Locked On Broncos - Daily Podcast On The Denver Broncos - Denver Broncos GROUND CONTROL Key To FAST START vs. Titans

Episode Date: September 1, 2025

The Denver Broncos biggest key to a fast start vs. the Tennessee Titans is a ground control offense and smothering defense early on. How can Talanoa Hufanga and Jonathon Cooper have an impact against ...Cam Ward on Sunday. Plus, why must the Broncos avoid the trap of overlooking the Titans. Cody Roark and Sayre Bedinger kick off the week with a Broncos Country Mailbag. Cody Roark is a credentialed beat reporter for Mile High Sports and covers the Broncos daily in person. Sayre Bedinger is the site expert for Predominantly Orange. Both bring Broncos Country the most in-depth and objective coverage of the Denver Broncos. WANT MORE DAILY DENVER BRONCOS CONTENT?For all of the latest Denver Broncos news today -- Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOBroncos?sid=YouTube Locked On NFL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft & More🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNFL Follow on Twitter: @CodyRoarkNFL and @SayreBedingerFollow the show on Twitter: @LockedOnBroncos Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!DoorDashWith DoorDash Streaks, you save every Saturday you order — stack it up all season and you could save up to $250. Order this Saturday. Keep the streak alive. Fuel your gameday — only with DoorDash. Terms apply. Promo period through 11/18. Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNFL at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnfl for 50% off your first year. UpsideDon’t let this offer drive on by, download the free Upside app now using my limited time promo code TOUCHDOWN for a limited time 25 cent per gallon bonus! Offers vary by user and location, Go to upside.com for terms and conditions.Click Here to download the app: https://getupside.onelink.me/zlLr?af_xp=custom&pid=barrington&c=barrington_lockedon25&deep_link_value=promo&deep_link_sub1=lockedon25&af_dp=upsideapp%3A%2F%2F Yahoo FantasyPresented by YahooFantasy #YahooPartner. Draft now at https://yahoofantasy.com/lockedonnfl. PrizePicksDownload the PrizePicks app today and use code LOCKEDONNFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. GametimeDownload 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. FanDuelRight now, new customers can bet just FIVE dollars and if your bet wins—you’ll get THREE HUNDRED dollars in bonus bets to use across the app. 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
Discussion (0)
Starting point is 00:00:00 The Denver Broncos must get off to a fast start this week against the Tennessee Titans, and ground control is the key. We'll highlight that much more here on today's episode, Locked on Broncos. You are Locked on Broncos, your daily Denver Broncos podcast, part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. Broncos country, the moment you've been waiting for is here. It is game week here. Welcome into another episode, Lockdown Broncos, your daily Denver Broncos podcast,
Starting point is 00:00:33 part of the lockdown podcast, never agree. You know, it's your team every day. Today's episode of the show, we're going to go through it. We're going to break down the Broncos biggest key to getting off to a fast start and why it's really ground control and how they can take advantage of the Tennessee Titans. We'll also talk about how players like Talanoa Hu Fonga and Jonathan Cooper defensively could have the biggest impact from the Broncos this week and why the Broncos must avoid the trap of overlooking the team that had the number one overall pick last season.
Starting point is 00:01:02 We'll look at all that here on today's episode of the show brought to you by our friends over there at the Game Time app. Download Game Time app, create an account and use code locked on NFL for $20 off your first purchase. Thanks to all the everydayers out there on Broncos country. Thanks for making us your first listen, however you choose to do. So if you're not in everydayer, become one. I'm Cody Roark, Broncos reporter from Mile High Sports, joined as always by Sarah Bedinger, site expert over there, predominantly orange. Sarah, game week is here. Broncos country is excited about it.
Starting point is 00:01:29 We are jacked up for it. The Broncos kickoff on Sunday. I tell you what, we open things up in our Monday mailbag for all the avid listeners out there in Broncos country. And we got a really good question sent in on how the Broncos can get off to a fast start this week against Tennessee. Yeah, I love it, Cody. I think starting fast is kind of the mantra for this team because last year, obviously, they started O and 2. And yes, that did lead to the great moment against Tampa Bay. And shout out to there was a video made about the turning point that was at Tampa Bay game.
