It’s Week Three for the Denver Broncos and Revenge is not a Factor

Aug 7, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos defensive end Quanterus Smith (93) pass rushes on Seattle Seahawks tackle Eric Winston (73) in the third quarter of a preseason game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos defeated the Seahawks 21-16. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The Denver Broncos are playing the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday in what is being defined by many as a Super Bowl rematch. The term rematch is one I can live with but this game is not about revenge. It is game number three of the regular season and features two teams that if things go right, they might be there again at the end.

The only way the Broncos can get this so called revenge is to get back to the Super Bowl and win it. Even then, the sting of 43-8 is never going to go away completely. The Broncos won the Super Bowl the season after being upset in the playoffs at home by the Jacksonville Jaguars, and that loss is still painful for me to think about.

I believe I wrote this in the preseason but if the Broncos win on Sunday, are their fans going to feel any better about the Super Bowl? Probably not. Don’t get me wrong it would be a big win, but it would be a big win for this season and this team.

They would’ve beaten a very good football team in a very tough place to play, and a win would move them to 3-0 heading into the bye week. It’s also impossible to call it a revenge game when over half of the Broncos defense features starters who were not on the field in February. For that matter, the Seahawks are not the same team.

The 2014 season is still in its infancy and every team is still trying to figure out who they are, and who they can be.

We think the Broncos are better on defense but through two games, they haven’t shown that. Sunday will be another test for that defense but more importantly it’s another step towards getting better, win or lose.

The Seahawks, as great as they are, have some questions too. They are a completely different team on the road compared to being at home, and that goes back a couple of years now. Working heavily in their favor this week is the fact that they are at home and will be loaded for bear coming off of last week’s loss to the San Diego Chargers.

We already touched on why it would be big if the Broncos were able to go up to Seattle and win. On the other hand; if the Broncos lose to the Seahawks on Sunday, it doesn’t mean the season is over. It simply means they lost to a very good football team on the road. The Broncos can come home no worse than tied for first in the AFC West heading into their bye, and after a very tough opening three game stretch.

A loss in Seattle also does not mean the Broncos are not capable of winning the Super Bowl, even versus the Seahawks, in February. The Broncos, especially defensively, are a work in progress and it is my firm belief that they are going to be much better on that side of the ball in November and December.

As mentioned earlier, the defense is almost completely different from what it was last season and it’s going to take some time. The game versus the Indianapolis Colts was the first time this defense had been on the field together as a unit, and they are still missing one starter in Danny Trevathan.

Fans see the names on the back of the jerseys and expect results and I get that, but great defensive football is about trust and knowing what the guy next to you is going to do. The Broncos will get there but there are going to be growing pains.

As for Sunday, there’s no doubt that it’s a big game but it’s not about revenge.

It’s about both teams measuring themselves versus another good team, nothing more and nothing less.