May 14, 2026 • 31 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The schedule is out if you missed any part of
the schedule released showing a Rocos Country Dot Dot comp
slash podcast, which podcast, Apple, i Tunes, Spotify, the free
redesigned iHeartRadio appned it. Well, you can get take it
for granted podcast archives and you can listen to that.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
We're of course gonna rebreak it all down right here,
because that's what we do.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Susie Warden, sideline reporter for your Dinner Roccos, is going
to join us in the next segment. We get her
thoughts on the schedule and the schedule release as well.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Nick came away looking at this thing and it's it's
it's a.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Rough start through about six six, seven weeks, six eight
week excuse me, Vit gets really easy for about six
weeks and then it gets tough again for about three weeks.
I came away from this initial impression looking at a
ten and seven record and a wildcard I could be
talked into more.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
What are your initial impressions of this schedule.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
It's very interesting schedule, and I think it's fitting of
what the Broncos were able to accomplish last year. Yet
over the past two years, I mean, this was an
organization who they had a new head coach, a young quarterback.
No one really gave them a ball chance in hell
to do what they've done over the past two years.
(01:14):
And for the team to go fourteen and three, the
number one seed, seven and one home record, this schedule,
to me, just kind of validates what they did. And
the reason I say that ben because looking at how
the start of the season actually shakes out for the team.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Obviously, you know you would like to.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Have some of these games kind of spread out, but
we really want to test the Broncos. We really want
to see what they are from a team standpoint, because
this is I think, by far one of the better
teams last year. Obviously, but they didn't really do too
much from a free agency standpoint, which for a while
(01:55):
kind of sent Broncos Country into somewhat.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
Of a frenzy.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
And the team seems though, Man, they were happy with
the roster that they had, so they brought back twelve guys,
so we get a chance to see that roster maybe
with a new shine on it. And when I say
a new shine, that's because the play calling duties are
supposed to be handed over to Davis web So we
get a chance to see what Davis Webb's vision is
like for this offense in bow Knicks. But we also
(02:21):
get a chance to see what is play calling is
for a first time play caller.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Against some well experienced teams on both sides of the ball.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Yeah, it's gonna be interesting, Web getting thrown right into
the fire, like I said, against some great teams that.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Oh, by the way, the Broncos.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Have two primetime games in their first three games, so
you got a Monday night football to.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Open the season at Kansas City.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
You've got a Sunday Night Football in week three with
the La Rams coming here.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Rams gonna be gassed by that point.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
You open the season in Australia, then you turn on
you on a Monday night football, So you got a
short week against the Broncos for Sunday night football.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
It is.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
It is an interesting schedule that is loaded on the
front end in terms of call the opponents for Denver.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
I know you're saying that the Rams are going to
be gazz because I think they're playing that that that
game against San Francisco in Melbourne.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Again the forty nine in Australia. No time to get
back and you know because you're right back in the fire.
They've got to play a Monday night football game in
week two, and then they gotta play a Sunday night
football game against the Broncos in Week three.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
See.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
But the good thing for them, and I think this
is what Sean mcvayan lessened is gonna tell their team.
Even though you have those those strips, those games, you're
not traveling across these United States like you're flying west
coast to east coast, right, you just going one time
zone to go to Denver. Now, it could present some
issues for sure, but that Rams team has always been tough.
(03:42):
We watched them over the past couple of years. Last
season they were really tough. They had two solid, good
running backs, decent tight end. The question is whether Pulan
the Coup is going to be available to the team
or not in this type of situation. But we know
that team is tough, and they have some good skill players,
and they used the off season to shore up the secondary.
(04:04):
So it's not gonna be somewhat of a cake walk.
But that's gonna be one hell of a game for both.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
Teams that it is.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
We neglected to mention Jacksonville in Week two for the
Broncos coming here.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
That's gonna be a tough one.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
We saw what Jacksonville was capable of last year when
they broke the Broncos winning streak that came in here,
and frankly, they kind of put it to Denver. You know,
a game that felt a little close there, maybe towards
the end of the third, start of the fourth quarter,
but Jacksonville was firmly in control of that thing most
of the way and and that was it certainly was
a was an interesting thing. I think you if you're
a Broncos fan, you're gonna want to get some get
(04:36):
back on that. And then Week four you've got Kansas
City Jacksonville remps a. Week four you're at San Francisco
in Levi Stadium. You know, another tough opponent that first quarter,
that's a that's a pretty tough first quarter of the season.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Yeah, it is, Ben, But wouldn't you rather.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
Get that early test out of the way so you
can actually see what it is you have as far
as coaching staff, players, your execution on either side of
the ball, and when you look at what's.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Gonna happen with the Broncos after the San Francisco game,
I mean you're at the Chargers.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
You want all of those games right at the start.