Starting point is 00:01:59 So shout out to that video that included us in it. That was pretty cool to see. But also, Cody, I think that you want the turning point this year to not have to be something like that to say, hey, you know, we had a dramatic turnaround after starting Owen 2. The Broncos, they don't want to do that because obviously you start off the season with two AFC opponents. Those wins, regardless of the quality of the opponent, like you said, Titans got the number one pick in the draft this past year. The Colts are not expected to be very good. But at the same time, those are two AFC opponents that will count heavily towards the Broncos ability. to make it to the postseason later on in the year.
Starting point is 00:02:35 So, yes, getting off to a fast start is critical in terms of wins and losses. But how are they going to do it on the field? Well, I feel like really no three and outs, Cody, on the first drive. That's how you start fast, as you get things going offensively, and you make sure that you're not in a funk right away, because that's the last thing the fans in Denver are going to want to see, right? It's to see the offense come out. The excitement is hot.
Starting point is 00:02:58 I don't know if they're wearing the throwbacks for week one. That's a rumor that's out there. but man, nobody's going to want to see these guys rocking the throwbacks or whatever it is they're wearing out there and getting a three and out offensively to start the game. So I think that's my biggest thing on offense to start fast. No three and outs. Now does that mean you get a first down and then you punt? Absolutely now. We want to take the ball down the field and score right away.
Starting point is 00:03:20 Yes. I'm with you. Like that's the thing. Coming out and having an opening drive touchdown to start the season at home, there's nothing bigger than that. I wish I had the memory that a good friend Andrew Mason does because I'm trying to remember. remember when was the last time the Broncos had a home game where they opened things up, marched down the field. Was it when Russell Wilson was the quarterback and it was against the Raiders week one a couple of years ago?
Starting point is 00:03:41 I can't remember. I don't want to sell it short, but that's kind of where I'm thinking there. But I agree, like that's got to be the biggest thing here for the offense because last year they were one of the teams that led the league in three and outs. That was a recipe for kind of disaster. And, you know, you couldn't sustain, you know, over the course of an entire game momentum when you get the ball, you punt it, your defense is on the field. for let's say nine or 10 plays.
Starting point is 00:04:04 Maybe they give up a field goal. Maybe they force a miss. And then all of a sudden, your offense is back out there. They go another three and out. Your defense is still tired. So it's about being able to kind of support the other side of the ball there. I'm going to,
Starting point is 00:04:13 I agree with you on that. I think one of the bigger keys to offensively here has to be a ground and pound run game, right? What better formula in today's NFL? And we've seen teams win Super Bowls by doing it. I think you can make the argument to Super Bowl 50 Broncos team. Their strength wasn't in the passing game necessarily, was the ground game with Ronnie Hillman, C.J. Anderson, but they also had a smothering defense, right? So for me, it's kind of on offense, a ground and pound run game here with J.K. Dobbins, R.J. Harvey,
Starting point is 00:04:42 a sprinkle or two of Jellum McLaughlin and or Tyler Badee. We'll see what that rotation looks like in this game. And then smothering ball control defense. That is the key to getting off to a fast start here. And I say both of those sides complement one another relatively well. What do we see in the preseason for the Broncos? It was, hey, we are running the ball. dominating the time of possession and our defense was smothering.
Starting point is 00:05:04 Can that carry over here into the regular season? That's going to be one of the bigger keys here. 100%. And that's exactly what we want to see is this, this complimentary style of football and what basically everybody has been saying about the Denver Broncos this offseason and how different it was from last year where they're the embarrassment of the league, all this dead cap, that's the focus, worst roster in the league. Now we're talking about a lot of people are saying this might be the most balanced
Starting point is 00:05:30 roster in the NFL, which is kind of a crazy difference, but go out there and prove it right, right? Go out there and be that balanced team. Like we talked about, you know, you don't want to have three-outs offensively. Defense, it's the opposite. Get the heck off the field or get a turnover, right? Cam Ward's life miserable out there. We'll talk about that later on in the week when we get into keys to victory and stuff, because that's one of my favorite keys, honestly, every single week. Spoiler alert to all those out there who have never tuned in for a season. That's one of my keys almost every week is make the opposing quarterback's life miserable because if you're doing that, you're more likely going to win the majority of your games, to be honest.
