For argument's sake, what would it take for the Browns to win this one? I know that this sport is HIGHLY unpredictable, and you never know what might happen at any given point during the game (interception, blocked punt, pick 6, etc.).
Realistically though, what are we talking here? Is there a chance (even remotely) that this can turn into a last minute upset? The Browns, although not the cream of the crop (understatement) can give their opponents some major headaches (anyone remembers our 34-14 loss to the Browns in 2010? Everyone claimed the Pats were going to blow their doors). The Browns did upset the Steelers a few weeks ago (with Batch at QB granted), and the Broncos did have some issues finishing drives against the lousy Raiders. They also would have lost the game in SD if not for that moron Rivers giving the game away in the form of 20,000 interceptions.
The Broncos did blow the Ravens, but really, the Ravens of the second half of the season do no even remotely resemble the #2 seed team they were earlier in the year.
I don't know what the whole commotion about the Broncos is. To me it seems that the Broncos are a very middle-to-above-the-pack team, playing in the worst division in the league with a very good QB (more on Manning in a moment) navigating that team, and cakewalk for a schedule. They win over weak teams with marginal scores, while they themselves get blown out by top-tier teams (Falcons, Pats, Texans, etc.).
As for Manning himself, I personally believe he chose to play for the Broncos because he knew that playing in the AFCW would give him the best chance to get to the playoffs. If you think about it for a moment and go through the list of teams he visited prior to picking the Broncos, he started in Miami.... bad pick... - The AFCE is a fairly weak division but with one big caveat: THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS. He would never play in the same division with Brady, getting his *** whooped twice a year. He's already had his *** handed to him by Brady and the Pats enough times throughout his career when he played for the Colts. His next 2 stops were two NFCW teams. One is lousy (Cardinals), which he knew he had no chance winning with, regardless of the division it was in, and the other was a very good one (49ers), but again he knew that come playoffs time, he'll have to face his little bro and the Giants, Rodgers and the Packers, Breese and the Saints, and Seattle twice (which is on the rise, and has the most hostile road venue). So what does Manning do? - Why not the Broncos? He gets to stay in the AFC, avoiding all the tough physical teams in the NFC, AND gets to play in the crappiest division in the league - that's a NO BRAINER!
This is not another Broncos vs. Pats or Manning vs. Brady thread, and this thread is not validating or refuting their rank in the league. This is about realistically talking about their abilities to win against other mediocre teams. Now, one may say that their record speaks for itself, and no doubt, they are an above average team, and at the end of the day, a W is a W. But I only question their capabilities because I've seen them being blown out of the water by other top teams, while only 'marginally' winning over low-level teams (anyone seen the problems the freaking Chiefs gave them)?
To me the Broncos win, but not in a decisive manner. When the Pats win, it's usually a blow out. We hang points on the scoreboard like it's nothing, even on top-tier teams such as the Texans, or 31 points in one half on the number 1 defense in the league (and that's without Gronk, Edeleman, and half of the roster in less than 100% shape). And that indecisive form of winning their matches is what makes me think they are about to be upset in the next couple of weeks. Simply because if you can't put your opponent in a deep enough hole to boot, the opponent usually finds a way to climb out of that hole and bite you in the ***.
So to my original question: Given that the Broncos don't usually blow other teams out of the water, what can we expect from the Browns (given their roster) this coming Sunday? I don't know about everyone else here, but I wouldn't count the Browns out. They have nothing to play for and would love nothing more than ruin the Broncos seeding placement.
Thoughts?
