January 5, 2024 • 16 mins
On this episode of "Broncos Now," Sydney Jones recaps Head Coach Sean Payton's final press conference of the week ahead of the Broncos' season finale. Plus, Broncos lead writer Aric DiLalla joins the show to discuss his expectations for quarterback Jarrett Stidham’s return to Las Vegas, how he hopes to see the team finish strong and more. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn, Stitcher or wherever you find your podcasts. Make sure to leave a rating and review.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
What's Up, Broncos Country.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Welcome back to the Broncos podcast network and YouTube for
the latest episode of Broncos Now. As always in your
host is Sidney Jones and coming up on today's episode,
Denver Broncos are set to hit the road to head
to Lost at Vegas. We heard today from head coach
On Payan as he spoke to the media for the
final time I had a Sunday's matchup and Broncos lead
writer Eric Dalala joins the show for a game preview
A lot more I mean out the Denver Broncos hit
(00:26):
the road to head to Las Vegas tomorrow. They're set
to face the Raiders for their season finaleon Head coach
On Payn spoke today to the media for the final
time I had a Sunday's matchup and talked about the
offense is inefficiency in goal to go situations and how
they'll look to improve that.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
On Sunday I would say, when we do this off season,
you know we'll hit these evaluations. I'm sure it'll be
a handful of things. Generally speaking, the teams that are
better in the red zone are usually teams that are
better running it in the red zone, and they're there
(01:00):
are two elements. I always think of your running game
and your third down numbers. If you convert a third
down in the red zone, it's asked the change of
scoring a touchdown goes up, you know. And so you
can be a good red zone defense because you're good
playing like this team we're playing, I would say, is
a real good red zone third down defense. Now, overall,
(01:23):
the unique thing is some teams are defending This team
has defended few trips. You know, they're in the top ten.
So the first element to play in good red zone
defense is not allowing them in the red zone. But
and then you do the numbers when teams enter the
red zone. So third down is important, the running game
(01:44):
is important.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Now let's take a look at this week's a final
injury report. Ten and Chris Manherds and a tackle Mike mcglinche,
you have both been ruled out for Sunday's game. I'd
coach on Pan did say today that Kim Fleming will
get the start at right tackle and added to that
saying what it means to have a veteran guy replace.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
He's saying, Mike McGlinchey, Yeah, tackle three has to be
and and you know, we're looking at cut ups from
a year ago and there he is. He jumped in
last you know, he's he's experienced. I think it's extremely
important and he's had a lot of snaps and uh yeah,
(02:20):
I mean I think you know, when when the off
season came and we were looking at you know who
that who tackle three is.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
That's an important position.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Sean Payton went on to talk about his schedule of
following a Sunday's game the start of the off season
and talked about the value of taking a few days off.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
It's important, just we don't want to emotionally great period.
So typically the season ends with team meeting, you know,
we'll visit with the players Monday, you know, and then
that week Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, the coaches are working on
just putting together their reports on their players. Just a
(02:57):
lot of it is snaps, playtime, you know, an overall
report and they can put it into the computer and
that's that's what next week is. And then the following
week they're off, and then Monday, whatever day that is
when we're back, we start, you know, the roster review
(03:23):
and that usually takes three maybe four days, you know,
we'll hear from the trainers, we'll hear from the strength coaches,
every player that came through our doors.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
That's here.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
We'll discuss in depth health in all elements of the program.
And then and then then we get into I think
one of the things you were Then we get into
scheme review, cutups offensively and defensively for a good two weeks,
(03:51):
and then free agency kind of you know, begins to
pick up relative to projects. Then there's a whole let
any of it. But the calendar, the calendar's done all
the way up until we break in the summer. The
only thing I don't have is when training camp starts,
(04:14):
and that's based on a little bit of the preseas.
So the calendar is pretty much laid out from here
through the end of the off season program before summer break.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Now, joining me here inside the Broncos podcast studio for
a game preview is Bronco's lead writer Eric Dalala. Eric,
thanks for joining me. Final game preview of the season.
