Locked On Broncos - Daily Podcast On The Denver Broncos - BRONCOS SQUAD SHOW: Denver Broncos WIN OT THRILLER Against Commanders

Episode Date: December 1, 2025

The Denver Broncos earned a hard-fought overtime victory against the Washington Commanders on Sunday Night Football, 27-26. Despite the Commanders tying the game up late in the 4th quarter, Bo Nix and... the Broncos offense managed to score on the first possession in overtime to put pressure on the Commanders. After a touchdown pass from Marcus Mariota on the following drive, Nik Bonitto called game on the subsequent two-point conversion to lift the Broncos to victory. Join Aniello Piro, Cody Roark, Sayre Bedinger and Nick Ferguson as they react to the Broncos thrilling victory on the Locked On Broncos Squad Show! Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Aura Frames For a limited time, save on the perfect gift by visiting https://AuraFrames.com to get $35 off Aura’s best-selling Carver Mat frames - named #1 by Wirecutter - by using promo code LOCKEDON at checkout. FanDuel If you want to be right in the middle of the action this season, visit FanDuel.com and place your NFL live bets all season long. PrizePicks Download the PrizePicks app today and use code LOCKEDONNFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. Click Here: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNFL Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Transcript
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Starting point is 00:00:00 The Denver Broncos on Sunday night football once again find a way to win a close game. I'm Anilo Piro plenty to talk about on tonight's locked on Broncos squad show. I'm Cody Rourke. Doesn't matter if it's an itch or a mile. Wise man once said, winning is winning. And the Denver Broncos are 10 and 2. The cardiac Broncos are back, baby. I'm Sarah Beninger.
Starting point is 00:00:24 Welcome to the squad show. Hey, I'm Nick Ferguson. And did we see an appearance out of the Arkham Museum by one Evan Ingram? Only time would tell. All that more on tonight's or maybe even this morning's Locked-on Broncos Squad show. Let's get into it, fellas. From the South stands, it's the Broncos squad, everything Denver Broncos every week. Covering all the big hits and game-changing plays from the Mile High City,
Starting point is 00:00:52 the way only the Lockdown Podcast Network can. Here up and squad up. The Broncos squad show starts now. It is your locked on Broncos squad show. Hope everyone is doing well out there in Broncos country. Anilo Piro, Cody Roerick, Sarah Bedenger, and Nick Ferguson, breaking down the Denver Broncos, thrilling 27 to 26 win over the Washington commanders, an overtime victory for the Denver Broncos.
Starting point is 00:01:25 And guys, tonight's episode of your lockdown of Broncos squad show is, brought to you by our friends over at GameTime. Download the GameTime app today. Create an account and use code locked on NFL for $20 off your first purchase. And for everybody listening and watching, appreciate y'all out there. If you're on YouTube, hit that like button and smash that subscribe button and hopperboard, the number one podcast network in the world. Fellas.
Starting point is 00:01:48 Fellas. Oh, my goodness. I mean, any means necessary. That is what we saw tonight from the Denver Broncos. You know, the Washington commanders trying to go for the. kill there at the end of the game, scoring the touchdown late there with Marcus Marriotto with the touchdown pass. But it is Nick Benito saying no, no, no, game over Cody Rourke as he swats the ball down and solidifies an epic victory for Denver. Yeah, no, thank goodness for
Starting point is 00:02:13 Nick Benito in that final play coming free is the Russia right there because they have the running back coming up underneath to the flat wide open. If Nick doesn't get there and get his hands up, that's a walk-off, two-point conversion win for the commanders. And then this post-game team would be a little bit more gloomy considering some of the circumstances. But as I said at the beginning, it doesn't matter if it's an inch or a mile, winning is winning. And I think some famous bald-headed guy said that once in one of the best movies of all time. That we go back to the Fast and the Furious here.
Starting point is 00:02:45 Broncos, cardiac kids, man. What a way to go to 10 and 2. Man, still a lot to talk about with this team and how they can also clean some stuff up. Yeah, we're going to keep it a buck here on the show. Look, it's an incredible win for the Denver Broncos. but their defense, a bit suspect out there tonight, some questionable plays from the defense, a bad interception from Bo Nix.
Starting point is 00:03:05 So plenty to dive into tonight, but we've got to start in a good mood, a positive mood, of course. And, I mean, you and I were kind of texted in the group chat throughout the course of the game. And,
Starting point is 00:03:14 you know, it was one of those situations where I'm sitting back, and I felt like the Broncos were going to win this game. I didn't think it was going to be, you know, as thrilling as it was in overtime. Like I was texting with Cody individually about, like,
Starting point is 00:03:24 titles and thumbnails and backgrounds. And it ended up being like two hours. hours after the fact that we're here doing the show. But they get the job done by any means necessary. Sir, that's nine straight wins for this Denver Broncos team. You absolutely love to see it. And if Cody's going to be quoting fast and furious, I've got to jump into this, right?
Starting point is 00:03:41 It's that you never had me, almost had me. You never had me. You never had your car. Right. That's the commanders. That's the message we're sending from Club Dub, almost had me. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:03:53 No, but I love it. I mean, look, we were talking before the show started, right? There's two outcomes in a game like this. Either you have a headache in the morning and your four coffees deep by 9 a.m. Or you're kind of just strutting around. You're rocking the letterman's jacket. Nothing's wrong, right? You got the win.
Starting point is 00:04:10 It's your ninth straight win at the end of the day. And how they've won these games, it's not going to matter if you get to January and you start winning some more games, right? Obviously, we want to see this team put together a perfect game. It hasn't happened. The offense obviously carried this team for the first half, in my opinion. And the defense came through with some stops in the second half and the offense couldn't capitalize with a putaway drive. So you want to see that complimentary football.
Starting point is 00:04:35 You want to score touchdowns in the red zone. We talked about it during the by week. You go up 6-0-and-set of 14-0-to-start off this game when you could have allowed your defense to play to its strengths early on. There's plenty to dive into from this one. But ultimately, my sentiment right now is you almost had me. You never had me, right? So that's where the Broncos, I think you win your ninth straight game. You have that confidence going here playing against the Raiders this coming weekend.
Starting point is 00:05:02 Yeah, I mean, it's crazy. And we talk about the nine straight wins, but it's also eight wins in one score games in 2025 for the Denver Broncos. That is the most in the NFL. So resiliency, I think, is the word of the day with this Denver Broncos team. But Nick, you mentioned Evan Ingram. Big play there late in the game from Evan. You know, you're a defensive guy.
Starting point is 00:05:25 as well. Pat Sertan making some big plays. How about Alex Singleton with all the adversity that he's been dealing with in the last handful of weeks as well? A big breakup pass there towards the end of the game too. Talk to me about this game, Nick. Well, you know what? I was on that same text threat and I think someone used the word as a reference to defense as being awful. Here's what I would say. See, the expectations have soared to, I guess, elite levels when we look at this defense because they came into this game with 49 sacks. And that's kind of leading the league. And there's a lot of pressure on Van Strohs to be every play on that defensive unit
Starting point is 00:06:02 to live up to that kind of cachet every single game. So it's almost to a point where if a guy gets, that has a five-yard catch thrown on him. It's like, no, that's something happened. You're supposed to be elite defense. I can tell you, man, it's going to happen. And as this team gets deeper into a playoff run, it has the potential to get worse.
