Justin Simmons Placing Playoff Expectations on Broncos
By Peter Dewey
Pro Bowl safety Justin Simmons signed a huge deal to remain with the Denver Broncos this offseason, and he has some big expectations for his team.
The Broncos haven’t made the postseason since they won Super Bowl 50, but Simmons has some serious belief in this year’s team.
"I feel like we're really close," Simmons said. "We're finally having a year where we're having coordinators come back and guys are familiar with the schemes and the systems, both on offense and defense and on special teams. I feel like we're really close. I feel like this could be the year and I'm really excited for that. I've been itching for it ever since I came into the league -- 9-7 is the closest I've been. And so I'm really looking forward to this season."
Denver, who went just 5-11 last season, has been getting some love in Vegas, but it’s possible that oddsmakers are expecting the Broncos to make a trade for Aaron Rodgers.
WynnBET has given Denver +155 odds to make the playoffs this season, but they are third in the standings to win the AFC West at just +600 odds. While the AFC West will likely be won by the Kansas City Chiefs, the Broncos have intriguing Super Bowl odds, as they’re tied for the ninth-best odds at +2500.
That’s certainly interesting given the fact that the team is in the midst of a quarterback competition between Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater, but the Broncos roster as a whole is pretty strong with the additions of Kyle Fuller, Patrick Surtain II and Ronald Darby on defense.
That revamped defense, and Vic Fangio’s scheme, is the main reason Simmons is optimistic about the Broncos’ chances of competing this season.
"In our division, we got teams like the Chiefs, the Raiders and the Chargers, those are some high-powered offenses," Simmons said. "So we're going to need a defense that's ready to go week in and week out because we play the best in our division. In terms of team defensive goals, we want to be No. 1. We have the talent across the board to be able to get after the quarterback, get some turnovers, that's an area that we've struggled in the past couple years. So we're just really looking forward to competing out there and going against some of the best offenses in the league. Like I said, from a defensive standpoint, we feel like we can be No. 1, and so that's our goal."
The Broncos will also be getting several players back from injury, as Von Miller and Courtland Sutton missed virtually all of the 2020 season. If Denver can figure out the quarterback position, don’t be surprised if the Broncos sneak into a wild card spot this season.