Locked On Broncos - Daily Podcast On The Denver Broncos - UPSET SPECIAL: Denver Broncos LOCKED IN for AFC Championship vs. New England Patriots

Starting point is 00:00:00 The Denver Broncos have thrived all year in the underdog role. And going into Sunday's game against the Newland Patriots, they're ready to shock the world. You are Locked on Broncos, your daily Denver Broncos podcast, part of the Locked on Podcast Network, part of the Lockedon Podcast Network, part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Happy Friday, Broncos country. Welcome to another episode, Lockdown Broncos, your daily Denver Broncos podcast, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, the number one sports podcast network in the country. All thanks to all you every day is out there for tuning in making us your first listen.

Starting point is 00:00:35 you choose to do so. We appreciate you so much here as the Denver Broncos are just days away from hosting the new England of the Patriots in the AFC championship game. The stakes have never been higher. When you advance to Super Bowl 60, we'll break down while the Broncos are ready as the underdogs against the Patriots in Sunday's game. We'll go through some of the key storylines lingering into Sunday's matchup. Plus, Jared Stittem, Nick Benito, they're going to headline our players to watch in Sunday's game and we'll share. Why? And on top of that, more takeaways. please, please. That is what the doctor ordered up here for Sunday's AFC championship at the Broncos, hope to advance to the Super Bowl.

Starting point is 00:01:13 You're going to get all that here on today's episode of the show brought to you our friends over there at Fandu. Fandu was officially in playoff mode every game day during the NFL playoffs. Fandu, they're giving customers even more ways to get in on the action. Visit fandu.com to get started. I'm Cody Rourke, credential Broncos reporter for Mahi Sports. Jordan is always by Sarah Beninger, site expert, predominantly orange.com. Sarah, look, we know all week coming into this game that the Bronco they're going to be underdogs in this game.

Starting point is 00:01:37 And of course, they are underdogs. I believe that they're five and a half point underdogs, to be exact. At home, nonetheless, the most raucous environment and power field at mile high in front of Broncos country, 76,000 fans waving orange towel, screaming. Well, I tell you what, the Broncos, they thrive in this situation. And the national media was in town all weeks, Sarah. And I'll tell you a fun little story here. Broncos players, they called the National National.

Starting point is 00:02:05 media out for all of those who were in attendance it was one of those great things to see i love it cody i mean they need the they need a little bit of that right you got to have the somebody keeping you in check there i said i can't remember whose presser it was maybe it was jared stidham actually earlier in the week where he was calling out james i don't know if it was james palmer or who it was but he's like he's on his phone right now he's looking at his phone i love these guys they're really taken after sean peyton aren't they but speaking of taking after sean peyton cody i mean the confidence, it doesn't seem to have wavered whatsoever for this Denver Broncos team. And I think that's one of the things that's really standing out to me as we get to hear

Starting point is 00:02:44 players and coaches at their media availability, locker room stuff. I mean, it really is proof that this team believes in itself. They believe in Jared Stidham. They like the fact that they're underdogs for this game. I think that they are collecting the bulletin board material. I don't know it for a fact. But, I mean, we see some of these players out there. there on Twitter, reposting stuff, giving their thoughts on stuff.

Starting point is 00:03:08 All people taking John Franklin Myers quotes out of context, Nick Bonito liking posts about Von Miller in the 2015 AFC championship game. These guys are playing the intangible game ahead of the game, right? And I love it. I think it's great. I think it, whatever it takes to psych yourself up for this matchup and be ready to go out there and dominate because you got to go from being underdogs on paper to being the overdogs on the field.

Starting point is 00:03:34 how are you going to do that? Well, you got to prove that it wasn't just Bo Nix, that guy to this point. It was everybody else as well. And I think like we've talked about, those senses, they're going to heighten. Every other sense is going to be heightened now that you lost your quarterback. I think all these other players are ready to prove that they belong in the Super Bowl. They really are. And this is the thing, the vibe in the locker room, the energy, the focus from a preparation standpoint, Sarah, nothing has changed, right?

