What’s wrong with planning ahead?

Nothing, especially if what you’re planning ahead for is a given…

Say the upcoming NFL playoffs and the 2013 schedule.

Chronologically, let’s talk playoffs first, where the AFC West champion Denver Broncos are fighting for the conference’s No. 1 seed.  If the Broncos win Sunday at home against the Kansas City Chiefs, Denver is guaranteed a first-round bye, even if the Houston Texans hold onto the No. 1 seed.

While getting to the playoffs is one thing, making a deep run is another.  The Broncos are equipped to go very, very far…but still have things to work on, including improved play on special teams.  One turnover can make the difference between playing another week or heading home.

As for the 2013 regular season, we now know all of Denver’s opponents.

Home:

• Kansas City
• Oakland
• San Diego
• Jacksonville
• Tennessee
• Philadelphia
• Washington
• Baltimore

Away:

• Kansas City
• Oakland
• San Diego
• Houston
• Indianapolis
• Dallas
• N.Y. Giants
• New England

Notice that Peyton Manning will play against his former team and against his brother Eli’s team – both on the road.

The complete schedule will be released in April.

Other Headlines:

• Associated Press: Manning, Peterson, Pagano: 2012 a year to remember
• CBS Denver: Demaryius Thomas Has Blossomed Into No 1 Receiver For Denver Broncos
• Denver Broncos: Elvis Dumervil: The Closer
• Denver Post: Broncos-Patriots NFL playoff match-up already on the front burner for some
• NFL.com: Why the Denver Broncos are Super Bowl favorites

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Thanks to recent snow – which should have stayed in the mountains as far as I’m concerned – the Denver Broncos practiced Wednesday indoors.  (More on that in a moment.)

Right guard Chris Kuper did not practice.  He has been inactive the last two games with an ankle sprain.  Fullback Chris Gronkowski also missed practice.

View Wednesday’s injury report >>>>

Now back to where the Broncos practiced Wednesday…

As many of you know, when there’s inclement weather – be it lightning, blowing snow, etc. – the Broncos take a short bus ride from the team’s headquarters to a nearby indoor training facility, the South Suburban Sports Dome in Centennial. It’s a facility primarily used for soccer.

Which begs the question: Shouldn’t the Broncos have their own indoor practice facility?

The Denver Post reports the team is considering such a move.  Team president Joe Ellis said:

“We’ve had several discussions about building an indoor facility and are giving it strong consideration.  While nothing is finalized, we certainly understand how important it is for our team to have an indoor facility at some point in the very near future.”

History revisited: You might remember the Broncos did have a “bubble,” which was proved no match to a windstorm back in 2003.

The team believes an indoor facility will improve player safety and be an incentive for free agents who have “weather reservations” about Colorado.

Other Headlines:

• Bleacher Report: Denver Broncos’ Biggest Concerns Heading into NFL Playoffs
• CBS Denver: Denver Broncos Fans Should Enjoy The Ride
• Denver Broncos: Not Judging Browns by Record
• Denver Broncos: ‘Next Man Up’ Paying Dividends
• Denver Post: Broncos’ Peyton Manning finds exec John Elway to be “great resource”
• Denver Post: Randy Gradishar believes Von Miller has what it takes for NFL award
• NFL.com: Denver Broncos almost drafted Brandon Weeden

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Maybe I should have told someone with Denver International Airport.  I think there’s a guy in my building who works there.  I don’t know his name, though.

*Sigh*

In case you didn’t hear late Friday afternoon, Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning will be one of the voices at Denver International Airport.  Now through Jan. 2, when you board a DIA train, that voice you hear welcoming you to Denver will be none other than No. 18.  Denver mayor Michael Hancock, who typically greets train passengers, told the Denver Post:

“For the holidays, I am handing off this very important duty of greeting visitors to our great city to someone known for the best audibles in the business.  Peyton Manning earned this call by going long in his efforts to take the Broncos to another AFC West championship.  We’ll be cheering on him and the team as they drive toward another Super Bowl!”

According to the article, Manning’s voice is accompanied with “Jingle Bells” on piano.

Other Headlines:

• Associated Press: Broncos’ win streak facing realistic obstacle in Ravens
• Baltimore Beat Down: Ravens vs. Broncos: Preview & Prediction
• CBS Denver: Baltimore Ravens A Tough, Physical Test For Denver Broncos
• Denver Broncos: Broncos at Ravens: What to Watch For
• Denver Broncos: The Art of the Strip-Sack
• Denver Post: Broncos’ Eric Decker, Demaryius Thomas have gift of grab, just like two Denver legends
• Denver Post: Broncos’ Brandon Stokley looking to play against his first NFL team 

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With the NFL playoffs mere weeks away, we’re at the point in the season: seeding talk.