So if the team goes three and three or whatever,
two and four, to me, you say, okay, well, we
still have some opportunity down the stretch because the season
is going to be a little thin right in the
mid section. And that's the mid part of the season
as you get some teams, several teams that the Broncos
(05:34):
are going to play that last season they were below
five hundred.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
I'm talking about way below five hundred.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
So if you can get through those early first six
tough games from Week two to week six, man, to me,
the Broncos could be in a good position where they say,
you know what the value weight at our roster. We
survived the NFL tough gam and orders of rows of teams.
(06:02):
Now we get a chance to settle down, relax, We're
gonna hit there, buy a ten and we get crews
from thennre Yeah, I mean.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
You don't obviously want to get in the cruise mentality,
but you kind of can't.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
When you look at the schedule. You get the Chiefs, the.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
Jags, the Rams, the Niners, the Chargers, the Seahawks on
a Thursday night, and then all of a sudden it
starts to open up a little. You got you're at
arizonaet Kansas City, coming here to Denver, You're at Carolina,
you got the Raiders, You're you're at Pittsburgh on Black Friday.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
Then you got Miami, the Jets and the Raiders. Again.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
That's a that's a very winnable segment. That is a
very winnable portion of the schedule.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
I know when I first looked at this schedule, I
was like, dang, no, the schedule makers. But then I saw, okay,
they are kind.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Of paying it forward in a sense. Now.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Now, granted, the Broncos have to do the heavy lifting.
They have to go out there and they have to produce.
But once again, when you look at some of those games,
they're all winnable games. And Black Friday, we're all gonna
be looking for discounts on Black It's over with the
Denver Broncos as they go in to.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Roll to play the Pittsburgh Steelers. Yeah, they're hoping it's
a discounted quarterback. And there might be.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
If Aaron Rodgers doesn't discount check, I didn't get his things,
you know what?
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Together and then you've.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
Got a three game stretch. It's pretty tough to end
the season. You've got the Christmas Day game. Now, this
will be a two thirty Mountain Time kickoff, so you
know you will get Christmas morning. We all will get
Christmas morning with our family, unless your Grant Smith, in
which case you'll be in here like five am.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Because because that's okay.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
So really quickly with that great, I'm not gonna I'm
not gonna tell you the text message you sent me
what I said of the schedule ahead.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Of time, like, I'm not gonna not radio friendly, Yeah
might find us.
Speaker 4 (07:38):
But I did say the other day, I think it
was Monday, I was like, the only downfall of the
Broncos being good again is that they're in high demand.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
I guess that very first world problem.
Speaker 4 (07:47):
I would much rather have them be good than have
to go through another four and thirteen season. But man,
my wife's birthday and Christmas Day. Wow, And this will
be the third year in a row.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
Having this conversation the other night, and you know, with
the Bronco with the idea that the Broncos could play
a game on Christmas and being suggested celebrating Christmas on Christmas.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Eve with my kids, and I'm like, man, no, I
was trying to help the kids. Trying to help the kids.
That's what I'm trying to tell them. It is. It
is not the same. I said. What we could do
is you.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
Know, like on when we celebrate the New Year, everyone
kind of starts with the East Coast first. Maybe I
could try to talk to my wife, I could visit we.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
Go families apart.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Come on, Yeah, I was trying to help the kids
out and get the Christmas eat presents.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Man, That's that's all I was trying to do. That
was the best. My parents would always let us open
one present.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
Same except I was telling a story and you guys
can hear it on last night's show if you if
you listen to the podcast.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
I was telling a story.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
We always we had this really cool aunt who always
got us good gifts or whatever, and so I was like,
I'm opening her present on Christmas Eve this year.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Because you know it's going to be something good.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
It's the only one that you can't open, right, Well,
I know I can open one, right, you can.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Only open one.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
So I'm like, I'm gonna open I'm gonna open this.
So like my brother and I was like twelve, it's time.
So my brother's like ten, and my other brother was
it was was five, right, and the littlest brother got
like a Star Wars action figure, and Nathan, I don't
know if you got a Transformer or something or leisure tag, right,
I can't remember what it was.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
So I decided to open my ant's present.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
It was a beach towel she had, which w Now,
I appreciate the effort that she went to in my work.