Starting point is 00:06:08 And, well, that's why the Broncos, they led the league in sacks last year. They end up winning 10 games. I think that's a testament right there, getting to the quarterback matters. So get off the field quickly. I think that's obviously to get off to a fast start. You want to see the, just everything clicking right away, offensively, defensively, on special teams, whatever it may be. Shoot.
Starting point is 00:06:28 And I don't know if you could get any faster of a start. Cody, then can we see the opening kickoff taken back for a touchdown? I can't, you literally can't start faster than that. Unless we don't want to see that if the Titans are taking the first kickoff. But if the Broncos are, shoot, Mims, Badee, whoever's back there, take it to the house. That's how you really start fast. And that would be exhilarating. And look, that right there, we talk about the momentum, swinging the NFL, which is a very real thing.
Starting point is 00:06:53 To be able to be at home and to march down the field, whether you're on offense and score a touchdown there, it puts more pressure on the opposing team that's coming in. And now they have to deal with the loud noise, as we know, especially at Empower Field, it gets rocking there. In the press box on third down, the stadium shakes. I'll set a water bottle down on my desk and I'll look at it as it's third down. And it's shaking. It's almost like there's an earthquake here.
Starting point is 00:07:15 This is one of the better environments to be in all the National Football League, come off, get to a fast start here at home. And I would say, too, get off to a fast start and sustain that, right? Like, we've seen it in the past. We can go back to Sean Payton's first year. against the Washington commanders. The Broncos get off to a 21 to 3 lead. They get off to the fastest start you could think of,
Starting point is 00:07:35 and then they collapse and completely give up that game at home to Sam Howell and company, Scary Terry. Like that was not a very good moment here. So can you flip the script a little bit? Because the Broncos issue, as you pointed out earlier, has been getting off to fast starts. You know, 1 in 5 and Sean Payton's first year. You start off 0 and 2 last year before you go on,
Starting point is 00:07:55 you win against Tampa Bay. You go on and you win against obviously the New York. Jets to kind of go two and two. If Denver could just focus on getting off to a fast start, winning that first game of the season, because then you got two straight road games. Then the schedule gets really tough. Like the toughest part of Denver schedule has to be in this first half part of the entire schedule before they're by. So you don't want to get into a trap where you fall down behind. You can't get off to a fast start.
Starting point is 00:08:18 And now you have one of the tougher uphill climbs, I think, in the NFL from a schedule standpoint. The Broncos, they got to lock in and get off to a fast start. Thank you to the question. I was sent it there from our good friend John over there on whether or not if the Broncos are going to start fast, what does that look like? Let us know if we missed anything here. Make sure you share your thoughts on what a fast start for the Broncos would look like here and Sunday's home opener against the Tennessee Titans.
Starting point is 00:08:41 The Broncos country coming up next. Our next Melbag question asks who can be an impact player on the defensive side of the ball against the Tennessee Titans. We'll tell you why Jonathan Cooper and Talano Oufanga might be the two players to watch here on today's episode of the show. Today's Locked on Broncos podcast is brought to you my friends over there. at the game time at the NFL season is back. And honestly, there's nothing better than being in the stadium,
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Starting point is 00:10:39 So you want to go check that out and all the other cool player props that they have that you might be interested in. So are you ready to play? Download the Fandual app now by visiting Fandual.com to get started. That's Fandual.com to place your first $5 bet. Denver Broncos defensive players got to make life miserable for rookie quarterback Cam Ward. And Cody and I have a couple of guys in mind that we feel like can really make this a special season opener defensively for the Denver Broncos. And Broncos country, we're going to talk a little bit more about Talanoa, Hufanga, Jonathan Cooper, and maybe a couple of other guys here on today's episode.