So sad said it is, things are coming to an end.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
I know, hopefully we end it with a win here.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Yes, I hope so too, Eric. Looking at the matchup,
I know head coach on Payton, He's topped all week
just about how this team's approaching everything the same as
they would in every other week, every other game. Starters
are going to play, and.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
Yeah, they are sorry to cut you off there, so
they are. They are treating it like a like a
must win game and approaching it like they want to
get this ninth victory and means guys who are healthy
are going to play, and they largely are healthy for
the most part. Exciting that Courtland Sutton will be back
out there, Baron browning those guys, and so, you know,
(05:10):
I think this game is important just in terms of
showing that you can beat this type of team. And
you know, it's a heck of a lot better to
finish the season eight and three than to lose through
your last four. And you know, this has been the
season said, We've talked about this a lot of ending
certain streaks, whether it's to the Chiefs on primetime at
(05:30):
so far, winning on the road in the division. I
know that Chem Payton has said it's more about getting
the ninth win and having a winning season, but I
do think there's something about showing that you can beat
the Raiders and ending this streak that has gone on
a little too long, and you know, just heading in
the next season with some momentum and see where it
takes you.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Yeah, definitely, Ic you mentioned a little bit earlier. You know,
we just looked at the injury report. Mike McGlinchey. He
will be out for Sunday's game and Kim Fleming will
start in his place. You know, we saw Kim Fleming
come in for him in the last game. What did
you think of his performance, you know, versus Chargers and
what are your expectations for Cam moving forward.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
Yeah, obviously a veteran player, right, and so that's valuable.
And Sean Payton talked about how important that third tackle is,
a player that can play on both sides, that can
help out in a pinch study define job coming in
there for Mike Mcglinche went out pretty early in that game.
Jared Stidham was only sacked twice on the day, And yeah,
you know, I think obviously it's a different challenge this
(06:25):
week against a guy like Max Crosby, but I think
it's about the offensive line as a unit and Jared
Stidham getting the ball out quickly, using the run game
to help offset some of that pass rush, and then
we know Cam Fleming's a valuable veteran player. He's played
a lot of football here, made a lot of starts,
and so I think he'll be just fine.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Eric, what do you hope to see, how to Jared
stood on this being, you know, final opportunity of the
season to show what he can do.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Yeah, well, hopefully another win.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
I think that's big And I know that QB wins
is a big topic of conversation, but I do think
it's important that he can show he can go help
the team win this sort of game. Again, I think
if you're going to be a guy that proves he
can have a chance of leading this thing moving forward,
you've got to show you can win this type of game.
You've got to be able to beat teams like the
(07:14):
Raiders on the road. And I think it's a different
test really for him than the Chargers were. You know,
the Chargers statistically at least had struggled going against opposing
passing attacks, whereas this Raiders team is much better and
they've been near the top of the league's He's me
near the top of the league in scoring defense. Since
Antonio Pierce took over, they've been really good in the
(07:36):
red zone. They've taken the ball away from opposing offenses,
and so this is a different sort of test, and
I think it gives Jared Stidham a chance to show
what he's about, who he can be as a quarterback.
Doesn't mean he needs to play outside of the system
or outside of himself, but I do think it'll be
a good test just in terms of being able to
deliver the ball on time, get the ball to your playmakers,
which he'll have a couple more since Courtland Sutton and
(07:58):
Marvin Mims are going to play in this.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
Football so that's helpful.
Speaker 4 (08:02):
But yeah, I just want to see him again operate
things cleanly on the road, which is more difficult when
there's crowd noise. You work in the silent count all
those sorts of things, avoid turnovers again, and then just
make some of these plays that you made last week,
but just try to hit maybe a couple more of them.
And I'd expect it's going to be a hard flot game,
said back and forth. Even though it's week eight team
(08:25):
and Week eighteen and both teams are eliminated, these teams
don't like each other. It's a rivalry and so you're
gonna want to go win it. And for him to
go back to Las Vegas, what a cool opportunity to
potentially beat his former team in to go to and
Oh with the Broncos.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Yeah. I was going to say, Eric, you know, his
first start on the road for the Broncos, but he
should feel a little bit comfortable in Allegiance Stadium.
