Ultimate Fans, life could not get better in Broncos Country right now. Denver is coming off an incredible victory over KC, currently holding court at the top of the AFC West, before a short trip out East to play the Panthers in spectacular weather just in front of a much-needed bye week.
AND on top of that, we have a fabulous UFG from another younger fan and newbie to the series who knocked it out the park just like his predecessors.
While Ky Broncos Fan wasn’t even alive during the John Elway Era,
his momma raised him right and turned him on to the GOAT and early Broncos’ Lombardis. Watching the Tebow-to-DT thriller turned him into a fan for life and his Broncos’ Mount Rushmore is testament to his appreciation for Denver’s incredible history. So that gives you a hint of the treat you are in for!
I’m going to be at this game, and my track record is pretty good, so let’s assume it’s going to continue!
Week 9: Broncos at Panthers
MHR – First, we have to talk about that KC game. What in the world happened? How excited/nervous were you for those final 15 seconds?
Ky Broncos Fan: What happened was some Mile High Magic! I was standing in front of the TV pacing like a coach, and when that obvious false start was called (no matter what Brittany Mahomes thinks), I knew fate was on our side. The defining play of that sequence in my mind was JL Skinner stuffing Walker at the line of scrimmage after being forced into the game due to injuries; that kind of grit and determination is emblematic of the whole team. Last Sunday was my birthday, and the KC game was the perfect gift!
MHR – We used to do a post-game story at Mile High Report asking, “what did you learn about the Broncos this week?” It’s a great question, so have YOU learned about the Broncos the last few weeks?
Ky Broncos Fan: I’ve learned that the Broncos are still elite in late game situations. Over and over against some of the best teams in the league (besides the drubbing of the Cardinals), they’ve proved they still know how to win with their backs against the wall. The Arizona win was a nice reminder that fans can expect the Broncos to beat the teams they’re supposed to beat instead of every week feeling like a coin flip.
MHR – The Broncos sit atop the AFC West at 6-2, but they rank 30th in total offense. Bo Nix has looked much better in the wins over Arizona and Kansas City. Has he turned a corner, or is this offense still living on late comebacks? As I’ve asked many before, is a constant comeback-style game,
Ky Broncos Fan: The offense is improving, but the late comebacks are still hiding deeper issues. Establishing the run early will go a long way for more offensive consistency, and luckily for Broncos fans, Jonah Coleman seems more than ready to take that on. As for Bo, we all fell in love with his fire and gunslinging mentality last season when it mattered most. As he continues to regain confidence following the ankle injury, Denver needs him to trust his eyes and take the shots when they’re there. His aversion to negative plays is one of his best traits, but Denver is at its best when he’s balancing that with more risk-taking.
MHR – Carolina has been without starting corners Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson, and Akayleb Evans is also on injured reserve. How aggressive should Sean Payton/Davis Webb be with telling Bo Nix to throw downfield on Sunday? Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle have been key to moving the chains but not super explosive…any chance we get a big day from either/both?
Ky Broncos Fan: This game is the perfect opportunity to unleash the passing game. Utilize the running backs to get ahead of the chains, and then open up the playbook and test their secondary. Rushing success will open up some play-action opportunities, and overall, I think pushing the ball downfield in this game is necessary to gaining confidence and setting the passing game up for more success later in the season. Waddle’s speed and elusiveness are nightmares for opposing defenders, and I think he’s overdue for turning a quick slant up field for a long touchdown. I also think we’re overdue for a Sutton long bomb TD. When Bo puts it in the right place, Sutton turns 50/50 balls into 80/20 balls, and I want to see him get some chances to convert big plays and gain confidence this week.
MHR – On the other hand, the Panthers’ run defense is atrocious (ranked 30th)…is this a game for Jonah Coleman to really break out? After that 51-yard catch-and-run + 5-yard TD last week…maybe he’s poised for a big second half finish to the season? How would you suggest using him and JK Dobbins this week?
