The 5 Best Teams for the Upcoming 2015 NFL Season

Denver Broncos

Projected Record: 9.7-6.3
Playoff Probability: 66.0%
Division Probability: 53.4%
Super Bowl Probability: 8.9%
nERD: 7.31

A team loaded on paper from top to bottom on both sides of the football, the Broncos sit second on our power rankings with a nERD of 7.31.

Still, everything begins and ends with the man taking snaps under center for this team: Peyton Manning.

Hobbled by a torn right quadriceps suffered during a mid-December bout against their division rival San Diego Chargers, in his final three games following this injury Manning managed just three touchdowns to four interceptions, a 59.0% completion rate, and 6.3 yards per attempt.

Pro Bowl wideout Demaryius Thomas commented that Manning’s passes this offseason have “more zip” to them, suggesting Manning is now fully healthy entering the 2015 season. But the question remains whether or not he can round back into his All-Pro form to lead this team on another Super Bowl run, or if Father Time has indeed finally caught up with the Broncos’ future Hall of Famer.

Even if Manning has lost a step, he won’t have to do it alone. He’s surrounded by talented pass catchers in Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders, with the latter emerging as a premiere number two wideout, amassing career highs in receptions (101), yards (1,404), touchdowns (9), and Reception NEP per target (0.89) in his first season as a Bronco.

And in the ground game, C.J. Anderson has shown he can handle an every-down workload, rushing for 849 yards and catching another 324 to go along with 10 total touchdowns in just seven starts last season. This was thanks in large part to his highly efficient Rushing NEP per attempt of 0.10 that placed him near the top of league in this category (Jamaal Charles led the league at 0.11).

On defense, this unit returns a squad that ranked 7th and 10th in Adjusted Defensive Passing and Rushing NEP per play last year. Now being coached by defensive mind Wade Phillips, the Broncos should see continued success on this side of the ball.

While every team in their division has made significant improvements this offseason, if Manning is healthy, the Broncos are still the clear favorite to win the AFC West and go deep into the playoffs this year.