Starting point is 00:06:22 because you're not going to stop every single thing. But I will say this. There were moments in the game where we saw guys in position. They didn't make plays. And when you play zone defense, you have to understand route progression. And you saw a mobile guy, Marcus Mario, to say what you want to say about him. But he was able to move the ball.
Starting point is 00:06:42 And he was making precise throws in the grass. There's one play where this like John Frank LaMeyers and Nick Benito both missed him at the same time. and he makes a freaking play. When a guy is able to do that, man, I say God is on his side. God bless him. At the same time, yes, you want to play better defense, but this is where the Broncos are.
Starting point is 00:07:05 I mean, we haven't really got like four quarters of football from offensive defense, but this may be who this team is at this point. Yeah, no, 100%. And I want to go back to the last show that we did before the buy, right? Where we had like that little whiteboard segment. And one of the questions and the prompts was like, who has the most pressure on them to perform in the second half. I was the guy that said, Vance Joseph, and I'm sitting here watching this game,
Starting point is 00:07:26 and I'm seeing Washington with Marcus Marriota put up some points, and I'm like, oh my gosh, like, here we go, right? But another guy and another name that came up, Cody, was Nick Benito. And, you know, there was that penalty that he was called on for like ripping the player off, you know, in the pile on at one point throughout the course of the game. A week call. Yeah, it was a weak call. It turned a little flag fest at the end of the game as well, but that's beyond the point.
Starting point is 00:07:47 But when the world needed a most, when the Broncos country needed a most, Most Nick Benito makes a huge game ceiling winning play, Cody, and pushes the Broncos to their ninth straight victory. Yeah, I mean, Nick Benito was the Noss. If we're going with the Fast and Furious references, you know, looking at Marcus Mariotta, I was thinking to myself as well, as like, what did you put in that sandwich, right?
Starting point is 00:08:06 You know, famous line there of the tuna sandwich scene there. But I'll say that nobody likes the tuna here, Marcus Mariotta. They made him look like the University of Oregon, Heisman winner in this game for various points. And look, I would even say this as well, because I think the realistic nature of this game, watching it as it was going on live, certainly the defense's performance. Most of the night was frustrating.
Starting point is 00:08:28 They did right in the fourth quarter. They bent but didn't break ultimately, forced the commanders to settle for a field goal to send it to overtime here. But like these are games, I think, as you get into these months, the cold months, we're in November, the last day of November here. We know December is there. Tomorrow it gets cold here in the Mali City. I think the concern that I had, I think Broncos fans certainly have.
Starting point is 00:08:49 is last year down the stretch we saw this defense kind of sputter a little bit. And maybe that was due to injury or Riley Moss. But this was a game where they were just not as sharp as they needed to be. They gave up three for three to the commanders in the red zone, where they were previously the number one red zone defense in the NFL, Denver was. They gave up, I think, eight of 17 on third down, where they were previously the number one third down defense in the NFL. This was just one of those games where nothing went right.
Starting point is 00:09:15 And I think a lot of it was set early on because the commanders ran the ball. that arm tackling, mistackles by the Broncos, and that opened everything else up for the commander's offensive Mario because initially there was coming out throwing quick outs to the sideline there. The run game kind of opened everything else up, and that's what I think led to the Broncos defense just getting gashed consistently throughout the night. There's just too many explosive plays in this game. I'm curious for your guys' thoughts,
Starting point is 00:09:40 is this an anomaly for one game from what we've seen from the first 11 games, or is this maybe a trend that you're worried about developing here in the second half stretch? Nick, how do you feel about that? I don't look at it as a trend, just like you just laid it out. Coming into this game, the Broncos defense, they were great inside the Red Zone. They were great inside as far as third down is concerned. And I'll just say that for now, I'll call it an anomaly. But at the same time, you got to give credit to Dan Quim and Marcus Marioiden at Washington team, man.
Starting point is 00:10:13 I mean, for anyone to just say, okay, well, the Broncos played down to their opponent. No, those guys had nothing to play for. And they decided to go out there on Sunday night football and play. And that tells you how competitive a Dan Quinn coach team really is. But I don't see this as being a long-term problem for the Broncos. Now, talk to me after the Raiders game, and this happens again. Now we have a problem. Yes, I'll default to you, your thoughts on that.
Starting point is 00:10:42 Yeah, I agree. I feel like this defense has built up enough, you know, trust equity or whatever. you want to call it to assume the best, which is that they're going to return to that elite form. And in fact, I think even be better because we want to start seeing those takeaways come in bunches, right? I still feel like we have yet to even see this Broncos defense at its very best, which is scary because they've already been what, the third ranked scoring defense in the NFL this season. But then what happens once the turnovers start coming in bunches, because I'm assuming that's going to happen.
Starting point is 00:11:16 I know you can't necessarily just will those into existence, but shoot, at some point they're going to start happening. I thought it was going to happen with Dre Greenlaw picked off that pass early in this game. I was like, all right, the dam is broken and it's time,
Starting point is 00:11:29 right? It's time for those turnovers to start coming. But eventually, maybe with, you know, this game against the Raiders coming up at will, but I do think that this game, especially coming off a buy,
Starting point is 00:11:40 is going to refocus that defensive unit in a big way. Yeah, that's how I'm kind of looking at it as well, there is I'm going to take, like, this is a gut check game for the defense, right? They got knocked down, but they were able to get back up and, you know, escape with the victory. That's, I think, the word that I want to use because it looked like, you know, their backs were against the wall. And obviously, we know that Sean Payton elected to take, or they didn't elect to, but the Broncos got
Starting point is 00:12:00 the ball to start overtime and they put the pressure on the Washington commanders. And I want to dive into that strategy on the other side when we talk about the offense as well. But I think that this is a game that hopefully the Broncos defense will be better because of, right? You get you tossed around a little bit, beat up a little bit, and you still figure out a way to win the game. I think the body of work with this defense, Nick, I'm going to buy, I'm going to buy what they're selling with the body of work this season compared to what we saw just tonight.
Starting point is 00:12:27 Yeah, once again, because how well this defense has played thus far this season, there's going to be a lot of pressure on them. And I'm going to tell everyone, you know, pump, when you've seen the, like, the 2006 Baltimore Ravens, is I guess when you look at league history, one of the better defensive units collectively in the league, that team gave up point two as well. So the idea is that we've seen this Broncos defense been, but don't break and shut people out, but sometimes someone has your number.
Starting point is 00:13:01 And what it should say moving forward is playing against mobile quarterbacks can present challenges inside Grezo a la like Josh Allen, right? which I don't want to see at all. But being a guy like a Marcus Mariotto who's not to that level right now gave the Broncos an opportunity to figure out what they need to do as far as making sure they clean up things, especially on the edge. There were a couple of times when John DeCooper lost in pain, right, dipping inside instead of being outside.
