Well, ultimate Broncos fans, the football gods were definitely Niners fans last week, but that’s OK, no one is truly a Chargers fan so all should be right with the world in a few days.
And helping the Broncos get back to winning ways is a veteran to the UFG — SickBoy67 — who is feeling like most of us…excited for the potential every week but frustrated by slow starts and squandered opportunities.
Here’s to reversing that on a road game that always feels like home. And as always, come for the great
insight and analysis on the UFG, stay for the superb “favorites” and “why I am a Broncos fan” … always the best stuff here!
Week 5: Broncos at Chargers
MHR – The Niners outcome wasn’t necessarily unexpected given the challenge, but it was certainly a disappointing result. What are your overall thoughts on the game?
SickBoy67: I wasn’t expecting a win, but I was hoping for a closely fought game. The team managed that in the first half, but things slipped away after that. I think I feel the same frustration that most fans feel. I’m sick of the slow starts, and I’d like to see this team play a complete game at the level of competence and intensity that we know they’re capable of.
MHR – Sean Payton announced Thursday that he would be taking over play calling. What do you think of this change…good idea? Not great? Doesn’t really matter?
SickBoy67: I’m disappointed that Webb is only being given four games, but at the same time, windows close quickly in the NFL and the margins are thin. I can’t say whether things would have been different if Payton had called every game this year because this team has been notorious for slow starts during his time in Denver. We also have to consider the quality of the defenses the team has faced so far. I guess we’ll see how the team responds in the next couple of weeks.
MHR – The slow starts keep coming up. Payton says it isn’t a script problem, it’s the little details, and Courtland Sutton said the offense has to tighten up its attention to detail. How frustrated are you with the slow starts, and what has to change on that opening drive Sunday? Do the Broncos get on the board first?
SickBoy67: They have to be more effective running the ball, and they have to commit to doing it early. Tampa had an 11 minute opening drive last night. That wears a defense down. As to why it hasn’t been working, I think pretty much every coach and player on offense, with the possible exceptions of Harvey and Bryant, have mud on their hands.
MHR – Bo Nix has been the comeback guy but has also had some costly turnovers. This week he faces a Chargers defense that forced five turnovers against Buffalo and still lost the game. Nix says he doesn’t have to be a hero on every play. How confident are you that he takes what the defense gives him and protects the ball?
SickBoy67: I’m fairly confident about this aspect of Bo’s game. He’s usually pretty good at protecting the ball and being risk averse. A pretty good argument can be made that he’s been too cautious this year. He hasn’t found his rhythm yet and he often doesn’t look comfortable.
MHR – Payton’s keys for the offense were an efficient run game, play action, and early-down success, meaning no more third-and-long. He also called J.K. Dobbins an important piece. Is the run game ready to show up this week? Which back needs to have the biggest day on Sunday?
SickBoy67: Well, it would be Dobbins for sure. Harvey has improved as a runner, but he still doesn’t have the best vision for holes. He’s an amazing weapon in space, though. That really leaves Dobbins to do the heavy lifting. So far this season, he hasn’t looked right. I think he’s got some lingering injury issues which are slowing him down. I’m not sure this team will look dramatically better this week, but the Chargers run defense isn’t as scary as some we’ve faced, so there’s always hope.
MHR – RJ Harvey had 10 catches last week while Sutton had one. This was partly due to the soft-zone defense, according to the head coach. Do you think it’s a problem that the ball isn’t necessarily getting to our biggest playmakers that often, such as Sutton and Jaylen Waddle? What kind of balance would you like to see between the run and pass game on Sunday and does it matter who is catching the ball?
SickBoy67: It’s definitely a problem, but it goes back to taking what the defense gives us. If the running game is ineffective, defenses can put more players into coverage. Then they can play the Fangio zone philosophy of allowing short passes and waiting for the offense to get impatient or make a mistake. We need more balance in the passing game, but that starts having a more effective running game.
MHR – In a bit of a surprise, the Chargers are averaging just 16.8 points a game through four games, so this could be a lower-scoring game. Last year the Chargers rallied from a late double-digit deficit to beat the Broncos 23-20 at SoFi, and the Broncos have struggled to close out games in their last two road matchups with the Chargers. Now they face a winless, desperate team. Will this be a defensive battle, a come-from-behind surge by the Broncos to get a win or should the Broncos dominate this one?
SickBoy67: I think this will be a defensive battle because I expect our defense to play well and our offense to continue to have a slow start. I think that they will come alive in the second half, as is usually the case, and pile on the points, though.
MHR – Justin Herbert has been sacked 12 times in four games, and injuries forced the Chargers to play four rookies on the offensive line against Seattle. Is this the Sunday the Broncos’ pass rush really shows up (finally)?
SickBoy67: Yes. If there’s one unit that will have a ‘get right’ game this week, it’s the pass rushers. My one concern is the corners covering well enough to buy them the time to get home. It’s not that I don’t have confidence in Barron or Abrams-Draine, it’s more that they’re a bit of an unknown commodity as starting boundary corners.
