Just because there is no Broncos’ game this weekend does not mean there is no UFG…because ultimate fans are in it every week. And how good does it feel to actually be in the bye week, scouting our future opponent rather than being the “just happy to be here” mode?
Actually, I am just happy to be here because I still think this team needs a lot of refining but I also LOVE THIS TEAM like it’s 2015. Or 1998.
And so does BayAreaUnitedinOrange, our veteran UFGer coming back to give us a preview before heading
officially into the postseason next weekend. And while we are here, let me give another huge MILE HIGH SALUTE to all our Ultimate Fan Guide contributors this season and those who come here every week to read, comment and praise. So. Much. Fun.
Now let’s get to business…
*but first…how cool is Aqib Talib? Such a smart DB who has been defending the Broncos and Bo Nix ALL season. Love him.
WILDCARD BYE WEEK!
MHR – WOO HOO, BRONCOS ARE THE NO. 1 SEED! AND I’M USING ALL CAPS BECAUSE I CAN! HOW COOL IS THIS?
BayAreaUnitedinOrange: WAAAAAY COOL. The regular season has exceeded my expectations. My preseason prognostication was a floor of 11-6 and a ceiling of 13-4. Improvement from last season, yes! No. 1 seed and a BYE WEEK? WAAAAAY COOL!!!
MHR – Last week the only touchdown scored in the game was by the Broncos defense, specifically Ja’Quan McMillian. Does it concern you that Bo Nix and the offense couldn’t get in the end zone all day, especially against a depleted Chargers’ defense? Or do you chalk it up to a rather vanilla game plan to do just enough to win.
BayAreaUnitedinOrange: I am concerned about the offense and not just from last Sunday’s game. The idea of a “vanilla game plan” excusing the offense from more production and just plain “looking better” has been bantered about for the last half of the season on these very same MHR web pages.
What has worked well at times, especially late in games, is the no huddle and hurry-up offense and getting Bo Nix into a rhythm and pace where he has excelled. What has hurt this type of offense has been getting plays in slowly (mostly resolved now), limiting Bo’s time to line up and read the defense, compounded by the hockey-style line changes on every play, allowing defenses time to respond and read our offense intentions. If the non-vanilla game plan relies more on pace rather than packages we haven’t seen all season, then YES, give me more pace to this offense. If the non-vanilla game plan involves packages we haven’t seen, then I would be concerned about the execution of these plays in live game action.
MHR – This cool stat about Bo Nix – he leads QBs in most 1st downs or TDs on 3rd/4th down – shows that he is absolute clutch when he has to be. How crucial do you expect his “clutch gene” to be in a week?
BayAreaUnitedinOrange: I read that stat a couple times this week along with Tim’s article yesterday and some of the commentary, too. This is where the % of Bo’s passing and Bo running the ball (planned run or scramble) FAILED to convert on 3rd and 4th down matters. If he is hitting on a 75-80% conversion rate, then YES, very impressive! If he is hitting on 25-30% conversion rate, then far less impressive. As commented yesterday by others, the total of 92 conversions means we may be getting too many 3rd and 4th down opportunities and floundering on the 1st and 2nd downs.
MHR – Garett Bolles was named Pass Blocker of the Year by PFF as he was the high scorer for pass-blocking (90.8) and he had the most pass-blocking snaps without a sack (714). How great is it to see one of the more maligned left tackles early in his career really come around to one of the best in the league at his position?
BayAreaUnitedinOrange: Very impressive! To be honest, he seems to get away with a holding that is not called once or twice a game, but that’s what veterans do. I’ve watched HOF LTs do the same for decades. Bolles has mastered his craft for years and deserves all the accolades!
MHR – How important do you think an explosive passing game is going to be in the playoffs and which receivers really need to step up the most?
BayAreaUnitedinOrange: Explosive might not be the right word. How about consistent, or opportunistic, or timely. The passing game will live or die on Sutton, Franklin, Engram and Bryant getting open, making the catches expected and moving the chains.
MHR – The Broncos’ running game is … improving. Will RJ Harvey and Jaleel McLaughlin be enough to go against these playoffs defenses? There’s a chance JK Dobbins comes back for the playoffs. How big could that be?
BayAreaUnitedinOrange: The running game is … a question mark. Let’s be honest and look at the next question. Three of the five top defenses not named Broncos are in the AFC and potential opponents. I believe we will face two of these – Texans next week and the winner of the Pats and Jags for the AFC Title. Our current running game is neither explosive nor chain-moving or consistent. The recent pattern of long, clock-chewing drives has been encouraging, but we need to end in TDs, not FGs. Our red zone efficiency has fallen off. I would like to see more of Jaleel “once nicknamed the Real Deal” McLaughlin in the back field getting more carries next week.