Starting point is 00:13:35 You can't do that against mobile quarterbacks like Marks of Mario. Yeah, no, I'm with you. A couple of stats that I want to throw out there here from tonight's game. I mean, you look at it offensively. The only major statistical category that the Broncos outpaced the commanders in was the passing yards. 315 for Denver compared to 276 for Washington. But the commanders, you know, had more first downs of the Denver Broncos. 30 to the Broncos 23.
Starting point is 00:13:57 Third down efficiency. The commanders were batting nearly 500, 8 for 17 there. I mean, they dominate on the total place tonight. 85 plays of offense for Washington compared to 69 for the Denver Broncos. And on top of that, I think the most concerning thing. is three for three on fourth down. Now the Broncos were good, one for one on their one fourth down but three for three on fourth down for a team with a backup quarterback.
Starting point is 00:14:22 And again, mad respect to Marcus Marietta, but for a defense that has been billed as one of, if not the best units in the league, something to read into here a little bit. But at the end of the day, a win is a win. They take down the Washington commanders 27 to 26 in overtime. Okay, let's hit our first break. When we come back, let's continue along with the conversation.
Starting point is 00:14:40 I want to dive into the offense. as a whole with the fellows here. And also the strategy that kind of played into the Broncos hands here with the overtime dynamic by them getting the ball first to start the overtime period. So all that more, when we come back right here on your locked on Broncos squad show. Back in just a moment, folks. All right, you guys, let me tell you about the fine folks over at prize picks here real quick,
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Starting point is 00:15:53 That's code locked on NFL for $50 in lineups after your first $5 lineup. Price picks, it's good to be right. Be sure to check out our friends over at Price Picks and let them know that Lockedon Broncos sent you. All right, well, come on back into your Lockdown Broncos squad show. Anilo Piro, Cody Rourke, Nick Ferguson, Sarah Bedinger. Hope everyone in Broncos country is doing well out there for everyone watching live on YouTube. Appreciate y'all rocking with us after an exciting victory. I see Cody's doing a little bit of a pulse check over there.
Starting point is 00:16:30 That's the sentiment, man. That is the sentiment, Cody. I mean, that's the kind of game that you get hyped up for. My wife was going crazy in this game, too. And I've come to find out, gentlemen. I don't know what it's like for you. I mean, AP, I know you got a girlfriend. Sarah's got a wife.
Starting point is 00:16:44 Nick, I know you have a wife. I think my wife and I both prefer when we're not watching the game together. I feel like that's one of those things because she's sitting there just making comments like, oh yeah, I feel really good about this Marcus Mariotic. I feel so happy for him. And I was like, knock it off. You're not supposed to be rooting for them. You're like, what are you doing here?
Starting point is 00:17:01 So, you know, luckily, you know, the cardiac kids come up, you know, big once again. And as you mentioned, the one score of games there, over time. I tell you what, I know you're teasing it a little bit ago. but did you see Evan Ingram shake Bobby Wagner on that one key play that he had in OT? And once again, another fast and furious reference. Bobby Wagner owes Evan Ingram a 10 second car. Yeah, no, 100% tonight. And, you know, it was nice to see Evan Ingram kind of break out to a certain extent in this game tonight, Nick.
Starting point is 00:17:32 Six receptions for 79 yards for Evan Ingram. That's an average of 13.2 yards per reception along a 41, of course. Nice to see him make a big impact and a contribution in this win. Yeah, it was. And that 41-yard catch and run really broke it open statistically for him. And that's kind of the best that we've seen him all season long. And what's interesting is knowing your opponent, Bobby Wagner's been in the league, 14 years, been around Dan Quinn.
Starting point is 00:17:58 I've been around, you know, Bobby myself when I did a coach an internship. And Seattle, and basically what you have to do, you have to set defenders up, you know, at certain times. Use their strength as their weakness because Bobby is great as far as anticipating and running and covering guys, even though he doesn't have the same speed that he had years ago. And that jerk route that, you know,
Starting point is 00:18:19 Evan Ingram ran on him, it was perfect because, I mean, when you look at it, Bobby was like, I'm all on it. Like, I'm on wide on rights. But then all of a sudden, Ingram put his foot in the ground and went the opposite way. That's the way that you set a player up. And then having the speed,
Starting point is 00:18:35 the explosion to get past the fingers. This is what most members in Broncos country We wanted to see from Evan Ingraham all season long. Maybe, maybe, just maybe, this might be a start to a beautiful thing. I hope so, you know, and I think it's only going to make the Broncos' offense more and more dynamic if you're able to get Evan Ingram more involved. And frankly, as we've talked about time and time again on this show, Sarah, you know, someone that was kind of sold to Broncos country from Sean Payton as a dynamic playmaker, you know, as that Joker type of role, you saw Chris Collinsworth talking that up throughout the course of the Bronx. here this evening. And so hopefully there's more to come from Evan. Yeah, it was, you could tell with nine targets that led the team in this game,
Starting point is 00:19:19 that there was a concerted effort during the by week by this coaching staff to say, we got to get Evan Ingram the ball because I think good things are happening when he is getting the ball and getting those opportunities. We saw it against the Giants. We saw it against the Eagles. We've seen it at times throughout the course of the season, but it just hasn't been consistent enough. And so I think there was even quite a bit left on the table in this game, right? I mean, a couple of missed opportunities to Evan in this game, one in which, you know, he couldn't help but just kind of look back at Bow Nix with that smile on his face that you have for like your brother when you're like, I'm about to come and
Starting point is 00:19:54 punch you and throw, dude. What, what are you doing? You know, but that's, that mentality kind of carried him in to that rest of that performance, right? I mean, he just had that killer instinct that you love to see from a past catching weapon. And he was not going to be. be bested by Bobby Wagner in that overtime play. I mean, I thought he was going to score. I thought he was going to break every tackle on the way there. He just kind of had that look in his eyes, right? So this is a guy that you want to feed the football. You want him to be a featured piece in your offense because as we talked about all offseason, right, he has the potential out of anybody to be that easy button, easy eat for this Denver Broncos offense. Maybe coming out of the buy week,
Starting point is 00:20:37 that's the ticket for getting this whole operation going. I'd say 300 plus passing yards is evidence in favor of that. Easy E. E. I think he came up with something there. Sarah, I like that. I think that's his Instagram name. I was going to say, I can't take credit for that, but I will take credit for it. Might as well.
Starting point is 00:20:57 That's the first time I've heard that and that flowed perfectly. So I like that as well. So yeah, no, big night tonight for Evan Ingram. Some other notes here on the Broncos's wide receiving core. Abram was the leading receiver with those 79 yards. Cortland Sutton, five receptions for 62 yards at a touchdown, a big touchdown at that. Adam Troutman had three for 47, Pat Bryant, three for 42,
Starting point is 00:21:17 RG Harvey with a few catches, Troy Franklin with a couple, Tyler Badegh with three as well. So, you know, Cody, you really saw the offense, despite, you know, sputtering maybe at some points in this game, some wealth distribution across the board from the passing game tonight. Yeah, I mean, at times the Broncos' offense was granny shifting, not double clutching like they should. At times.
