It’s no secret the Denver Broncos’ last winning season was in 2016 under then-HC Gary Kubiak and that the team’s last playoff appearance was in 2015, but safety Justin Simmons has AFC West title aspirations for the team next season.
It’s hard to find fault in Simmons’ thinking with the team’s acquisition of Russell Wilson. Couple that with the Kansas City Chiefs, perennial AFC West champions, taking a hit on offense with the departure of Tyreek Hill. That said, the Las Vegas Raiders added Davante Adams to Derek Carr‘s pass-catchers this offseason. Can’t forget about the Los Angeles Chargers and third-year franchise QB Justin Herbert as well.
Simmons, meanwhile, has lived through the Broncos’ playoff drought. He was drafted in 2016, months after the team hoisted the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Speaking to the media Wednesday, Simmons looked back on the struggles.
“We all know what it’s been like the past five years playing in the west,” Simmons said. “My opinion — and you can argue it — is it’s the best division in football. The Chiefs, Raiders, Chargers and now us — we have [Russell Wilson] and a bunch of additions — Randy Gregory, D.J. Jones, K’Waun [Williams]. I can go down the list of guys that we have. It’s going to be like primetime every single time an AFC West game is on.
“It’s going to be all chips in the middle of the table every time one of those four teams are playing each other. You have to embrace it. Part of being a competitor is embracing the best parts of it. If you want to be the best, you have to go up against the best. We’re in the best division. What a way to go into postseason if you’re on top of that division. That’s really all that’s at the top of our mind. We preach it every single day how important it is to win the West. It’s going to be a great year.”
Whatever the outcome, AFC West fans are in store for great football next season. That starts when Amazon debuts as the league’s partner for TNF.
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