<
        >

          Denver Broncos 2019 season preview: Can Joe Flacco fix the offense?

          • ESPN.com
          Sep 2, 2019, 08:30 PM ET

          The Denver Broncos are ranked No. 22 in ESPN's preseason Football Power Index. Here's everything you need to know about them heading into the 2019 NFL season:

          The big question: Are they going to score some points, or what?

          Though the starters had limited work in the preseason and quarterback Joe Flacco did, indeed, flash some skills, the regulars still did not put together a touchdown drive in August. It's a concern for a team that has been as balky on offense as the Broncos have been for much of the past three seasons. Denver will run the ball better when the games count. But in the passing game, a player, or two, beyond Emmanuel Sanders and DaeSean Hamilton will have to pick up the pace. -- Jeff Legwold

          Offseason in a nutshell

          Almost as soon as the dismal 2018 season drew to a close, Broncos general manager/president of football operations John Elway said the top priority of the offseason was to get better at quarterback. Enter Joe Flacco, whom Elway acquired in a trade with the Baltimore Ravens. Flacco, 34, seems rejuvenated by a fresh start. He's healthy and has shown a power arm and good mobility in practices. His calm been there, done that demeanor has also won over teammates. -- Legwold

          Inside the Broncos' schedule

          Most important game: Week 5 at Los Angeles Chargers. This is the game to zero in on, in large part because the fifth game is where each of the past two seasons started to unravel. In 2017, the injury-ravaged and then-winless Giants beat the Broncos at home 23-10. Last year, the Jets trampled the Broncos with more than 200 yards rushing in a 34-16 victory at MetLife.

          Toughest stretch: The Broncos' first three games of the season are at Oakland, home against the Bears on a short week, and at Green Bay. For a team installing new schemes on offense and defense coming off back-to-back seasons of double-digit losses, the opening stretch is the tone setter.

          Over or under seven wins? Over. The Broncos will be sound on defense and create more turnovers under first-year coach Vic Fangio. It should keep them in enough games to win eight, or if they avoid injuries at the top of the depth chart, nine games. -- Legwold

          Schedule ranking: No. 2

          The Chiefs and Chargers are two of the five strongest teams in our projections, so it's natural that the other two AFC West teams will come out with difficult projected schedules. The AFC West also plays the underrated AFC South, as well as the NFC North, where we have all four teams with a mean projection above the league average. That Dec. 1 game against a Chargers team coming off its bye week could be the Bolts' first game with Derwin James back. Besides that Chargers game, the Broncos play two early games against teams with extra rest, but those are also both home games (Bears in Week 2 and Jaguars in Week 4). -- Football Outsiders | See the full 1-32 ranking

          Breakout fantasy star: WR Courtland Sutton

          Sutton was busy as a rookie, playing 82% of Denver's offensive snaps, while handling 5.2 targets per game. The latter figures to rise in 2019 as the second-round pick becomes a focal point of the Broncos' passing game. Sutton's role as a downfield threat sets him up with the opportunity for big plays (his 14.2 aDOT ranked 12th at the position last season). Even with Denver shaky at quarterback, Sutton will be set up with enough target volume to allow a second-year breakout. -- Mike Clay | More fantasy coverage

          The view from Vegas

          Super Bowl odds: 80-1 (opened 75-1)
          Over/under: 7 (O -115/U -105)
          Playoff odds: Yes +370, No -460

          Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook as of Sept. 2.

          Most interesting player prop

          Over/under 17.5 passing touchdowns for Joe Flacco:

          • Legwold: Over. The Broncos figure to run the ball plenty, but in the scoring zone, Flacco will have his opportunities to throw. The Broncos have better red zone targets than last season if Emmanuel Sanders stays healthy and rookie tight end Noah Fant can contribute.

          Bold prediction: Top 5 sacks for Miller, Chubb

          Von Miller and Bradley Chubb will both finish in the league's top five in sacks. They almost did last season when Miller was tied for fourth at 14.5 and Chubb had 12. Fangio's long history of success with edge rushers will show once again as he will turn the Broncos' tandem loose. If the Broncos offense gives the team a lead once in a while, it's a slam dunk. -- Legwold

          Where the Broncos landed in NFLRank

          Speed reads before the opener