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5 Reasons Why The Denver Broncos Won’t Win Super Bowl 50

Ron Chenoy USA TODAY Sports

The Denver Broncos finished the regular season with a 12-4 mark, which was good enough to give them home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.

Peyton Manning returned during the regular season finale, and he has been named the starting quarterback for the playoffs, but here are five reasons why the Broncos won’t win Super Bowl 50.

5. Drops

Drops Ron Chenoy USA TODAY Sports
Drops became a bit of an epidemic for Denver's pass catchers down the stretch, most notably wide receiver Demaryius Thomas and tight end Vernon Davis in some critical situations with Brock Osweiler under center. That needs to change in the playoffs, particularly with the change to a now-healthy Manning.

Drops became a bit of an epidemic for Denver's pass catchers down the stretch, most notably wide receiver Demaryius Thomas and tight end Vernon Davis in some critical situations with Brock Osweiler under center. That needs to change in the playoffs, particularly with the change to a now-healthy Manning.

4. Inconsistent Running Game

Inconsistent Running Game Chris Humphreys USA TODAY Sports
Denver topped 100 rushing yards as a team in six of its final seven regular season games, so its running game is trending well at the right time. But it was an inconsistent rush offense on its way to finishing the regular season 17th in the league (107.4 rushing yards per game), and that needs to change in the short window of the playoffs. Color me a skeptic, but I don't see the duo of C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman being up to the task.

Denver topped 100 rushing yards as a team in six of its final seven regular season games, so its running game is trending well at the right time. But it was an inconsistent rush offense on its way to finishing the regular season 17th in the league (107.4 rushing yards per game), and that needs to change in the short window of the playoffs. Color me a skeptic, but I don't see the duo of C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman being up to the task.

3. Peyton Manning

Peyton Manning Chris Humphreys USA TODAY Sports
Manning made a heroic return in Week 17, but he did not exactly put on an aerial show (5-for-9 for 69 yards). His quarterback rating has often plummeted with the temperature late in the season, and that's particularly been the case in recent years with physical limitations added to the mix. Manning may be able to recapture enough magic to win one playoff game for the Broncos, but he won't sustain it long enough to get his second Super Bowl ring.

Manning made a heroic return in Week 17, but he did not exactly put on an aerial show (5-for-9 for 69 yards). His quarterback rating has often plummeted with the temperature late in the season, and that's particularly been the case in recent years with physical limitations added to the mix. Manning may be able to recapture enough magic to win one playoff game for the Broncos, but he won't sustain it long enough to get his second Super Bowl ring.

2. A Possible, and Potentially Inevitable, Quarterback Controversy

A Possible, and Potentially Inevitable, Quarterback Controversy Ron Chenoy USA TODAY Sports
The decision to start Manning in the playoffs is obvious, now that he's apparently healthy, but if he struggles or looks bad in a win, Osweiler lingers as a viable option. An injury has dictated change in the past, but quarterback controversies do not yield Super Bowl-winning teams.

The decision to start Manning in the playoffs is obvious, now that he's apparently healthy, but if he struggles or looks bad in a win, Osweiler lingers as a viable option. An injury has dictated change in the past, but quarterback controversies do not yield Super Bowl-winning teams.

1. Gary Kubiak

Gary Kubiak Ron Chenoy USA TODAY Sports
Despite the Broncos' record this year, and leading the Houston Texans to double-digit wins in each of his last two full seasons as their head coach (2011-12), Kubiak just doesn't seem like a Super Bowl-winning head coach.

Despite the Broncos' record this year, and leading the Houston Texans to double-digit wins in each of his last two full seasons as their head coach (2011-12), Kubiak just doesn't seem like a Super Bowl-winning head coach.

Brad Berreman is a writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter and like him on Facebook.
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