

The way I see it, the Broncos are doing the best with a bad situation. The bad situation to which I'm referring is the schedule. Before the season even started, the Broncos and fans, alike, knew that this schedule was one of the toughest in the NFL.

Consider this...

The two teams that beat the Broncos are a combined 6-0. The Falcons and Texans are 3rd and 5th, respectively, in offensive points per game. The Falcons and Texans are 4th and 3rd, respectively in points allowed per game. The Falcons and Texans are the only 2 teams that are top 5 in the league in both offensive scoring and defensive points allowed.

In short, the Falcons and Texans are really good. Really, really good.

In fact, only 1 additional team can even claim to be top 10 in both categories. The Patriots are 10th in both offensive points per game and defensive points allowed.

Go figure. The Broncos lost to two really good teams.

Consider, also, that the Denver Broncos had a chance to beat both of these teams in the final minute.

Despite the Broncos turning the ball over 4 times against the Falcons, the Broncos were still a defensive stop away (which gave up 1 yard too many) from giving Peyton Manning a chance to win the game.

Despite the Broncos trailing by 20 points at the end of the 3rd quarter, the Broncos were, once again, a defensive stop away (where Champ Bailey was inches from tipping a 3rd down pass incomplete) from giving Peyton Manning a chance to win the game.

We're just a little bit off.

In terms of time, the Denver Broncos are about a minute off.

I know... I know... I know...

Playing the "if game" is stupid. Normally, I hate it. In fact, right now, I hate it.

If the Broncos had an extra minute in each of their two losses, we could very well be looking at an undefeated football team, right now.

I can just imagine the thousands of people reading this post collectively rolling their eyes, right now. Humor me, though.

The Good News

This team isn't getting blown away by two of the best teams in the league. The Broncos are beating themselves. Playcalling in a huddle, throwing interceptions before some fans have time to get in their seats, dropped balls, penalties... all of these things are a result of this being a fairly disjointed football team that hasn't quite come into mid-season form. There isn't cohesion. You think Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson, Kevin Walter and Arian Foster have that problem? Absolutely, not. They have been together for years. The Broncos offense has been together for months.

Peyton Manning is a work in progress. A year ago, he was getting neck surgeries and looking somber in the Colts suite at Lucas Oil Stadium. It's not an overnight process for someone to reach a full Peyton Manning potential... even if it is Peyton Manning. He'll get there. It will take a few weeks, but he'll get there.

For whatever reason, Broncos Country is acting like the sky is falling. It's not. It isn't figuratively falling. It isn't literally falling.

Be patient. This schedule thins out.

If the Broncos lose to the Raiders this coming week, then you have my full permission to panic. Not yet, though.