Speaker 4 (08:44):
Right, Yeah, a different locker room, but otherwise he should,
you know, he should be pretty comfortable and it'll be
I'm sure cool for him to go against some of
these guys that he was either coached by or worked
with Max Crosby, I think Antonio Pierce said earlier this week,
Max Crosby's looking forward to saying hello to Jared Stidham
up close and personal. Hopefully nervous they keep some space
(09:06):
between them as he says hello during a pass rush.
But yeah, you know, I think Jared'stidham isn't making it
too big a deal going back there and just trying
to show what he can do.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
And when you focus on.
Speaker 4 (09:19):
Your job and what you have to do, which is
what Jared Stidham talked about, that I think can be
a guiding force and helpful and blocking out some of
the noise of is this an audition, going back to
play against your former team, all those sorts of things.
If you just focus solely on what you're supposed to
do each play, each drive, I think that can be
helpful and kind of center you.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Yeah, or you mentioned this a little bit earlier, but
I want to circle back to it. You know, how
have you seen the Raiders just kind of change their
attitude culture under interim head coach Antonio appears, because I mean,
they look like a different team since yes took over.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Yeah, they really do. And just four and four.
Speaker 4 (09:56):
You know, the record hasn't necessarily been there, but there
playing hard. They're playing quote unquote the Raider way, which
I know is important out there to that team. They're tough,
they're physical, they have the same tenacity that Antonio Pierce
had as a player for the Giants. And yeah, they're
gonna they're gonna try to make it a street fight.
They're gonna try to beat you up. They're gonna make
(10:17):
this a tough, difficult, physical game. You gotta be ready
to go, I think. And there's been times, you know,
over the past few years where the Broncos may not
have been ready for that type of that battle. I
think they've been ready for it mostly this year, and
you know, can they do it one more time? This
is a Raiders team that's playing hard, and while they
don't have necessarily, you know, they can't get to a
(10:39):
winning season and they can't quite you know, obviously.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
They're eliminated from the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (10:43):
But to them, you hear Devanta Adams talk about it,
they're playing for peers to be back there as their
head coach next year. And so when guys are motivated
like that, that's a that's a real thing, that's a
driving force, and so the Broncos have to be ready
to combat that and kind of bring their own juice
and be ready to.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
Go week Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
I know. The Raiders did announce today that running back
Josh Jacobs he is out for Sunday's game, and he's
been a problem for this Broncos defense over the past
many years. So one less thing to worry about, I
guess on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
Yeah, that's true.
Speaker 4 (11:12):
I mean, he's he's played like a Hall of Famer
when he plays the Broncos, and so to not have
to worry about him is helpful. Michael Mayer's out too
at tight end, so you know they still have their weapons. Obviously,
I mean Devanta Adams is always going to be a
guy you've got to worry about. Hat certain i'd imagine
would have the unenviable task of facing him. But that's
(11:35):
what you want to see, right these matchups between two
great players. So I think it's got to start with
finding a way to slow down Devontae Adams. And if
you're able to do that and make somebody else beat you,
I think you live with it now. Obviously, in Week one,
Jacobe Myers did beat you, so you don't know what
that happen. But this is a different defense, said than
we've seen than we saw earlier in the season. And
(11:58):
you know, they haven't allowed an opponent yet to score
twenty points on them, so that's been impressive. And I
believe if they hold them to sixteen points or fewer.
This is from our stat Maven, said Tyler Gorse. He
says if the Broncos allowed sixteen or fewer points, it'll
be the fewest points allowed over the course of the
season to all the division opponents I think ever. So
(12:22):
that's ever in franchise history. So that would there's something
to watch for there, Curently, Broncos are currently leading in
divisional scoring defense in the NFL this year, so they've
played well against division opponents, but it'll be a tough
challenge definitely.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
Yeah, Eric, you mentioned this a little bit earlier, and
we've heard the players all week talk about how much
it would mean to get this ninth win, to get
a winning season. But what do you think overall for
the organization to have a winning season, not having had
one since twenty sixteen, what would that mean?
