NFL Denver Broncos

Denver Broncos’ 2014 Midseason Grade

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By @MWCompton

Peyton Manning Broncos

Chris Humphreys-USA Today Sports

The high-flying Denver Broncos look every bit the part of a viable championship team through the first half of the season. With future Hall of Famer and five-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning leading the way, the Broncos, as expected, are on target to capture their second consecutive AFC title.

Anything less than a return to the Super Bowl for the opportunity to erase last year’s 43-8 beat-down from the Seattle Seahawks will be a disappointment for a team that has played hungry en route to a 6-1 record. Perched atop the AFC West through the first eight weeks, the Broncos have just the lone blemish— a 26-20 overtime loss to Seattle in Week 3 — on an otherwise perfect slate.

Not surprisingly, Manning continues his assault on the NFL record books. He set the career passing touchdown record (509) against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 7 and added three more touchdown passes the following week in a 35-21 win over the San Diego Chargers. Manning seems to be getting better with age. He has completed 174-of-252 attempts for 2,134 yards and has a league-leading 22 touchdowns (tied with Andrew Luck) to only three interceptions.

Manning is thriving in the twilight of his career thanks in large part to solid pass-protection up front, a running game that is finding its rhythm and big-play targets on the receiving end of his throws. Wide receivers Demaryius Thomas and Emanuel Sanders and tight end Julius Thomas create matchup nightmares for opposing defenses.

Denver’s offense, which leads the NFL in points scored (32), is clearly in a class by itself, but the defense has made great strides this year. First in rushing yards allowed (72.4) and sixth in points allowed (20.3), the Broncos’ defense was bolstered in free agency with the addition of defensive end DeMarcus Ware, cornerback Aqib Talib and safety T.J. Ward.

The newcomers to the Broncos’ roster have played vital roles in the team’s success thus far. Ward’s snap count (483) is the highest of any Bronco and Talib’s aggressive-style of play has been effective against the run and screen passes out of the backfield. The new additions, along with the return of a healthy Von Miller at linebacker, anchor a defense that has proven dominant against the run this season.

It has already been a memorable year of milestones for Manning and company in the Mile-High City, and the Broncos are clearly motivated by a single goal: to erase the memory of last year’s Super Bowl debacle. It’s a scary thought for the 31 other teams in the league, but this year’s Broncos are a more complete, more balanced squad than they were a year ago.

Grade: A

Michael Compton is a Jacksonville Jaguars writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter at @MWCompton and connect with him on Google.

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