Starting point is 00:21:36 See, everybody, look, man, I'm on a roll. You are, you are. Go off, Goody. At the same time. But, no, I think at times they got it going when it matter. I like the distribution. And you mentioned, I want to bring up one guy's name. Look, we'll talk about Cortland Sutton here in a minute.
Starting point is 00:21:50 But I want to bring up Pat Bryant here for a minute just because Pat is playing that role that Sean Payton originally envisioned for Jerry Judy. And we're seeing how things are going for Jerry in Cleveland. Yikes. They help but think like, does Jerry regret ever wanting out of Denver, you know, the way he kind of conducted himself at times. I'm looking at Pat Bryant and it's like Pat is willing to do everything that Jerry was not willing to do here.
Starting point is 00:22:12 And it's starting to come to a point where it's like, all right, now we're seeing Pat have a bigger impact right now than I'd say Jerry had in his time here in Denver. That might be a little bit of a hot take here. That's not what I'm aiming for. But I feel that way by seeing Pat there. And then Cortland, once again, coming up big, despite the fact, once again, being bracket covered with a corner playing outside and a safety inside. consistently comes up with the big time touchdown.
Starting point is 00:22:37 That ultimately helps the Broncos win this game. He doesn't have that play there right before halftime. I mean, who knows what the momentum would have looked like for them. Yeah, one thing I want to throw out there, you know, some just kind of behind the scenes knowledge for the listening base out there. You know, Cody, you and I are in that lockerer multiple times a week. Nick, I know you have relationships with members of the team as well. You know, the term diva is thrown around a lot when it comes to wide receivers, right?
Starting point is 00:22:59 We've seen the saga play out with AJ Brown. We've seen what's happened with Jerry Judy, as Cody mentioned today, with Shador Sanders on the sideline. The one thing, and when we talk about this nine-game win streak, and we talk about the clutch gene that this Denver Broncos team possesses a little bit. We've talked to Evan Ingram after games where he's not really involved. You know, I'm sure he was happy today. We've talked to Cortland Sutton after games.
Starting point is 00:23:20 We talked to Pat Bryant after games. All these guys in practice as well, Marvin Mims. They're always the same. They're always level-headed, right? Like, they're always excited after a win. You know, I shouldn't say the same, you know, after a win, but like pumped up. But you're never seen them down in the dumps. you're not seen an AJ Brown dynamic of like you're winning but you're pouting at the same time right
Starting point is 00:23:39 and Nick you know having played in the NFL yourself I would think that that goes a long way and kind of the fabric of the DNA of this Denver Broncos team yeah it does it goes back to guys that have come before Cortland and a lot of these guys on the roster now because during my time it was Anne McCaffrey and Rod Smith and Rob was always asked when they went on those Super Bowl runs Well, Rod, you were not really involved in the offense as much as you have coming into the Super Bowl. His response usually was, you know what? Did I get a Super Bowl ring?
Starting point is 00:24:12 And the answer was damn right. So it's a lot of unselfish play. You don't see a lot of that here with the Denver Broncos as we see with other teams. And trust me, man, I totally get it. There are guys in this league, you compete. And you want to make sure that you are going out, putting your best. foot forward. So you're not going to get the Keishon Johnson throw me the damn ball. They're not going to say that publicly. But behind closed doors, trust me, they are competitors.
Starting point is 00:24:43 They want to be in the mix. They want to be involved. And listen, I love the ball distribution. But Bo Nix, 45 passing attempts. Brough, that's too many damn passing attempt. I mean, that tells me, by the way, someone got passed happy and they forgot about the guys who was sitting right behind the quarterback. That's all I'm going to say. Well, I actually wanted to switch gears here to the running back room as well. So it's a perfect bridge. And I mean, RJ Harvey, you know, is going to kind of be de facto running back one. At least we think so right now.
Starting point is 00:25:16 And, well, it was like his first carry of the game. It was like an eight or nine yard carry. And we're like, okay, let's feed RJ Harvey. He finishes with 13 carries, 35 yards, two touchdown. So he did get the ball in the red zone there. You know, but I agree with your assessment there, Nick. and Cody, I'll go to, or I'll go to Sarah here, actually. The lack of a commitment to a run game, I don't think is surprising,
Starting point is 00:25:37 but I do wonder how that factors into the game plan moving forward if they ever wants to keep winning these games. Yeah, I do too, because I don't know if it's the lack of commitment or if it's the backs or if it's the blocking or what's all contributing there. I don't know that necessarily they wouldn't run if they were having a bunch of success, but then you see stuff like the second and one play where you try, try the I know I guess we should just maybe expect these things. It's almost weekly at this point, right? So maybe I shouldn't be shocked or caught off guard by it. But we just, I don't know.
Starting point is 00:26:11 That's kind of where I'm at with it right now. It's like, I don't know what's going to be the first thing to be consistent, right? Is it going to be the running back that has, oh, man, he just took over a drive like we've seen J.K. Dobbins do. Or is it going to be the offensive line that's just unstoppable? Like, I don't know that we had any moments during this game where you felt like, man, the Broncos are really imposing their will on the ground on this drive and they just went away from it. I feel like less so they need that short, quick passing game where they've got the pre-snap motion. They've got the threat of like Marvin Mims and all these other things to take focus away from the defense, just pinning its ears back and beating. I saw Palcheseki get beat in this
Starting point is 00:26:51 game. I mean, we saw a number of guys getting beat on the interior and it just blows up those negative plays behind the line of scrimmage. I think that forces shone. on Peyton to say, all right, I got to have Bo, you know, throw it out quick. And that's got to be like an extension of the running game. So that's kind of where maybe I feel like he gets away from it a bit there. Yeah. And, you know, we saw some Jalil McLaughlin. I actually thought we saw more of him than I thought.
Starting point is 00:27:16 He only had six carries, I believe, in this game. He had six carries for 24 yards. And look, you're going to see more Jalil just naturally without J.K. Dobbins. And we'll see if J.K. Dobbins can make a return for this Denver Broncos team. But you were talking about, you know, what's the first thing that we're going to see that's consistent? think is what you said, Sarah. I think we just know what it is.
Starting point is 00:27:32 And there is going to be no consistency in the run game, Cody. It's just, that's where we're at with with Broncos offense. No, it's like tuna on white with no crust. It just drives me absolutely nuts right now with it. I'll tell you this, like the thing that frustrates me about it is Sean Payton is running into the locker room at halftime. And he's telling the sideline reporter here, look, we, you know, we got to find more balance in the run game. We're going to do that here in the second half. They come out.
Starting point is 00:27:57 There's like one drive where they throw three straight. times it's three and out there, you know, back on the sideline there, trying to stay warm over there when it's cold and chilly in D.C. And for me, I just look at that and it's like, all right, you know, some people are saying it's a trust thing that Sean doesn't trust the running backs. It's not, I don't think it's that. I just think that we even, when J.K. Dobbins was healthy, folks, I think we have to remember this was something we were still bringing up on a consistent basis.
Starting point is 00:28:23 So maybe there is some credence to like, okay, like third and long, whatever it may be. Do you have trust in certain situations? Well, he's got Adam Prentice and pullback, catching passes out of the backfield on third and long. I don't think it's a trusting. I just think that's, hey, I don't think that the success rate of this is going to work in this situation. We're going to try this. And often at times, trying this has not worked out.