Starting point is 00:11:14 But want to say thank you once again to every single one of you for listening to Lockdown Broncos, for watching on YouTube if you choose to do so. however you choose to partake in the show, we appreciate you for subscribing, take a couple of seconds, do that wherever you listen, or on YouTube if you haven't done so already. Cody,
Starting point is 00:11:30 let's talk about our favorite defensive players to, I guess, make the biggest impact, a question coming from Dennis. And I'm excited about this question because obviously the Broncos, they're expected to have one of the best defenses in the NFL, but who's going to make the biggest impact in this particular game?
Starting point is 00:11:47 Because I think everybody kind of expects they're going to make life hard on the rookie quarterback, who's going to be key to doing that? I know you and I both have our picks and we have our reasonings. Yeah, I mean, it's tough when you look at it because we don't know exactly who or what Cam Ward truly looks like. We can go back and pull up the college tape of Cam Ward and see how he was. So what does that look like from the standpoint of how are you going to come in and make a rookie's life miserable? Kind of the way that Seattle did to Bo Nix last year. I mean, they threw a bunch of different looks at Bo last season and it was creating a lot of questions
Starting point is 00:12:21 on. They sent a lot of pressure his way. They disguised their coverages really well. We know that the Broncos, they kind of fit that criteria. They will pressure a lot. They will disguise their coverages. That's a very, very important part of their identity. But which players can we expect to maybe kind of be under the microscope here? I think it would be easy for us to say, okay, hey, we're going to look at Pat Certan. He's going to lock down their best receiver. Okay, that's great. But I think when we talk about players who I think can have an early impact in this game, whether it be a big hit, whether it be something across the middle of the field.
Starting point is 00:12:51 Going back and watching Cam War over the preseason, there was a couple throws he made across the middle. I was like, oh, that's a nice throw there from the rookie QB. So for me, I'm going to go with Talenoa Hu Fonga here, a guy who I think will roam around down in the box a little bit from time to time. I think he can kind of play that lurker role a little bit because the Broncos, you know that they roll their safety. They always show a too high shell.
Starting point is 00:13:12 They'll drop guys down. They'll roll guys to the middle, both will play over the top. I think Talano Hufanga, whether it be Cam, we're trying to, to get tricky across the middle. I think Taleno Hu Fonga could come up with an interception this week, or he can deliver one of those big hits across the middle, maybe dislodges the football and allows the Broncos defense to recover it. For me, I feel like Talano Hufanga can be the impact player here for the Broncos
Starting point is 00:13:33 defensively this week. Now, where are you going with this? Because once again, we have the luxury of saying, we already know who the starting defense is. We know who the guys are going to rotate in. So there are plenty of options here that we can look at when it comes to this question from Dennis. Yeah, I really love the pick of Talano Hufanga.
Starting point is 00:13:50 I think what I'm most excited about for your pick there before I get into mind, Cody, is just that, you know, my favorite way to think about him is it feels like you've got 12 guys when he's out there on the field for your defense because he is everywhere all at once, right? So I'm excited to see what kind of impact he can make, but also a guy that I feel like I don't really personally talk about a ton on this show and deserves more love, at least from my end, is Jonathan Cooper. And I feel like Jonathan Cooper is one of the more underrated players on this Denver Broncos defense. Obviously hit double-digit sacks last year for the first time in his career.
Starting point is 00:14:25 And, you know, we're really excited about his development, his progression, the fact that he got a contract extension. But man, he's just that he's so consistent that he's one of those guys you don't really think about, you know, all that much because you don't worry about Jonathan Cooper. You know, it's just like we don't always talk about Pat Sertan on the show until we get to the crossover. episodes where that's everybody's focus because he's the best player on Denver's roster. But with Jonathan Cooper, he's kind of that way for us. It's like we don't talk about him a ton because you don't really ever have to worry about Jonathan Cooper. He does his job extremely well.
Starting point is 00:15:01 I think this is a game where we're going to see him just make some splash plays, Cody. I'm thinking like if we're going bold predictions already, I'm getting in bold prediction mode right now. I'm saying like two or three sacks from Jonathan Cooper in this game. and having just a heyday out there, that zero is going to live rent-free in Cam Ward's nightmares. I think Jonathan Cooper is going to have a big game. Coop, there it is.