Starting point is 00:03:59 You know, I think sometimes when you look at teams, when you lose your starting quarterback, it could change the way you prepare. Jared Stidham has been ready to kind of step into this role here. It almost is like the perfect storm here for Denver, at least for Sean Payton as well, who look, we've got to hear from Sean for three straight days. We can hear from him here on Friday for the final practice of the week here.

Starting point is 00:04:19 But I want to tell you the story about the national media here, folks. Obviously, you know, local media. There's like a handful of us, beat reporters, like seven or eight of us. And then we have the TV and the camera crews that really kind of make up like 18 to 20 local media. right that's usually what it typically is now national media because hey there's an a c championship game being played this week you saw ESPN you saw these big national outlets all coming to attend practice and to film and all of a sudden it's funny we go in the locker room and i can't say the players names but i mean i think the broncos country could take some few educated guesses but basically

Starting point is 00:04:55 we're going to the locker room and everyone like they're like locker room is small as is right Like we're sometimes shoulder to shoulder trying to get into a scrum to talk to a player. Everyone's looking around. Players look around like, wow, like look at all these people. And they're, you know, they're saying like, if you weren't here since day one, don't come back tomorrow. Get out. Like you guys didn't talk about us.

Starting point is 00:05:13 You guys didn't want to show up here all year. But now you want to show up? Like, it was great. It was fantastic. And you want to know what happened on obviously that next day on Thursday, that number of people that were actually at practice was reduced. It was cut to half like pretty significantly. So they took the advice of some of the players there.

Starting point is 00:05:30 But look, this is the position that Denver, I think, feels comfortable in Sarah. Like being with their backs against the wall, you know, outside noise says that they don't have a chance. They're not going to win that they're just going to be lit up. Jared Stidham can't get it done. Internally, there is no noise. It's white noise. It's static. They don't hear that.

Starting point is 00:05:47 They're not paying attention. They believe that Jarstiton can go out there and lead them to a victory. And I think one thing that makes the most sense about this, too, is the fact that Jared all year long, Sarah, running the scout team has had to go. against this Denver defense every single day. Now to your point about the quote about from John Franklin Myers being taken out of context, what JFM was saying essentially this week was Jared all year has basically been running a scout team where, you know, when they're watching film on an opposing quarterback, Staddy's running the offense a lot better on some of the starting quarterbacks, right?

Starting point is 00:06:20 But, you know, New England Patriots want to make themselves the main character in this situation. Jared's not running a scout team this week. So know what he said that he's running a scout team better than Drake May runs the Patriots offense. But if that's the type of bulletin board material, you want to imaginarily create for yourself, go ahead and do that. The Broncos, they're ready. There's a look in the eyes of so many players,

Starting point is 00:06:41 the guys that you can actually think of, you know, like Cooper, PS2. These guys are ready. They're ready to rock and roll here. And I think one of the bigger hopes, too, we do not know officially yet. Will J.K. Dobbins play on Sunday? He's been at practice for two consecutive days as a limited participant. We'll see how he's, you know, going today.

Starting point is 00:06:58 Luke Wattenberg, I think, is set to make his return here on Sunday for Denver. But I think one of the bigger names to outside of JK, Pat Bryant is set to play here on Sunday. He has cleared concussion protocol. He's a full participant. He'll wear the guardian cap in Sunday's game. I think Pat Bryant is going to be so important. We'll talk about that later on our players to watch.

Starting point is 00:07:17 But these are the final storylines here as we go into today's final practice. I absolutely can't wait, Cody. I mean, it's so perfect and so fitting. if not ironic, I guess, at this point that pretty much everybody on this team is going to be healthy for the AFC championship game. They're going to have to literally keep guys on IR like Drew Sanders, who's practicing in full in order to facilitate the roster. And Bo Nix can't play. I mean, it's crazy to think about it. It's like, man, you couldn't, if you're talking about like the script and, you know, what would be a crazy story and how crazy.