The Denver Broncos are guaranteed to be in the playoffs, but are jockeying for seeding in the AFC.  It’s unlikely, but possible the Broncos could snag the No. 1 seed; Denver cannot finish lower than the No. 4 seed, meaning at least one playoff game will be at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in January.

Of course, the only thing the Broncos can control is what they do on the field.  They can’t worry about the other teams.

Bottom line: If the Broncos keep winning, a top seed will fall their way.  But recent history suggests it really doesn’t matter.  As safety Mike Adams told the Denver Post:

“Having not ever been to the playoffs, I don’t want to be happy about getting in or how we get in. I want to win the thing.  This is my first barbecue. I don’t care where we’re at. That’s my mind-set.”

Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas says he and teammates don’t discuss home field advantage:

“We don’t talk about it.  We know it’s there. We know it’s going to be tough to get there. But we’re just trying to go out there and win our next game. We’re trying to put all the work in, and at the end of the day we’ll see what spot we get.”

For the record, if the playoffs started today, the Broncos would be the No. 3 seed in the AFC.

Other Headlines:

• Bleacher Report: Is Knowshon Moreno Key to the Denver Broncos’ Playoff Run?
• Bleacher Report: Questions the Denver Broncos Must Answer in the Playoffs
• CBS Denver: Rahim Moore Has Been Backbone In Denver Broncos Secondary
• Denver Broncos: VIDEO – Pre-Baltimore Breather: Justin Bannan on the benefit of an extended break before facing Baltimore.
• Denver Broncos: Mitch Unrein has made contributions in every facet of the game in 2012.
• Rant Sports: Denver Broncos: The Only Team That Can Beat the New England Patriots

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In today’s let’s-get-ahead-of-ourselves segment…

According to the Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, the Denver Broncos are now 5-to-1 favorites to win Super Bowl XLVII – which just happens to be played this year in Peyton Manning’s hometown of New Orleans.

Denver’s odds are second highest among all NFL teams, tied with the Houston Texans, who hold the AFC’s best record of 10-1.  As for the favorites, it’s a tie between the New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers at 7-2.

Now if the Broncos want to make the Super Bowl, Denver must curtail the turnovers.  As the Denver Post’s Jeff Legwold points out:

Save for an injury to Peyton Manning, there is no other factor that would derail the Broncos’ season more than turnovers.

They still are one of 16 teams that are minus in turnover margin. Only four of those teams have winning records — Denver, Minnesota, Pittsburgh and Indianapolis.

Of those four, only Denver and the Colts are trending up, with the Broncos having won six straight and the Colts having won five of their past six.

Fix the turnovers, Denver.  How about starting Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Other Headlines:

• CBS Sports: Video interview of linebacker Wesley Woodyard
• CBS Denver: What are the odds defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio sticks around in 2013?
• Denver Broncos: After completing a nine-week Rookie Success Program, the Broncos’ 13 rookies are more prepared for life in the NFL.
• Denver Broncos: Q&A with tight end Joel Dreessen.
• Rant Sports: Team chemistry is driving the team’s success.

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It seems the Denver Broncos are content with the ground game effort of Lance Ball, Ronnie Hillman, and Knowshon Moreno.

The team released practice squad running back Jeremiah Johnson Friday, a move the Denver Post calls “procedural,” since the intent is to re-sign Johnson early next week.  As for Hillman, the rookie anticipates additional snaps Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs, and he’s looking forward to the chance:

 ”I’m very excited.  It’s just another opportunity to play ball and I’m looking forward to going out there to play.”

Video Links:

• NFL Films previews: Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs
• Friday press conference: John Fox

Other Headlines:

• Associated Press: Why the Broncos are confident they’ll avoid the late-season wear down.
• Bleacher Report: Peyton Manning makes a case for league MVP.
• CBS Denver: Broncos at Chiefs game preview
• ESPN: The league’s elite teams know how to finish the strong.
• Rant Sports: Broncos at Chiefs game preview

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Several Denver Broncos are doing good this Thanksgiving week.

Wide receiver Eric Decker, practice squad defensive end Ben Garland, guard Chris Kuper, linebacker Joe Mays, and guard Manny Ramirez spent their Tuesday afternoon preparing Thanksgiving meals at the Salvation Army Harbor Light Center.