Starting point is 00:28:47 I think you can make valid arguments here. And this is something I think we'll talk about a little bit more, and maybe Tuesday's squad show we're going to do. But Denver's decision not to add another running back to the mix. Certainly they were interested in Damien Pierce. but not having that bigger body. I'm very curious if that was, hey, you know, this is our run game here. I'll tell you this, though.
Starting point is 00:29:06 It can't continue to be this way in terms of the imbalance and in both throwing 40 plus times a game because this is what will get the Broncos bounced out of the playoffs very quickly. This should be something that they don't fix in season. It could be thrown their hopes of winning the AFC West, especially with the Chargers right behind them. So for me, this is definitely something that's my red alert concern that I have right now. Yeah, I'm with you as well.
Starting point is 00:29:32 I just am not expecting any change. Like I think we just kind of know who Sean Payton is as a play caller and as a coach. And, you know, what's the old saying? You can't really teach an old dog new tricks, right? And I think it just kind of is what it is with this Denver Broncos offense here at the moment. But, okay, let's hit a break. When we come back, the question I want to go around the table with, what was the most concerning part of the game tonight for the Denver Broncos?
Starting point is 00:29:53 Because look, they won the game overtime, loved to see it. It was against the Washington commanders team that did it. have a lot to play for. And I understand it's the NFL. There's no games off and, you know, it's going to be competitive games more often than not and whatnot. But, you know, for a Broncos team that has championship expectations, that was not the game we expected to see coming off the by. So we'll hit a break. We'll come back to just that right here on your locked on Broncos squad show. Back in just a moment, folks.
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Starting point is 00:31:44 I'm an active game time user, guys, and I'm not even going to lie, this is a perfect read for me. Big Italy soccer fan myself, assuming they qualify, if they don't qualify, this will be the third World Cup in a row that they don't, and I'll be very sad. But assuming they do qualify,
Starting point is 00:31:57 I will be shelling out money to go see Italy play in the world. Cup and you best believe I will be using game time to get my tickets when that day comes. So check out our friends over at game time and let them know that locked on Broncos sent you. All right. Welcome on back into your lockdown Broncos squad show. Enilo Piro, Cody Rourke, Sarah Bedinger and Nick Ferguson. Hope everyone is doing well out there in Broncos country after the 27, 26 overtime victory.
Starting point is 00:32:26 Okay. Talked about Bo Nix. Talked about the running game. Talked about the defense. Nick Benito. you know, a lot of good, a lot of positive vibes coming from a win like this. Let's talk about the not-so fun stuff here. Like I said to start the show, we're going to keep it a buck here.
Starting point is 00:32:41 It was not exactly a clean victory for this Denver Broncos team. I thought it was going to be a 2017 win, not just when it was the score. Like, that was the score that I had in my mind and I gave out on social media before the game. And then it's like Washington just hanging around, hanging around. Marcus Marriota doing his thing. Scary Terry doing his thing, right? And they put up a good fight here tonight. So let's go with the prompt that I threw out before the break.
Starting point is 00:33:03 I'll start with you, Nick. What was the most concerning thing that you saw from the Broncos tonight? Path coverage. And what I mean by that is at time, leaky coverage, allowing guys to find a soft spot in the zone and make catches. Like that Termin touchdown that was called back, for me, that should have never happened. To allow a guy to run up the middle of the field
Starting point is 00:33:26 to make that easy of a throw, pitch and catch for Marcus Mario to can't happen, can happen, can happen. And keep this in mind, we already know this. The Washington commanders are 3 and 18. The Broncos are about to face more teams with more, better records, rather, and over 500, they're going to see better shots. They're going to see a better collection of offensive talent
Starting point is 00:33:51 at the tight-in position, running back position, and also outside the numbers. They can't force themselves into some, somewhat of a conundrum by not communicating. You have to communicate at home and you have to communicate on the road. So the Broncos cannot falter down the stretch giving up big plays and leaky coverage. Well said. Sarah, what say you?
Starting point is 00:34:14 That was my biggest concern from this game as well, right? I mean, obviously there was a third and 25 situation. The Broncos give up what? I think it was 19 yards on the third and 25. You give up the next fourth down. the touchdown that Nick just mentioned that was called back and then you get cooked on the very next play. I mean, it happened all throughout the course of a game. And I get that there's sometimes where, man, a perfect throw beats great coverage and you have the Traylon Burks touchdown where there's not much like Riley Moss can do about that.
Starting point is 00:34:46 It's just what a catch by the way. Amazing catch. A Broncos maybe should have made that guy a better offer for the practice squad when they had the chance there. But needless to say, I mean, you missed. opportunities as well. Like Jada Barron could have closed out the game. I mean, I know guys were slipping around out there. Talanoho Fonga, pass interferes on the, on the fourth down that ultimately wiped another interception off the board, right? So so many issues throughout the course of this game from start to finish, too many long drives, too many, I think you mentioned it earlier
Starting point is 00:35:18 in Nilo as well. There was three fourth down plays converted, but the commander's also converted, I think, eight third downs in this game. So 11 of their due. or die downs, they convert it. And so that to me is just unacceptable. It's on your past rush. It's on your past coverage. And that's not what we've come to really love about this Broncos defense, right? Those are the areas that they have thrived.
Starting point is 00:35:42 That's where you felt even at 20 to 17, man, they got to go a long ways to get in a field goal range. And they just marched right down there. So that stuff can't happen down the stretch. Cody? I would say it's poor tackling. You know, that was also a really big theme. in this game. And look, I understand it. It's cold. It's a little slick out there on the field.
Starting point is 00:36:01 They just put new sod down. But you got to wrap up and bring your legs. I felt like Denver's, Denver was a poor tackling team defensively here this evening. I think there were some certain inside runs that they shut down on like the early downs there. But I think when it was like fourth and short, third and short, that's where they got gashed a little bit because they'd wrap a guy up. One guy would make contact who would not wrap up there. And then a guy would spin off and credit off to the commander's tailbacks there. But that was a little bit of a frustrating thing because that kept drives alive. I mean, there were a few drives over the commanders.
Starting point is 00:36:33 They milked, what, five plus minutes off the clock and essentially, you know, kicked the field goal or somehow ended up scoring there. That's going to be something that they obviously addressed in this game. I'm not sure if this was a one-off. I'm hoping it's a one-off. Like, that's my thing. We've seen this defense rise to the occasion so many times. Like, how many times have we seen the defense saved the offense?
Starting point is 00:36:54 To the point, it's like, you know, when, uh, Brian, and saves Dom from the cops. He goes, the buster kept me out of handcuffs. That's exactly what the Broncos defense has done all year long for this offense. But this was a game where the offense had their back and kept them out of handcuffs. Yeah, no. Oh my gosh. Give me a second to reset after that one.
Starting point is 00:37:15 So are you saying that the Broncos offense gave the defense a 60 second car? I mean, not a 60 second, more like a 10 second car. but, you know, what did they do? They rebuilt it, the Supra. You know, they rebuilt it and they ended up racing it and ended up being, you know, good for them until, you know, the train hit us. Hopefully the train doesn't come anytime soon. Yeah, no, I'm with you on that. I don't have much more to add in regards to the pass protection.