Starting point is 00:15:25 And I'll tell you maybe something that could play out that I think will play into your prediction here or your player to watch here. Because I always think about it this way. We've seen a lot in practice, even in some of the preseason games, where we haven't seen in the preseason specifically with Drake Greenlaw. But when times at practice, we've seen Dre Greenlaw on the field, There's times where it's Nick Benito, Zach Allen, Dre Greenlaw on one side of the field. If you're an offensive coordinator, do you feel like you're going to want to run to Benito,
Starting point is 00:15:52 Zach Allen and Dre Greenlaw side of the field? That's where it opens things up for Jonathan Cooper to be this guy like, all right, if you guys don't want to run that way, try running my way. And I will say one thing we've seen from Coop here all throughout training camp and even in the preseason, the guy's been setting the edge like a madman. He doesn't let anybody get outside of him. He plays it very disciplined. This is something that they work on with that position groups,
Starting point is 00:16:13 specifically an individual period, they're always working on contain. They're always doing individual drills that have an emphasis on that. I think that's going to be important because you also have to factor in the equation. Cam Ward is a quarterback. They could do read option with him. They could do some QB pull, quarterback counter where they pull the guard and the tackle to be able to free him up.
Starting point is 00:16:32 Jonathan Cooper is the guy that I trust to demolish that or at least what you talk about on edge contain. Attack that outside shoulder. Keep your outside shoulder free if you are Jonathan Cooper. attack, like said, attack that outside shoulder, the offensive tackle. Force everything back inside where, guess what? You have help. You have Talano, Hufanga, Brandon Jones, Alex Singleton, Dre Greenlaw,
Starting point is 00:16:52 forced it back to those guys there. And I guarantee you the Broncos will have a great chance of smothering the Titans offense. But once again, it's going to be tricky. It ain't easy, but it's just about consistency there. And I think that's a key that will make your player prediction kind of come to life a little bit. Yeah, I think so too.
Starting point is 00:17:09 It's just exactly what you said, setting the edge. and really being that consistent factor in that regard, because it kind of takes away the running game, you know, for the Tennessee Titans potentially. And when you take away the running game for a team, you make them one dimensional. That really plays into the Broncos biggest strength, doesn't it?
Starting point is 00:17:27 Where you can pin your ears back, you get long down in distance, you get a rookie quarterback in an environment where he can't even hear the play calls coming in, and now all of a sudden he's having to possibly go from his first to a second read. It's just, it's an overwhelming thing to even think about, much less have a quarterback being that moment. Cody, I can't think of many rookie quarterbacks that have been able, the couple of guys who come to mind, I came to Denver and like
Starting point is 00:17:51 as rookies or as young players who like actually played awesome. I'm thinking of like Gardner Minshu in 2019. I think of Teddy Bridgewater back in 2015. I know Teddy wasn't a rookie in 2015, but you know, those two guys really come to mind. I know I'm sure there's other young quarterbacks that have played well in Denver, but it's just tough early in the year. You're going up against a defense like this where you already don't want to be throwing that Pat Sartan side. Now you got Jonathan Cooper breathing down your neck. You got Hufanga lurking around.
Starting point is 00:18:20 I mean, it's an exciting time for Denver Broncos fans. When you think about this defensive depth chart, the personnel, we got to the regular season healthy. And dang it, those guys are going to go out there and make some plays. And I don't want to see any of this crap that we saw in the preseason where a big play to, you know, from Mack Jones to whoever receiver. X or whoever's not even on their team probably anymore or not going to play. Get these guys out there and go make some plays and go take the ball, just like
Starting point is 00:18:46 Von Miller in the Super Bowl, go literally take the ball out of his hands. I can't wait to see what these guys are going to do. Broncos Country, make sure you let us know which defensive player you feel like could have the biggest impact this week against Cam Ward and the Tennessee Titans. We have you covered all week long with game preview action. Crossover Thursday returns this week. It's going to be a fun time here at the lockdown podcast number.