She had made us all these embroidered beach towels, But
as a twelve year old, I was not having a
beach towel as my.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
Christmas Now, what are you gonna do with that? On
Christmas Eve? Right handmade beach tow monogram. I at least
I had something to wipe the tears up. You know what.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
Now that reminds me that is probably when the wet
blanket actually started.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
Yes, the wet beach towel, right, yeah, I just covered
up with that look like Lyons from from the Peanuts.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Yeah, it was. That was That was my worst, my
worst Christmas Eve.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
But I'm like, at least this is at first thing
in the morning on Christmas where we got to be
up at three am and like we were for an
international game or any that kind of stuff.
Speaker 4 (10:08):
Thank god, I was so much hoping that we weren't
going back to London.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
I knew we weren't going to have an international game
once the Niners vetoed us, because it was gonna be
we were going to play the Niners.
Speaker 4 (10:18):
In Mexico City, which it wouldn't be horrible for the
time change difference, right, well, there's no almost no difference, So.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
We were going to play the Niners, but the Niners
specifically vetoed that, and so we wound up not having
an international game this year. Interesting, it's the second year
in a row in which the Broncos have been vetoed
by an opponent, because they were supposed to play in
Germany last year and the Falcons vetoed that in favor
of the Colts.
Speaker 4 (10:42):
Right, good move by the by them, though, How do
you guys feel about those the Christmas games?
Speaker 3 (10:47):
Because over the years the Broncos have played on Christmas,
they're going to.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Be the Christmas team the same way the Cowboys and
Lions are Thanksgiving teams, guys.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
And it'll say that out loud. I'm telling you, get ready.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
I know no one were it was that, but they
haven't really fair that well over the years playing on Christmas.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
I'm gonna have to quit run on the Broncos games.
You go quit running the Bronco game. They're gonna be
on Christmas every year. Well, you can probably get like
an exception next year, you know, to.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
You know, maybe you can get extinction or something like that.
Speaker 4 (11:18):
I'll be up early anyways, so we can We'll have
plenty of hours to celebrate Christmas with a two month
old baby.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
That's what I'm saying. Like you might still be on
still leave at that point, laughing at us.
Speaker 3 (11:29):
M hm.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
That suckers are up right now, Broncos with a six
thirty a kickoff or.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
Some nonsense texting us doing the broadcast. What are you
guys doing right now?
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Yeah, but there's the Christmas Day game will kick off
at two thirty.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
But let's let's let's have a let's have a Broncos
tailgate out there, Christmas tail gate out there in the
in the parking lot.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
Listen, I'm gonna say say this for that that Christmas
game either is going to be uh fest of us
for the rest of us, or it's gonna be a
nightmare on Christmas.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
This season goes sideways for some reason.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
Oh my god, I cannot again, I'm not dragging myself
out to that. You know, third to last game of
the year. If the season goes sideways like that, you
are already enough. Like the Grinch, we don't need to.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
But what I don't understand.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
You know, what I don't understand about that movie is
it feels like they're trying to portray him as a
villain when he's very clearly the hero.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Yes, he is the hero. He is a great guy
after his heart grows through.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Well, no, he has this weird transformation in the middle
where he becomes what society wants. But but prior to
that he was he was the hero standing for his
own beliefs.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
To see that sounds selfish. That's what see and everything
is in wordings.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
Yeah, bands trying to phrase it almost like put it
in large quotations.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Standing for himself, right, that's ended up for your beliefs. Yes,
just saying the Grinch, it's my hero.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
Stand up for your own beliefs while others are get sacrificed.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Yeh.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
Final two games of the season at New England, and
that'll either be on January second or third, don't know
yet because it could be a Saturday game.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
Probably will be a Saturday.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
If the Broncos and Patriots are what everybody thinks, both
these games will probably get played on Saturday, which means
the standalone game total would go from five to seven
for the Broncos for the season currently, since at five
that's primetime or games in which you have your own
time slot. Given the Christmas and the Black Friday games,
the Charge you're at New England, and then you've got
the Chargers here that Chargers game, most those two games
could be very meaningful, and especially that Chargers game could
(13:27):
be the ball for at all here in Denver.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
Well, I think it's going to start with Week sixteen,
the Christmas game against Buffalo, because that is going to
be potentially seeding far as who gets the first round
by in my opinion, and then as far as the
AFC was, who actually wins the AFC West Is it
the Chargers or will it be the Denver Broncos. So
(13:51):
that Week six through eightem man, that's gonna be tough
and must see TV for sure.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
Yeah, this is gonna be interesting as we look at
this again.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
You got weeks one through six that are rough, week
seven through fifteen that are looking almost like a cakewalk,
and then sixteen through eighteen where it gets real rough again.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
So it's gonna be a fascinating schedule with the.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
The you know, the the interior of it being very
winnable and the challenges coming at the book ends, which
might might turn out.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
To be a good thing.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
You know, maybe you get challenged early a little bit,
you raise your level of your play, you get challenged,
you get a little easy during the you know, the
meat of the season, and then you get challenged again
towards the end, right as you're ramping up for the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (14:32):
And that's why I believe, for me, in my opinion,
those early games against teams that were divisional winners last year,
teams that went to the playoffs and with super Bowls,
it just it just sharpens your knife, It just builds callous.
