2013 Broncos Season, Pro Bowl Week


It was the quiet week before the storm for the Broncos, as they met the media, practiced in the snow, and headed to New Jersey for the Super Bowl.

Season Record: 15-3 (9-1 Home)

Recap: The bye week does a lot for both teams. It allows them time to prepare, time to negotiate all the commitments that come with being in the Super Bowl, and time to get healthy. That bodes well for players that have been beat up, like Knowshon Moreno, as they head to the Super Bowl. Unfortunately, the team has also been bitten by the illness bug, particularly kicker Matt Prater, so that's not good. But last week was pretty calm, and went pretty much according to plan. That's a good thing as a team with only four players that have Super Bowl experience tries to win the big game.

Key Players:
* Peyton Manning. A lot has been made of Manning's poor record in the playoffs and poor record in cold weather. He will get a playoff game in cold weather in the Super Bowl, but I'm hoping that he can still be strong. It seems that wind is more of a factor for Manning, and as of today it doesn't look too bad.

* Knowshon Moreno and Montee Ball. The Broncos need balance to win. They have to run well to keep the Seahawks' pass rush honest, and the Broncos need balance to compete against the Legion of Boom. That means Moreno and Ball need to run, and run effectively.

* Champ Bailey. It's Champ's first Super Bowl in his decorated 15 year career, and that is a big story. I'm excited for Champ and I'm excited to see him win a ring. But we also need Champ to play well, holding down his side of the field against the Seahawks.

* Shaun Phillips and Terrence Knighton. The Broncos need to get pressure on Wilson, keep him contained, and bottle up the running game. Knighton and Phillips are the engine of that defensive front, and both need to play big to win.

Linger Concerns:
* Health. Players are getting healthier, but some have suffered illness this week. The Broncos need to get healthy and rested before the game.

* The weather. This is a wild card. As of today, it looks as good as you could expect in New Jersey in February. But that's today. If there is high wind, snow, or a combination of both, that could spell doom for Manning and the passing game.

* Special Teams. This has been a weak spot, and the Broncos need to be better here. The team can't afford cheap turnovers or mistakes.

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