Locked On Broncos - Daily Podcast On The Denver Broncos - Denver Broncos Facing Pressure To Control Their Own Destiny

Starting point is 00:00:00 Another week, another sense of urgency here for the Denver Broncos with two games remaining. They just need to win one to make it into the postseason. Did Sunday slate of games help the Broncos in any way, shape, or form? We'll highlight that much more here on today's brand new episode, Lockdown Broncos. You are Locked on Broncos, your daily Denver Broncos podcast, part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. What's happening in Broncos country? Welcome into another episode of Lockdown Broncos, your daily. Denver Broncos podcast, part of the locked on podcast network where you know it is your team every day.

Starting point is 00:00:41 Two weeks remain in the NFL regular season. Can the Broncos find a way to sneak into the postseason? Thanks to all the everydayers and first listeners out there in Broncos country for tuning in making us your first listen of the day. We appreciate you so much for making the show exactly what it is. I'm Cody Rourke. Broncos reporter from all high sports. Join as always by Sarah Bedinger, site expert of their predominantly orange.com. And look, a big week ahead here for this Broncos team. And look, there's a lot that we'll dive into, specifically in this episode, as it's Christmas week. And obviously, we want to extend a happy holidays to you and yours.

Starting point is 00:01:13 We'll wrap things up by talk about the Broncos still being in a win-in-in position and how maybe the run game can be a factor in that this week against the Bengals. We'll talk about Denver not getting any help this weekend from anybody in the AFC on the back end of the playoff picture. We'll also open up with the Broncos being a little bit hopeful that Riley Moss can return this week. Sean Payton held a press conference on Sunday morning because of the short week here. We'll break all that down here on today's episode of the show. We're brought to you by our friends over there at Fandu, and you can start the season with a big return on Fandu. New customers can place a $5 bet, and you'll get started with $250 in bonus bets.

Starting point is 00:01:47 If you win your first $5 bet, visit Fandu.com to get started. Sarah, my friend, obviously with the Broncos playing on Saturday short week, essentially, well, not necessarily short week, but a little bit of a different week because of the Christmas holiday following, you know, on Wednesday here. Denver's going to have to travel on Friday to Cincinnati. So, hey, the work kind of got started a little bit early. We got up with Broncos head coach Sean Payton on Sunday morning before the slate of games because the schedule changed. And look, the hope this week is that Riley Moss can return.

Starting point is 00:02:18 But John wasn't in a very good mood in terms of reflecting on what happened and even some of the narratives that came out of the game. Yeah, and understandably so because I think after watching that all, if you were brave enough to stomach watching it for a second time. I mean, it's obviously way worse watching it back. It's just, it's even more painful. And so I can only imagine that the film session, Sean Payton probably getting into Vance Joseph and his staff a little bit. Of course, he wasn't shy after the game about, you know, saying, hey, we had some

Starting point is 00:02:49 busted coverages out there basically, right? Free runners defensively. And he kind of reiterated that at his press conferences, media availability. And I think, Cody, you can understand. why you'd be frustrated at this stage of the season with so much on the line to be having communication errors at the second and third level of the defense for a defense that's been number one in scoring all year long. I mean, Sean Payton, understandably and justifiably, very upset. Well, I do think it's correctable, but it's some of it is really basic route

Starting point is 00:03:20 principles underneath coverage bus. You know, look, there, when you play a good quarterback like that you can't make it easy on them. And so look, you get into a bunch look and you have a route distribution of a shallow or vertical. You've got to be able to match that distribution. We didn't do a good enough job several times dropping coverage. And that's something we have to look closely up. And the Cincinnati Bangor is going to find any way to attack and exploit that. And look, Sarah, I've done it on my mile ice sports film breakdowns. The last three games, I've kind of pinpointed like, hey, there were some crossing guys coming up underneath, just certain quarterbacks weren't hitting it, you know, when it was open on plays that Denver