So once you get to that back half where you're
(14:52):
talking about week sixteen through eighteen, you were prepared.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
You know who you are. You've already went through the burn.
Speaker 3 (14:59):
And says over the firing glass already, so you primed.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
You ready to go? Yeah, we'll find out what Susie
Wargen thinks about this schedule. We get the Broncos Syline
reporter coming up next.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
Congratulations to Mark Francis, who won the pair of tickets early.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
Did he decide on the home game? No, he did.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
I decided, Well, he's got an option, so he was
so excited though. Yeah, he's like. I sent a prayer up.
Speaker 4 (15:21):
To the heavens before I called in because I never
win these giveaways, and I said, you better go buy
a lottery ticket tonight.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
You want it today.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
So congratulations and Mark Francis for winning his choice of
a pair of home game tickets for the Broncos this year.
I think there's another pair available at the Instagram page
for Kai. If you guys go to Instagram, there's a
second pair available there. So if you missed out, you
got a chance there. Appreciate you guys being a law
for the ride. We got hit a break. Broncos Country
to Night backing for this. If you are door dashing
at Chipotle, don't get a double order of meat because
(15:50):
you won't even get a single order of meat in
your burrito bowl.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
You guys want to see what I'm talking about.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
I just spent twenty eight dollars for a burrito bowl
that has nothing in it.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
Shame on you, Chipotle. How much meat did you order
or double? Wait a minute, yeah, sorry, who chicken? There's
like three here that's supposed to be double.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
Meat meat the label right here, Dude, I don't need
muscle him off of some of your meat before beyonder.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
You guys want to see the picture of it. I
put it up on Wow. Let's go out to Kiwi Commas.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
Pro hotline and bring on somebody who always brings it,
never skips, and that's Susie Wards.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
And Susie, how you doing.
Speaker 5 (16:32):
Always double the protein when I'm on.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
Hey look, I look, And I'm being told by people
on Twitter that what I should have done is order
a regular one and then order the side of extra
meat because it's the same cost.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
And that way they have to do both. So I'm
being told that's the hack for that. But still twenty eight.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
Dollars for a taxi from my burrito bowl that barely
had any food, and it is ridiculous.
Speaker 5 (16:52):
Yeah, well you are on a diet, right I am,
But I need.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
The protein like it's just this Bowl is just chickens
and lettuce.
Speaker 5 (16:59):
Have some protein.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
I'm not doing that'll be encouraging.
Speaker 5 (17:05):
Sorry, Nick, I'm not a beans guy.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
I like beach, I don't I like beech, so that
you don't have to worry about that anyway, Susie.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
The schedules out, it's fascinating. It's a lot.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
It's real tough all the front and real tough all
the back end, and kind of I don't want to
call it easy in the middle. It's certainly manageable. As
we look at these schedule. What are your initial thoughts?
Speaker 5 (17:23):
Initial? Thus, I mean, I think the same as everybody.
You know, you get the five prime time games going
to k C week one. I like that, we get
the Super Bowl champs at home in that first part.
I do think that first part is very tough. We've
got three California teams right in a row, two of
them on the road. But you know, those are easy
trips for us. What I look at, too, is the
(17:44):
back half, and I you know, I look at at
you know, obviously who the Broncos are playing, but then
I look at what are we going to face in
that back half? As far as stadiums go, and you know,
we enjoyed all these wonderful games last year at home
where it was like sixty degrees plus for most just
about every game one or two. And we've got some
places that we're going there after the bye week. I
(18:05):
mean when Gill Pittsburgh, we've got MetLife Stadium, we have
the one in Vegas at Allegiance, so it'll be the
one that'll be covered. And then we got in New England,
so and then you know, who knows what happens here
in Denver in November and December. We were very fortunate
last year, but there could be some very dicey weather
games that the Broncos are facing in that second half
(18:25):
of the season, not only you know, against great good teams,
but as far as the elements go too, so it
could be a lot different. It could be very different
than it was this past year, as you guys know,
just because that's what happens when you win a lot
of games, but the elements might be very different as well.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
Well. Susie, how do you feel about some of these
primetime games? And for me, when I look at it,
I'm glad that the Broncos have this primetime game. Like
last year, they had five the year before that too,
the year before that too. And the team that's had
the most over the past couple of years, and I
think it was last year with Kansas City they had seven.
