Locked On Broncos - Daily Podcast On The Denver Broncos - KEEP ROLLING! Broncos Must Find a Way to Win 6th Straight vs. Texans

Starting point is 00:00:00 A couple of AFC teams trying to stay hot in the month of November. It's Broncos Texans on crossover Thursday. You are locked on NFL crossover. Part of the Locked on podcast network. Your team every day. Broncos fans, Texans fans, a lot to look forward to at the start of the month of November. The Broncos, they've won five straight games. The Texans, they've won three of their last four.

Starting point is 00:00:33 And these two teams, man, they're looking to. stay hot here. A couple of the best defenses in the NFL going up against each other. We'll talk some wide receiver corner matchups on this episode and obviously our keys to victory for both of these teams. Welcome into today's show. We're so excited to have all of you. It's always an honor and a privilege for us to get to do this. Thank you so much for making Locked on Broncos and Locked on Texans, your first listen of the day every single day. My name is Sarah Bedinger, co-hosts of Lockdown Broncos alongside John. Hickman, hosts of Locked on Texans.

Starting point is 00:01:07 And as always, crossover Thursday is presented by prize picks. Download the prize picks app today and use code locked on NFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. John, excited to see you again. I know we got to do this back in 2023 when Russ was still the QB of the Broncos. And, you know, that was. It was very, very different teams, right? I mean, the Broncos have transformed so much since.

Starting point is 00:01:35 that point, but I think a lot of Broncos country views that game as sort of the before and after with the Sean Payton Russell Wilson era, right? Because that was, the Broncos were kind of on the cusp of making a little playoff run at that time. The Texans were obviously one of the hotter teams in the league at that time. CJ Stroud's rookie year. But like you mentioned, these two teams are vastly different now. It's year three for both D'Amico Ryan's in Houston and now Sean Peyton in Denver. What's things looking like from Houston's perspective? And O-N-3 start. Now they're kind of one of the hotter, more dangerous teams in the league. Yeah, so they are trying to consistently, and this is what D'Amico Ryan says,

Starting point is 00:02:15 stat good days, right? They dug themselves into a O-N-3 hole to start the season. Obviously, that's an incredible difficult to climb yourself out of and then make the playoffs in an AFC right now that has teams like Indie leading the AFC side. We got New England leading the AFCEs. A lot of teams. somewhat virtually come out of nowhere in the AFC. So very competitive this year. And like you said, three out of the last four. Now who has Houston played?

Starting point is 00:02:45 They played a Tennessee Titan team that is a doormat for a lot of teams in the NFL right now. They played an extremely banged-up Lamar Jackson-less and a bad defense in Baltimore. But then they also took on San Fran this past Sunday. They beat a good San Fran. Well, coach San Frant, team, but they're down guys like Fray Warner, no Brock Purdy, no Brandon I.U., no Ricky Persia. So they're down a lot of guys as well, though Houston won it to their game down a few of their own men. So Houston right now, for a lot of fans, Bronco Country, a lot of swarmerers out here in Texas, Houston fans, they just want to see Houston be the team that's a worthy opponent, right? and a team that's won five games in a row for Denver,

Starting point is 00:03:36 that if Houston can pull it off, I think the conversations surrounding this franchise right now could be different because, oh, now you beat a team that's good, that doesn't have the injuries, that doesn't have bad coaching, that doesn't have bad coach or that's in the playoff race. So that's what a lot of Texas fans are looking forward to right now, and Sunday they'll get the opportunity to do it.

Starting point is 00:03:59 I think for Broncos country, it's how do you move forward without Pat Sertan, right? So the Broncos did not place Pat on injured reserve at this point. And that's great news because you feel like he's gunning to be back as soon as possible. He even kind of teased that on his own podcast. So he's talking about, you know, he'll be back out there sooner, sooner than you know, right? So the Pat Sertan injury looms large over this Broncos team because we haven't seen them play without him this season, right, other than a few snaps against, obviously, this past weekend when they beat the Dallas Cowboys. So they've got players that they believe can do it.