Starting point is 00:37:42 I think you guys hit the nail on the head there. But we're talking championship or, you know, championship caliber team here. And I'll tell you something that I saw in tonight's game that I've seen play out in a couple of other games. Notably, week one against Tennessee, the win against Tennessee. the win against the Jets in London, against the Texans to a certain extent, and then again tonight. A lack of a killer instinct from the offense.
Starting point is 00:38:04 They should have put the Washington commanders to bed in this game. I mean, there was three drives in a row for the Broncos offense where if they get a first down, they put up points, even going back to the start of the game, as Sir alluded to with the field goals to open it up as opposed to touchdowns, if the Broncos want to beat the bills, and I understand the bills aren't perfect,
Starting point is 00:38:22 and we'll see what happens with the Ravens of the World. or God forbid the Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati might heat up if they went out, right? If the Broncos want to contend for a championship and come out of the AFC, they have got to figure out a way to lock of the door and throw away the key. And we have not seen that for the most part this season.
Starting point is 00:38:40 Of course, the one game comes against the Dallas Cowboys when they do that. But, you know, outside of that, they have not been able to keep their foot on the gas late in games. Really, you know, throughout the course of the game, it's like, you know, gas, no gas, no gas. We need all gas, no breaks from this Denver Broncos's offense. Nick. And I think that's a concern for me that played out in this game tonight, but has also been
Starting point is 00:39:00 a major theme throughout the course of the season and some wins. Yeah, it has been. And when you look at other teams around the league, they look at the Broncos and say, well, the scariest thing about the team is their defense. And we can somehow stay on the field, throw a lot of quick passes, make a lot of yards after contact. And after the catch, we can stay in the game because just like you said, there's no killer instinct in the Broncos offense. Now, what we've seen is the whole idea of being cardiac kids, being able to win one-score games, being able to come up in the fourth quarter. That's all fine and dandy.
Starting point is 00:39:38 And I celebrate that. So I don't want to overlook that. But you need to have somewhat of a Michael Jordan type of mentality, a Kobe Bryant type of mentality. When we step on the throats of our opponent, we want to create. rush their esophagus, so they cannot breathe, right? That has to be the mentality of the Broncos offense, but we haven't seen it all season. Yeah, I think they got to pick that up for sure.
Starting point is 00:40:06 Did we see it in overtime, though? Like, I felt like that might have been like the one like glimpse of it because think about a little bit. Think about how much pressure you got in that situation. The commander say, no, we should have been in that position to begin with that. That's my point. 100%. 100%.
Starting point is 00:40:23 But that was one of those games. Like this was teetering towards Fafo moment here for the Broncos. They decided in overtime to really kick it up a notch. Like that right there is like, hey, they can turn it on, but I'm with you. They should do it earlier. If you can find a way to put the foot on the throat, you can. I just felt like an OT they did. Yeah, no, and I think that's fair.
Starting point is 00:40:43 And I think at the end of the day, for me, it's just more so like the NFL's, specifically the AFC is wide open, right? I know the ranch loss today. I think they're the team to beat in the NFL despite the loss. But, like, you know, they're currently the one seat because New England doesn't play until tomorrow night. We'll see what happens there. We talked about it last time New England is yet to have their buy as well. But like if this team just want, like, could you imagine what a, what a throttling victory would be?
Starting point is 00:41:07 You're talking about this 90 win streak. You're talking about these clutch games and these moments like they did against Philly earlier in the year. But could you imagine what another one of those would do for this team, Sarah? Oh, man. It would be borderline catharsis at that point because what we've seen from this team, the resilience and that coupled with the dominance, it would just continually prove that this team can beat anybody any number of ways, right? And I just quickly have to mention that Nick Ferguson just shot up. He was already high on my people power rankings list, just my own personal
Starting point is 00:41:39 list that I have going. He was already high on the list. And then he's talking about killer mentalities. And he mentions Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant and just conveniently, but intentionally leaves LeBron James off the list. So he's climbing the power ranking. every single show that we do. I absolutely love it. But you do want to see that, right? You want to see the, I always reference back to the Von Miller moment in 2018.
Starting point is 00:42:03 I know that team was terrible, but he's like, we're going to go in there and we're going to kick the Cardinals, you know what, right? And they did. They went and did it. We need somebody to do something like that on this team. I'm not saying they got to say something,
Starting point is 00:42:16 you know, to the media or whatnot, but we need the Broncos to kind of just take the bull by the horn, so to speak and just go make it happen. Go dominate somebody. Where's the like the win we had against the Falcons last year? Was it because last year they're playing with house money and this year not so much? I mean, that's kind of what it feels like.
Starting point is 00:42:35 The stakes were still high last year, but nobody expected you to be good. Nobody expected you to dominate. They were, they were only favored in what, like three, three or maybe four games last season overall. Nobody thought you were going to be good. And so you went out and you proved everybody wrong. Like, and you kind of rubbed it in the dirt. little bit. Go and do that now that you've proven to everybody that you are a great team.
Starting point is 00:42:57 Yeah, there were six point favorites tonight. So they don't cover that number for those involved with that. But I think, again, I don't throw the numbers out there like from strictly betting purposes. Vegas, some of the smartest people in the business, right? And I think I respect the lines they put out as kind of a barometer of like, okay, like, what is the expectation with this team? What should the game look like, you know, and all that kind of stuff. And, you know, the Broncos today, the thing for me is, Nick, they backed into another victory. And they're not seizing the moment. I understand that overtime drive was great.
Starting point is 00:43:27 But that's what gets me a little bit worried is the wins are great, but it's how the wins are coming that gets me concerned long term for this team. I mean, I can understand why you are concerned, but let me, you know, preface my statement by saying, yes, they did get the W. So that's the most important thing. But at times it doesn't look great. And we've seen the Kansas City Chiefs do this all of last year. I think it was eight to nine games, one score games that came down to.
Starting point is 00:43:52 the final possession. But we know the Broncos are not Kansas City, right? And you don't want to be related or be viewed as anything being close to Kansas City. The Broncos have to kind of reset their own culture. How many times can you actually do this? I don't know. It builds up confidence in the team that you know that you can do it if you're forced to, but you don't want to be in a situation where you're trying to get the number one seed or you're trying to play that first home playoff game and now you're hoping to win. You don't want to be in that situation. You want to make sure that you have like going into that fourth quarter at least a 10 to 12 point league, a cushion. And when I say that I don't mean, okay, well, we're going to get a really
Starting point is 00:44:38 reserved with our play calling. And Bo, we want you to throw the ball 20 more times. No, that's when you lean on your four, your four minute offense. And this is what is a problem for me because the Broncos have not established that they can do that thus far. I like the confidence, but you need to show in the moments when you need it the most, you can play keep-away. And if you can't establish that, it may be some rough sledding in the playoffs. Very well said. Very well said.