Starting point is 00:07:59 it would be to come together for the Broncos to be fully healthy, everybody, except for their starting quarterback who has led all these comeback wins. I mean, it's just, it's all shaping up to be a fascinating weekend in the Mile High City, because I can't wait to see how these guys do respond on the field. And I, to your point about the Patriots, you know, and their fans kind of taking this main character role on, to try to come up with bulletin board material when you're facing off against a team that doesn't have its starting quarterback in the a fc championship game i mean my goodness it's it's ridiculous they're they're doing the drake may with the sunglasses and the earbuds pictures i've seen a number of people doing that it's like

Starting point is 00:08:43 you know what you get get your own thing you know what i'm saying we don't have bo necks for this game go get your own thing so i love it and i i think that sean peyton talking about fans saying hey, you're going to have two weeks to rest up after this one. Like I love that stuff. Nobody in my opinion has done a better job of equipping backup quarterbacks than Sean Payton. I mean, over the course of history, he rewrote an offense for Taysom Hill when he needed him for extended period of time.

Starting point is 00:09:14 He, I mean, supported Teddy Bridgewater, James Winston, you name it. All these different guys throughout history, we've seen it. And so I just feel really good about this game. Now, we don't know what's going to happen in this game. We're not going to make any declarations or guarantees, things like that. But do I think the Broncos can win sitting here on a Friday going into the weekend with a backup quarterback taking the reins? Absolutely. I feel like the Broncos can win.

Starting point is 00:09:40 I feel like they can go out there and beat the overdogs at least one more time. I agree with you. Look, I think you said it perfectly here. The way that this team has prepared and I've been around them all season, Sarah, nothing has changed for them. You know, yes, they're gutted about Bo Nix, but they understand, hey, we didn't come this far just to get this far. And guys are locking in its championship or bust mentality inside that Broncos locker room. And when all these guys collectively put that same mindset together, I think we're going to like what we're going to see from the Broncos here on Sunday. But with that said, Broncos country, Sarah and I, we're going to dive into our players to watch and tell you why Jared Stidham and Nick Benito are players that we have our eye on in Sundays, AFC Championship.

Starting point is 00:10:21 You're going to get that. You're on today's episode of the show. Today's lockdown Brocko's podcast is brought to you about friends over there at TurboTax. Tax season doesn't have to take over your life. This year, TurboTax, they're making it easier than ever to just hand things off and move on with your day. With TurboTax full service, you can have your taxes done for you by a trusted local expert, start to finish without the stress or the guesswork. Instead of spending hours trying to figure out forms, you can meet with a local TurboTax expert in person,

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Starting point is 00:11:22 It's turbo time. Jared Stidham, Nick Benito, a couple of wide receivers. We got your players to watch for the AFC championship game. Broncos Country. Just pinch yourself for a second and think about the fact that we are talking about the AFC championship here at Locked on Broncos. And we're not talking about who else is playing. We're talking about your team playing in this game.

Starting point is 00:11:44 Thank you so much to all you every dayers out there for making us your first listen of the day every single day. Cody and I want to invite you. We've got something called the Everyday or All Access Club. If you're not part of it already, check out the link in the show notes. You're going to get tons of bonus content, both now and going forward into the off season, where I feel like we're going to be able to really ramp it up and give you guys some more stuff. But all 22 clips, Cody's going to have locker room clips.

Starting point is 00:12:09 Of course, if Broncos get to the Super Bowl, they get to Super Bowl 60, tons of extra bonus coverage there that only you will get and so much more. So make sure you check out the link in the show notes for that. Cody, let's start off. I think every Broncos show out there, you'd be ridiculous if you weren't talking about Jared Stidham as the number one player to watch in this game, right? So Broncos country is going to be hearing it again from us because I think, look, you have to. You have to talk about Jared.