Ky Broncos Fan: I’m starting Jonah Coleman in fantasy again this week. I spent a decent portion of my free agency budget to get him, and the Panthers’ defense is the perfect chance for him to show the front office we don’t need to spend draft capital on Jonathan Taylor. Dobbins can still be a very effective runner when healthy, and the priority has to be keeping Dobbins healthy for a playoff run. I’d make Coleman the true bellcow and spell him with Dobbins occasionally.
MHR – Nix dismissed the “trap game” talk. But it’s a 1 p.m EST kickoff (11 a.m. Mile High time) right after an emotional comeback. Are you concerned the offense comes out flat? How does Nix avoid the offense getting in its own way?
Ky Broncos Fan: I’m concerned. As someone who lives in eastern time, the Broncos always seem to start flat when they come to my time zone. Nix can avoid the offense getting in its own way with one word: handoff. Let Coleman and Dobbins do their jobs, and use their success to test the secondary in favorable situations. There are times when the playcalling should favor some early down aggressiveness to put Carolina on their heels too, but those playcalls have to be high-completion percentage opportunities that Payton trusts the offense to execute.
MHR – The Broncos defense has been mostly outstanding, coming up big when it needs to, even if it gives up some plays. How should Vance Joseph plan for Bryce Young, who has been having a decent season getting the ball in the hands of reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker, an equally dangerous receiver?
Ky Broncos Fan: The secondary can trust the front line to get home. Young is easily overwhelmed by pressure and possibly dealing with an undisclosed knee injury that is altering his mobility. Joseph doesn’t need to blitz more; just changing up coverage looks enough to keep Young guessing will buy the front line the time it needs to make game-changing plays. McMillan and Coker are great young receivers, but Denver’s secondary has stymied greater, more experienced players already this season.
MHR – How should Vance Joseph take advantage of a depleted offensive line standing in front of Bryce Young…does the QB even have a chance with Zach Allen, Nik Bonitto, Jonathan Cooper, Malcolm Roach coming at him? With 23 sacks as a team this season, how worried should Young be on Sunday?
Ky Broncos Fan: Young should be terrified. Carolina’s path to success is a quick short passing game to get the ball out and mitigate the pass rush, but as long as the secondary and linebackers stay disciplined, they should face 3rd and longs routinely that let Allen, Bonitto and the others feast. Young has issues with the ball getting batted down at the line of scrimmage too, and the defense should be able to exploit him and create some chaos. They’ve made better quarterbacks than Young look worse this year, and I’m excited to see what they can pull off tomorrow.
MHR – Alex Singleton was named AFC Defensive Player of the Month. He’s not always the best in coverage, but he does fly to the ball. What kind of impact do you think he has on the defense?
Ky Broncos Fan: He’s the emotional heart of the defense. His passion and elite tackling fuel everyone else’s fires, and while he’s not the most agile speedster of a linebacker we’ve seen, he mostly keeps himself out of bad situations by reading plays well. Carolina should try to isolate him in coverage, but that’s easier said than done.
MHR – Denver ranks 25th against the run, allowing 127.9 yards per game. Carolina is coming off a 10-day “mini-bye.” Is the run defense a weakness the Panthers can exploit?
Ky Broncos Fan: It unfortunately is. Carolina’s running backs aren’t world-beaters, but a lack of disciplined tackling will allow their run game to take off quickly. I’m no defensive guru, but I’m worried about playoff matchups with better running backs come January if Denver can’t clean up their run defense by then.
MHR – We are halfway through the season and just before a bye. Who are your midseason MVPs – offense, defense, ST?
Ky Broncos Fan: Offense: Garret Bolles. PFF has him as 3rd best tackle in football this season, and he hasn’t given up a sack yet. His growth over his career is amazing, and Denver’s lucky to have him. I hope he retires here. Defense: Alex Singleton. Leading the league in tackles is amazing, but time and time again, we see him make big plays when it matters most. ST: Will Lutz. He’s a fantastic kicker who seems more accurate in bigger moments. Lutz is exactly the kind of kicker you want on your roster for a postseason run.