Starting point is 00:04:05 had made there. But like going back and watching the Chargers film, it's frustrating because Ladd McConkey is coming wide open several times with not a defender anywhere near him underneath. And what Sean Payton had said is, you know, hey, like they're running a vertical route there to obviously draw the corners and the safeties and the nickel. And then they're running the underneath stuff, which, I mean, that's where your other safety, right? Because usually Denver will come out in a two high shell, they'll drop, they'll roll one defender down there to cover that, you know, that hook to curl area. The linebackers also have middle hook responsibility or they have to replace curl to flat if there's a blitz, which the Broncos would send a zone blitz.

Starting point is 00:04:42 And then, you know, ideally you're hoping if you're going to do that, you've got to get home. But miscommunications primarily between the linebackers and the safeties, I think, have been the issue in terms of these crossing patterns that have been hurting the Broncos. It hasn't necessarily been a cornerback, hasn't been the nickel. It hasn't been the outside guys. Chris Abrams, Drain's playing really well. You can play man-to-man coverage with him. You can play man-to-man coverage with Sir Tan. The game plan was not good enough. And I understand it was a short week last week last week, but these trends have kind of been happening over the course of the last two or three games. And now you go against a high-powered Cincinnati Bengals offense that, I mean, not only can it hurt you in the passing game, Joe Burroughs, he's got pretty underrated mobility within the pocket to get outside the pocket to keep plays alive. I mean, he's throwing Superman touchdowns before. his knee hits the ground. He's getting a little shovel dump-offs there late. This is going to be a huge challenge for the Broncos this week.

Starting point is 00:05:35 And the fix isn't anything with like, you know, hey, we want to see Riley Moss back. And obviously there's a hope that he can trend that way. But, you know, Moss coming back isn't going to solve the issues of the crossing patterns getting solved because it's not the corner's fault as to what's happening here. Here's what Broncos head coach Sean Payton had to say about Riley Moss, who could be in line to return this week. Really, the good point.

Starting point is 00:05:58 He's a big reason why we were playing so well defensively. So as soon as the better when we can get him back in the lineup, hopefully it can happen this weekend. Well, and Riley just brings a physical presence to that cornerback position as well. And maybe just having him out there will allow Vance Joseph to feel more comfortable calling the stuff that have been working a little bit better than what we've seen these last handful of weeks in terms of, man, the man coverage versus the zone coverage. obviously you have to be able to mix it up in today's NFL.

Starting point is 00:06:28 And like you said, Cody, wasn't necessarily the cornerbacks fault. What we saw happen in the loss to over this past week against the Chargers. What it was is dropped coverage from the middle of the defense, you know, the linebackers and safeties. But at the same time, the defense was playing at a much, much higher level when Riley was out there overall. So we'll see what happens with that. I mean, you want him back. You don't want to have that hanging in the back of your head at the end of the season.

Starting point is 00:06:54 like, man, what if Riley Moss had just been able to play down the stretch there? Hopefully he gets back on the field. Hopefully he's making plays out there. The Broncos are going to have to have all hands on deck because you got Jamar Chase, T. Higgins, Yoshivas, you got Chase Brown, all these guys that the Bengals have at their skill positions. And Joe Burrow may be the best quarterback in the NFL at avoiding sacks in the pocket in a dirty pocket.

Starting point is 00:07:20 He reminds me a lot of Tom Brady in that regard. You think you've got him down inside the pocket. He makes a little maneuver, a little dump off here, a little dump off there. He sees the field so well. He's so strong. He's so instinctive. The Broncos defense, the reason why nobody's confident in Broncos country right now, or I shouldn't say nobody, but most people, Cody,

Starting point is 00:07:40 is because this defense over the last three weeks has given absolutely no reason to be confident, even with Riley Moss returning. I mean, it has regressed. And that's been the concerning part because you can look at this team and say, hey, the strength for them all season has been the defense. Like they're playing at elite level. They're forcing takeaways at a high rate. They're sacking the quarterback at a rate, which is first in the NFL in terms of

Starting point is 00:08:01 the number of sacks producing or getting contributions from everywhere and everybody. You know, you got guys calling them the anonymous crush type of defense because you never know who you're going to get contribution from on a week to week basis. The story has been how good the defense has been. But Sarah, once again, kind of similar to last year for drawing parallels, what was kind of the outcome a little bit late in the season? And the Broncos defense struggled late in the year after they went on that streak, after one of that really impressive run that they had had.

