Broncos Season Odds
When the Denver Broncos take the field in 2009, they’re going to look very different from the team that was devastated last season when they failed to win the AFC West despite having it all but locked up.
The Broncos went through some major turmoil this offseason. First, owner Pat Bowlen fired long time head coach Mike Shanahan and replaced him with former New England Patriots’ offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.
Shortly after he was hired, Denver considered trading for McDaniels’ former quarterback, Matt Cassel, which angered Broncos’ signal caller Jay Cutler. Cassel wound up being traded to Kansas City and despite McDaniels and Bowlen’s best effort to convince Cutler that he was still the quarterback that the Broncos wanted, Cutler gave the team little choice but to trade him to Chicago after refusing to burry the hatchet with his new head coach.
In the trade, Denver got multiple draft picks (including two first round picks) in exchange for Cutler, as well as Chicago’s starting quarterback Kyle Orton. Orton has been named the starter and is expected to start in Week 1 for the Broncos.
Oddsmakers from online sports book Sports Interaction have made the Broncos 45/1 long shots to win Super Bowl XLIV. They also gave Denver 25/1 odds to win the AFC and 10/1 odds to win the AFC West Division.
It remains to be seen whether or not Orton can lead the Broncos’ passing attack as Cutler did for the past couple years. Denver also has trouble brewing with wide receiver Brandon Marshall, who is upset with his contract and has yet to report to mandatory minicamps. While Denver is an intriguing team based on their long odds, a lot has to come together for this team to be competitive. Still, considering they should have won the division last year, if Orton can step in and play well then Denver might be a sleeper this season.
Odds to win Super Bowl XLIV
Denver Broncos 45/1
Odds to win the AFC 2009-2010
Denver Broncos 25/1
Odds to win the AFC West
Denver Broncos 10/1
Posted: 6/14/09 7:3PM ET