Starting point is 00:04:38 They've got players out there that they really like young corners. That's why he invests a first rounder in Jaday Barron. They love Chris Abrams Drain, a fifth round pick from 2024, who absolutely hook them horns, right, for Jada. And so they believe in the guys that they've got. And I think that another interesting wrinkle in this game is also the retirement. turn of Dre Greenlaw for that defense. And we've only got to see one game with this defense really at full strength. It came a couple weeks ago against the Giants, a crazy, crazy game in every way. Probably that's the game of a year candidate for sure.

Starting point is 00:05:13 Right. For sure. Yeah, 99.8% chance to lose at 26 to 8 or whatever it was in that game. So pretty crazy stuff. But I think that's the biggest storyline for Denver this week. And maybe even both teams is these defense. is going up against offenses with young quarterbacks, which defense can really flex its muscles?

Starting point is 00:05:34 That's a great talking point right there because I look at Houston's defense and what they're going to have to go up against. Number one, y'all get after the quarterback. It's like a religion now. Every Sunday you pray, right? You eat your pregame meal. You come together as a family. You pray to the football guys.

Starting point is 00:05:56 and then they bless you with fact. I think you guys are averaging four sacks a game, and I think, what is it, up to 35, 36 on the year. But on the flip side of that, the same prayers that the defense is having the office of Atlanta and said having the same thing. We don't want to have our quarterback sack. Only a sacks for Bow Nix on the year.

Starting point is 00:06:16 So that's a challenge for the Houston, Texas defense. Will Anderson, Denil Hunter. Now, have they went up against edge duos like that, or you look at who they went up against? in New York. New York, those guys were very great, maybe a little bit younger. Look at Abdul Carter, Tibado, and Brian Burns, who's been in the league for a while, but do they have the same impact as Will Anderson and a Danielle Hunter? So that's going to be a matcher that I'm looking forward to, but also just stopping y'all run,

Starting point is 00:06:45 five yards per carry. I think I started running back right now. He's at 5.6 yards per carry. You guys find ways to open up. Russian lanes, and that has helped, I think, tremendously with just bringing along Bo Nix. I'm not a big Bo Nix believer. I know you may be a bolliver, not me, but the run game, the offensive line does a great job of setting up Bo Nix to be successful. So how can Hughes' defense disrupt that?

Starting point is 00:07:16 That's a very interesting matchup that I'm looking forward to seeing this Sunday. Yeah, I can't wait to dive even a little bit deeper into the Edge v. O-Line match. matchups in this game as well. But you're right. I mean, I'm a bow lever. I know so many in Broncos country are boleaders. And I hope he coined that phrase because that's, I mean, that kind of plays right into it for him.

Starting point is 00:07:38 Yeah, he's got to have some kind of trademark on that, right? I mean, you got to believe, right? So that's where Broncos country is out, though, right now is we've now seen Bo Nix for 25 games in the NFL. And he's got more touchdowns. I think three or four other guys through their first 25 games in NFL history. And so he's he's getting the job done in clutch moments. He's definitely not a fully refined product at this point. He tried a little no look past last week that resulted in

Starting point is 00:08:08 his first interception and, you know, about a month. And so he's not immune from making mistakes, but he is the type of guy who, like you mentioned, he doesn't take a lot of sacks. He doesn't really put the ball in harm's way all that often. So how can Houston maybe kind of force the issue there? That's what they're going to try to do with their edge duo, which, to your point, I think that's one of the best edge duos in the NFL right now, if not the best in O'Bronco's country. We like Nick Benito and Jonathan Cooper. We like our guys. It's going to be bad for Houston.

