are the 2013 broncos the best unit ever?

[denversdivision]

On paper..... yes
The question is does paper = Game time?

But its not entirely on paper , its not as if we gut d out roster and just got an influx of talent . We added to a roster that went 13-3 and was top 5 on both sides of the ball. Its a proven team with a few paper additions IMO

[Freyaka]

ha. no. Unless you find a RB that can run for over 2000 yards and is unstoppable, then no. Do we have the best WR core we have ever had on paper? Yeah, I will buy that. But Manning and some banged up RB's and some other rookie RB's better than Elway and TD? No. No. No.

EDIT: And TD could easily own the season rushing yards if not for Shanny taking him out. Having a RB that was one of the all time best for the years he played, and teaming him with Elway is something special. We had arguably the best QB and RB and offensive line in football on the same team.

This response annoys me because it's taking a very very narrow view, looking at one position on the field.....Let me give you two sets of stats
Team 1
Offense
397 YPG
30.1 points PG
Defense
290.8 YPG
18.1 PPG
52 sacks
16 interceptions
6 defensive td's
2 safties

Team 2
Offense
380.8 YPG
31.3 Points per game
Defense
308.4 YPG
19.3 Points per game
47 sacks
19 interceptions
2 defensive scores
0 safeties

Team 1 was 2012, team 2 1998 Broncos
It's easy to say "well we didn't have a good running game, blah blah blah....." Our passing game was so good that we didn't need a run game, we did as much with little run game (which we still put up 1,832 yards rushing last year a difference of only 636 yards) the big equalizer on offense is in 98 we had 3,624 yards passing compared to 4,534 this year.

It's easy to sit here and point to the differences in run game but if we would have won the superbowl last year honestly....I'd have a hard time not saying that last years team was the best Bronco team of all time. It really isn't a stretch run game or no run game to say on paper this team is more well rounded overall than the 98 team and if we win it all this year....We could have a better statistical season than we've ever had before.

People want to shoot down the OP but really, truthfully, this team has the potential to blow all previous Denver teams out of the water IF they live up to it. So far I see nothing to see that we won't but it's really hard to judge something like that on paper instead of seeing it in action.

I think people just quickly dismissing the OP need to really examine things before they just say "hahah no our rungame sucks...."

[bronx_2003]

No, the games haven't even been played yet. Let alone potential injuries in training camp, preseason, and throughout the season. If we were going strictly based off paper, to me the 49ers have the best team on paper even if you are talking about the best Broncos unit, they cant be unless they beat all the other good teams, and right now the 9ers look the best on paper out of any team right now.

Until the season unfolds there's no right or wrong answer but I wouldn't say the 49'ers look stronger on paper.

We have way more offensive weapons then they do, as well as PM coming off a great season. They have a QB going into his second year of starting which is always dangerous as teams now have extended tape (see Newton last year, etc.......)

We also have the DPOY runner up in Von Miller along with other additions. Obviously they have a strong D too.

Last season we ranked 4th in offense. They were #11.

We ranked #2 in defense. They were #3.

We were 13-3. They were 11-4-1.

I think Denver and NE have the fewest questions out of all the teams in the league.

Obviously Denver made some horrible mistakes in the Divisional round that cannot be allowed to happen again, but if you're talking on paper then I can't see any team stronger then us.

[bronx_2003]

ha. no. Unless you find a RB that can run for over 2000 yards and is unstoppable, then no. Do we have the best WR core we have ever had on paper? Yeah, I will buy that. But Manning and some banged up RB's and some other rookie RB's better than Elway and TD? No. No. No.

EDIT: And TD could easily own the season rushing yards if not for Shanny taking him out. Having a RB that was one of the all time best for the years he played, and teaming him with Elway is something special. We had arguably the best QB and RB and offensive line in football on the same team.

Its a passing league now.

[denversdivision]

This response annoys me because it's taking a very very narrow view, looking at one position on the field.....Let me give you two sets of stats
Team 1
Offense
397 YPG
30.1 points PG
Defense
290.8 YPG
18.1 PPG
52 sacks
16 interceptions
6 defensive td's
2 safties

Team 2
Offense
380.8 YPG
31.3 Points per game
Defense
308.4 YPG
19.3 Points per game
47 sacks
19 interceptions
2 defensive scores
0 safeties

Team 1 was 2012, team 2 1998 Broncos
It's easy to say "well we didn't have a good running game, blah blah blah....." Our passing game was so good that we didn't need a run game, we did as much with little run game (which we still put up 1,832 yards rushing last year a difference of only 636 yards) the big equalizer on offense is in 98 we had 3,624 yards passing compared to 4,534 this year.

