Broncos’ Odds to Win AFC West Still Listed at 11-1 After Chris Harris Agrees to Revised Contract
- The Denver Broncos are listed at odds of 11-1 to win the AFC West
- Denver recently signed Pro Bowl CB Chris Harris to a one-year contract
- The Broncos have endured consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 1971-72
The last time the Denver Broncos were this bad for this long, they’d barely joined the NFL. Going 6-10 and 5-11 over the past two seasons, Denver not only cost head coach Vance Joseph his job, the Broncos endure consecutive losing seasons for the first time since a nine-season run of negative campaigns from 1963-72.
How quickly can Vic Fangio, the new man in charge, get Denver stampeding back up the AFC standings? The move this week to get the name of Pro Bowl cornerback Chris Harris on a new one-year contract worth $12.05 million was a good start. It sent a message to the team that those who deliver the goods will be rewarded.
President of Football Operations/GM @johnelway on @chrisharrisjr’s new one-year deal: pic.twitter.com/g50dBAviOs
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) May 29, 2019
The original belief held was that Harris would be traded to save the team some money.
On the other hand, when the Broncos look up, they see the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers, two of the AFC favorites to win Super Bowl 54. So the road is long.
Sportsbooks list the Broncos at odds of +1100 to win the AFC West title this season. The Broncos are Oakland Raiders are co-longshots to win in the NFL Divisional odds.
2019-20 AFC West Division Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Kansas City Chiefs | -155 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | +200 |
| Denver Broncos | +1100 |
| Oakland Raiders | +1100 |
*Odds taken May 29, 2019
Denver most recently wore the AFC West crown in 2015, the last of five straight division titles.
Joe is a Lock
One of the quietly shrewdest moves of the offseason was Denver’s addition of veteran QB Joe Flacco. While, he’s not the same guy who won a Super Bowl in Baltimore, Flacco should settle an area of concern for the team since Peyton Manning retired.
⚠️ QBs at work ⚠️#BroncosOTAs pic.twitter.com/OzJYQT2gVk
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) May 26, 2019
He’ll also groom 2019 second-round pick Drew Lock as the Broncos’ QB of the future. It’s a win-win situation.
Broncos’ Tough Slate
Denver drew the second-toughest schedule in the NFL this season. That certainly hasn’t inspired much in the way of confidence toward a successful Broncos season from the sportsbooks. Most have set the total bar on Denver wins at seven.
Denver will open the road for the first time since 2010. The good news is it’s at Oakland, the only team in the division expected to be worse than the Broncos.
Hardest 2019 NFL schedules, based on their opponents win % from last season:
Raiders – .539
Broncos – .537
Jaguars – .531
Texans – .527
Bears – .520
Chiefs – .520
Colts – .518
Falcons – .518
Titans – .514
Vikings – .512
49ers – .510
Buccaneers – .508
Cardinals – .508— NFL Stats (@NFL_Stats) April 18, 2019
There are seven 2018 NFL playoff teams on Denver’s 2019 slate. They also get the rejuvenated Cleveland Browns and a trip to Lambeau Field to face the Green Bay Packers. And it’s early in the season, before Packers QB Aaron Rodgers figures to be all banged up.
Phillip Lindsay went from undrafted free agent to Denver's highest-graded player on offense last season! pic.twitter.com/e3hz5oKJg5
— PFF (@PFF) May 23, 2019
Avoiding a third losing campaign by winning eight games must be considered a successful season for the Broncos. But there won’t be any playoffs or division titles in the Mile High City.
The Chiefs remain the team to beat in the AFC West, with the Chargers hot on their heels.
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
