DENVER -- A dazzling defense rendered the Denver Broncos quarterback question a moot point last year. The Super Bowl champs are counting on that being the case again this season.The six-month saga over who will guide Denvers title defense came down to Mark Sanchez losing his grip on both the ball and the job when he fumbled twice inside the San Francisco 15-yard line on Aug. 20. Rookie Paxton Lynch might be the franchises future, but the present belongs to Trevor Siemian.The seventh-round pick out of Northwestern in 2015 has made the startling jump from No. 3 QB to starter thanks to a confluence of events, including a retirement, a rebuff and a reboot.While Lynch was showing more promise than proficiency, Siemian displayed poise, power and precision.Thats not surprising given that Siemian had a birds-eye view of the Broncos quarterback conundrum last year when coach Gary Kubiak began every Monday meeting after mid-November with an announcement whether Peyton Manning or Brock Osweiler would start.The Broncos made it work thanks to a spectacular supporting cast that also makes them the favorite to win their sixth straight AFC West crown, although Oakland and Kansas City are closing that gap.The Raiders and Chiefs both beat the Broncos in Denver last year, and it took Mannings Willis Reed moment to keep the San Diego Chargers from doing the same.Manning retired a month after Denvers parade and Osweiler bolted 48 hours later to the Houston Texans. GM John Elway was rebuffed in his attempt to get Colin Kaepernick, so it came down to a three-way QB competition. Now, the Broncos go into the NFL kickoff game against Carolina on Sept. 8 with two quarterbacks who have never thrown a pass that counts in the NFL.Thats not exactly a recipe for another run, but the Broncos always seem to navigate their way through adversity.DOMINANT DENVER: The Broncos lost DE Malik Jackson and MLB Danny Trevathan to free agency, not really lamentable departures. Theyve had injury issues along the line, but theyre still loaded with pass rushers Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware, Shane Ray and Shaq Barrett, plus MLB Brandon Marshall and DBs Chris Harris Jr., Bradley Roby, Aqib Talib, Kayvon Webster, T.J. Ward and Darrian Stewart.Miller parlayed his Super Bowl MVP performance into a jet-lagged offseason that included 61 flights and 47 television appearances. Oh, and a record six-year, $114.5 million deal with $70 million in guarantees. Hes looked terrific in limited action this summer.The retooled offense features four new starters on the line, a bona fide fullback and a new tight end group. Denver has co-stars at wide receiver in Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas, who is bent on putting last years drops and drama behind him.RISING RAIDERS: The future of the team in Oakland remains as foggy as an autumn morning in the Bay Area. Still, the Raiders have legitimate hopes of contending for the playoffs for the first time in years.They rebuilt the defense, signing CB Sean Smith, LB Bruce Irvin and S Reggie Nelson, drafting S Karl Joseph and DL Jihad Ward. Those five team with All-Pro Khalil Mack on what should be a much-improved unit.Offense all comes down to whether Derek Carr takes another step forward. After playing very well in the first half last season, Carr struggled in the second half, in part because of injuries to WR Amari Cooper and C Rodney Hudson. Oakland hopes signing G Kelechi Osemele fortifies the line and leads to a more consistent running game.CHAMPING CHIEFS: Kansas City LB Justin Houston is out for now after surgery to repair a non-functioning ACL in February. The Chiefs also took a cautious approach with LB Tamba Hali after surgery on his balky knees, and RB Jamaal Charles, who had his right ACL repaired last season.With injury issues a concern, the Chiefs also feel they have more talent across the board than at any point under GM John Dorsey and coach Andy Reid. Charles and RBs Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware form a potent three-headed monster, and Jeremy Maclin and TE Travis Kelce give Alex Smith decent pass catchers.The defense was great last season but is a year older, with concerns about the pass rush and in the secondary, where SS Eric Berry didnt report until Sunday.RECHARGED CHARGERS: Joey Bosa went public with his contract dispute. While the front office ripped Bosa, coach Mike McCoy seemed to support the former Ohio State defensive end selected third overall in the draft. He said whenever Bosa shows up, he is one of us. Bosa finally signed on Monday.The Chargers, 4-12 last season, missed the playoffs for the fifth time in six years, and could really use Bosa at full strength. Their D-line lost Sean Lissemore to a season-ending shoulder injury in training camp and Damion Square to a four-game suspension to start the season.On offense, Melvin Gordon is trying to bounce back from his nightmarish season.PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH: Broncos, Raiders, Chiefs, Chargers.---AP Sports Writers Dave Skretta, Josh Dubow and Bernie Wilson contributed.