Starting point is 00:08:38 It could get tough for Houston. You got a great duo up there in different. Yeah, exactly. And that's where this matchup could be one, right, is which of these two duos can make the most plays? And we're going to break that down as well as some wide receiver cornerback matchups in this game. No PS2, but Derek Stingley Jr. He might be right on his heels anyway as the best cornerback in the NFL. And then the Broncos breaking in their young guys against the Texans receiver room that might be getting some reinforcements this week. We'll talk all about it coming up

Starting point is 00:09:07 next on today's crossover Thursday edition. Locked on Broncos, locked on Texans. The expectation is that this is going to be a low scoring game between the Broncos and the Texans, a defensive battle, but the playmakers, they're still going to have to come out and make plays. We're going to talk Broncos receivers versus obviously the Houston corners and then vice versa, which which side is going to get the upper hand in this matchup. We're going to break it all down on today's crossover Thursday edition. Locked on Broncos, locked on Texans. Thank you once again to all of you that make us your first listen of the day every single

Starting point is 00:09:38 day. We really appreciate you so much for doing so. John, I want to throw this to you. Let's talk about matchups in this game. Receivers versus corners, edge rushers versus O tackles. I mean, take your pick here. this is going to be a really, really great game with matchups within the matchups, if you will. Yeah, absolutely.

Starting point is 00:10:00 Drake Greenlaw is coming back. So at that second level, curious to see what his impact is going to look like for the linebacker room. Because last week, you know, Fred Warner for his son, Fran was out. And then we see CJ Stroud go for. I think it was 11 of 11 with a perfect passer rating. over 100 yards in the middle of the field, short middle of the field. So, you know, that played a huge role into how Houston was able to kind of neutralize the San Francisco rush.

Starting point is 00:10:33 And I think that should be the game playing against Denver to protect them, right? When C.J. Strau has time or when he's not on his back, he's a different quarterback. And so I think that's a matchup as well. But, yeah, absolutely right. Even with PS2 out, one of the best nicknames to have, sports, especially for us 90s kids. But with PS2 out, how can Houston really take advantage of that? Now, Nico Collins is expected to be back.

Starting point is 00:11:01 Christian Kirk is expected to be back. Rookie receivers, Jalen Noah, Jaden Higgins, they've been able to kind of have some good moments for Houston sporadically, but throughout the year. But that leads a rookie cornerback out there with Barron and then whoever the backup that is. So that's a matchup that I think plays into the Houston. using Texans favor. Now, on the flip side, you guys have an X factor who I really do like. And it seems like every time I watch a Broncos game, I watch a Broncos highlight.

Starting point is 00:11:31 I may be on social media just scrolling, and especially as of late, I'm seeing Troy Franklin, wide open. So can you give our Texas fans, our swimmers out here a little bit of insight about Troy Franklin himself? And then also just how good has that receiving room. It doesn't get a lot of, you know, the conversations around best receiving rooms in the league. You don't hear Denver a lot, but all things consider a solid group that can make plays. Yeah, Troy Franklin has really taken a big step in his second NFL season. Now, some of the issues that plagued him as a rookie, which were drops or not necessarily

Starting point is 00:12:09 cashing in on all of his opportunities, some of those issues are still there a little bit, but we're seeing a major concerted effort from Sean Payton to get him involved. Sean Payton believes that Troy is one of the best yak receivers on the team. So he's getting him a ton of opportunities in that way. And he's also expanding the route tree. We saw that in a big way against the Dallas Cowboys. Now, I don't know that anybody really could name many of the corners that Dallas had playing last week.

Starting point is 00:12:36 So there is a bit of a caveat to that. But at the same time, you just want to see your guy go out there and make plays regardless. He's a second year player who struggled as a rookie. You want to see him make plays in a regular season game. Troy is doing that. He's got 18 targets over the last two weeks. He wins with big time speed. He's making plays in the red zone. And he's got that after the catch kind of just a little bit of sauce to his game, right, that he can add into the mix. You give him the ball on a quick screen or swing pass out to, you know, wherever side of the formation he's on. And he's a threat. He is a threat

Starting point is 00:13:10 in that way to kind of get upfield in a hurry. And the Broncos believe in his ability to do that. So alongside Cortland Sutton, he's kind of devised. developing now into their clear wide receiver two this season. Yeah, and I think with his ability to get open now, granted, Sudden and Franklin and Mims who's going to be in certain spots, they're going to have to go up against Derek Stingley, who I think is starting to kind of feel, play like himself a little bit more. He had the oblique injury to start off this year.

