2017 NFL power rankings: Patriots lead the way

Looking Back: It looked like it would be business as usual for the defending Super Bowl champions. Despite new faces at quarterback, the Broncos jumped out to a 4-0 start. But the defense was not what it was in 2015 and the team’s inability to consistently run the football saw this club dropped seven of its final 12 games and miss the playoffs for the first time since 2010.

Looking Forward: It remains to be seen who new head coach Vance Joseph will opt for when it comes to his starting quarterback. We saw a lot of Trevor Siemian and a little of 2016 first-rounder Paxton Lynch. But the jury is certainly out on both players. What we do know is that Mike McCoy is back with the Broncos after four seasons at the helm of the San Diego Chargers. With a healthy C.J. Anderson around and Devontae Booker coming off a respectable rookie showing, Denver should improve on a ground attack that finished 27th in the NFL this past year.

Offseason needs: The defense was good in 2016 but it was far from the unit that paved the way for a Super Bowl championship one year earlier. That’s because the team missed free-agent defectors such as defensive tackle Malik Jackson and inside linebacker Danny Trevathan. The results were a club that ranked fourth overall in terms of fewest yards allowed. But only four teams in the league allowed more yards on the ground. Denver did not pick up the option on four-year nose tackle/2013 first-round pick Sylvester Williams. And we’ll see if veteran outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware will return for a 13th NFL season. In any case, new defensive coordinator Joe Woods has a daunting task.