Welcome to the first installment of our AFC Championship Game roundtable discussions. Everything is on the line for the Denver Broncos who host the New England Patriots on Sunday. The winner of this ultimate gridiron battle will earn the right to represent the AFC in Super Bowl 60.
This is certainly the biggest matchup for the Broncos in a decade. Can they defy the odds and find a way to advance to Santa Clara? With Bo Nix out due to injury, they will need Jarrett Stidham to have an efficient game
leading Denver’s offense. That’s why the first burning question I had for the staff was, “What gives you confidence Stidham can perform well vs. the Patriots?”
Tim Lynch
He has looked good in preseason. Not that this is a good way to measure future performance – especially in the playoffs. He did torch a top ranked defense while with the Raiders once. I believe!
Ross Allen
The scheme of this offense and the experience Stidham has is what gives me confidence. He has faced off against some stout defenses as a starter, and he gets plenty of reps against his own team. I think Payton and the rest of the team will enable Stidham’s success.
Adam Malnati
Sean Payton. He has had success with backups in the past. Plenty of former players and coaches have made this point. Good coaching and a solid defense mean this whole thing won’t be on Stidham’s shoulders. He can execute Payton’s game plan.
Sadaraine
This offensive roster lacks quite a bit in the talent department. But they make up for it in scheme and heart. With Sean Payton being a mad scientist, and the team playing for each other, Stidham is in a perfect situation to come away with a win.
Taylor Kothe
Lack of film on Stidham will be a factor. The Broncos are 1 of only 2 NFL teams that didn’t have a backup QB throw a single regular season pass in 202 and 1 of only 2 in 2024 as well. You can’t study what isn’t on tape. It will force the Patriots’ defense to be more reactive and less anticipatory in their play, helping to create the same kind of 1st/2nd start bump you often see when backups step in during the regular season.
Christopher Hart
I had spoken about this a little when the news surfaced that Nix had a broken ankle. This is the third year that Stidham has been learning Payton’s system and working alongside Davis Webb. Coach Payton talked earlier in the week about how he has been impressed with how Jarrett has composed himself and prepared the past three seasons.
We also saw him execute staple concepts of Payton’s playbook in the preseason. I think the Broncos have a good offensive line and will be able to protect him. That will allow him to get into a rhythm in the drop back passing game and hit some important plays over the middle of the field.
He doesn’t have to be Herculean. He just has to be efficient and not turn the ball over. Move the chains, convert on third down. It’s the biggest opportunity of his pro career and I believe he is going to make the most of it.
How about you, Broncos Country? What gives you confidence Stidham will be able to perform well and help the Broncos defeat the Patriots? Sound off in the comments section and let me know what you think.