Starting point is 00:13:42 And it's been rough for him, especially against JSN, but I think he's starting to feel himself a little. a little bit more, but also Kamar Lassad who does a great job. You talk about Troy Franklin and his ability, he leaves a team for Denver and yakyards, his ability to get open and then get up field. Well, the matchup between Franklin and Kamari Lassad, because on the flip side, Camar and Lassad of guys does a great job of, you don't allow a lot of yack yards. I think that when we look at the small nuances of the game and what matters the most,

Starting point is 00:14:13 making sure that seven doesn't turn into 15 or, you know, So those opportunities where receivers can cut up field and get additional yards. Camarra Lasseter plays well into that. So I think that he's going to have a good game and he's going to have to have a good day. Now, I talked a little bit about the running back room and, you know, how well you guys have been able to run the ball. Why? Why is this team so good? I mean, it's just a son of paying offense.

Starting point is 00:14:44 They're built well up front to protect the quarterback and run the ball. but what has it been from the running backs themselves that has helped this office get to where they are now? I think it's the addition and the inclusion of J.K. Dobbins in the mix, as well as R.J. Harvey, who was just named the NFL offensive rookie of the week this week. I think big time stuff from those two guys, especially against Dallas. I mean, J.K. Dobbins had his second 100-plus yard game of the season, which that was almost as rare as the lunar eclipse. you know, for the Denver Broncos for a couple of seasons there where they didn't have one for like 34 games or so. JK has helped turn that running game around.

Starting point is 00:15:25 RJ Harvey has turned that around with the explosives, which weren't there before. So it's really a personnel thing in the running game. And then Bo Nicks, when he's, Bo Nicks had a broken back for most of last year for at least half the season last year. So the running game for him was kind of off the table. now he's kind of back in the mix as well, getting designed quarterback runs or, you know, you're getting the read option stuff. And there's just more wrinkles, I'd say,

Starting point is 00:15:53 in the running game than last year where you felt like it was, all right, hand it off to Javante Williams for one, two or three yards or a negative play. And that's really all you can manage at that point. So the personnel has been huge for Denver. That's major. I'm, this is one of those games. And I know we're going to get the keys to victory and had that conversation.

Starting point is 00:16:13 but D'Amico versus Sean Payton, offensive coach, a classic offensive coach versus defensive coach. The y'all defensive coordinator with years and years of experience versus a first time play caller here in Houston and Nick Cayley. So just, and D'Amico and Sean Payton, they went up against each other before coaching a couple of years ago, right, and that game ended with a few interceptions from Russell Wool.

Starting point is 00:16:43 which was probably the moment Sean Payton knew I had to get off of him. He's not going to be more quarterback for the future, a good back and forth game. But this is one of those moments where which coach is going to coach better, which coach and their expertise will pull the most out of their guys. And so for Houston's defense, top in the league in a lot of categories, ironically, the only thing that they're not top in league in right now is, but they're top in the league in terms of pressure and pressure rates, how can D'Amico neutralize Sean Payton's offense?

Starting point is 00:17:20 And that's the battle that I'm really looking forward to. That's going to be such a great chess match between those two guys. And then like you mentioned, Vince Joseph on the other side, who's been kind of a madman, you know, when it comes to the way that he calls a defense. And certainly different this week, though. That's going to be one of the major keys to victory. We talk about the chess match, but obviously how different is Vance Joseph's coverage scheme going to look without Pat Sartan out there?

