The Denver Broncos continue to defy the odds with their improbable 7-2 run to start this season.
While the jury is still out on whether or not the Broncos are lucky or good, they have won five games in a row and lead the AFC West. However, the kinds of things this team is doing defy logic. For instance, the team has set an NFL record for winning 16 one-score games in a row.
But this statistic, which shows that the Broncos have the worst yardage differential for any team that has ever started 7-2, is incredible. Despite winning seven of nine games, the Broncos have given up 699 more yards than they have gained while spending little time with the lead in games this season.
From Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports:
"Start with this: Denver has been outgained
in seven of nine games, including five victories," Wilson wrote. "To put that in perspective, only two of the 126 teams that started 7-2 or better this century spent less time playing with a lead.
"Against the Rams in Week 3, Denver was outgained by 225 yards, trailed for more than 39 minutes and led for exactly 118 seconds. They won anyway, 30-26.
"They've also beaten the Jaguars and Chiefs despite leading for fewer than 10 minutes in each of those games. And six of their seven victories have come by eight points or fewer."
How long can the Broncos sustain this run?
Prior to this season, the team that started 7-2 and had the worst yardage differential to its opponents was the 2010 New England Patriots, with 469 yards. The Broncos have given up 230 yards more than that. It's almost impossible to do what this team is doing.
Here is a look at the seven worst teams that started a season 7-2 or better in terms of yardage differential.
Only one of those teams won the Super Bowl, and that Baltimore Ravens team needed one of the biggest miracles in NFL history, against the Broncos no less, to make that happen. However, each of these teams made the playoffs, something the Broncos look like a good bet to do this season.
It has been quite the improbable run for this team, which has a 21-5 record dating back to the beginning of last season. Many people keep expecting the team's good fortune to run out, but the Broncos keep winning against all odds.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Among 7-2 teams in NFL history, Broncos have worst yardage differential