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton Cheap Authentic Jerseys . Aaron Harrison scored a 22 points for Kentucky (6-1), which has won four in a row following a Nov. 12 loss to current No. 1 Michigan State. Julius Randle overcame a scoreless first half and added his sixth double-double in as many games with 14 points and 10 rebounds. China NFL Jerseys . DAmigo scored twice in regulation and added the shootout winner as the Toronto Marlies edged the San Antonio Rampage 5-4 in American Hockey League action. http://www.cheapjerseysfinish.com/ . Clarkson had been dealing with an elbow injury in early January and will be out of action for at least one week. He has three goals and five assists through 36 games with the Leafs this season. Wholesale Stitched Jerseys . Blackwood, 28, has played the last three seasons in the San Diego Padres system, including the past two summers with Class AA San Antonio of the Texas League. Cheap Custom NFL Jerseys . Note: The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that Sean Monahan would not be made available to Canadas World Junior team. You wonder if the WNBA participants in the Summer Olympics feel like theyve just starred in a multi-episode run of the old Super Friends cartoon -- especially the romp-to-the-gold U.S. team members -- and now are headed to an episodic run of Survivor.The Americans kept the drama low and the quality of basketball high as they won their sixth consecutive Olympic tournament. But kudos also to Spain (silver) and Serbia (bronze) as they medaled in the Summer Games for the first time in womens hoops.Condolences to Australia, which is in transition mode as Penny Taylor will be joining Lauren Jackson in retirement. The Opals werent expecting their time in Rio de Janeiro to end in the quarterfinals, but it was another example of how competitive the Olympic tournament was -- aside from the U.S. dominance, that is.Now its back to the WNBA, which resumes play Friday. Los Angeles (21-3) and Minnesota (21-4) already have clinched playoff berths. Theyll focus on securing the top two spots, which come with a bye into the best-of-five semifinals in the WNBAs new playoff format.New York (18-8) is the only other team with a realistic shot of grabbing one of those two spots. Tina Charles leads the league in scoring and rebounding, and the Liberty are getting back guard Epiphanny Prince, who has been out all season with a knee injury. But unless the Sparks or Lynx have really lost their steam, its a long shot for the Liberty, who dont have any games left against L.A. or Minnesota.After those three teams, its a pretty big drop record-wise to what will be a free-for-all for the final five playoff berths. Other than 5-18 San Antonio, which is probably left to the role of spoiler, every team is still in the postseason hunt. Atlanta has the best record of that remaining group at 13-12.So as we enter the final three weeks of the regular season -- and close in on the career finishes of great players and fan favorites Taylor, Tamika Catchings and Swin Cash -- here are five questions to ponder.1. Will the Olympics help turn around the Mercury?Before the Rio Games, we examined the disappointing season?Phoenix has had. But the struggles of May, June and July wont matter much if the 10-14 Mercury can play up to their potential the rest of the way. (Admittedly, if has been a tormenting word for the Merc this summer.)Four players bring Olympic medals back to Phoenix, with Diana Taurasis and Brittney Griners golds, a silver for Spains Marta Xargay and a bronze for Serbias Sonja Petrovic.Taurasi had an outstanding Olympics, leading the U.S. team in scoring (15.6 points per game) and minutes played (24.3 per game). She was deadly from behind the arc (33 of 57, 57.9 percent) and played with trademark Taurasi zest and leadership.The latter part might be what most excites Mercury fans. Taurasis WNBA stats this season have been very good (18.9 PPG, 4.3 APG), but she hasnt always seemed ... well, Taurasi-like on court.As for Griner, she tied with Maya Moore and Sylvia Fowles to lead the Americans in rebounding (5.6 RPG) and was the top shot-blocker with 11. Griner averaged 9.8 points per game, third best on the team.In WNBA play this season, Griner?is averaging 13.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, numbers down a bit from her previous two years. She needed the energy jolt the Olympic seemed to give her.Competitive consistency has been a thorny issue with Phoenix this season, but the potential is still there for a big finish. Lets put it this way: If the Mercury close out the regular season strong, they could be very scary in a one-game elimination format, which is now in place for the early rounds.2. Can Seattles young guns get the Storm back in the playoffs?Breanna Stewart turns 22 on Saturday. Jewell Loyd doesnt turn 23 until October and tweeted Monday with mock irritation that shed been asked twice that day if she was older than 15. The Storms two super babies still look like kids, but they dont play that way.Gold medalist Stewart averaged a very efficient 8.1 points while playing 10.9 minutes per game for the United States in Rio. She is averaging 19.2 