Starting point is 00:12:38 This is massive. We've watched his preseason tape. We've watched his 2023 starts. We've watched the Tim Jenkins breakdown, which phenomenal stuff from Tim once again, we've heard Chase Daniel, we've heard Jordan Palmer, all these people are talking up Jared Stidham. And to the point that I think even Bruce Ariens recently, Cody said, is the media putting too much pressure on Jared Stidham? Absolutely not, in my opinion. Jared Stidham can play.

Starting point is 00:13:07 Sean Payton has been saying it for years. He's a starter in this league. I think Jared is going to go crush it in this game. Look, Stidham is in the position that he's in because he's the vibes guy. He's calm, cool, collected him. I mean, Sarah, he's the guy that literally carries the boom box around the locker room as guys are doing interviews. And he's hyping them up. And he's just, you know, he's got a good playlist there.

Starting point is 00:13:27 But, you know, when you talk about him being on the field, you see the flip, you know, the switch flip a little bit with him. That's one thing I can say that I've tangibly noticed from him is that in the locker room, he's fun behind the scenes. He always opens up the trending room door and goes, not today, guys, no interviews today. You know, just being funny. But then on the field, he's ripping it. And he's talking trash to the defense. like this is the thing that you want in a guy that, you know, the moment I don't think is ever too big for him. He's been in some big time situations before.

Starting point is 00:13:55 I think people forget, Sarah. You know, when he was with the Las Vegas Raiders, remember he had to get thrust into the starting role because the whole Derek Carr saga. And what did he do? It had to face off against, I believe, if I'm not mistaken, that number one NFL defense I have, I think, Talenoa, Hufonga, Dre Greenlaw, Nick Bosa and San Francisco. And he lit them up in a big time way there. So Jarrett can handle that pressure. Like that's the thing about him.

Starting point is 00:14:21 And look, here's the thing. The Broncos have a chance if they win, they can go to Super Bowl 60, that chance to win. And then all of a sudden, everyone can now say for Sean Payton, he went to Jared. Oh my gosh, dude. I was in my back pocket. I had to pull that out.

Starting point is 00:14:36 Cody's on a roll today. Yeah, he went to Jared. Every, every kiss begins. No, I can't. I can't do it. I can't think of another one off the top of my head. You're too good today. Yeah, I love that.

Starting point is 00:14:47 And I think that it's so true, right? He's risen to the occasion in the past. It's not like he's never played a regular season game. It's not like he's never been in big moments. I mean, shoot, talk about pressure. Jared Stidham's two head coaches in the NFL, I guess, the two legitimate head coaches that he's had, are Bill Belichick and Sean Payton. And then, of course, he played for Josh McDaniels for a brief time with the Raiders there.

Starting point is 00:15:09 But I think, look, talk about pressure. I mean, this guy was wearing like Jersey number 58 in practice as a rookie. with the Patriots. Like he's been in pressure situation since the moment he got into the NFL, and this is no different, right? This is, I mean, it's big different stakes, but it's no different in terms of you got to go out there and execute. You've got to go out there and prove that you belong in this spot.

Starting point is 00:15:33 So I'm excited to see what he does. And I think that extends to the playmakers too, Cody, because in the preseason, I mean, you talk about being locked in. Jared Stidham, we were talking about could the Broncos get like a second round pick for this guy? like he was playing that good in the preseason spreading the ball around to two of our players to watch for this game. You have Pat Bryant. I have Marvin Mims Jr. Of course, I think in the preseason, there was no buddy on this team who was more of a favorite for Jared Stidham, though, than your guy, Pat Bryant. Yeah. I mean, it was nice to see because we got to see the rookie get up the speed a little bit here in the offense.