Starting point is 00:08:29 And it was explosive plays downfield in the passing game. I remember Nico Collins almost had 200 yards against them in the Texans game last season there. So this is a type of game that is setting up. It's like you have to be on your P's and Q's because of the guys that you mentioned. And obviously, we're going to dive into obviously what happened around the AFC this weekend. But just looking at it, the Browns did not help out the Broncos in any way, shape, or form is a little too easy. for Cincinnati after they kind of got put on their heels, really on their first defensive series of the game.

Starting point is 00:08:57 But from that point, they never looked back. And they capitalize and made the Browns pay for mistakes. And that's something that the Broncos have been doing in these last three games of them making these little mistakes. And luckily, you know, against the Colts, the Broncos defense kind of saved them a little bit and gave them opportunities. But, you know, in a game like we saw against the charters, the defense was their biggest letdown, busted coverages,

Starting point is 00:09:17 not being able to bring Herbert down when he was escaping, you know, pressure or getting outside the pot. pocket, not communicating on in breaking routes there. Like those were things that were kind of the downfall of defense and on top of that penalties once again. So this, this is huge. And obviously, if you get Riley Moss back, you maybe get some of that attitude there. But I'm also going to hazard a guess to say it's like, all right, how do you fix the

Starting point is 00:09:38 issues on the back end between the communication aspects of safety and linebacker? Maybe that's something we're going to, you know, be able to get to ask Vince Joseph this week when we get to meet with him. Like I said, the media schedule is going to be a little wonky this week because of the fact that Christmas Day falls on Wednesday. So I imagine we're going to get Thursday, and the Broncos will have a practice and then travel on Friday to Cincinnati for that game there.

Starting point is 00:10:00 So we'll figure everything out here. We'll break it down every step of the way here this week on Locked on Broncos. But taking a look here, one thing we are going to do is look at the state of the AFC after week 16 and anything like if you're Broncos country, you're watching the games and you're hoping, can the Broncos just get some help here? Well, that didn't happen. We'll take a look at the state of the AFC West and what is ahead here for the Broncos? with two games left here on today's episode of Lockdown Broncos.

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Starting point is 00:11:18 Prize Picks run your game. The AFC is looking a little bit more, I don't know, loaded as we get into the final two weeks of the season after the Broncos got help from exactly nobody on Sunday over the weekend at all. The Broncos didn't get any help, but you know what? The ball is still in their court. It's a win and you are in scenario for Denver. So what happened over the weekend? Why was it bad for the Broncos? Well, Cody and I, we're going to break that down on today's episode, locked on Broncos.

Starting point is 00:11:49 but Broncos country, thanks so much for rocking with us every single day, especially all of you first listeners. We appreciate you so much. Hit subscribe if you haven't done so already. We really appreciate you doing that. Cody, the NFL and the AFC, they didn't care about the Broncos this past week. And the Broncos got almost no help. And I say almost no playoff help because technically it kind of does help a little bit that

Starting point is 00:12:13 the Kansas City Chiefs won. And we'll talk about that in a minute. but everybody that the Broncos needed to lose on Sunday because losses by these teams at this point, they're out. If they lose, they're done. The Dolphins, the Colts, the Bengals, these teams, they lose. They are done. And the Broncos watch all three of those teams win.