Starting point is 00:19:06 But coming up next, Broncos Country, we'll tell you why the Broncos. We'll tell you why the Broncos must avoid the trap of looking at the Titans, like they were the number one team picking in the NFL draft last year. It is a new year and they have a new quarterback, and that could be a game changer for them. We'll talk about that and much more here on today's episode of the show. This episode is presented by Yahoo Fantasy. The NFL season is right around the corner and you can feel the buzzed with week one
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Starting point is 00:20:24 Draft now at Yahoo Fantasy.com slash locked on NFL. That's Yahoo! Fantasy.com slash locked on NFL. Today show is also brought to you by our friends over there at Monarch Money. Most people can't name all of their financial accounts or even what they're worth, whether it's 401k's properties or investments. And when you don't have the full picture, you can end up leaving money on the table. Don't do that.
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Starting point is 00:21:42 but as we've all seen, a year can change a lot of things. And the Debra Broncos must avoid the trap of looking at Tennessee, like they were the bottom dwellers of the National Football League. And experience is something that plays into their hand. This upcoming season, we'll highlight it all here on today's episode of the show. Ser, this question comes in from Rico. He says and asks the question, what is the trap? that Denver has to avoid this week.
Starting point is 00:22:06 Sarah, I think it's very easy. It's easy to look at Tennessee last year, see where they're at, see that they picked first overall and that they landed Cam Ward. It's easy to say, okay, hey, well, you know, they were at the bottom of the league last year. That is the line of thinking that can always come up and haunt you to start an NFL season, particularly week one, because as we've highlighted, and we've noted here, historically,
Starting point is 00:22:26 what happened last year really doesn't apply to the new year. It's any given Sunday. 100%, especially with a team like the Titans that, look, if you're Cam Ward, I know we talked about the Broncos defense kind of making life tough for him. And we do hope that they do that. But if you're Cam Ward, you're the number one pick in the draft, nobody's expecting anything out of the Titans this year. I mean, literally, I've not heard anybody say, hey, the Titans could be a little bit of a sleeper. Hey, the Titans could be this year's version of the commanders. Like, nobody is saying that stuff. So you don't even have to be in front of your home crowd.
Starting point is 00:22:59 You're the number one pick. Nobody's expecting anything out of you. You're the biggest, underdog of the week, like we talked about seven and a half point underdogs on Fanduil, you're playing with house money out there, man. And when a quarterback in the NFL is playing with house money, Cody, that's a dangerous deal because then you put a lot of pressure on the other team, like you're forcing them to make mistakes, you know? And I just think the Broncos need to keep the pedal to the medal in this game because you can't overlook any team,
Starting point is 00:23:28 much less a team like the Titans that they're an experienced roster too. I think that's something that a lot of folks really don't talk about. And it's not the best attribute of their team. But yeah, they do have a lot of experienced guys. They're an older roster, which might not be good for the five-year window, but it might be good for a one game window. So it's something that you definitely can't overlook. And I also think it's a benefit to a young quarterback as well.
Starting point is 00:23:52 I mean, even look at Denver last year, having an experienced roster for the most far. Of course, you had some young guys all around Bow Nicks. But, I mean, you look at the names and some of the veteran guys that are around, you know, Cam Ward offensively, I think we could take a look at Tony Pollard. You look at Van Jefferson, Tyler Lockett, and Calvin Ridley is evolving a little bit more. You know, and former Bronco Lloyd Cushingberry is going to return. But, you know, they've made improvements to their offensive line here.
Starting point is 00:24:17 They have good pieces around him. And defensively, they also have a lot of experiences. So Sebastian Joseph Day, Devonre's sweat, obviously going into his second year. Jeffrey Simmons, we all know who he is. Arden Key, we know who he is. Cody Barton and Draymont Jones, two former Broncos with experience that are starting. for them. We know who they are, Amani Hooker, Xavier Woods, and even have quandre digs at the safety positions. And Ligerius Sneed at corner, I know he's working his way back from the injury.