Starting point is 00:17:49 That will be fascinating. Will the Broncos change their identity on defense? Can C.J. Stroud and that Texans offense keep stacking and keep building. We're breaking down Keys to Victory coming up next on crossover Thursday edition, Locked on Broncos, Locked on Texas. Jumping into the fourth quarter of crossover Thursday here and we're breaking down Keys to Victory for the Denver Broncos and the Houston Texans here in, week nine, a big time AFC showdown for the Broncos on the road in Houston. The Texans trying to get November off to a great start. The Broncos trying to keep that winning straight going.

Starting point is 00:18:22 How is either of that going to happen? John, I want to throw it to you first. You guys are the home team this week. What's got to happen for the Texans to beat the Broncos here in week nine? The front four for Houston's defense got to get after Bo Nix. Bo Nix has been very good against the Blitz this year when Blitz. He has a 64, nearly 65 completion percentage, 6.5 yards per temp. 7 TDs, one interception.

Starting point is 00:18:50 Those are some of his better numbers all together. So for Houston's defense, you know, I talk about the matchup between the tackles. Will Anderson and Daniel Hunter, they have to rise to the occasion. Houston's defense, their best players got to be their best players, and they got to be better than the best players for Denver. I think that's key because I gave you guys when Bo Nix is bliss this year, how well he's doing. But when he's under pressure, only 281 yards, 4.3 yards per attempt, two T's, one interception, though, but a completion percentage of 44.6, three turnover worthy plays as well.

Starting point is 00:19:33 So he's a player that when he has, and he also has, oh, my goodness, 13 pass-a-way. ways under pressure. So just get the ball out, right, live for another down. So he's a player that if everybody's covered on the back end, but pressure is getting into him, you know, in his face, and that bodes well for the opposing defenses, and I think Houston has the players to do that.

Starting point is 00:19:58 Offensively, though, 35 sacks, right? Nick Cayley, the offensive line, they got to schematically win at the line of scrimmage. It cannot. It cannot. It cannot allow for Denver's front four to get hot. Now, y'all coming from the mile high city, right? It's cold up there in Denver right now. It's a little windy out here in Houston. But a cold team, a cold franchise, can't come out here and get hot, man. So, like, if we start to see that front four and that pressure start to get C.J. Stroud, then what my worry is, okay, then the second level of their defense is going to turn up.

Starting point is 00:20:45 And then we look at even without having PS2, Riley Moss, Jaday Barron, that back end of the defense is going to start turning up because they know our guys are front got it handled. That's the scariest thing that I fear for the Houston, Texas this Sunday. That's exactly where the Broncos want to maximize.

Starting point is 00:21:06 I think the players that they do have is getting that pressure from the front four and then letting the rest of that secondary kind of do its thing. It's been it's been a bit of a feaster famine kind of year for the secondary even with Pat Sertan, right? I mean, Riley Moss is targeted more than any corner in the entire NFL this season and he also has the lowest completion rate allowed. So he's making plays, but he's also getting flagged a lot. He's getting, he's giving up some big plays, right? So there's a feast or famine element to it that teams are willing to attack the Broncos deep downfield, even with Talaoufonga and Brandon Jones on the back.

Starting point is 00:21:42 end right like they those guys are utilized in such different ways and with ps2 not out there it'll be fascinating to see does vance joseph switch like he did last year when riley moss was hurt switching from a primary man scheme to a lot more zone coverage i don't think you necessarily have to do that because last year it was levi wallace replacing pat sartan this year it's going to be chris abram's drain jade baron you still got jacquine mac million in the slot so we'll see what those guys can do it's funny that you mentioned Bo Nix against the Blitz. He was actually asked about that on Wednesday. And he had a pretty funny answer.