Starting point is 00:12:35 And the Baltimore Ravens, they got to win against Pittsburgh, which put them up. So any thought about the Broncos going up to the five seed, the Chargers obviously got to win. everybody bought the Broncos this weekend, Cody. They took care of business. Yeah, and look, it's unfortunate. And I even said it earlier, you never want to have to rely on other teams to get into the postseason, but that's where it just goes back to you got to take care of your business. And Denver, unfortunately, didn't do that on Thursday night.

Starting point is 00:13:02 But at least you got to hope, like, okay, if you didn't take care of business, come on, somebody's got to do something. Give a little nudge, give a little push, do something to help. And certainly around the AFC, that was certainly not the case, which means that, hey, there's two games left for everybody right. now in the AFC. And that means that there is a lot at stake. And look, I think one thing we got to talk about here obviously is Kansas City, the number one seed right now. They're coming off of a win against the Houston Texans. They are going to play here on Christmas Day on Wednesday,

Starting point is 00:13:30 but then they get so much time to rest, Sarah, before that season finale against the Broncos. And look, I think what is it, if the chiefs win, if I'm not mistaken, the chiefs win this upcoming week against the Steelers, they lock up the one seat, correct? Yep. Yep. So, I mean, Broncos, country have to hope that the Chiefs win on Christmas. They're playing the Steelers who are coming off of a loss to the Baltimore Ravens, obviously earlier this week. But if Denver loses this week to Cincinnati, which hopefully Denver can just win and take care of this,

Starting point is 00:13:58 but if Denver loses that game, not only is Kansas City going to have ample time off before they have to play again, like that right there changes everything, Sarah here. And with Denver sitting at 9 and 6 right now, you can't help but look back on missed opportunities. And you don't want that to be the story here, like Denver, wow, they secured their first winning season in franchise history. Yes, they exceed expectations, but they had a chance to make the postseason and then they missed

Starting point is 00:14:24 out on it. You don't want that to be the story at the end of the year. You want to end things on a high note. And I think getting to the postseason is ending things on high note, even if Denver doesn't make it far in the postseason, that's a huge step considering all the circumstances surrounding this team. So something to watch there with the Kansas City Chiefs. And like I said, I know Broncos country never wants to root for the Chiefs to win, but you're kind of hoping that they do.

Starting point is 00:14:45 Maybe they rest of starters regardless. Kansas City, whether they win or lose, they're going to have a lot of time off before they have to play the Denver Broncos in the season finale here. The New England Patriots, I had a little bit of a jump scare on the Buffalo Bills early on. They were up 14 nothing. And everyone's like, oh, okay. But you know what? They have Josh Allen. They have, you know, the defense is making plays.

Starting point is 00:15:06 They have James Cook. That right there was kind of a difference maker. And the bills rallied back from that 14 nothing deficit. They took control and took care of business against the Patriots. they're still at the number two seed. I think where things get interesting here, sir, is the Pittsburgh Steelers who are the three seed,

Starting point is 00:15:21 losing to the Ravens, and Lamar Jackson playing well. The Baltimore Ravens defense playing well right now. And obviously, Pittsburgh still has the three seed right now, but things get a little interesting in these next couple of games here for the Steelers. The Ravens could jump up to that three seed,

Starting point is 00:15:36 potentially here. It could change some things here in the AFC. By the time we all go to bed on Saturday night, Cody, here's the wild scenario. say the chiefs do beat the Steelers on Christmas Day. Let's say the Patriots upset the Chargers in that noon slot on Saturday, right? Then the Broncos go get a win against Cincinnati. I mean, it's possible that we would go to bed on Saturday night

Starting point is 00:16:00 or at least record our postgame podcast on Saturday night with the Broncos poised to go to Baltimore in the first round of the playoffs as opposed to going to Pittsburgh or going to Buffalo. And of course, you and I and everybody listening hopes, beyond all hope. Like get the Broncos to the playoffs. Who cares? If we're the seventh seed, we're going to Buffalo, don't care.

