Once the NFL schedule is released in April, folks will begin trampling each other to get to sports gambling books to place a few pesos on the Denver Broncos either reaching Super Bowl XLVIII or winning it all.

Soon after Wes Welker joined forces with the Broncos on Wednesday, America began to double down on Denver being the AFC representative in Super Bowl XLVIII.

A few things to consider in regards to picking Denver to be the prohibited favorite to reach Super Bowl XLVIII:

• Peyton Manning will be 37 in nearly two weeks. 
• He is 0-4 in postseason games when it’s 40 degrees or colder.
• It’s likely he’ll have to win at least two of those games in such climate to win the Super Bowl.
• Of course, Super Bowl XLVIII will be played in New Jersey on February 2, 2014. In case you were wondering, the temperature in East Rutherford on February 2 was 30 degrees.

Oh, as for the Welker addition…

For all of the positive things Welker bestowed upon the Patriots, the man drops some notable passes.

What about the defense?

Yes, I mean this defense…My point is simple.

It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

Let’s clear the draft and training camp before we start anointing Denver as the second coming of the ’89 49ers.

Impatient souls, we are.

Anyhow, Peyton has disappointed us before. I’m guessing he’ll do it again come next winter.

H/T Patrick Smyth