WHEW! Starting 0-2 would not have been the end of the world (obviously) but going 1-1 sure feels a lot better as the Broncos host the Rams this Sunday night, a team many analysts believed (and still believe) to be a heavy favorite for Super Bowl champion.
But the Broncos, and our UFGer, intend to show the world that the Rams ain’t all that — at least not in Denver.
Both teams will be missing key players — Jonah Coleman for Denver and Puka Nacua for LA — and both teams will be looking to get on the
good side of a 1-1 start. DNVRNortwoods is confident that’s going to be the Broncos, and I’m with him. Mile High in prime time will be too much for those pretty boys in LA.
Plus, with hype man Malcolm Roach out there, how can we lose?
Week 3: Rams at Broncos
MHR – Now that’s better. A win! It wasn’t necessarily the most dominant but wasn’t “ugly” either. How did you feel watching the Broncos beat a very good Jaguars team?
DNVRNortwoods: Winning feels great! Nobody looks back after winning a Super Bowl and worries about what kind of win each week was. As a fan this win was extra sweet! Redemption from last year, redemption from an atrocious Week 1. Nothing feels better than a get-right win… especially over a small market team.
MHR – With the win over the Jaguars in a fourth-quarter rally, Bo Nix has led a league-leading nine 4thQ comebacks. As fun as that is, is it sustainable? And because I’m sure you’re going to say no, tell me why it’s not.
DNVRNortwoods: For the fanbase and my cardiovascular health it’s most definitely not sustainable. Logic would dictate this isn’t sustainable, but let’s have some fun here – eff logic! The Broncos CAN sustain the 4thQ comebacks. Why, you ask? BO…. FREAKING… NIX!!! Haha okay now that the blue and orange flu is over with, I do think looking at the schedule this year, and the pure grit and makeup of this team, it can be sustained. It’s a perfect storm – TOUGH opponents making up the rest of the schedule, Bo Nix (who I think might actually be from Antarctica with that much ice in his veins), a defense that will be a top 3 unit, new play caller still getting in his rhythm. If Denver is going to have a good season, these fourth-quarter comebacks will have to be sustained.
MHR – The Broncos’ defense last week made a huge improvement over Week 1 (though that wouldn’t have been tough given their abysmal showing on MNF) but this is the Rams offense we’re talking about. In general terms, who wins this – the Broncos D or the Rams’ O?
DNVRNortwoods: That will be decided by the performance of Strnad and Singleton. I think they rise to the occasion and the Denver D edges out Rams’ O. The entire defense needs to show up, and I think they will. PS2 will do PS2 things; Sack Allen and Nik are going to do their things. If I’m McVay, I’m attacking those middle linebackers early and often, so it will come down to those two.
MHR – Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay make a dangerous combination. What’s the best way for Vance Joseph to disrupt their offense – bring pressure? disguise coverage? Triple team Davante Adams?
DNVRNortwoods: I think PS2 will do his PS2 thing and we won’t hear much from Adams, so let’s call that “double” coverage. I think the way we win is showing a lot of Mug looks on the line to disguise what our linebackers are doing. Strnad and Singleton better be quick, find out the right depths on their drops, and be in a position to stop the run early and often. I really think this game will come down to how the middle of the field, 10 yards and in is won. Vance is really good at hiding his looks and mixing things up, so let’s see that translate to that small area of the field where LA wants to exploit.
MHR – Both of these teams had terrible Week 1 showings followed by nice bounce-back Week 2s. Now they both look to create momentum with a prime-time victory in Week 3. Between the crowd and the altitude, how much of a factor could the home field advantage be for Denver?
DNVRNortwoods: 20-7 at home under Sean Peyton, 14-3 at home with Bo Nix, 8-3 when underdogs at home over the last 5 years… There’s no home field advantage like Mile High (I wish I was there for any game this year). May the odds forever be in our favor!
MHR – Davante Adams is coming off a 195-yard, two-touchdown performance. How much of a threat do you think he will pose to Denver, specifically Pat Surtain II? If Puca Nacua is playing, how confident are you in Riley Moss to stop either one of those receivers?
DNVRNortwoods: I think at the end of the season when this team is hoisting up the Lombardi the story of the season is going to be redemption. I think Sean Peyton has “he too young, he ain’t there! He’s not there yet! He’s not there yet!”playing on repeat in the building. PS2 is going to have a game where he can (but he’s a class act and won’t) say “he’s too old, he ain’t there anymore, he’s past his prime.”
I think Riley Moss is playing some of the best ball at his position in the league. For all his issues last year, he’s earning that payday! If LA wins this game it won’t be by exposing the boys in the back.
MHR – Despite Adams’ big night against the Giants, it was LA’s run game that probably had the biggest impact on their opponent. Kyren Williams and Blake Corum combined for 164 yards on the ground. How confident are you in Denver’s run defense to keep those two from rolling?
DNVRNortwoods: I think they cleaned a lot up from week 1. That being said, we have a lot of room to grow. It’ll all come down again to the ILBs and how Roach, Innie, and Jones play. Let’s say I’m at a 6.5/10.