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game for Seattle and has the 2016 WNBA rookie of the year award already locked up.Loyd won that honor last season and now is second on the Storm in scoring at 16.5 points per game, while also getting 3.0 assists per game.Seattle is tied with Washington at 9-15 for the eighth-best record in the league. For the Storm to get back to the playoffs after a two-year absence, theyll need a strong closing surge from Stewart and Loyd.Everyone breathed a sigh of relief that Sue Birds knee injury at the Olympics wasnt serious enough to keep her out of the gold-medal game. Shhes having a very good WNBA season, too, leading the league with 6.dddddddddddd0 assists per game. The Storm point guard has done so much to help Seattles two rising stars mature, and shell continue to push them and her team to try to get back where Bird is used to being: the postseason.3. Can the Mystics salvage their season?No team needed the Olympic break more than the Mystics, who went into a tailspin and lost all seven of their games in July. Yet they are 9-15 and still battling to make the playoffs.Emma Meesseman (15.7 PPG) and Tayler Hill (14.7 PPG) are scoring well; its a breakthrough for Hill in her third full season in the league and fourth overall.But overall, this isnt a strong offensive team -- only San Antonios 72.2 points-per-game average is lower than Washingtons 79.6 -- so its hard to see the Mystics getting to the postseason if they cant clamp down more defensively in their remaining 10 games. Washington is allowing its foes 83.3 points per game.?It should help the Mystics to get back veteran forward LaToya Sanders, who missed the first part of the season while with the Turkish national team.4. Who has more on her shoulders: Elena or Angel?They both have plenty. But Chicagos Elena Delle Donne might have a heavier load to carry to get her team to the postseason because Atlantas Angel McCoughtry -- who has done a ton of heavy lifting in her WNBA career -- seems to have a little more help this year.Both players came off the bench during the Olympics and did their jobs well, providing energy for the U.S. team. Now, they go back to being their WNBA teams respective superstars.Delle Donne is the reigning WNBA MVP and is averaging 21.2 points per game for the Sky, who are 11-13. Cappie Pondexter and Allie Quigley are the other Chicago players who are scoring in double figures. Those two, Courtney Vandersloot and Jamierra Faulkner provide a solid perimeter core, but the Skys ability to score consistently inside other than with Delle Donne remains a concern.McCoughtry is averaging 18.2 points per game for the 13-12 Dream, who have three other players scoring in double figures: Tiffany Hayes, Elizabeth Williams and Layshia Clarendon. The Dream initially thought in July they might have lost veteran post player Sancho Lyttle for the season to a foot injury, but she is expected back. Her 8.5 rebounds per game are especially very valuable to the Dream.5. Who will be the No. 1 seed?The Sparks and the Lynx have split their two meetings thus far, with each winning on the others home court. They have one matchup left: Sept. 6 at Los Angeles.The Sparks havent played at Staples Center since July 10. They ended the first part of the season with five straight road games and open the second part with four more on the road. When they finally return to Staples Sept. 4, nearly two months will have passed between home games -- which is ridiculous.However, that means the Sparks will play five of their last six at home, so that might help down the stretch. Meanwhile, the Lynx have nine games left, and only one of their final five is at home.The teams were total contrasts in terms of the Olympics. Los Angeles had just one player competing: reserve guard Ana Dabovic for Serbia. Meanwhile, it seemed like everyone with the Lynx except mascot Prowl was in Brazil.OK, slight exaggeration. But with four starters -- Moore, Fowles, Lindsay Whalen and Seimone Augustus -- on the U.S. team along with coach Cheryl Reeve as one of Geno Auriemmas assistants, there was a lot of Lynx green and blue amid the American red, white and blue.All the Lynx players performed well in the Olympics, but Moore deserves a special shout-out. She was spectacular, which is not new. But watching her work so hard setting up others and defending -- she led the Americans with 34 assists and 16 steals -- while still being the second-leading scorer (12.0 PPG) and tying for the lead in rebounding (5.6 RPG) epitomizes why U.S. womens basketball has been unbeatable: truly great players happily putting the team first.Will the effort expended for the Olympics end up costing the Lynx a little in fatigue? Will the Sparks be extra motivated for a title because they dont have any 2016 gold medals among them?The Lynx are three-time champions trying to win back-to-back titles, which no WNBA team has done since the Sparks in 2001-02. How can you pick against Minnesota? But ... this is a different Sparks team than weve seen in a long, long time. They dont just have talent, they have resolve and chemistry and willpower.Its going to be quite a finish. ' ' '