If JK is close to 100%, then that is returning a veteran with fresh legs AND the No. 5 rushing leader in the league, with a 5.0 ypc before going out. He was our leading rusher in 9 of the 10 games he played.
MHR – Fox Sports ranked the playoff defenses and the top 5 were: 1) Texans; 2) Seahawks; 3) Broncos; 4) Jaguars and 5) Patriots. I’ve been saying that the team I would want to face in the divisional round the least would be the Texans because of the defense. Which team would you definitely NOT want to face if you got to choose?
BayAreaUnitedinOrange: Good question for a WILDCARD BYE WEEK!! Other than Pittsburgh, the other three teams have dangerous qualities to our boys moving forward in the playoffs. Even the Steelers have a veteran QB that can and has made plays this year and for two decades, plus future HOF’ers on D! A friend of mine is a big Steelers fan and he has given up on the Steelers at least six or eight times this season, including three times via text during the season finale, LOL.
It becomes a question of would you rather face Josh Allen and what he is capable of doing on any given Sunday? Or would you prefer to face a division opponent with a QB and HC that seem to have their way with us, or a red hot Texans team hitting its stride with a dominating defense to boot? I would prefer not to play the Texans, but I believe that is the scenario we are facing.
MHR – Dre Greenlaw and John Franklin Myers are expected to play next week. How important are those two to the defense? Which player on defense do you think has to have his best game next weekend?
BayAreaUnitedinOrange: Greenlaw has yet to hit his stride this season, IMO, never quite 100%. Kudos to Justin Strnad for recently stepping up and showing out in limited defensive snaps (4.5 sacks and three passes defended). Talk about grabbing your opportunity! Adding back Greenlaw gives VJ a three-man rotation at ILB which is a positive.
JFM is a D-line beast as we all know, and has 7.5 sacks along with being a disruptor and run stuffer. Depth along the D-line has been a strength all season and getting JFM back would be huge.
I believe the best defensive player depends on which offense we play – one with a big-time QB or one like the Texans and their controlled passing game, or the Bills’ No. 1 rushing attack and rush leader in James Cook and Josh Allen. Defense always starts with stopping the run, IMO. Zach Allen, for collapsing pockets and stuffing the run game, needs to be his All-Pro best. I want to hear his name called early and often!
MHR – How much does last year’s experience IN a playoff game help the Broncos this year as the first playoff game this year will be the chance to go to the AFC Championship?
BayAreaUnitedinOrange: I think last year’s experience is helpful to a point. I believe what this team has accomplished this season and endured week after week is more important to this year’s playoffs.
MHR – Last week Sean Payton noted the nuance between always “sacking” the QB and sometimes fleshing him out of the pocket where he can do a lot of damage – and that sometimes just containing the QB in the pocket where he may be uncomfortable is the better defense. Of the potential playoff opponents, which QB will be the easiest and which will be the toughest to defend?
BayAreaUnitedinOrange: Anyone who has watched our games recently knows offenses are running quick pass plays, getting the pass away in what seems like milliseconds, LOL. From this perspective, getting a push up the middle, even shoving blockers into the QB, while the edges contain their edges and keeping Josh Allen and others from escaping is our winning formula. Maybe the sacks aren’t there early, but when teams fall behind and need longer routes to open, and the QB is holding the ball longer…BOOM, SACKS!
For containment alone – easiest is Aaron Rogers, then Justin Herbet, CJ Stroud, finally Josh Allen.
MHR – Do you believe this team is a Super Bowl contender?
BayAreaUnitedinOrange: YES, absolutely! We have home field advantage, the BYE WEEK to rest and heal, and as good of a chance as anyone in the AFC to win and advance to SB60. Then anything can happen,
That said, and I’ve been saying this all season, I believe we are ahead of our projected SB Contender/Winner pace, a year early. Paton has done a great job of extending the young stars on this team; we are still in the “paying the QB rookie money” window, and 2025 is just the start of the Broncos’ Super Bowl window opening up. I believe we are two veteran offensive weapons away from being a high-level offense, and the continuity and continued depth, health and growth on the defensive side will be huge. With all of the salary extensions taking up the dead salary cap money available next year from the RW fiasco, we will not have “George Pickens FA” money to throw around. However, I could see a number of FA’s taking a long look at SP and Bo Nix and saying, yes, I want to be a part of this.