Starting point is 00:24:40 We'll see if he plays this week and week one. But this is a team that has some good experience offensively and defensively that can maybe help you navigate the ups and downs, the highs and lows of having a rookie quarterback. To me, you know, if you're the Broncos, you want to come into this game confident. You want to come in and have the mindset, hey, he's a rookie. Let's make him look like a rookie, but you also can't overlook the fact that he is a rookie. That's the challenge of the NFL, but that's why we tune in. That's why we love it because there is always this intrigue and this mystery. We just hope that the Broncos aren't on the receiving end of the wrong side of it. Yeah, exactly. You don't want to be going after the game and hearing all these other talking heads
Starting point is 00:25:16 being like, wait, why were we saying that stuff about the Broncos? They just lost to the Titans. You know what I'm saying? We don't want to be having those discussions or we don't want to be having to say like, oh, it was only one game or, you know, oh, yeah, we told you to expect this from a rookie. QB. Like obviously, anything can happen in the NFL. There's no question about that. And there's a reason why they play the games.
Starting point is 00:25:36 There's a reason why it's not just, well, yeah, the Broncos are more talented. So obviously give them the, I mean, you have to go out there and prove it. And I think for the Broncos and the fan base,
Starting point is 00:25:46 it's really difficult to accept this idea that a team is good enough in Denver right now to be the biggest favorite of the entire weekend. And I think that's, that's what scares people. it was like the last 10 years, we've had no reason to believe that any team that we've had is, because last year,
Starting point is 00:26:04 Cody, what was, I think Fanduel had the Broncos as favorites like two or three times or it was a ridiculously low number. So like last year, it was kind of nice being the underdog every week. Nobody's expecting anything out of you. You don't have to worry about the public perception is that you're going to be bad.
Starting point is 00:26:20 So if you're bad, nobody's going to really care. But now that the public perception is that you're good. Now if you're bad, everybody's going to care. And it's, you got to go to the water cooler. You got to go to the office. You got to listen to Sports Talk Radio.
Starting point is 00:26:32 You got to wait a week between games. I just think that this is one of those situations of the Broncos cannot get into a spot where, man, they are playing on their heels. Yeah, folks, I'm telling you, don't listen to Sports Talk Radio. That's, it gets your brain. Listen to the lockdown podcast and we're local experts on the biggest stories with everything you need. And look, and surrounding all the hype around Denver this off season, I think the hype is deserved. You know, 100%. They're a team that's ascending.
Starting point is 00:26:56 They're a team that's rising. think the team also understands that, but with that comes the realization, you don't have it made. You haven't done anything yet. So as a team, you have to go out there and prove it. And so what does that mean this week against Tennessee? Do what you should against a team like Tennessee. You know, that rookie quarterback. Yes, they got some veteran experienced pieces around him that should help make them a little bit more competitive than maybe what we saw last year. But the Broncos, they should take care of business and do exactly what's expected than which, according to our friends over there at Fandwell Sportsbook, they are 7.5.1.
Starting point is 00:27:28 home favorites against the Titans, which is the biggest discrepancy this week on all the lines. So that could change. That's also some pressure-filled expectations with that as well, because now you get all these betting sites that say, well, you know, Sean Payton is this and this against the spread when it's, you know, a week one opener. I've already seen that stuff. I hate it. I don't like it.
Starting point is 00:27:46 So go ahead. Take care of business against Tennessee the way you should. Who cares about the lines, but take care of business and make Cam Ward's life a little bit miserable. Welcome him to the NFL against what is expected to be. one of the top defenses in the National Football League this season. But with that said, Broncos country, that'll wrap up today's episode of the show. What is the number one trap you think the Broncos must avoid against the Tennessee Titans here this week?
Starting point is 00:28:11 What have you covered? Bringing you all the way up into game day when Denver kicks off against the Titans week one on Sunday. That's going to be a 2.15 p.m. mountain time kickoff. You get locked on Broncos posting coverage. But leading up to that, you get an episode every day, including the return of crossover Thursday this week. where we sit across from Lockdown Titans to preview this game specifically. Broncos Country will have you covered with all the practice news updates and more, including whether or not Marvin Mims is back on the field.
Starting point is 00:28:38 You can expect all that this week here on Lockdown Broncos part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. Broncos Country. We'll see you tomorrow.

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