Starting point is 00:22:17 He's like, wow, I didn't know those numbers. He's like, maybe teams won't blitz us as much anymore, you know, but I don't know if that's necessarily going to be the case. So we'll see what happens because like you mentioned, when he is under pressure, when that pressure does get to him, he's less willing to put the ball in harm's way and more willing just to kind of eat the throwaways or, you know, throw it short of the sticks. And that's just as good oftentimes you get that extra possession for your offense.

Starting point is 00:22:40 You're not a question. How good has the guards been for Denver this season? Yeah, that's a great question. You know, Quinn Miners is one of the best in the NFL, I think. I think he's a candidate for that. What's the new offensive line award that's coming out this year? I can't remember what it's called, like the protector of the year or something like that. I think Quinn is, by the way I love. It's well overdue, years, decades.

Starting point is 00:23:06 100%. Because those things can help those guys make more money. too. Hey, I'm all for it for the players getting what they got coming. So, but yeah, he's great. And then the left guard right now, actually, it's Alex Palcheschi, who's like the team's fifth option at the position. So Ben Powers, he's out. Then the backup was Nick Garzulo, who got hurt in the preseason. Then his backup was Matt Parrott, who just had a knee injury a couple of weeks ago. So now you're down to Alex Palchewski, who used to be like their jumbo package offensive tackle. He's starting at left guard. And Sean Payton just said on win.

Starting point is 00:23:40 Wednesday, he's like, man, he doesn't look like he's just a fill in at that position. So he's been playing pretty well. That's good. Yeah, I ask that because Houston, again, I think the game playing at times, send pressure, an extra guy to at Bowenix. But what I like about Houston's defense, their de-tackle unit, not a household name in sight, but those guys are extremely, extremely tough to deal with up front. and how Houston's defense is built.

Starting point is 00:24:14 They can create pressure, especially depending on the matchup, inside to out. And Will Anderson doesn't allow a lot of quarterbacks to run away from him. Danil Hunter doesn't allow a lot of quarterbacks to run away from him. So like if a quarterback breaks the pocket, that chase him down and that makes a play. So I just wanted to, you know, for our listeners' sake, just to get an insight on how the interior offensive line for Denver has been playing through eight weeks. And that's another key matchup. It is.

Starting point is 00:24:48 It is. We talked about it, right? The chess match within the chess match, these matchups within the matchup. I mean, this is such a fun game for fans of the game. Even if you're not a Broncos fan or a Texans fan, right? You watch this game,

Starting point is 00:25:02 you see, hey, Houston's got so much on the line this week, right? They've got to get back to 500. They've got to get back keeping pace with the Colt. who were apologies from Broncos country. We couldn't help you out in that one, a leverage penalty. Yeah, man. What I was doing?

Starting point is 00:25:17 I don't know what they were doing. You try to get leverage on a 60-yard kick. Just let the guy give it a shot, right? But yeah, the Texans trying to get back into at least keeping pace with the Colts, if not getting up in that wild card race. And then the Broncos, they're in first place right now trying to fend off the chiefs, the chargers. Nobody really cares about the Raiders.

Starting point is 00:25:39 But you know what I'm saying? Like that's where we're at at this point in the season is, all right, now you've got a chance. Go on the road, do something. If you're Houston, it's like be the aggressor in this situation, right? So these two teams are going to be fighting just absolutely scraping and clawing for this win, which I think is part of the reason why Vegas has it as the lowest over under of the week, 39 and a half points, very, very low over under for two of the best defenses in the NFL. So I guess they're showing some respect there.

Starting point is 00:26:08 but Broncos country Texans fans, we appreciate you so much once again. Thanks for making us your first listen of the day every single day. Go ahead, check out Lockdown NFL. Check out all the other fun stuff. The Lockdown Network has going on. Get everything into your algorithm on YouTube or into the top of your podcast feed. However you choose to consume content, we appreciate you so much. We'll catch you on tomorrow's episode of the show.

Locked On Broncos - Daily Podcast On The Denver Broncos - KEEP ROLLING! Broncos Must Find a Way to Win 6th Straight vs. Texans

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