Starting point is 00:16:21 If we're the fifth seed, you're going to Houston, don't care. Six seed going to Baltimore, Pittsburgh. Don't care. Get to the playoffs and take control of the situation. I mean, and I don't get this mentality either, Cody. I see a lot of people saying, well, if the Broncos can't win one game in their final three games, they don't deserve to get in. That's a bunch of bull crap.

Starting point is 00:16:41 They do deserve to get in. If they win nine games and other teams lose more games than them, and they don't deserve to get in either. I think that it's bull to say they don't deserve to get in just because they had a little, you know, slip in the road here, a bump in the road at the wrong time. They've done a lot this season. The situation the Broncos are facing right now is they're going to Cincinnati to face off against a team that has been arguably the only team in the NFL this year, worse than the Denver Broncos in one score games.

Starting point is 00:17:10 And the Broncos have won eight of their nine games by double or, you know, nine or nine or nine or, you know, nine or more points. So two scores or more. The Bengals have struggled in one score games as well. This is going to be a situation. I think it's going to be a one score game. And it could vault the Broncos up to that six spot if the Chargers end up losing. Yeah.

Starting point is 00:17:29 And look, we watched the Bengals game over the weekend. And man, offensively, they were playing well. Defensively, they were getting home. They were having a lot of confidence because Dorian Thompson Robinson,

Starting point is 00:17:38 which, my goodness, they went away from James. Yes, we know James throws picks, but you're going away from James. It just goes to show. they're trying to get as best of a draft pick as possible because they're probably going to try to go after a quarterback next year.

Starting point is 00:17:50 What's that going to look like? I mean, it could, Miles Garrett could even get traded so they could move up to maybe get a guy in this year's draft. Though I don't know if there's a guy in here that's going to propel them to magical heights. But, you know, you look at obviously the Indianapolis Colts. They got up on a huge lead against the Tennessee Titans in Sunday's course of games. And then Tennessee kind of made it a little bit interesting later. I think like they almost put the Colts in kind of a structure. successful position right there.

Starting point is 00:18:16 So it's like, all right, we see so much about, okay, if there's a three-way tie, the dolphins, another team, the 49ers, once again, like, what is going on in San Francisco? The teams that you needed to lose this weekend just simply stayed alive. And that means that all the pressure right now is on this Broncos team. And I find it very interesting considering, you know, where things are at with this team and how it's like you have this pressure on you to win one out of your next two. here's what Broncos head coach, John Payton, I'd say about just, you know, every week's filled with pressure, but, you know, there's going to be a higher sense of urgency

Starting point is 00:18:48 here this week. Each week we play, there's always pressure. I guarantee you none of our players say, said there's going to be more pressure. There's going to be a sense of urgency always. There's a lot of different scenarios. I think the focal point always is on the game you're playing. That's the one thing that, you know, that you can control. but yeah I look forward to having a good week we will have a full week you know today

Starting point is 00:19:15 will be much like a Monday tomorrow for us and our players will be like a Tuesday and then we get ready and go to work so it's the next challenge you know there'll be a number of things you learn from this game and then you move on not to be learned from a game like this especially for a young team I mean we called for it before this last week against the Chargers let's see Bo Nix eliminate the turnover again. Let's see Velae getting involved in the offense. Let's see Estime getting involved. I think we got that and some more, Cody, with Watson getting involved in the running game. Chris Abrams, Drain, getting it up-picked defensively. This young

Starting point is 00:19:52 team, man, I know they're catching a lot of flack right now because everybody wants the Broncos to win again. Everybody wants the Broncos back in the playoffs again. But these experiences are so huge. And there's no moral victories. There's none. I mean, if we missed the playoffs this year you missed a huge opportunity and these guys are going to have to own up to that. But man, what a what a situation before them to be able to go up against a guy like Burrow who's maybe in the MVP conversation and knock him and his team out of the postseason. That would be huge here. And it's going to be a tough test for the Broncos as we've highlighted as well.