Starting point is 00:16:11 And Pat Bryant, like the thing about the receivers that I like about how Sean Payton Structures training camp. this is the preparation. It changes in the regular season. But think about how valuable that was for Jarrett and for Sam Ellinger for these guys to throw to every single wide receiver on the roster, right? That, you know, even if Cortland Sutton is rotating in with the threes just to get reps for guys and working with to see what other guys can handle. Pat Bryant was the one guy that really kind of emerged outside of Trent Sherfoot, who ironically enough is playing for the New England Patriots. But Pat Bryant was one of the favorite targets of Jared Stidham. And I always go back to that. Arizona Cardinals game at home where we just saw them running the dagger concept.

Starting point is 00:16:51 And Pat Bryant is catching passes left and right. I think he had what, five. In that game, I think he had three or four catches for like 80 something yards, if I'm not mistaken. And then obviously he had two touchdown passes to Troy Franklin as well. And we'll see Troy is the one who we just kind of don't know where he's at participation-wise. He's been limited for two days a row in practice. But for Pat Bryant, he was a full participant on Thursday,

Starting point is 00:17:13 which means that he will play. and he will have the Broncos logo guardian cap, like Romeo Dobbs does for the Green Bay Packers. You'll see that here as a means to obviously protect him as he clears protocol. But man, can we even talk about the start that Pat Bryant was getting off to last week? Three catches early on in that first series before he went out. This is why I think that Pat is going to be such a big playmaker here this week. You know, I think with the attention that Cortland's going to see,

Starting point is 00:17:38 Pat's going to step up. But also I think we're going to see a little bit more Marvin Min's as well, who happens to be your player to watch. Yeah, I can't wait. Cody, after he led the team in receiving in the division around against Buffalo, you feel like Marvin has these moments over the last three years where why do the Broncos not target this guy more often? And that's maybe a discussion that we'll have for another day.

Starting point is 00:18:00 But it seems like at least a few times every season, he has games where, shoot, he catches everything that's thrown his way. He makes a ridiculously high level of difficulty touchdown catch, a big play in a clutch moment and that happened against Buffalo. And I just think that Marvin undoubtedly deserves a featured role in the offense this week. Now, I'm excited to see what that looks like because oftentimes what happens, well, the Broncos make him sort of that gadget player.

Starting point is 00:18:30 They want to get the ball to him quickly. Let him make plays in space. And I'm totally fine with that. But what we've seen Marvin make arguably the biggest impact that he's made in three seasons with Denver is as a vertical threat. in the passing game. So I can't wait to see that. And speaking of Oklahoma guys, Cody,

Starting point is 00:18:49 defensively, my player to watch for this game is going to be Nick Benito. I love the fact that he's out there liking posts on Twitter about Von Miller's AFC championship game back in 2015, although, you know, DeMarcus Ware had a pretty darn good game that that game as well. But Vaughn had the interception that you referenced on a show that we did earlier this week. And he was just in another mode at that point.

Starting point is 00:19:10 Like, Von was in legendary mode. That was his legacy stretch of games was back in that 2015 postseason. And Nick Bonito has a chance to really carve that out now for himself, especially after already getting that forced fumble, the strip sack on Josh Allen in the divisional round. He had two force fumbles on Josh Allen and the divisional round too. So, I mean, that Von Miller playoff arch, I tweeted about it during the game and said, hey, it begins here.

Starting point is 00:19:36 And I think everyone is looking at that matchup between he and obviously the left tackle for the New England Patriots this week. So we'll see. We'll see. It's a big week. You need him and Jonathan Cooper step up. My final guy, though, Sarah is going to be Zach Allen. I think all the attention that he's certainly seen so far this year. I think Zach is going to be in line for maybe one of the biggest games of his career, especially if teams try to focus their efforts on chipping and double teaming Benito and Cooper,

