The thrills of the Denver Broncos defeating the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Divisional Round matchup were quickly vanquished. After hearing the unfathomable news quarterback Bo Nix had suffered a broken ankle on the second to last play of overtime, it’s as if Denver’s miracle season had come to a crashing end—despite earning their biggest victory in a decade.
From near the top of the mountain back to the bottom of the trailhead. For certain, the Broncos’ chances of defeating the New England Patriots
got a lot tougher. But this year’s Broncos are battle-tested and have overcome a lot of adversity. Who’s to say they can’t do the same against New England on Sunday?
Without Nix, the Broncos will turn to sixth-year pro Jarrett Stidham to help guide Denver’s offense to victory over the New England Patriots on Sunday. A lot of folks in the media are already counting the Broncos out. Though Head Coach Sean Payton remains confident Stidham has what it takes to help lead Denver to victory in the AFC Championship game.
The on the field experience isn’t there. That’s a big area and legitimate reason for concern. Nevertheless, what has gone on in practice and behind the scenes gives Payton the utmost confidence in Stidham’s ability to compete at a high level on Sunday.
“It’s our three years here. In our three years, watching him day-in and day-out that you guys don’t have access to. He will be ready to go and ready for the moment,” stated Payton in support of his starting quarterback against the Patriots in a battle that will decide who represents the AFC in Super Bowl 60.
New England has a defense that can cause a lot of havoc and create a lot of turnovers. They are one of the best units in the league and have a penchant for big plays. Just like Denver was able to accomplish against Buffalo, the Patriots’ defense notched five turnovers against C.J. Stroud and the Texans on Sunday.
Limiting mistakes and not turning the ball over will be the first thing Stidham has to accomplish to help Denver earn a shot at the franchise’s fourth Lombardi Trophy. While the Broncos running backs had just ten carries against the Bills, expect Denver to be much more diligent and committed to establishing the run. If J.K. Dobbins is able to play, that would certainly help matters. If not, Jaleel McLaughlin and RJ Harvey will have a chance to make an impact in the biggest game of their careers.
Though don’t discount Stidham’s ability as a passer. In the preseason and camp, he had a lot of success operating Payton’s quick game and also delivering on target throws over the middle of the field. He also has a stronger arm than some might think. All things considered, Coach Payton knows that playing to Stidham’s strengths will be a major point toward achieving a trip to Santa Clara.
“The plan always has to be built around the type and the skill set of the players you’re playing with. So, are there certain things that Bo does differently than ‘Stiddy’? Absolutely. That’s where the work begins,” added Payton.
The Broncos don’t need a Herculean effort from Stidham to topple to the Patriots. They just need him to be efficient and limit his number of mistakes. I’ve got the utmost confidence that Payton and Davis Webb to set Jarrett up for success and help Denver advance to the Super Bowl. And I have a feeling Stidham is going to play a lot better than people are assuming.
Every coach and player in that locker room is going to be giving maximum effort this week preparing for the Patriots. They are going to give it everything they’ve got and then some. It’s the biggest moment most all of them have had in their football journeys.
And with a defense like Denver’s, you can never count the Broncos out. If we’ve learned anything from this year’s team, it’s that they rarely fold when the going gets tough. That’s when they seem to be at their best. And I believe they are going to prove the doubters wrong this Sunday.