Speaker 1 (12:50):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (12:50):
I think in some ways, I mean I've seen this
mentioned on social media a little bit.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
Is it kind of takes this season, even though you
don't make.
Speaker 4 (12:56):
The playoffs, it removes it from the previous six seasons,
seven seasons, I mean, going all the way back to
twenty sixteen, where you didn't make the playoffs, but you
had a winning record, you were competitive, you were very
close to making the playoffs. I mean, you could run
through a laundry list of games in twenty sixteen that
if one or two plays went differently, you're in the playoffs.
(13:16):
This to me feels like that year, whereas twenty seventeen
through twenty twenty two, you never had a winning record.
Many of those seasons said you weren't even particularly close,
and so you know that's just kind of the blunt
truth of it. And so if you're able to get
to nine to eighth this year, I think it represents
a big step forward of we've broken this streak of
(13:38):
losing seasons. We're starting to turn the corner. Is it
a finished product yet? No, But I think we heard
Mike mcglinchy say on Thursday, this team discovered a little
bit of its heart. They battled, they found some things
out about themselves, and they want to keep that going.
And not that all of that is tossed aside if
you don't win this football game, particularly, I think if
it's close, right, I mean, if you get blown out,
(14:00):
maybe you feel differently and knock on wad that doesn't happen.
But if you win this football game, I think you're
able to go into the offseason and feel like you've
really done something. You've changed the culture here, You're taking
a step forward. You know, you're just finish basically one
win outside of the playoffs, that all that all means something.
And so it does seem like such a fine line
(14:23):
between eight and nine, nine and eight, and you know,
in the grand steam things right, and I know fans
are like, oh, well, losing would help with draft positioning
and help with the schedule. I think for this team,
and I think we talked about this Monday said, this
is a team that I feel like you can't pick
and choose.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
When you want to win, when you're learning.
Speaker 4 (14:41):
How to win, and good point, you know, I think
this team every time they go out there has to
be trying how to win, or excuse me, trying to win.
I'm finding a way to do that just because it's
a it's a culture, it's a learned skill. And if
you just say, oh, we're mailing it in this week,
we'll pick it up next year, I don't know if
this team's at a point where it can do that.
They've got to constantly be fighting for that. And then
(15:02):
you've got a bunch of individual guys who are are
they playing to prove that they should be on this
team next year, that they should have a starting role,
that they should have a larger role. There's a lot
of individual kind of you know, reasons to play hard
in this game and perform well. So yeah, nine to
eight would be would be huge and hopefully we don't
(15:24):
have to worry about what what eight to nine means
for the year, because it could be a good springboard
moving forward if you can get this ninth win.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
I think so too. It's kind of crazy to think
about if you look back at the beginning of the season,
going one five to start the year, and now we're
talking about a winning potentially a winning record done this season.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
Another our friend, Tyler, also said that this team has
never gone from three games below five hundred at some
point this season to having a winning record, So it does.
It speaks to how this team has fought that they've
come back from one to five. You could have easily
mailed it in said we'll see you next year. We'll
figure it out. Sure, But a credit to these guys,
the coaching staff, front office for having guys that fought
(16:05):
and are now in a position to have a winning season.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
It's been a fun season.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
It has.
Speaker 4 (16:10):
I mean this run said if you get the win
this week, eight wins in the last eleven weeks, I
mean that you look around the league. How many teams
are able to do that. So, no matter who it's against,
I know there's been some tough moments. Certainly some of
these recent losses just kind of eat at you, but
it's been fun. I think there's been more hope around
(16:30):
here than there has been in quite a while.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Yep, I agree.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Well, Eric, appreciate you joining the show all season long,
but also today's.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
Thanks so appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Well, that's going to do it for today's episode of
Broncos Now Broncos Country. Thanks so much for tuning in.