Starting point is 00:20:00 Zach Allen could come up big in a big time way. He's going to be my player to watch here as well. Zach Allen is going to have a monster game. I think right next to all these other guys looking at that Patriots offensive line. And I bring this up once again, I've said it earlier in the week, Cody. I mean, this Broncos team is going up against a Patriots team that had the highest or worst sack differential in the NFL, meaning they gave up more sacks and did

Starting point is 00:20:24 not have enough on the other side of the ball, that differential right there. That was brutal. And the Broncos, they had the best, right? Because Bo Nix and that offense, they don't take a lot of sacks. We'll see how Jared Sidham does with that as well. I think that's going to be an element of his game that people kind of look at and they say, all right, Bo Nix doesn't take many sacks. Jared does.

Starting point is 00:20:44 Well, I don't think that's necessarily going to be the case. He might take more sacks than Bo, but we saw that pocket navigation from him in the preseason. Obviously, it's the preseason. Take it with a grain of salt. But that sack differential stat, let's see how much that comes into play here as the Broncos face off against the Patriots here in the AFC championship game in Denver, where we know communication for the Patriots offensively. It's going to be an issue.

Starting point is 00:21:09 Drake May, pressure. field situation. Can he step up? I feel like the Broncos are going to rattle his cage and those two guys that we mentioned, Benito, Allen, they're going to make it happen. That's going to play into what we have as our keys to victory. More takeaways, more pressure versus Drake, mate. That'll guarantee a Broncos win here on Sunday. We'll tell you how they can do it on today's episode of the show. Today's episode, Lockdown Broncos is brought to you about friends over there at the game time at the NFL season is in full swing, especially with the playoffs here. It is championship weekend. There's nothing like being at the game. So if you're here in Colorado, the crowd noise, the energy and cheering alongside

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Starting point is 00:23:07 that's waiting for them inside the app. The Broncos are facing off against the Patriots. Denver, they are home underdogs in a position that they have thrived in all season long. Five and a half point home underdog to be exact if you think the Broncos are going to win. You can put it out on the money line exactly. And each game day, you'll see a pack that's loaded with multiple profit boosts you can apply to the bets that you most like, whether it's the same game parlay that features any time touchdown scores, player bets as to over undersers on what they may

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Starting point is 00:24:09 however you choose to do so. You guys make this the best Broncos podcast out there, and we are so appreciative of every single one of you in Broncos country. Sarah, let's get into our keys to victory, what the Broncos need to do, offense, defense, special teams, wherever may be. Let's start up with you, my man. What is your key to victory here for Denver in Sunday's game? Well, I think let's keep the turnover party going. You know what I'm saying? I mean, it started against the Chargers and everybody's kind of like wondering, oh, well, was that just because they had their backups out there? You know, no.

Starting point is 00:24:40 I mean, it continued in the divisional round of the playoffs against one of the best offenses, the reigning MVP, the offensive player of the year, potentially James Cook. You got turnovers on both of those guys, frankly. I mean, Josh Allen turned the ball over four times. James Cook fumbled it on the Alex Singleton play. And by the way, Alex had a great quote about that about how much easier it is to be great at playing football when your body's not fighting off cancer. I butchered the quote, but that's a paraphrase right there from what I remember of it.

Starting point is 00:25:09 But yeah, keep the turnover party going, right, for these guys defensively. And more so now that you're going up against an offense that, shoot, Drake May has been fumbling the ball quite a bit lately. I would say certainly you feel like you have an advantage when you're going up against him, that pass rush department. So go get that ball out. Go make some plays on the football. Tip the ball up into the air.

Starting point is 00:25:32 Let some weird things happen. I'm still waiting for the Riley Moss pick six, Cody, that we ordered earlier in the season. We're all still waiting for that Talanoa Hufanga giant turnover at some point. I feel like something once again is going to happen. But also don't sleep on J-Quan McMillan, whose jersey I can't buy for my kid. One time my son is like falling in love with the team, he's like, dad, I want that guy's jersey number 29. I'm like, nobody's got it anywhere.

