The Denver Broncos‘ past 3-0 starts ended in mixed results.
Their three Super Bowl titles occurred when the team had a strong start.
John Elway and Terrell Davis led the Broncos to a 6-0 start in 1997 before winning Super Bowl XXXII over Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers.
A year later, Denver went on a 13-game win streak to win Super Bowl XXXIII against the Atlanta Falcons in Elway’s final NFL game.
Two decades later, Peyton Manning led the team to a 7-0 record en route to a Super Bowl 50 victory against Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers.
Peyton Manning didn’t get his second Super Bowl trophy until he joined the Broncos.
Just saying, @AaronRodgers12. pic.twitter.com/QmypTVd6ro
— Broncos Wire (@TheBroncosWire) May 2, 2021
But there were also tragic endings to some of their strong starts.
The 1996 Broncos started 3-0 and finished the season at 13-3 before losing to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Wild Card round.
In 2009, the team had a 6-0 start under head coach Josh McDaniels but finished the season at 8-8.
Seven years later, the 4-0 Broncos missed the playoffs at 9-7 with Trevor Siemian under center.
This season, Denver is 3-0 for the 15th time in franchise history.
However, experts quickly dispute their record because the teams they defeated have a combined 0-9 record.
They started the season with a 27-13 win over the New York Giants.
Starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater had 264 yards and two touchdowns while running back Melvin Gordon finished with 11 carries for 101 yards.
Von Miller sacked Daniel Jones twice.
He's back.
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) September 30, 2021
In Week 2, they defeated the Jaguars, 23-13.
Bridgewater led the Broncos with 26 completions for 328 yards and two touchdown passes.
Courtland Sutton also had nine receptions for 159 yards while Miller registered a sack.
Kareem Jackson and Patrick Surtain II also got one interception each, and the Broncos defense limited Trevor Lawrence to 118 passing yards.
The Streak Continues
The Broncos maintained a clean sheet against the New York Jets, 26-0.
Their defense came up big with five sacks, two of which were courtesy of A.J. Johnson.
Caden Sterns and Justin Simmons each had a pick as well.
They limited the Jets to 162 total yards and 11 first downs.
The Broncos are doing enough on offense, averaging 25.3 points per game.
However, they are the eighth-best running offense with 127 yards per contest.
He was #️⃣1️⃣❗️@Melvingordon25 has just become the #NFLBadgers all-time leader in touchdowns scored! 🥇 pic.twitter.com/Nt49Iv4gRQ#BroncosCountry
(🎥 via Denver Broncos)
— NFL Badgers (@NFLBadgers) September 26, 2021
In contrast, it’s on defense that Vic Fangio’s crew shines.
They are the best in the league in points allowed at 8.7 per game and second in rushing yards at 59.3.
Denver is third in passing yards allowed at 162.3 per contest.
While numbers dictate that they are a solid defensive unit, are they genuinely elite or a product of their opponents’ futility?
It’s not that their previous opponents are losing big, though.
The Jaguars held first-half leads against the Arizona Cardinals and the Cincinnati Bengals in Weeks 3 and 4 before faltering at the end.
Cincinnati needed an Evan McPherson field goal to seal the victory.
How about that!? Former Fort Payne standout Evan McPherson hits another game-winner!
This dude is unreal! pic.twitter.com/6KSOwhXNrA
— Rocco DiSangro (@RoccoDiSangro) October 1, 2021
Likewise, the Giants lost to the Washington Football Team by one point, 30-29.
They could have sealed the win if Dexter Lawrence did not jump offsides during Dustin Hopkins‘ 48-yard field goal attempt.
A week later, Younghoe Koo‘s field goal lifted the Atlanta Falcons over the Giants, 17-14.
Broncos Will Face A Stiff Challenge
Whatever people say, the Broncos have talented players on both sides of the field.
But defeating the Baltimore Ravens in Week 4 will prove that their streak is no fluke.
The Ravens are the best running team in the NFL this season despite the absence of Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins.
Lamar Jackson has been doing it all 😮 #SCFacts pic.twitter.com/dcuemgSSuq
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 30, 2021
Baltimore made the playoffs last year, with Lamar Jackson becoming the first quarterback in NFL history to complete multiple seasons with at least 1,000 rushing yards.
A Broncos victory over the Ravens will settle the debate whether they are for real.
It will also make the battle for the AFC West title more interesting.
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