MHR – Regular season is over so give us some grades for the following (can grade as a group or just specific individuals within the group). Add as much or as little explanation as you’d like!
- Bo Nix: A-. He’s a winner, no doubt, just needs more consistency
- Offensive line: B+. Depth has been challenged, but solid, talented group
- Running backs: B-. Score would be higher with 17 games of JK. Harvey has been a touchdown maker and as close to a joker we have as a rookie. Jaleel needs more touches
- WRs: B-. Too many drops, too many players disappearing in games. However, we don’t have 14 wins (SMH on that number, still), without some clutch catches
- TEs/FB: C. Engram drags the score down. How good has Trautman been lately, clutch catches and blocking!
- Secondary: A-. We were caved a bit when Surtain went down, communications failed. Otherwise, solid group and yes, I am a Moss lover, not hater! Need someone to step up for Brandon Jones being out
- D-line: A. Solid group all year – sacks, TFLs, good run defense. Great depth. It will suck to lose JFM in the offseason, but you can’t pay everyone
- Edge rushers: A-. Great start to season, though sack totals and lost containment has reared its head recently. Hopefully, just some fatigue (did I mention we have a WILDCARD BYE WEEK?), or scheme changes by VJ (from vanilla to ????), will resolve lack of production.
- Linebackers: B. Solid B despite the less-than 100% MIA Greenlaw and Singleton’s short-comings.
- Special Teams: A. Other than THAT FG in the Colts game, solid A.
MHR – Which players are your MVPs this season?
BayAreaUnitedinOrange: Offense, Bo Nix; Defense, Zach Allen; Special Teams, Wil Lutz
MHR – The only real news for the team this week has been about coaches. Specifically how many teams want to interview our superstars for their coaching vacancies. How much will the Broncos miss VJ and Davis Webb if they end up going to other teams for promotions? If you were the Broncos would you offer to pay them more to keep them a year or two longer?
BayAreaUnitedinOrange: I would hate to lose VJ the most, maybe promote him to DC and Assistant HC, assuming Leonard is promoted elsewhere, and pay the man. I think this would be attractive to VJ with the growth of his young stars, veteran depth returning, plus young draftees with potential – looking at you Jahdae Barron, Que Robinson and Sai’vion Jones! Davis Webb appears to be the one we most likely lose, if not HC then OC elsewhere. Jim Leonard, possible, too.
Predictions
BayAreaUnitedinOrange: FYI, I am focused only on AFC games this weekend
Which playoff QB will throw the most INTs this weekend? Josh Allen
Which playoff QB will throw for the most TDs? Rush for the most? Drake Maye, combined
Which playoff running back will have the biggest game in yards and scores? Anybody but James Cook, LOL. If he goes off, all of my predictions for next week are crap. Let’s say the Jags Etienne
Which playoff team will get the most sacks? Texans
Which AFC coach will be the toughest to outsmart in a playoff game? I’m going with Pat’s coach, Vrabel. Conversely, which HC will outsmart himself? Has to be Jim Harbaugh, LOL.
Which game will be the most exciting to watch this weekend? I am most looking forward to Bills vs Jags
Which Patriots player will get arrested before the game? (ok, just kidding…don’t answer that!) How about the owner, LOL. Oh snap!
The Favorites
Favorite win this season? Most improbable: Giants. Favorite: Phillie was awesome, but the Packers win gave me the confidence that this team could be for real this season
Favorite play this season? How many 4th Quarter or OT throws did Bo Nix make this season? And you want me to pick just one? Let’s just say one of the end zone fades to Sutton to put us ahead late.
Top 3 favorite playoff wins in Broncos history? The Drive; SB 32; SB 50
Favorite AFC foe? Do we still own the Brownies? Decades-long ownage!!
Least favorite AFC foe? So many to choose from here. Let’s say the Faiders, historical foe
Favorite Broncos player on the current roster? So many to choose from. Nix
Favorite Broncos player of all time? Elway
Favorite new guy/rookie on the team? Hufanga. Maybe I’m just jealous of the hair, LOL.
Favorite game analyst/commentator? I’m starting to like Romo more and more
Favorite game-day snack? Changes. Lately I’ve been making homemade pizza roll-ups that are a hit. Sometimes a charcuterie, olives, crackers, sliced cheese, etc.
Who is on your Broncos’ Mount Rushmore? It changes. I favor the Elway plus years: Elway, Davis, Sharpe, Bailey … all HOFers!
