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.

Follow Denver Horse Force on Twitter at @DENHorseForce and Facebook at www.facebook.com/denverhorseforce.

Quick Hits:

• The Denver Broncos make a 21st straight Monday Night Football appearance – the longest such streak in the league.
• Denver’s five primetime nationally televised games this season ranks second most in franchise history.
• Think the Broncos’ schedule is especially tough?  Well, because it is.  The Broncos regular season opponent had a 2011 winning percentage of 54.3% (139-117), making it the second-toughest strength of schedule in the NFL.
• All Sunday games from Week 11 – Week 17 are subject to flex scheduling.

(All times Mountain)

Week 1: Sept. 9 vs. Steelers 6:20 p.m.

Week 2: Sept. 17 at Falcons 6:30 p.m. (Monday Night Football)

Week 3: Sept. 23 vs. Texans 2:15 p.m.

Week 4: Sept. 30 vs. Raiders 2:05 p.m.

Week 5: Oct. 7 at Patriots 2:15 p.m.

Week 6: Oct. 15 at Chargers 6:30 p.m. (Monday Night Football)

Week 7: BYE

Week 8: Oct. 28 vs. Saints 6:20 p.m.

Week 9: Nov. 4 at Bengals 11:00 a.m.

Week 10: Nov. 11 at Panthers 11:00 a.m.

Week 11: Nov. 18 vs. Chargers 2:15 p.m.

Week 12: Nov. 25 at Chiefs 11:00 a.m.

Week 13: Dec. 2 vs. Buccaneers 2:05 p.m.

Week 14: Dec. 6 at Raiders 6:20 p.m. (Thursday Night Football)

Week 15: Dec. 16 at Ravens 11:00 a.m.

Week 16: Dec. 23 vs. Browns 2:05 p.m.

Week 17: Dec. 30 vs. Chiefs 2:15 p.m.

View the NFL’s complete 2012 schedule here >>>>

Follow Denver Horse Force on Twitter at @DENHorseForce and Facebook at www.facebook.com/denverhorseforce.

The NFL schedule is coming.  Soon.  As in today.

The full 2012 NFL regular season schedule will be unveiled at 5:00 p.m. MDT on ESPN in a 3-hour special.  Thanks to the addition of a certain quarterback with a laser rocket arm…

we can safely assume – and will know for certain tonight – the Denver Broncos will be featured in many high-profiled games this upcoming season.

Here are the Broncos’ 2012 opponents:

HOME: Kansas City, Oakland, San Diego, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Houston, New Orleans, Tampa Bay

AWAY: Kansas City, Oakland, San Diego, Baltimore, Cincinnati, New England, Atlanta, Carolina

Follow Denver Horse Force on Twitter at @DENHorseForce and Facebook at www.facebook.com/denverhorseforce.

See you in New Orleans?

MGM Grand Las Vegas is already out with the early odds to win Super Bowl XLVII and the Denver Broncos are in a logjam at 50-1 with Buffalo, Carolina, Kansas City, Miami, Seattle, and St. Louis.

'Cause the giant lion at MGM Grand Las Vegas said so! (personal photo)

Fellow AFC Rival San Diego comes in at 12-1 with Oakland – now with ex-Broncos defensive coordinator Dennis Allen as head coach – is 60-1.

Inexplicably, the New England Patriots are favorites at 5-1.  I really don’t understand the generous odds, but I say this right around this time each and every year.  (In fact, here’s my post from Feb. 8, 2011 on Super Bowl XLVI odds.)

Green Bay (11-2), Pittsburgh (6-1), Philadelphia (6-1 – see below), and the Giants (8-1) round out the top five.

Some other odds anomalies:

The Indianapolis Colts – the 2-14 in 2011 Indianapolis Colts – are 25-1 favorites to win Super Bowl XLVII.  Huh?  Is this under the assumption Peyton Manning is QB in 2012?  What about Andrew Luck?  Are the odds the same?  Talk about generous odds…

And staying with generous odds…the Philadelphia Eagles are 6-1 favorites, better than the 8-1 Super Bowl champion New York Giants.  When it comes to Philadelphia, color me unimpressed.  They have yet to make a believer out of me.

The Jacksonville Jaguars (150-0) are the biggest long shots to win it all in New Orleans.

Follow Denver Horse Force on Twitter at @DENHorseForce and Facebook at www.facebook.com/denverhorseforce.