game for the team, and that is a recipe for success in Denver.

On paper, the Chargers might still be the better roster, but this is a team that inexplicably takes time to gel and get on a roll.

The Broncos defense will frustrate Rivers and force some bad plays, which will inevitably cost San Diego the game.

SEASON RECORD: 3-2

Sunday, October 23rd at Miami

At this point in the season, Dolphin fans (and Brandon Marshall) might be prepared to hijack Kyle Orton at the airport and force him to stay in Miami and play quarterback for them.

The early portion of the season continues to be nice to the Broncos as they get yet another shaky quarterback situation to feast on. The Dolphins' situation is made all the worse by the simple fact the Broncos need not worry about their running attack as much as before.

Tony Sparano will simply be out-manned in this clash, which is sad since the Broncos can't boast that advantage against many other teams. 

Denver enjoys the sun and fun in South Florida, and brings home a win.

SEASON RECORD: 4-2

Sunday, October 30th vs. Detroit

Everyone is lining up to make the Detroit Lions their sexy pick to make the playoffs this year, provided Matthew Stafford stays on the field. That is not why I am picking them to beat the Broncos this week.

Frankly, the Lions have had the Broncos' number in the preseason and regular season the last few years. Now they are coming in with a young team led by Ndamukong Suh and Calvin Johnson?

The Lions have the fourth hardest schedule behind Denver, so they will be chomping at the bit for a break in their schedule, which seems consistently tougher than Denver's in reality.

Suh stymies the offense and Johnson torches the defense as Detroit looks to make good on their preseason hype.

SEASON RECORD: 4-3

Sunday, November 6th at Oakland

There is never a good time to travel to the "Black Hole," and the Raiders will be looking for payback and possibly a shot at the division lead by now.

While John Fox might have gotten the best of Hue Jackson in Game 1, he won't be so lucky in the re-match. Coach Jackson will have his offense in a firm rhythm and some cracks may be beginning to show in the Broncos offensive prowess at this point as well.

Look for Kevin Boss to have totally filled the gap left by Zach Miller in this game, and make Jason Campbell look just good enough to be a guy who could actually lead a team to the playoffs.

The Broncos leave Oakland empty-handed.

SEASON RECORD: 4-4

Sunday, November 13th at Kansas City

In a cruel scheduling joke, the Broncos are asked to travel to the two most notorious AFC West away-game sites in back-to-back weeks.

Arrowhead has been a house of horrors for the Broncos for many years, and the same will likely be true here. Todd Haley has had another year to work with his offense and added a legitimate No. 2 threat at wide receiver with Steve Breaston.

If the Chiefs defense can hold the Broncos at bay in Arrowhead (which wasn't hard last year) and generate some turnovers, their offense is more than capable of making Denver pay.

The curse of Arrowhead lives on as the Broncos fall below .500 for the first time in 2011.

SEASON RECORD: 4-5 

Thursday, November 17th vs. New York Jets

Rex Ryan and company head to Denver for a little Thursday Night Football, and the national audience is disappointed when they don't see Tim Tebow is starting by now for Denver (unless my projections are way off and Denver is 0-9 at this point).

The Jets took the Broncos lightly last year and it is safe to say that they will not do it again, especially since they will be later in the season and have more on the line this time.

The duo of Cromartie and Revis will again prove to be too much for Orton to triumph against, and the Jets offense will do just enough to win. Provided that the defense gives them the ball in favorable positions as they so often have for Mark Sanchez, the Jets will continue their march towards another playoff berth.

Broncos fall to the Jets at home, for the second straight season.

SEASON RECORD: 4-6

Sunday, November 27th at San Diego

It's almost December and the Chargers are three games back by now...time to win five of their last six and might as well start against Denver.

Stop me if you've heard this one, but if the Broncos take advantage of the Chargers' annoying predictability in the beginning of the season, they will fall victim to it later.

Rivera and the gang will get it back on track at home against Denver. This game will likely be highlighted by Bob Sanders, who may be having a career resurgence at this point in the season with San Diego.

The Bolts burn the Broncos and get back on track for the playoffs.

SEASON RECORD: 4-7

Sunday, December 4th at Minnesota

The Vikings wrote the book on surrounding an aging quarterback with talent and finding success—at least they did in their first season with Brett Favre. Donovan McNabb and 2011 will be the same story, but a different chapter by this point in the season.

Denver is certainly swooning by now and traveling to Minnesota to face a Vikings team that will still have playoff aspirations will not make them feel much better. 

Adrian Peterson will likely gash the Broncos defense and leave the door wide open for some very effective play action from Donovan McNabb.

The Vikings are too much to handle with too much on the line for the Broncos to defeat this late in the season.

SEASON RECORD: 4-8

Sunday, December 11th vs. Chicago

The one thing that Josh McDaniels may have gotten right, will come full circle in Denver on December 11th. Jay Cutler returns to Denver for a regular season game.

This might be a very different story if Denver was traveling to Chicago, but they aren't. Week 14 will find the Bears gasping for playoff air and a hungry Denver squad ready to terrorize the Bears quarterback.

Von Miller, Elvis Dumervil and the rest of the Denver defense will want to get in to Cutler's head early and often. Champ Bailey can only hope that Jay continues to throw his way even after the interceptions start to mount.

The Broncos take an emotionally charged game from the Bears and add another nail to their playoff coffin.

SEASON RECORD: 5-8 

Sunday, December 18th vs. New England

The Patriots will roll into Denver with one thing on their minds: home-field advantage in the playoffs.

It doesn't matter if Josh McDaniels is gone or not, the hoodie will seek revenge for the loss two seasons ago. 

The once-young New England defense will seem like well-seasoned veterans by this point, and Chad Ochocinco will have plenty to talk about after New England takes care of business and defeats the Broncos with ruthless efficiency.

SEASON RECORD: 5-9

Saturday, December 24th at Buffalo

Merry Christmas Broncos fans, this will be the game where you not only get to see in person why Von Miller was drafted over Marcell Dareus, but also Tim Tebow will be your starter.

Even though the playoffs were out of reach a few weeks ago, the Broncos aren't stupid—why start Tebow against the Patriots when they can get him a win against the Bills?

The Bills might be in a similar situation record wise to the Broncos, and that would mean improvement for both teams. However, the Broncos will prove to be the team further along the path even with Tebow at the helm. In fact, Tebow playing makes it even harder for Buffalo's defense to catch up.

The Broncos notch their sixth win in upstate New York.

SEASON RECORD: 6-9

Sunday, January 1st vs. Kansas City

In years past, a date with Chiefs on New Years Day might have had playoff implications. Sadly, that won't be the case this season. 

Both teams will be out of playoff contention and playing for pride at this point, and in that contest I like a John Fox-led squad.

This will also be Tim Tebow's last chance to put some significant work on film to help convince the Broncos to actually make good on their "hush hush" promise of a year ago and make him the permanent starter for the Denver Broncos in 2012.

Don't expect to see Todd Haley wagging a finger at John Fox, but do expect to see the Broncos close the season at a respectable 7-9 record.

FINAL RECORD: 7-9