I'll meet you right back here on the Broncos podcast
network and YouTube on Monday for a game recap, and
we'll see you all then
What's Up, Broncos Country.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Welcome back to the Broncos podcast network and YouTube for
the latest episode of Broncos Now. As always in your
host is Sidney Jones and coming up on today's episode,
Denver Broncos are set to hit the road to head
to Lost at Vegas. We heard today from head coach
On Payan as he spoke to the media for the
final time I had a Sunday's matchup and Broncos lead
writer Eric Dalala joins the show for a game preview
A lot more I mean out the Denver Broncos hit
(00:26):
the road to head to Las Vegas tomorrow. They're set
to face the Raiders for their season finaleon Head coach
On Payn spoke today to the media for the final
time I had a Sunday's matchup and talked about the
offense is inefficiency in goal to go situations and how
they'll look to improve that.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
On Sunday I would say, when we do this off season,
you know we'll hit these evaluations. I'm sure it'll be
a handful of things. Generally speaking, the teams that are
better in the red zone are usually teams that are
better running it in the red zone, and they're there
(01:00):
are two elements. I always think of your running game
and your third down numbers. If you convert a third
down in the red zone, it's asked the change of
scoring a touchdown goes up, you know. And so you
can be a good red zone defense because you're good
playing like this team we're playing, I would say, is
a real good red zone third down defense. Now, overall,
(01:23):
the unique thing is some teams are defending This team
has defended few trips. You know, they're in the top ten.
So the first element to play in good red zone
defense is not allowing them in the red zone. But
and then you do the numbers when teams enter the
red zone. So third down is important, the running game
(01:44):
is important.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Now let's take a look at this week's a final
injury report. Ten and Chris Manherds and a tackle Mike mcglinche,
you have both been ruled out for Sunday's game. I'd
coach on Pan did say today that Kim Fleming will
get the start at right tackle and added to that
saying what it means to have a veteran guy replace.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
He's saying, Mike McGlinchey, Yeah, tackle three has to be
and and you know, we're looking at cut ups from
a year ago and there he is. He jumped in
last you know, he's he's experienced. I think it's extremely
important and he's had a lot of snaps and uh yeah,
(02:20):
I mean I think you know, when when the off
season came and we were looking at you know who
that who tackle three is.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
That's an important position.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Sean Payton went on to talk about his schedule of
following a Sunday's game the start of the off season
and talked about the value of taking a few days off.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
It's important, just we don't want to emotionally great period.
So typically the season ends with team meeting, you know,
we'll visit with the players Monday, you know, and then
that week Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, the coaches are working on
just putting together their reports on their players. Just a
(02:57):
lot of it is snaps, playtime, you know, an overall
report and they can put it into the computer and
that's that's what next week is. And then the following
week they're off, and then Monday, whatever day that is
when we're back, we start, you know, the roster review
(03:23):
and that usually takes three maybe four days, you know,
we'll hear from the trainers, we'll hear from the strength coaches,
every player that came through our doors.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
That's here.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
We'll discuss in depth health in all elements of the program.
And then and then then we get into I think
one of the things you were Then we get into
scheme review, cutups offensively and defensively for a good two weeks,
(03:51):
and then free agency kind of you know, begins to
pick up relative to projects. Then there's a whole let
any of it. But the calendar, the calendar's done all
the way up until we break in the summer. The
only thing I don't have is when training camp starts,
(04:14):
and that's based on a little bit of the preseas.
So the calendar is pretty much laid out from here
through the end of the off season program before summer break.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Now, joining me here inside the Broncos podcast studio for
a game preview is Bronco's lead writer Eric Dalala. Eric,
thanks for joining me. Final game preview of the season.