Starting point is 00:25:59 You can't even customize them right now. So, you know what? Jayquan, Macmillan just keep on making fans and eventually the jersey sales will come. Yeah, no, I like that. I think that's going to be a very important key. Look, it's going to be cold at Empower Field of Mott. It's supposed to be 20 degrees. And then there's going to be a win factor.

Starting point is 00:26:16 So under 20 degrees in terms of feel on the field there. So for my key to victory, turn up the heat on Drake May, so to speak, right? You've got Nick Benito, Jonathan Cooper, J.F.M., Zach Allen. You've got linebackers that'll blitz from time to time. and you got a Jayquan who can blitz out of the nickel there. You have to turn up the pressure here on Drake, May. You can't just allow him to drop back there and sit and scan the field and let plays develop, especially when the Broncos, when they are in zone defense, right?

Starting point is 00:26:43 The one thing you have to do when you're in zone, you have to bring some of the pressure a little bit as well because if you just play a zone, Drake may knows exactly where to go. Most NFL quarterbacks know where to go if you're just sitting in one of those zone looks, right? There's always a soft spot, no matter where you're at on the field. And Drake May can hit every, every throw possible here. So that's why you've got to turn up the heat here.

Starting point is 00:27:04 You've got to hit him. I mean, the Broncos have obviously led the NFL in pressure. They led the NFL in sacks. QB hits this year, you name it. Dial that pressure up just a little bit more this week. It's going to require just a little bit more than you did in the previous weeks. And if you can do that, I guarantee you, you might be able to force some more takeaways. It kind of coincides with what you put as one of your keys to victory here as well.

Starting point is 00:27:25 What about the offensive side of the ball, Sarah? I think there are so many different things we can look at, whether it be playmaker stepping up. Where are you at with your keys to victory? Yeah, I have, don't hold Jared Stidham back, right? And I know Sean Payton's not going to because he's been talking up this big game about letting Stidham, you know, let it rip.

Starting point is 00:27:44 And I think that plays into my bold prediction as well, which is three touchdowns for Jarrett Stidham in this game. I mean, O'Nicks through three touchdown passes against Buffalo's number one passing defense. And obviously the Patriots have a very good pass defense as well, Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, I'm sure he'll end up playing, although we'll see with concussion protocol. But they've got a great secondary, a really good pass defense.

Starting point is 00:28:09 And you feel like Jarrett just, I just need him to go into that sort of ultra sicko mode or super saying or whatever it is, right? You need Jarrett Stidham to get into from being the vibes guy to being the locked in guy as well as the vibes guy. And so that's what I'm saying. I mean, let it rip. let Jared Sidham go out there and play free, play confident, let him do what he does. And also that's that bold prediction aspect of it, right?

Starting point is 00:28:37 As I think a lot of folks are thinking, if the Broncos are going to win, it's going to be like a, you know, 19 to 16 sort of game or, you know, 20 to 17. I'm saying Jared Stidham, three touchdown passes in this game and we'll see what happened. So that's my bold prediction. Obviously, we manifest positivity with the bold predictions, but that's what I'm going with for this game. All right. I like it. I rock with it. I think that's good, too, right? You know, obviously you want Jared Sidham to be able to let it rip and not feel like he's restricted on what he can do offensively here.

Starting point is 00:29:08 I do think one thing that will help Jarrett do that to be able to achieve your bold prediction running the football here. If the Broncos can find a way to run the football effectively with Jalulam McLaughlin, R.J. Harvey. We'll see if J.K. is going to play at this point. I mean, once again, I think if it's up to J.K., he's going to play, but it's not going to be up to him. It's going to be up to Sean Peyton and the medical staff here. And you only get two players you can bring off of IR. We imagine that Bow is going to be placed on IR here on Saturday or Friday. And then you're going to have obviously Luke Wattenberg activated off of IR back onto the active roster.