Starting point is 00:20:23 I know there are a lot of Broncos fans are like, oh, the Bengals are terrible. The Bengals are much better than their record. And it's because of Joe Burrow. It's because of the weapons they have offensively. And if their defense is playing up to the standard, we used to see them play, this is a team that will probably be competing for the one seed right now. Just being honest with what they have there and since he with the weapons around him. I think that's a very fair take to kind of throw out here.

Starting point is 00:20:44 Obviously on today's episode show, but maybe part of the Broncos path to winning is going back to the run game in which was seemingly working the first half for them. Then they got away from some of the things that were working for them in the second half here. How can the Broncos maybe incorporate the run game? And what might the touch share look like between the Broncos running backs? We'll highlight that much more here on today's episode of the second. locked on Broncos.

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Starting point is 00:22:01 That's Fandul.com for your chance to win two hundred, $150 in bonus bets, make every moment more with Fanduil, an official sportsbook partner of the NFL. As we jump to the fourth quarter action on today's episode, Locked on Broncos, the run game could be a little bit of a formula that could help the Broncos secure a win on Saturday against the Bengals. And if they can find things that work, can they find a way to stick with it? That is the question that we'll leave here. So we'll continue on today's episode of the show here. Thanks once again, all the everydayers, first listeners in Broncos country for making the show

Starting point is 00:22:34 exactly what it is. Sarah, I found it interesting when we heard from Sean on Sunday morning. He was asked about the run game. He was asked about Adrick Estimate and how, you know, he's been very open about we want to get him more touches. Certainly we saw Audrey play really well. Here's what Sean had to say about the Broncos run game. I'm curious for your thoughts on everything afterwards because it kind of maybe sets up the possibility that we might see a little bit more Blake Watson as well.

Starting point is 00:23:01 Yeah, yeah, I think he has. I think he played well. I was encouraged with the physicality he ran with. And I think, you know, he'll only get better. So I was encouraged. Even Blake had some carries that were encouraging. So balancing that is going to be important for us here down the stretch. I know Peyton had made an interesting comment to Cody about really kind of getting away from basically the run game that was working in the second half.

Starting point is 00:23:29 So he did own up to that if people are wondering, like, hey, why has nobody asked? and Sean about the second half and things like that. I think he did own up to that and kind of kick himself a little bit after watching the tape and how Audrick was running physically in this game. I mean, we've talked about it. Five carries for 30 yards and a touchdown in the first half, followed by four pretty sporadic carries for 18 yards in the second half. Not enough volume.

Starting point is 00:23:52 Nine carries in the game for a guy that was, I mean, he looked like in the first half to me, Cody, like he was going to be rolling for 15 to 20 carries in the game, carrying defenders, leaning back and kind of using his strong legs to churn out extra yardage, even when he was getting contacted. I mean, it's everything that we had hoped for from Estimae, including taking care of the football. So I really hope that we do see a little bit more of these guys. It's going to be fascinating if Jalal McLaughlin, his status for the game, like, what does that do about Blake Watson?

Starting point is 00:24:23 Do you just take his carries and touches off the table? Because I saw the explosiveness from Blake Watson and the ability in the past game as well. part of me also wonders too i know you don't want to get too creative you don't want to get too ahead of yourself here in these final two games especially when hey like i i know broncos fans are excited a lot of people have told me a lot of fans have replied to me that hey i'm just excited that they they've got a winning season so are we i think it's great it's a step in the right direction they've exceeded all expectations but it's like the playoffs they're right there and the one thing i don't want the broncos to do is make brash decisions at a point where

Starting point is 00:25:00 you're trying to make the playoffs right now i think going forward after the season i think that running back room next year is going to look drastically different sir we all know givante is going to be an unrestricted free agent we'll see if the brachos bring him back but a part of me is thinking that they may be looking to jillilil mclaughlin adrake estimate blake watson tyler bidet who will be back with them next season as well there are so many different things in play right here for this but i i think the run game this week against the bangles i mean this is an opportunity for them to try to go out there and win the game, right? What do we talk about here?