So sad said it is, things are coming to an end.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
I know, hopefully we end it with a win here.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Yes, I hope so too, Eric. Looking at the matchup,
I know head coach on Payton, He's topped all week
just about how this team's approaching everything the same as
they would in every other week, every other game. Starters
are going to play, and.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
Yeah, they are sorry to cut you off there, so
they are. They are treating it like a like a
must win game and approaching it like they want to
get this ninth victory and means guys who are healthy
are going to play, and they largely are healthy for
the most part. Exciting that Courtland Sutton will be back
out there, Baron browning those guys, and so, you know,
(05:10):
I think this game is important just in terms of
showing that you can beat this type of team. And
you know, it's a heck of a lot better to
finish the season eight and three than to lose through
your last four. And you know, this has been the
season said, We've talked about this a lot of ending
certain streaks, whether it's to the Chiefs on primetime at
(05:30):
so far, winning on the road in the division. I
know that Chem Payton has said it's more about getting
the ninth win and having a winning season, but I
do think there's something about showing that you can beat
the Raiders and ending this streak that has gone on
a little too long, and you know, just heading in
the next season with some momentum and see where it
takes you.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Yeah, definitely, Ic you mentioned a little bit earlier. You know,
we just looked at the injury report. Mike McGlinchey. He
will be out for Sunday's game and Kim Fleming will
start in his place. You know, we saw Kim Fleming
come in for him in the last game. What did
you think of his performance, you know, versus Chargers and
what are your expectations for Cam moving forward.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
Yeah, obviously a veteran player, right, and so that's valuable.
And Sean Payton talked about how important that third tackle is,
a player that can play on both sides, that can
help out in a pinch study define job coming in
there for Mike Mcglinche went out pretty early in that game.
Jared Stidham was only sacked twice on the day, And yeah,
you know, I think obviously it's a different challenge this
(06:25):
week against a guy like Max Crosby, but I think
it's about the offensive line as a unit and Jared
Stidham getting the ball out quickly, using the run game
to help offset some of that pass rush, and then
we know Cam Fleming's a valuable veteran player. He's played
a lot of football here, made a lot of starts,
and so I think he'll be just fine.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Eric, what do you hope to see, how to Jared
stood on this being, you know, final opportunity of the
season to show what he can do.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Yeah, well, hopefully another win.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
I think that's big And I know that QB wins
is a big topic of conversation, but I do think
it's important that he can show he can go help
the team win this sort of game. Again, I think
if you're going to be a guy that proves he
can have a chance of leading this thing moving forward,
you've got to show you can win this type of game.
You've got to be able to beat teams like the
(07:14):
Raiders on the road. And I think it's a different
test really for him than the Chargers were. You know,
the Chargers statistically at least had struggled going against opposing
passing attacks, whereas this Raiders team is much better and
they've been near the top of the league's He's me
near the top of the league in scoring defense. Since
Antonio Pierce took over, they've been really good in the
(07:36):
red zone. They've taken the ball away from opposing offenses,
and so this is a different sort of test, and
I think it gives Jared Stidham a chance to show
what he's about, who he can be as a quarterback.
Doesn't mean he needs to play outside of the system
or outside of himself, but I do think it'll be
a good test just in terms of being able to
deliver the ball on time, get the ball to your playmakers,
which he'll have a couple more since Courtland Sutton and
(07:58):
Marvin Mims are going to play in this.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
Football so that's helpful.
Speaker 4 (08:02):
But yeah, I just want to see him again operate
things cleanly on the road, which is more difficult when
there's crowd noise. You work in the silent count all
those sorts of things, avoid turnovers again, and then just
make some of these plays that you made last week,
but just try to hit maybe a couple more of them.
And I'd expect it's going to be a hard flot game,
said back and forth. Even though it's week eight team
(08:25):
and Week eighteen and both teams are eliminated, these teams
don't like each other. It's a rivalry and so you're
gonna want to go win it. And for him to
go back to Las Vegas, what a cool opportunity to
potentially beat his former team in to go to and
Oh with the Broncos.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Yeah. I was going to say, Eric, you know, his
first start on the road for the Broncos, but he
should feel a little bit comfortable in Allegiance Stadium.