Starting point is 00:29:41 And then Denver would have to make another corresponding move to bring JK back up. You're only allowed to play off elevations off of IR. So we'll see. We'll see who it is here. And look, I think the run game is going to be crucial here for the Broncos. I mean, once again, last week, I understand Bo Nix had 12 carries himself, some by design, some by just scrambling and evading pressure. But 10 carries between Jalil and RJ last week.

Starting point is 00:30:07 That's just not good enough to get it done. And I understand, you know, Sean Payton, he was asked about it this week, how the game unfold sometimes changes things. But you want to take pressure off of Jarrett? Well, guess what you need to do, run the football? And if the run game is working, you know what? It opens everything up for Jared at that point, right? Because let's say you're under center, you're handing it off inside to Jalil or RJ or JK, whoever's there. Let's say they get four or five yards of carry.

Starting point is 00:30:31 And Denver's finding rhythm with their starting offensive line being back intact here. Well, guess what? Now the defense, they play a little tighter. They try to pinch in a little bit more. Guess what opens up from that? The play action game, which Jert Stidham, did a really good job of operating within the NFL preseason. These things are going to be key for Jaret going out there and thriving. And my bold predictions there, the Broncos defense is going to force a defensive touch.

Starting point is 00:30:54 touchdown in this game, whether it's a strip sack, fumble recovery for a touchdown, whether it's a pick six, the Broncos defense, my bold prediction, they're going to score in this game. I love that one because isn't Champ Bailey going to be out there as one of the honorary captains or he's planting a flag somewhere or something like that? I know that champ did not cross the goal line in this particular game, but that reminds me of one of my favorite games as a young and, you know, watching the Denver Broncos against the Patriots beating Tom Brady for the very first time. The first ever loss that Tom was handed in the playoffs was in Denver by the Broncos.

Starting point is 00:31:31 And Champ Bailey made that play where he intercepted a pass and Ben Watson chased him down at the one and they score on the next play the Broncos did. But man, how fitting would it be for him to be one of the honorary captains or whatever for this game? And then you go out, you have a defensive touchdown, especially if it was, you know, one of our guys like PS2 or Riley Moss or Jayquan. Macmillan, I mean, it would be just poetic and very fitting for one of those guys to make that happen. And they can. I think all of them can. So I'm excited to see your bold prediction come to fruition, Cody.

Starting point is 00:32:03 And if both of ours come to fruition, that means that the Broncos will have at least 28 points on the board. And I feel like they got a pretty good got to the case. Yeah, it should be. I think, Sarah, I think that Denver's going to win this game. I really do. I feel more confident about Denver coming into this week than I did last week coming into Buffalo. You and I said like Denver can beat Buffalo, but hey, you got to stop Josh Allen, right? Like that was the theme and Denver found a way to do it. This week, I absolutely think that they can get after Drake May. And I think this will be a fun game. I think Denver's going to find a way to pull away with the victory.

Starting point is 00:32:37 And we're going to have a Super Bowl coverage team. Or, you know, if that's the case, I'm going to the Super Bowl if the Broncos win, which is awesome. So all the everydayers out there are going to get a lot of fun content here. And we're not ready for the ride to be over. Certainly players aren't as well. The theme in the locker room is we didn't come this far just to get to. this far. Well, you know what? The Broncos, they know it's do or die. You have the advantage of being at your home against the New England of the Patriots. Now, it's time to turn up that pressure.

Starting point is 00:33:00 Broncos country. Make sure you bring the heat here in Sunday's game. Let our wrap up today's episode of show. Sarah and I will be back with you on Sunday as well after the game for the post game show plus a squad show after the game as well. And hopefully we're all talking about the Broncos celebrating an AFC championship. May club dub, Raymond Supreme. We'll see you then.

Locked On Broncos - Daily Podcast On The Denver Broncos - UPSET SPECIAL: Denver Broncos LOCKED IN for AFC Championship vs. New England Patriots

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