MHR – Herbert has also thrown six interceptions to four touchdown passes this season, and Payton raved about young corners Kris Abrams-Draine and Jahdae Barron for their instincts while Riley Moss and Pat Surtain II are out with injury. Who gets the Broncos’ first takeaway Sunday? How many picks will Herbert throw this week?
SickBoy67: Again, we have to see how they do, but my bet would be McMillian or Huff, anyway. Both of these guys have a penchant for impact plays, and Hufanga has learned to catch the football, it seems.
MHR – Payton compared McDaniel’s offense to Kyle Shanahan’s, and the Broncos just faced Shanahan’s 49ers. But the Chargers are 0-4, so how worried are you that McDaniel attacks this Vance Joseph’s defense the same way he did with the Dolphins in 2023? What is the best way for the Broncos’ defense to keep Justin Herbert in check?
SickBoy67: I’d be fine with him attacking it the same way because I think it would blow up in his face. In 2023, Vance was trying to marry his system with a lot of the verbiage and concepts of the Fangio system in order to make the players more comfortable. He admitted afterwards that it was a huge mistake because it had the opposite effect. Although the defense has taken a step backward so far this season, they are a more talented and accomplished unit than the one McDaniel faced in 2023.
MHR – Which Chargers offensive player scares you the most – Herbert, Ladd McConkey or Quentin Johnston through the air, or the running back committee?
SickBoy67: McConkey. He just always seems to be open and to make a big play when they need one. It’s possible that he won’t play this week, so that should make life a bit easier.
MHR – Which ONE player on offense and ONE player on defense has to be an MVP on Sunday for the Broncos?
SickBoy67: On offense, I’m just going to say Bo. He needs to settle down and be comfortable out there. If he does that, I think things will be okay on offense even if the running game comes up short. On defense, I think it’s Hufanga. He makes a lot of things happen in the secondary. If he plays lights out, it will be long day for Herbert and that offense.
MHR – What is one word to describe the season so far? What one word do you hope describes it the rest of the season?
SickBoy67: So far, I would say out of sync. Not one word, but one idea. For the rest of the season, I’m hoping for balance. If this team has balance, they can beat anyone.
Predictions
Stats for BO NIX? 16 – 25 212 yds 2 tds 0 ints
Stats for each Broncos RB? Dobbins 14 – 52 yds, Harvey 8 – 33 yds, Badie 3 – 12 yds
Number of yards receiving/TDs for each of the receivers? Sutton 40 yds 1 td, Waddle 70 yds 0 tds, Engram 32 yds 1 td, not sure how it will break down for the rest
Longest FG from Lutz this week? 53 yds
Number of sacks to Justin Herbert? 5
Broncos player with the most tackles? Singleton
Who gets the first sack of the game for the Broncos? Allen
Who gets the most sacks? Que Robinson (why not?)
How many INTs/FF/FR for the Chargers D? 0/1/1
How many INTs/FF/FR for the Broncos D? 2/1/1
How many Broncos’ penalties negate a big play? 4
Final Score? 28 – 17 for the good guys
The Favorites
Favorite Broncos win ever? Super Bowl XXXII
Favorite Orange Crush win? Oct. 16, 1977 Broncos 30 – Raiders 7 “It’s all over, fat man!”
Favorite Peyton Manning win? Revenge game against the Ravens in 2013. 7 TD passes.
Favorite John Elway win? Super Bowl XXXII
Favorite win by any other Broncos QB? Recency bias, but I loved Bo beating Buffalo last year
Team you love to beat the most in the AFC West? Now = Chefs, All time = Raiders
Coach you despise most in the NFL? Can’t say I hate any current head coaches, but I sure hate Josh McDaniels (*editor’s note: ALWAYS a fair choice!)
Team you hate to lose to the most in the rest of the AFC (outside AFC West)? Ravens
NFC team you could cheer for in the Super Bowl? Lions
NFC team you’d want to face more than any other in the Super Bowl? Cowboys
Toughest game remaining on the schedule? Seattle
Favorite Broncos player on the current roster? Bo
Favorite Broncos player of all time not named John Elway? Shannon Sharpe (world class mouth with the talent to back it up)
Favorite new guy/rookie on the team? Barely got to know any of them yet. Coleman, but a lot of that’s projection.
Food/Snack you have to eat on game day? Wings or popcorn, depending on my mood
Favorite game analyst/commentator? Nantz is pretty good, especially now that Romo is gone
Who is on your Broncos Mt. Rushmore? Gradishar, Elway, Miller, TD
How did you become a Broncos fan?
I’ve told this story before, but it had to do with my best friend being a Cowboys fan and Super Bowl XII. I had to root for the other team. He got the last laugh that day, but I got the better deal in the end.