Predictions
Stats for BO NIX? 21/28, 264 yards, 2 TD
Stats for each Broncos RB? Coleman: 20 carries, 87 yards, 2 TD. Dobbins: 6 carries, 15 yards.
Number of yards receiving/TDs for each WR/TE? Sutton: 5 catches, 68 yards, 1 TD. Waddle: 6 catches, 82 yards, 1 TD. Mims: 2 catches, 46 yards. Franklin: 1 catch, 8 yards. Engram: 2 catches, 12 yards. Trautman: 1 catch, 18 yards.
Longest FG for Lutz? 53-yarder.
Number of sacks to Bryce Young? 5
Number of times Nix barely misses getting sacked? 4
Broncos player with the most tackles? Singleton
Who gets the first sack of the game for the Broncos? Allen
Who gets any sacks? Allen, Bonitto, Cooper, Singleton
How many INTs/FF/FR for the Panthers’ D? 0 INTs, 1 FF, 1 FR.
How many INTs/FF/FR for the Broncos’ D? 1 INT, 2 FF, 1 FR.
How many completely wrong DPI penalties called Sunday? 2 on Moss, 0 on others.
Final Score? Broncos 31, Panthers 17.
The Favorites
Favorite John Elway win outside of the Super Bowls? The Drive, I can’t rewatch it without getting chills.
Favorite Broncos win ever? Super Bowl 50. This one’s for Pat!
Favorite Peyton Manning win? His 7-TD decimation of the Ravens to open 2013.
Toughest Peyton Manning loss? The Super Bowl 48 beat down. I couldn’t dream up a worse ending for the best offense in the history of the league. That it gave a young QB named Russell Wilson a Super Bowl ring and contributed to Denver selling the farm for him years later is a cruel twist of fate.
Team you love to beat the most in the AFC West? The Chiefs. When the Raiders are relevant again it will be them.
Coach you laugh at the most in the NFL? Brian Schottenheimer. It’s Jerry’s world, Brian’s just living in it.
Coach you most want to “bench?” Zac Taylor. Joe Burrow and that roster with a better head coach would turn some heads. Burrow has helped him keep his job, but Taylor is holding the team back.
Team you hate to lose to the most in the rest of the AFC? The Patriots.
NFC team you could cheer for in the Super Bowl? The Giants. John Harbaugh is a first class coach and human being. My Baltimore-native wife wishes they hadn’t run him off to New York!
NFC team you want to face more than any other in the Super Bowl? The 49ers. A rematch with them and beating a Shanahan for Denver’s 4th championship would be poetic.
Favorite game looking forward to this season? The Bills on Christmas Day.
Easiest game left on the schedule? Week 18 against the Chargers.
Toughest game left on the schedule? Week 17 at New England, but thank goodness the Bills are in Denver.
Favorite Broncos player on the current roster? Pat Surtain II.
Favorite Broncos player of all time not named John Elway? Demaryius Thomas.
Favorite new guy/rookie on the team? Jonah Coleman.
Food/Snack you have to eat on game day? Popcorn.
Favorite game analyst/commentator? Mike Tirico is always excellent.
If YOU were choosing your Broncos’ Mt. Rushmore, who would be included? Floyd Little, John Elway, Peyton Manning, Randy Gradishar.
How did you become a Broncos fan?
I didn’t grow up particularly close to any NFL teams, but my mom had liked the Broncos since the 90s due to Elway. The first season I remember paying close attention to was the Tebow year (I was born in 2000). I vividly remember watching the entire Broncos-Steelers playoff game, and as I watched Demaryius Thomas fly down the sideline as Mile High erupted, I fell in love with the Broncos and have watched every game religiously ever since.