Starting point is 00:25:33 And this was something that they did against the charges. I felt like was the impressive part in the first half. They had 10 play, 12 play drives. It took five minutes off of the clock and they ended in touchdowns. Like that right there is a formula for winning. And the run game was going. It wasn't just Bo Nix, finding Cortland Sutton a couple of times. It was, hey, you're getting some big runs.

Starting point is 00:25:52 You're getting some impact plays from Giovante Williams in the passing game. You're getting him rattling off a nice run. Adric Estimate. And then Blake Watson coming in. Do you change the running back rotation right now, or do you keep running the hot hand, which I think is Estime, Watson, and even Giovante at this point.

Starting point is 00:26:09 Like, Javante is going to have a role because they're going to try to get whatever they can out of him at this point. But in terms of the value, he brings in the past protection game. I felt like this last game against the charges, Javante earned, you know, once again, I think he earned any push and he fought for his spot.

Starting point is 00:26:22 But do you change it this late in this season? I'm very curious about it. Well, I think what you've suggested this before, or Cody that maybe Giovante plays a similar role to what we saw from Samajai P. Ryan last year, where two minute drill or when you're in obvious passing situations, you're kind of trying to hurry up the offense a little bit. Like he's probably your most effective back when it comes to that. And so I would definitely say that's his role going forward because we've seen when you need

Starting point is 00:26:50 chunk plays on the ground and you just want to run your bread and butter running game. I mean, that's not Giovante right now. I haven't seen it. And I think you haven't seen it either. It just hasn't been there. He's made plays. And to his credit, against obviously the Chargers, there was some more plays than Meet the Eye by Giovante Williams in that game.

Starting point is 00:27:10 But you've got to roll with Audric Estimate. He's beating these six yards of carry in the first half of that game. I mean, we talk about nine carries for, what, 48 yards on the game? I mean, that's efficiency on the ground that you love to see over five yards of carry. He's gaining yardage after contact. You are finishing drives when you were feeding him. in particular. That's the thing that I think is most eye-opening, Cody,

Starting point is 00:27:34 is that the Broncos three-for-three on those first three drives in terms of getting touchdowns. And that was when you were really featuring Estimé in the offensive game plan as a runner on the ground. So that to me is your biggest evidence yet that, all right, we wanted a sustainable running game. We found it. And for some reason, in the second half, we were up by 11 points.

Starting point is 00:27:55 I mean, we kind of went away from it. It was their best operational sequence of the year in that. first half the first three drives you know obviously the Atlanta game was very good for the offense but in terms of what Denver was able to do in those first three drives okay hey now you're up 21 to 10 okay that's a great thing to have I will push back a little bit because Sean also said he read a lot of stuff after the game about how the decision to you know like the fair catch kick thing the decision not to run the clock out how that altered momentum he said he thought it was garbage I'll push back a little bit I I understood like Denver came out a half time they kicked a

Starting point is 00:28:29 Philgo to get that 11 point lead back. But I'm just saying like you got guys like Jim Harbaugh on his post game press conference saying, hey, that really changed things for us. Like it gave the Chargers belief, right? And that's where I think things got away. Ultimately, three points. Denver got it back as we talked about. I still felt like that play altered the momentum and maybe the trajectory because then

Starting point is 00:28:50 Denver had that one drive in which Sean himself said, I felt like that really changed things for us. The three and out that they had in back-to-back drives that the Chargers had touchdowns. I found that to be a little interesting. That was interesting to hear him say that it was garbage. You can't help but think who is he talking about? Who is he listening to or reading your stuff? Mark Kisla put out a pretty like scathing, like scathing, not skeething,

Starting point is 00:29:14 scathing type of piece about that decision. And yeah, I think primarily that was it. But I know you and I talked about it. And I wrote about it as well, I just said altered the momentum. So I don't think he was saying my notion was garbage. We'll see. Yeah. No, I don't think any of our.