MHR – Bo Nix looked better last week, but it was still a slow start for the offense (something that has become Denver’s M.O. too often). Can the offense afford a slow start against this Rams’ defense, led by 82-year-old Aaron Donald?
DNVRNortwoods: haha, an 82-year-old Donald is better than 80% of 22 to 32-year-old DTs. But no Denver can’t afford anymore slow starts (neither can the fans). The team will need all the advantages at their disposal. Fast start to score points and put the pressure on LA, fast start to keep the fans ROARING! All around we need to start off on the right foot.
MHR – The Broncos’ running backs are already taking too many turns on the injury report, which does not bode well against this defense. How confident are you in one (or three?) of these guys being able to have a big day with the run game.
DNVRNortwoods: 9.5/10. As long as we have a little thunder (JK or Coleman) and lightning (Harvey) the run game should come together and be electric. It has to be…
MHR – It was amazing to see Jaylen Waddle have the kind of game in Week 2 that we all expected in Week 1. Better late than never. Can he be the X-factor this week again for the Broncos offense? What about Courtland Sutton’s role? In general, how are you feeling about the WR and TE rooms for Denver?
DNVRNortwoods: I’m not concerned. Again Davis Webb has called 8 quarters of meaningful football in his career…. 8! For reference Sean Payton has called ~1,248. Waddle is going to continue to be a difference maker here. Court is going to keep being Court – a class act, professional, team-first guy, and when his number is called he’s going to ball out and deliver. Overall I think the guys catching the ball are better prepared and will be better utilized this year!
MHR – It’s only Week 3, but this will be a big test for Denver. What do you want to see from this team? What will tell you that this Broncos’ team can handle anybody? DNVRNortwoods: I just want to see a win. If we can see consistent offensive successes, and a stingy defense starting in Q1 and sustaining through the entire game against this LA team, it’ll show us we’re ready for anyone, anytime! It’ll be more of a feel test, and if it doesn’t feel like my heart is going to explode for the entire game, that’ll be a major step forward!
Predictions
Stats for BO NIX? 23/35, 268 yards, 2 TDs
Stats for each Broncos RB? JK 88 all purpose, RJ 74 all purpose, 1 TD (101rushing total) Number of yards receiving/TDs for the receivers? Jaylen Waddle 80 yards, Court, 40, 1 TD, Pat 70, Evan 20, 1 TD
How many points for Lutz this week? 6
How many missed FGs for Lutz this week? 0
Number of sacks to Matthew Staffordt? 3
Broncos player with the most tackles? Singleton
Who gets the first sack of the game for the Broncos? Sack Allen
Who gets the most sacks? Tied at 1 each – Allen, Que, JMac
How many INTs/FF/FR for the Rams D? 0/0/0
How many INTs/FF/FR for the Broncos D? 1/0/0
How many penalties between the two teams? 17
How many times will you hear Sean McVey’s annoying high-pitched voice replayed during the game? 77 lol. One is too many, and if we have to hear that stupid laugh again…. Kill me
Final score? Denver 27, LA 24
The Favorites
Favorite Broncos win ever? Any win over the Packers ever. But SB 50 is up there. Favorite Peyton Manning win? SB 50!
Favorite John Elway win? SB 32
Team you love to beat the most in the AFC West? KC
Coach you despise most in the NFL? New leader in the clubhouse from last year: Liam Coen
Team you hate to lose to the most in the rest of the AFC (outside AFC West)? The Patriots
NFC team you could cheer for in the Super Bowl? The Bucs. Baker has a soft spot in my heart.
NFC team you’d want to face more than any other in the Super Bowl? Da Pack! Toughest game on the schedule? The Rams for sure!
Favorite Broncos player on the current roster? Quinn, love my fellow Sconnie Favorite Broncos player of all time, not named John Elway? Von
Favorite Broncos Hall-of-Famer? Elway
Favorite new guy/rookie on the team? Jonah, he’s a beast!
Food/Snack you have to eat on game day? Buffalo Chicken Dip. Favorite game analyst/commentator? Al Michaels
Favorite sports cliché? Any given Sunday. Hope is a dangerous drug. Who is on your Broncos Mt. Rushmore? Elway, Manning, Miller, TD Give me one word to describe the season so far? Roller-coaster Give me one word to describe your hope for the rest of it? Growth
How did you become a Broncos fan and which jerseys will your kids be wearing on Game Day/Night?
Super Bowl 32. I was 7, and my aunt worked at some hospital in Denver and had met a few of the players. She came home for the Super Bowl and decked me out head to toe in Broncos gear. All I remember was a bunch of pissed off Packers fans taking it out on my Aunt and me. Oh and the BADEST man on the field laying his life on the line getting rocked and spinning like a helicopter. That was my baptism into the blue and orange.
It’s almost time to upgrade jerseys for the boys but my oldest will be wearing PS2 and my youngest, Bo Chapman Nix! (Only jerseys I can get online in their sizes here in WI.
Broncos Country, help me out!)