Speaker 4 (08:44):
Right, Yeah, a different locker room, but otherwise he should,
you know, he should be pretty comfortable and it'll be
I'm sure cool for him to go against some of
these guys that he was either coached by or worked
with Max Crosby, I think Antonio Pierce said earlier this week,
Max Crosby's looking forward to saying hello to Jared Stidham
up close and personal. Hopefully nervous they keep some space
(09:06):
between them as he says hello during a pass rush.
But yeah, you know, I think Jared'stidham isn't making it
too big a deal going back there and just trying
to show what he can do.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
And when you focus on.
Speaker 4 (09:19):
Your job and what you have to do, which is
what Jared Stidham talked about, that I think can be
a guiding force and helpful and blocking out some of
the noise of is this an audition, going back to
play against your former team, all those sorts of things.
If you just focus solely on what you're supposed to
do each play, each drive, I think that can be
helpful and kind of center you.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Yeah, or you mentioned this a little bit earlier, but
I want to circle back to it. You know, how
have you seen the Raiders just kind of change their
attitude culture under interim head coach Antonio appears, because I mean,
they look like a different team since yes took over.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Yeah, they really do. And just four and four.
Speaker 4 (09:56):
You know, the record hasn't necessarily been there, but there
playing hard. They're playing quote unquote the Raider way, which
I know is important out there to that team. They're tough,
they're physical, they have the same tenacity that Antonio Pierce
had as a player for the Giants. And yeah, they're
gonna they're gonna try to make it a street fight.
They're gonna try to beat you up. They're gonna make
(10:17):
this a tough, difficult, physical game. You gotta be ready
to go, I think. And there's been times, you know,
over the past few years where the Broncos may not
have been ready for that type of that battle. I
think they've been ready for it mostly this year, and
you know, can they do it one more time? This
is a Raiders team that's playing hard, and while they
don't have necessarily, you know, they can't get to a
(10:39):
winning season and they can't quite you know, obviously.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
They're eliminated from the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (10:43):
But to them, you hear Devanta Adams talk about it,
they're playing for peers to be back there as their
head coach next year. And so when guys are motivated
like that, that's a that's a real thing, that's a
driving force, and so the Broncos have to be ready
to combat that and kind of bring their own juice
and be ready to.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
Go week Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
I know. The Raiders did announce today that running back
Josh Jacobs he is out for Sunday's game, and he's
been a problem for this Broncos defense over the past
many years. So one less thing to worry about, I
guess on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
Yeah, that's true.
Speaker 4 (11:12):
I mean, he's he's played like a Hall of Famer
when he plays the Broncos, and so to not have
to worry about him is helpful. Michael Mayer's out too
at tight end, so you know they still have their weapons. Obviously,
I mean Devanta Adams is always going to be a
guy you've got to worry about. Hat certain i'd imagine
would have the unenviable task of facing him. But that's
(11:35):
what you want to see, right these matchups between two
great players. So I think it's got to start with
finding a way to slow down Devontae Adams. And if
you're able to do that and make somebody else beat you,
I think you live with it now. Obviously, in Week one,
Jacobe Myers did beat you, so you don't know what
that happen. But this is a different defense, said than
we've seen than we saw earlier in the season. And
(11:58):
you know, they haven't allowed an opponent yet to score
twenty points on them, so that's been impressive. And I
believe if they hold them to sixteen points or fewer.
This is from our stat Maven, said Tyler Gorse. He
says if the Broncos allowed sixteen or fewer points, it'll
be the fewest points allowed over the course of the
season to all the division opponents I think ever. So
(12:22):
that's ever in franchise history. So that would there's something
to watch for there, Curently, Broncos are currently leading in
divisional scoring defense in the NFL this year, so they've
played well against division opponents, but it'll be a tough
challenge definitely.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
Yeah, Eric, you mentioned this a little bit earlier, and
we've heard the players all week talk about how much
it would mean to get this ninth win, to get
a winning season. But what do you think overall for
the organization to have a winning season, not having had
one since twenty sixteen, what would that mean?