It's easy to sit here and point to the differences in run game but if we would have won the superbowl last year honestly....I'd have a hard time not saying that last years team was the best Bronco team of all time. It really isn't a stretch run game or no run game to say on paper this team is more well rounded overall than the 98 team and if we win it all this year....We could have a better statistical season than we've ever had before.

People want to shoot down the OP but really, truthfully, this team has the potential to blow all previous Denver teams out of the water IF they live up to it. So far I see nothing to see that we won't but it's really hard to judge something like that on paper instead of seeing it in action.

I think people just quickly dismissing the OP need to really examine things before they just say "hahah no our rungame sucks...."

Great stats , I hadn't had the time yet to pull them but I know everyone thinks its crazy to compare anyone to the back to back teams but we are really good right now . Without question the best unit other than the b2b broncos. But I feel this team is more dynamic. Defense gets to the qb more , and I just don't see how welker won't add to our offense in a big way. We will more than likely never have another 2k rusher again but manning does have the best wr group he's ever had. He has a way with making talented guys even better , maxing their potential. Can't wait to see us in action

[Joshecalpoly]

1998 was a harder strength of schedule

Our divisional opponents averaged 3 more wins then they did this year (and we played 2 more divisional games)

On average the teams we beat had averaged at leas 1 win more then we had this year.

[fightinglee]

This response annoys me because it's taking a very very narrow view, looking at one
It's easy to say "well we didn't have a good running game, blah blah blah....." Our passing game was so good that we didn't need a run game, we did as much with little run game (which we still put up 1,832 yards rushing last year a difference of only 636 yards) the big equalizer on offense is in 98 we had 3,624 yards passing compared to 4,534 this year.

It's easy to sit here and point to the differences in run game but if we would have won the superbowl last year honestly....I'd have a hard time not saying that last years team was the best Bronco team of all time. It really isn't a stretch run game or no run game to say on paper this team is more well rounded overall than the 98 team and if we win it all this year....We could have a better statistical season than we've ever had before.

And these responses annoy me because they show a lack of the basic understandings of football. Games are not won on statistics. When you get a game where a QB throws for close to 500 yards, guess what, a lot of those QB's have either lost those games or it was tight. Tell me how many times a game was lost when a RB rushed over 200 yards. Not often. To say that your pass game is so good you dont need a run game is just hillarious. Ask NE how that has been working out lately. Ask us how that worked out last year against a team whose defense began to shut it down and we were one dimensional.

To discount the 98's team to both, throw and run, is silly. To ever consider that a great one dimensional team is somehow better than a great two dimensional team, is very silly. The running game helps all phases of the game. You can score on goaline. Third down conversions are easier. You eat off more clock and help out the defense. We could have used all three of these during the balt game. The balt game would not have been even close against the 98 denver team. Same thing with Balt against NE last year. The one dimensional offense was shut down, and once it was, it was goodbye to NE.

[HUMCALC]

No way. Elway>Manning, TD>all of the current RBs, 1997-99 OL>this one, Elam>Prater, Sharpe>all the current TEs, Rod Smith & #87 >DT & Decker, right now. Neil Smith>all the current DL

[denversdivision]

No way. Elway>Manning, TD>all of the current RBs, 1997-99 OL>this one, Elam>Prater, Sharpe>all the current TEs, Rod Smith & #87 >DT & Decker, right now. Neil Smith>all the current DL

Respectfully i dis agree , ill give you sharpe , elway and elam ... decker and thomas are a nasty combo , throw in welker and it tips the scales , our defense over all is pretty close if not better too ...

[HUMCALC]

Respectfully i dis agree , ill give you sharpe , elway and elam ... decker and thomas are a nasty combo , throw in welker and it tips the scales , our defense over all is pretty close if not better too ...

How many times in the SB years did DEN fail to pick up a 3rd and 1 with that OL & TD and backup RBs? Rod Smith is a HOFer, and RIGHT NOW DT and Decker aren't even close to that level