Losing the Super Bowl left a bitter taste in the Broncos’ mouths.
That’s why, as Denver cornerback Chris Harris says, this year there’s no satisfaction with being the second-best team in the NFL. The Broncos view a championship as their only goal, and anything less as a disappointment.
“Guys know what’s at stake this year, at least they should -- it’s Super Bowl or bust for us,” Harris told ESPN. “It means a lot for this team for all of us to come back and hit the ground running fast. Especially the young guys, if they weren’t paying attention at OTAs and minicamp, but to make this Broncos team this year, these cats on defense better be working out because Peyton Manning will make you look crazy.”
In a sense, that’s every team’s view: At this time of year, every team in the league is dreaming of hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy. But the Broncos may feel that urgency more than any other team. A great season last year ended with a terrible performance in the Super Bowl, and all of the Broncos’ offseason moves indicated that they’re trying to win now, while Manning is still the top quarterback in the league. Compared to most teams, the Broncos’ 2013 season was a success. But a repeat of last year would be viewed as a disappointment in Denver.