Speaker 1 (12:50):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (12:50):
I think in some ways, I mean I've seen this
mentioned on social media a little bit.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
Is it kind of takes this season, even though you
don't make.
Speaker 4 (12:56):
The playoffs, it removes it from the previous six seasons,
seven seasons, I mean, going all the way back to
twenty sixteen, where you didn't make the playoffs, but you
had a winning record, you were competitive, you were very
close to making the playoffs. I mean, you could run
through a laundry list of games in twenty sixteen that
if one or two plays went differently, you're in the playoffs.
(13:16):
This to me feels like that year, whereas twenty seventeen
through twenty twenty two, you never had a winning record.
Many of those seasons said you weren't even particularly close,
and so you know that's just kind of the blunt
truth of it. And so if you're able to get
to nine to eighth this year, I think it represents
a big step forward of we've broken this streak of
(13:38):
losing seasons. We're starting to turn the corner. Is it
a finished product yet? No, But I think we heard
Mike mcglinchy say on Thursday, this team discovered a little
bit of its heart. They battled, they found some things
out about themselves, and they want to keep that going.
And not that all of that is tossed aside if
you don't win this football game, particularly, I think if
it's close, right, I mean, if you get blown out,
(14:00):
maybe you feel differently and knock on wad that doesn't happen.
But if you win this football game, I think you're
able to go into the offseason and feel like you've
really done something. You've changed the culture here, You're taking
a step forward. You know, you're just finish basically one
win outside of the playoffs, that all that all means something.
And so it does seem like such a fine line
(14:23):
between eight and nine, nine and eight, and you know,
in the grand steam things right, and I know fans
are like, oh, well, losing would help with draft positioning
and help with the schedule. I think for this team,
and I think we talked about this Monday said, this
is a team that I feel like you can't pick
and choose.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
When you want to win, when you're learning.
Speaker 4 (14:41):
How to win, and good point, you know, I think
this team every time they go out there has to
be trying how to win, or excuse me, trying to win.
I'm finding a way to do that just because it's
a it's a culture, it's a learned skill. And if
you just say, oh, we're mailing it in this week,
we'll pick it up next year, I don't know if
this team's at a point where it can do that.
They've got to constantly be fighting for that. And then
(15:02):
you've got a bunch of individual guys who are are
they playing to prove that they should be on this
team next year, that they should have a starting role,
that they should have a larger role. There's a lot
of individual kind of you know, reasons to play hard
in this game and perform well. So yeah, nine to
eight would be would be huge and hopefully we don't
(15:24):
have to worry about what what eight to nine means
for the year, because it could be a good springboard
moving forward if you can get this ninth win.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
I think so too. It's kind of crazy to think
about if you look back at the beginning of the season,
going one five to start the year, and now we're
talking about a winning potentially a winning record done this season.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
Another our friend, Tyler, also said that this team has
never gone from three games below five hundred at some
point this season to having a winning record, So it does.
It speaks to how this team has fought that they've
come back from one to five. You could have easily
mailed it in said we'll see you next year. We'll
figure it out. Sure, But a credit to these guys,
the coaching staff, front office for having guys that fought
(16:05):
and are now in a position to have a winning season.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
It's been a fun season.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
It has.
Speaker 4 (16:10):
I mean this run said if you get the win
this week, eight wins in the last eleven weeks, I
mean that you look around the league. How many teams
are able to do that. So, no matter who it's against,
I know there's been some tough moments. Certainly some of
these recent losses just kind of eat at you, but
it's been fun. I think there's been more hope around
(16:30):
here than there has been in quite a while.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Yep, I agree.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Well, Eric, appreciate you joining the show all season long,
but also today's.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
Thanks so appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Well, that's going to do it for today's episode of
Broncos Now Broncos Country. Thanks so much for tuning in.
I'll meet you right back here on the Broncos podcast
network and YouTube on Monday for a game recap, and
we'll see you all then
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