Starting point is 00:45:08 All right, let's hit our final break when we come back. Let's end it on a positive note. We'll give out some game ball, some final takeaways. I've actually threw that whole conversation, I'm excited for Tuesday's show because I've got some other prompts. I'm going to throw out you guys for that one as well. So we'll hit a break. We'll come back and put a bow in the show right here on your lockdown Broncos squad show. All right.
Starting point is 00:45:31 Well, come on back into the program. AP, Cody Rourke, Nick Ferguson, Sarah Bedinger here. Hope everyone is doing well out there in Broncos country. Okay, we were critical, right? You know, we said what needed to be said, but it's a victory, guys. I mean, we could smile. We could be happy about it. I know Broncos country's fired up.
Starting point is 00:45:46 That's nine straight wins now once again for the Denver Broncos. As they take down the Washington commanders tonight, 27, 26. 10 and 2 and 4 and 2 on the road this season. Obviously, the two losses come out on the road. They're undefeated at home as well. So you love to see that. Interesting game, roller coaster of emotions. Lots of, you know, kind of dive into as we've done throughout the course of the program here tonight.
Starting point is 00:46:09 But when it comes to game balls, Cody, where do you want to go here? Yeah, I'm going to go with RJ Harvey here just because, look, for him, two rushing touchdowns in this game, it was big. And there's always just saying it's not how you stand by your car. it's how you race your car essentially. It's how you drive your car. And I think that when big times mattered here for the Broncos, all jokes aside, RJ comes up big right now. I think, you know, for him, eight total touchdowns on the year combined.
Starting point is 00:46:38 I just think that he's got this juice to him. And if the Broncos just leaned on him a little bit more, and there were times in this game where they relied on him and some past pro situations on some third downs. I thought he had a key pass break up, I mean a pass block. to help Bo Nix find Cortland Sutton for that touchdown right before halftime. So for me, I'm going to give R.J. Harvey a game ball. I think he's continuing to stack.
Starting point is 00:46:59 I think he can be a very valuable piece to this offense going forward. But it's up to Sean Payton and this coaching staff to put him in a position, I think, to succeed even more. Well said. I mean, a good game tonight from R.J. Harvey, you know, critical touchdowns there in the Redsend that ultimately helped push this Denver Broncos team to victory. Sarah, where are you going here? I'm going to go with Bo Nix. I mean, I know that obviously his performances get picked apart every single week, right?
Starting point is 00:47:24 And that's understandable. He's the quarterback of the team. You can't make any mistakes. You can't have any drive stall out. You can't have any. And I know it's not been perfect. But what I will say is that that throw where we haven't even really mentioned really the throw where I mean, his knee was, I thought for sure.
Starting point is 00:47:41 Oh, my gosh. I'm watching this play happen. I'm like, great. Just took a red zone sack. And then all of a sudden, Cortland Sutton's got the ball. And I'm like, wait, how the heck did he just do that? That was one of those throws that, man, you make that throw in prime time. That's big time stuff.
Starting point is 00:47:57 And then the overtime drive. I don't think those were the only two moments in the game in which Bo showed up. Obviously, he had over 300 yards passing. But when you needed it the most, right, right before half, you just gave up a score to the commanders. They took a lead. You need to take it back. Bo brings you down the field for a touchdown.
Starting point is 00:48:13 Going in overtime. The commanders kicked the ball off, which I guess is common. but I'm sitting there thinking, why are they kicking the ball off? They, I mean, I personally, if it was me, I'd be like, that's a sign of disrespect. You think you're going to get us to hold us a three or get the ball back right away? I mean, they go down and score a touchdown. Bo Nix made those plays happen along with Evan Ingram as well. But I'm giving a game ball to Bow Nix for sure.
Starting point is 00:48:38 Yeah, and Collinsworth touched on in the broadcast, interesting decision for with Denver getting the ball there first, just because their defense was kind of on their heels a little bit, maybe some momentum from Washington. Obviously, that's null and void as the Broncos win the game, but a good point there. Nick, where are you going? I can't believe you guys. I mean, I can't believe that you guys left the most important part and aspect of this game out when giving game balls. And the game ball has to go to Nick Benito. He doesn't make that play.
Starting point is 00:49:10 And the ball is over his head to the running back in the flat. It's game over. It's good night I ring. and you can punch it, the narratives that everyone was going to talk about on Monday morning about this blockoff fence coming off of holiday weekend and off a bite. And this is how they perform. So Nick Benito was that guy. Was it one of those exceptional games like a Miles Garrett type performance? No.
Starting point is 00:49:35 But sometimes it's like in your marriage or when you're dating. It is the details, right? It is the small details that we have a tendency to overlook. But just think. And I don't even know if Nick Benito got his hands manicured this, right? Because what I'm going to tell? Because his hands are up there. And if he doesn't bat that ball, man, if he doesn't bat that ball,
Starting point is 00:50:02 we're looking at this game entirely different. So Nick Benito, it's my game ball. He also surpassed, you know, he had a sackness game, which now gives him 10 sacks and at least 10 plus sacks and back-to-back seasons, which look, for this Denver team, they haven't had a guy to do that in a while. I thought Washington, one thing that they did, they tried to go with the quick pass game.
Starting point is 00:50:21 Coming into this game, the Broncos had a 41% pressure rated corner of the next-gen stats in this game against them. Only 5%. Like that is just a testament to, hey, they're trying to get the ball out quickly. It was tough.
Starting point is 00:50:34 And those things we talked about. I agree with you, Nick. I think Nick Benito gets a game ball for sure. That's exactly. So does that mean you want to change yours? No, no, no, no. I think there's plenty. Like, we're like Oprah.
Starting point is 00:50:44 You don't, in a way, you'll get a game ball. You get a game ball. you get a, you know, there's plenty to go around. Can we talk about, actually, Sarah's got to give his before, before I give this next one. I gave him. Well, okay, so, or AP, are you going to give one AP? I feel like you haven't given one else since we've done these. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:51:02 Well, you didn't give me a chance of talk. You come me off. Not bad. I'm fired up here. No, no, I'm playing. It's all good. No, I was going to say Nick Benito as well. I mean, it's the play of the game, right?
Starting point is 00:51:10 Clutch players make clutch plays and clutch moments. You've heard that saying before. A couple other guys that I want to just give some recognition to, man. Evan Ingram, who we talked about a little bit earlier on in the program. I thought, you know, he made big plays when it mattered most. And I think Alex Singleton, too. You know, I know it's a crazy story, everything that he's been going through. And I understand that it gets like half of Broncos country is out on Alex Singleton,
Starting point is 00:51:31 the football player, not the human, then the other half loves Alex Singleton. I mean, that pass break up there, I believe that was on what, Zach Ertz, on that fade right, the seam route up the middle. I mean, how the clutch play for him to punch the ball out the way that he did. So that's where I would go as well. And frankly, look, it's a. win. I think there's a lot that the Broncos want to clean up. Winning is winning. Yeah, winning is
Starting point is 00:51:51 as Tom Dorrida likes to say. And, you know, you got to love that. One curveball that I want to throw out there because we didn't mention his name yet. And he doesn't play for the Denver Broncos anymore. How do you guys think Vaughn Miller was feeling tonight going up against his old team and see him play out the way that it did? Probably very sad. I would say, I mean, look, Vaughn called up George Peyton this offseason and wanted to come to Denver. It just was not in the cards, you know, as nice as it would have been.