Starting point is 00:29:29 takes were garbage on it because you mean you look at that play that was a pretty big turning point in the game in terms of you just had an interception from chris abram's drain and then you had time on the clock i mean bow nicks talked about it after the game he's like i'm pretty sure all 32 teams in the nfl in that sort of situation they're trying to score and i i agree like yeah we've seen the broncos take that aggressive approach all season long it's not it's nothing new they are looking to get bow nicks and the offense as many opportunities with the ball because this two-minute office offense that Denver has, it's very, very good. But when the, when the first play failed for you, and then you threw the incomplete pass, things kind of started to unravel a little bit there.

Starting point is 00:30:08 And, and that's why it became such a big momentum shifter. It wasn't the decision to try to score points. I don't think anybody, oh, well, I shouldn't say, I don't think anybody. I'm sure people who understand how the Broncos have operated all year. Yeah. Like, hey, this team tries to go get points at the end of the half. And I thought that's what they were, I thought that's what they were going do after the interception. I'm like, all right, how much time left on the clock? Okay, Bonix, they got plenty of time. You got two timeouts. Go get another three or at least three, right? And so that's the mentality. And so I agree with that. And I just, I don't, I don't agree that it wasn't a, you know, momentum shifting sequence, though. I think it was very much so a momentum

Starting point is 00:30:49 shifting sequence. I know you got the points back. But at that point, you should have been up by more. I mean, somebody pointed this out to me, Cody. The Broncos, they, they, yeah, they got their 11 point lead back, but it should have been a 14 point lead at a minimum, you know, when you talk about giving that field goal at the end of the first half to the charger. So in a game like this, where you were down by 10 late, I mean, that three points would have been a huge difference. Yeah, I know that got pointed out there, you know, quite a bit. And look, I think, especially with Denver getting the ball to start the second half, you try to get another score. I mean, that's why Denver defers most of the time because they believe like, hey, we believe we can get the ball in the

Starting point is 00:31:25 final two minutes of a half, right? Or end a game situation. But, But for us to come out and get the ball in the second half, we have a chance to double our points or stack things up. That's the mentality that Sean Payton has. And I like the aggressive approach. And just once again, like I said, I think we can agree on that. It did just alter the momentum. And certainly it led to a tail of two halves, so to speak there,

Starting point is 00:31:47 especially when your defense, like if it's a 14 point game, it's different because then it's like, okay, maybe the charters don't go for two at that point. And maybe, you know, maybe it's a tie game. And then things balance out a little bit. after that. I mean, that's how I looked at it. And certainly we can look back on this Chargers game and be like, man, it was awful. But now we're going to hit that, you know, we're going to go to the toilet. We're going to flush the Chargers game down. Okay, it's done. It's over.

Starting point is 00:32:10 Now you can't let those same mistakes hinder you against the Cincinnati Bengals here this week. When you're in, the Broncos, they are in control of their playoff destiny. And one thing, you are in control of Broncos country, making sure you're an everyday listener here of the podcast. We'll be back tomorrow for a brand new episode show. We're going to throw some mailbag questions as well. and if there's any Broncos-related news, you know you're going to get that here on the show. Plus this week, you can look forward to Sarah Bedinger sitting down with Jake Liskow of Lockdown Bengals

Starting point is 00:32:35 to record the crossover show. It'll be there for you on Thursday following Christmas Day. We will not have a Christmas Day episode for you as well. Spent time with your family. And then we'll also have another final game preview for you on Friday before Denver plays the Bengals in the biggest game of the year on Saturday. We have you covered every step of the way here. Lockdown Broncos.

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