View the photo gallery >>>>

And it seems a former Bronco could get the nod Sunday…

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Brady Quinn could start against the Broncos Sunday.  Quinn came in relief of Matt Cassel in this past Sunday’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.  The Chiefs are 1-9.

The Denver Post looks ahead to the Kansas City Chiefs >>>>

The Kansas City Star says the Chiefs should be worried about Denver’s staunch defense >>>>

Other Headlines:

• Bleacher Report: Here’s a bold statement: Ronnie Hillman will make us all soon forget about Willis McGahee.
• CBS Denver: Justin Bannan is happy with the return of D.J. Wiliams.
• Denver Post: The anatomy of a great sports nickname.
• Rant Sports: The Broncos are one of three elite teams in the AFC.

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Happy Election Day, America!

Good riddance to all those campaign ads…but brace yourselves; those Christmas ads are already in full swing.

Anyhoo…

The diagnosis is in, and it’s a severely sprained left ankle for Denver Broncos guard Chris Kuper.  With Kuper expected to be out up to a month, Manny Ramirez will likely get the nod at right guard.  He was Kuper’s replacement earlier this season.

As for the upside, well, the Broncos did win, and we’re still not entirely ready to move on just yet.  The mood Monday in and around Dove Valley was upbeat, positive, and a bit reflective.  And there’s something for everyone.

For those franchise history buffs, you have Trindon Holliday’s reaction to his Broncos’ record-setting touchdown – 105-yard kickoff return:

“When you come to a new team, you know it’s part of the business, but you really want to show your (new) teammates, you’re bringing something, that you can help.  I haven’t been in Denver that long, but it seemed like forever to make a big play.”

For those number fanatics, Week 9 gave us some impressive figures.

And lastly, for those naysayers who believe there’s nothing more to the Broncos than Peyton Manning, the Denver Post’s Mark Kiszla begs to differ:

No. 1: Denver can be a championship contender without quarterback Peyton Manning acting like a football god every Sunday.

No. 2: Only a fool (like me) even thinks about calling Champ Bailey too old to play NFL cornerback at age 34.

Other game headlines:

• CBS Denver: Denver Broncos Week 9 report card
• Mile High Report: Broncos at Bengals game insights from inside Paul Brown Stadium.

Other headlines:

• Associated Press: Peyton Manning has been worth every penny for the Broncos.
• Bleacher Report: Linebacker Von Miller might be the best pass-rusher in the NFL.
• Denver Broncos: Sunday’s game in Carolina will be a homecoming of sorts for ex-Panthers head coach John Fox.
• Denver Post: Defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio is quite the schemer…and it’s paying dividends.
• Examiner: They’ll always be connected; Andrew Luck and Peyton Manning, so let’s compare their seasons!

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Note: New month.  New format.  Consider this the latest incarnation of Denver Dailies: Broncos Roundup.  Enjoy!

Happy Thursday…and happy November, Broncos fans!  The team will fly to Cincinnati tomorrow, but cornerback Tracy Porter’s status remains up in the air.  Porter participated in some drills Wednesday.  ‘Some’ is better than nothing, I suppose:  on a limited basis Wednesday – but at least he was in full pads:

Broncos cornerback Tracy Porter, on the inactive list for the past two games, was in full gear for Wednesday’s practice but did not participate in all drills.

Am I alone in thinking the Broncos are being a little too vague about this entire situation?

Staying on the injury front, the Denver Post (via team officials) puts all fears about quarterback Peyton Manning’s right thumb to rest:

According to reports from the team, Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning threw well with no adverse effects during Wednesday’s practice, which no doubt allowed everyone within the organization to exhale.

Manning wore a piece of tape on his right thumbnail, which had collided with the helmet of Saints defensive end Martez Wilson after Manning threw a pass Sunday night in the Broncos’ 34-14 home victory.

The Bengals have dropped three straight games, but are entering Sunday’s game off a bye.  Head coach John Fox talked about the Broncos preparations in his Wednesday news conference.

Other headlines:

• BroncoTalk: The Broncos need to curtail the fumbles. (Affirmative.)
• Bleacher Report: Can the Denver Broncos win the Super Bowl?
• CBS Denver: The AFC West race is far from over.
• Denver Broncos: Willis McGahee explains to children the importance of physical activity…and he did more than just talk.
• Mile High Report: Denver’s defensive dominance was especially true on third downs.

And for those Halloween fans out there (I like candy; not costumes), some players looked back on their favorite costumes, and here’s a look at Demaryius Thomas’ 2012 getup.

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