Starting point is 00:52:16 I think that Denver made the right move in this situation, which is something we can certainly highlight a little bit later. I wanted to give a shout out to two special teams, the three special teams guys, actually, J.L. Skinner and Devin Key continue to impress. But I'm going to go with the Broncos duo of Devin Key and PJ Locke and P.J. Locke, who combined on a forced fumble, unfortunately, Washington recovered it. But the lock and key connection between those guys on special teams, I felt like was a bright spot here. I thought Denver's tackling in the return game. I thought it was pretty good here this evening. I think it's valid. I think it's very valid.
Starting point is 00:52:50 No, and I think, you know, it was a group win at the end of the day. You know, Drey Greenlaw with the interception. I mean, he had to catch that interception as well. That was such a dog play, too. Yeah, that was a crazy pass from Marcus Mariotta. They actually got like a Chiefs-esque call as well with that intentional grounding. I was surprised they got that call. And then it was like, what, a few plays later,
Starting point is 00:53:06 Marioo threw it over Terry McLorin's head in the end zone. They didn't call grounding on that. I actually thought that was way more egregious than the previous play that was called, but that's beyond the point. So, you know, it's a good win tonight for this Denver Broncos team. And I'm interested to see, you know, how they respond. I'm sure Sean's going to, you know, work these guys hard in practice, you know, next game coming up next Sunday, first game of December against Las Vegas Raiders.
Starting point is 00:53:28 I mean, we're getting down to the home stretch of the season, folks, at the Raiders, then home against the Packers and the Jaguars, those should be two pretty competitive games. Jacksonville's looking pretty good. Green Bay is going to be playing for their playoff livelihood. The Chicago Bears currently the one seed in the NF, see. I mean, what a wacky year it's been. So that game is going to mean a lot for Green Bay. And then, of course, you got the big bad Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas as we talked about,
Starting point is 00:53:52 how nice would it be if the Broncos can be the Grinch and not Kansas City out of the playoffs. And then you end the season with the Chargers. So home stretch of games coming up here for the Denver Broncos. But before we get out of here, any closing thoughts that you guys want to get off your chest? Nick, I'll start with you. Yeah, I just want the team to be confident in what they can do offensively and defensively. look at this game and say, look, this is just a speed bump. But we know that we can play better than we've played thus far.
Starting point is 00:54:20 And if they believe that they deserve and want to earn an opportunity to play for a championship in San Francisco, obviously they got to clean up a lot of things. And they can't keep having those same issues. Every single game saying we need to clean up this, we need to clean up this. No. As you get closer, you want to decrease the number. things that you have to clean up. So now you have a bona fide identity.
Starting point is 00:54:48 That's what I'm looking forward to this team to establish, and they can establish next week on the road in Vegas. Sarah? Yeah, I completely agree with what Nick was saying there. I mean, this is the time. This is the opportunity for the Broncos to go out there and continually prove that they are a top-tier team. Like, the NFL is weird this year, right?
Starting point is 00:55:10 I mean, we talk about, okay, the Broncos can't beat this team if they're only kicking field goals. They can't beat this team if the offense does this. They keep finding ways to rise to the occasion in nine straight games now, right? What we're seeing across the rest of the league is other teams struggling similarly, if not worse, other teams that are perceived to be major threats to this Broncos team. Like, people see the Packers on the schedule coming to Denver and they're like, oh, shoot, like the Packers are coming. That's going to be a tough game for the Broncos.
Starting point is 00:55:40 They're not going to be able to kick field goals in that game. I've watched every game the Packers have played this season. They played two games in November where they scored a combined like 20 points. And so they're not always the team that you see that beat the Lions, right? And the Broncos aren't always the team that plays the Raiders down to 10 to 7 or, you know, struggles to beat the commanders on the road coming off the by. Like sometimes they're the team that beats the Cowboys, 44 to whatever it was, right? And sometimes they're the team that beats the Bengals, 28.
Starting point is 00:56:10 to three. Like, it's just week to week in the NFL this year. You have to find a way to rise to the occasion. In my opinion, only, there's only one team that even comes close to rivaling the Broncos in that way. And I hope they lose on Monday night football. We shall see. Cody, your thoughts. I mean, I feel like Nick and Sarah both made some great points to kind of close out tonight show. I just think that this team, collectively, we can all say, they still have yet to play their best football, you know, in all three phases. And if they can just find a way, like, let's just say this, the hope here is that by the time the next two or three weeks rolls around, the Broncos are hitting their stride.
Starting point is 00:56:50 They're playing their best football going into the postseason because, you know, I think everyone looks at how they've been playing, how they have been winning. And it's like, you know, a lot of people are saying, well, you can't sustain this. I think you can't sustain certain trends. But when you're in these one score games, the Broncos have shown this year that they can do that, that they can win these types of games. I think they can sustain that. I think they have to overcome some of the flaws that they've had in terms of the run,
Starting point is 00:57:15 pass balance, certainly there. I think defensively at times they give up some explosive place, but that's the nature of what you're going to get sometimes when you play this aggressive of a defense. And I think that also some questions will probably have to open things up a little bit, maybe in Tuesday's squad show. I'm curious, it sounds like the Broncos are trying to rotate Jade Barron and Chris Abrams drain in a little bit more. We saw a series where Riley Moss was off the field entirely.
Starting point is 00:57:39 So I think this team, the issues that they have, they're not as big, I think, as some of the issues as some of these other teams are facing. And if they can correct them, I think that they're going to be in a really prime position to make a big run and to make a statement here this season and in the playoffs. I'm with you guys. I think you guys all hit the nail on the head.
Starting point is 00:57:57 And the fact of the matter is to kind of close it out, Cody, as you said, I agree. I don't think they've played their best football yet. And the fact that they have 10 wins and the fact that they're on this win streak, and the fact they're able to win these games that are, you know, close down the stretch without being the peak version of themselves, I think is a great thing. I go back to that Nick Benito quote earlier in the season about, you know, if we're peaking in a week three, we're in trouble. And so hopefully, you know, there's a lot more to come from this Denver Broncos team down the stretch. I mean, it's not college football.
Starting point is 00:58:24 There's no second buy. You had your one by. You hopefully be are recharge and ready to go for this home stretch of games. But for tonight, it is a 27 to 26 overtime victory for your Denver Broncos. Broncos country. I want to thank you guys so much for tune in. And you guys are the absolute best. The live chat was exceptional tonight on your way out the door on YouTube.
Starting point is 00:58:43 Do us a favor. Like button, subscribe button, hit both of those for us. It really helps us out here on the channel. But as Cody alluded to, we'll be back at it again on Tuesday afternoon for another edition of your locked on Broncos show. But for now, enjoy the evening, enjoy the morning, and enjoy Victory Monday Monday. For Cody Roark, Nick Ferguson, Sarah Bedinger. I'm an I'm anilo Piro. Good win for the Denver Broncos.
Starting point is 00:59:03 Talk to you guys on Tuesday. Thank you.

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