R.I.P. my beloved Denver Broncos. Another year down the drain…full of promise never quite realized.

After they way they’ve played over the last month plus I’m not sure I wanted to watch another game in the playoffs (OK, I lie…I wanted to see it). Like everyone else, I am sickened and confused by the Bronco’s end-of-year meltdowns, this time with almost an entirely new cast of characters.

But now that it’s over, this is the team we thought we might get at the start of the year. In fact, few people gave them a chance to be this “good”. Most thought my prediction at the beginning of the year (read it here) of an 8-8 season was a fantasy…most thought they’d be lucky to get 4-5 wins. That 6-0 start got us all excited and hopeful that a miracle had occurred.

But the bubble was burst.

Reality set in.

These Broncos are who we thought they were…mediocre.

It was still fun to watch most weeks (setting aside losing to the stinkin’ Raiders and Chiefs!!). And the Defense was better, although I’m not sure how it could have been any worse, and has room to continue to improve. I was a little surprised by the offensive line play at times during the year. The running game never got the traction it needed. And there was too much off-field drama (blame both sides there).

Here’s hoping for a better off-season, a great draft, and a better 2010…we gotta keep the faith Bronco Nation!