Seven routes to a playoff berth

For a generation, the mantra in Broncos Country has never wavered: In Elway we trust.

During this new NFL season, the team is leaning on John Elway more than ever. Broncos president Joe Ellis obviously trusts Elway to be both the face and architect of the franchise, as his new fiveyear contract attests. But so many leading indicators — from a rookie coach to a cheap quarterback to a stash of money under the salary cap — suggest 2017 will be more about winning from now on than right now. Dare we say rebuilding?

Forget about winning the Super Bowl. If the Broncos are to make the playoffs, here are seven promises that must be fulfilled, starting with the home opener against the Los Angeles Chargers. Vance Joseph won’t blink at crunchtime: Denver could have hired Kyle Shanahan, son of the Mastermind, to be its new sage of the sidelines. Elway, whose track record indicates he values

motivational skill over X’s and O’s acumen in a coach, instead chose Joseph to grow into the job.

I asked Joseph his biggest challenge as a rookie in charge of an NFL team. “It’s less coaching. That part bothers me,” said Joseph, who now coaches up his assistants rather than players. “It’s more game management, and that’s the thing.”

So here are four words of advice on game management: Never take a knee. (We don’t need another John Fox.)

Mike Mccoy counts for three points per game:

The Broncos’ game plan is clear. They want to beat foes by beating them up. Run the rock. Watch Von Miller get up and (sack) dance. Control the clock. Win the game 21-17.

Well, Denver averaged 20.8 points per game last season. The team’s margin of error was too small way too often. We don’t expect a new offensive coordinator to work miracles. But if Mccoy can deliver one extra field goal per game, I guarantee you the Broncos will be in the playoffs.

Garett Bolles is better than Reuben Foster:

With the 20th pick in the NFL draft, I thought the obvious choice for Denver was Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster, a tackling machine that would pay immediate dividends in the run defense and likely be- come a Pro Bowler down the road.

Elway selected Bolles, a left tackle to protect his quarterback’s blindside. Hey, what do I know? In Elway we trust. Right?

Trevor Siemian looks like Andy Dalton:

There are those in Broncos Country who strain very hard to see Tom Brady in Siemian, a Big Ten quarterback underestimated by NFL scouts.

That’s cute. Mr. Skittles is not Handsome Tom.

If Siemian can merely be Dalton, the Bengals’ efficient game manager, the Denver offense will be boring and solid and bound for the playoffs.

Justin Simmons makes us forget T.J. Ward: Roster

churn is inevitable in a league with a salary cap, where younger and cheaper is favored over old and experienced.

Defensive coordinator Joe Woods loves Simmons and fellow safety Will Parks. If they both score touchdowns this season, nobody will remember who wore No. 43 for the Broncos.

Aqib Talib knows best:

The Broncos voted Jack Sparrow as their captain. Wait … what? “I think maybe my off-the-field stuff kind of prevented me from being a captain. … I think I’ve always been captain material,” Talib said.

Teammates do love Talib, because he will scratch and claw or rip chains asunder, doing whatever it takes to fight on their behalf. The Broncos have only 10-of-22 starters remaining from their Super Bowl 50 squad. It’s the job of Talib to return the family feeling of a football brotherhood to the locker room.

Denver wins four division games: The NFL

teams with the four toughest projected schedules are the Broncos, Chiefs, Chargers and Raiders. The reason is obvious. The AFC West is the toughest division, from top to bottom, in the league.

How can the balanced West be won? Going 4-2 in division games would be a good place to start. And if that’s a goal, then the season opener against the Chargers is a must win for the Broncos. All the emotional factors lean in Denver’s favor. Home game. Monday night mayhem. There’s a burning desire to stick it to Mccoy’s old team. This is a chance to make a big opening statement.

Prediction: Broncos 27, Chargers 17.