So you look at a lot of these primetime games,
(19:03):
what do you think that the league is saying about
the Denver Broncos or how they view them.
Speaker 5 (19:09):
That's again, because didn't we have seven the first year
that we had Russ. Wasn't that a seven primetime game
season or something close to that? We had six or seven?
I want to say, yeah, so and then we all
know what happened. It didn't go very well, and I
think the league was like, yeah, we're gonna put you
guys on the back burner for a little bit. So
I think it's saying, hey, you know what, the Broncos
are legit again, we can see it. We want them
(19:30):
on primetime. I mean, the Broncos are our universally I'm
not going to say universally liked, but we have a
huge fan base and the NFL sees that. And there's
nothing not to like about bon Nix. And there's like
very likable guys on this roster that people can connect
to and get to know more, and I think it's
great getting on all those primetime games. It's exciting. It's
(19:52):
going to be interesting to play on a Black Friday game.
That'll be really weird, so that'll be interesting. It'll be
nice to play Christmas at home. That's going to be
a home game. You know. I think it's always fun
to play primetime games. There's just always that little extra
juice in the air. People are a little more excited.
You know, things are just a little bit different. And
Nick you know this from playing. It's just it's a
(20:14):
different feel on the field when you're in those type
of games.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
You just talk with Snuseie Warrigen, you're a Broncos sideline
reporter here for Kawa, and you know it is. There
are a couple of quirks here that seem a bit interesting. Obviously,
Kansas City, we're playing them twice by November one. Kansas
City also has its bye week in Week five this year.
Speaker 5 (20:36):
Ooh, I didn't know that. Yeah, so that's interesting, fascinating,
the home little break early on.
Speaker 1 (20:41):
Yeah, we you know, I mean the Chargers at the
end of the season, that could be the ball for
at all Chargers A Darling this year amongst pundits. You're
talking about a team that could be much improved at
the improvements they've made on the offensive line. Bringing Mike
McDaniels the offensive coordinator. We could be setting up for
a Week eighteen matchup that could be a.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
Brawl for it all.
Speaker 5 (20:59):
Oh absolutely, yeah, you know different than what it was
last year is I feel like we didn't play We
only played what a couple of our AFC West games
in the first part of the season were very heavy
in the second half within the division, and now it's
the complete opposite. I mean, we've just got the two
around three I should say, after the bye week. We
have both and we don't play the Raiders till after
the bye week, which is kind of like, you know
(21:21):
what we did last year, not with the Raiders. But
so yeah, it's interesting. It's uh, that could be a
big game and that'll be fun. I mean, and that
one's at home, So what better way to finish up
the season and have some big old huge game against
the Chargers And maybe it's for everything that's uh, I
could and again those down there, I mean, you never know,
we may see more primetime games because you could get
(21:42):
flexed into something and be under the spotlight?
Speaker 2 (21:45):
Suji?
Speaker 3 (21:45):
Do you like where the Broncos bye week is the
reason why I asked that because last year it was
Week twelve and the one thing that the Broncos did
successfully last year was that they were really healthy. I
don't know how they did it, but they were able
to get through some some tough games to come out healthy. Well,
we know being healthy is an intricate part of a
(22:06):
team's success. So what the bye week sits?
Speaker 2 (22:09):
Do you like it?
Speaker 3 (22:10):
And do you think the Broncos will be as healthy
grounding out the twenty twenty sixth season as they were
the twenty twenty five season.
Speaker 5 (22:18):
Well, I think Bo Lowry and his crew must have
some kind of magic dust that they've got going on,
because that's been a huge key the last couple of
years when Sean brought bow in and so I think
that's a big part of it that they've been able
to stay healthy with him in charge of everything. And
then I do think, you know, getting through you know,
nine games and then having that bye week the twelveth,
(22:39):
so really late last year, like really really late, but
the guys all said, hey, we don't mind. You know,
it's okay. We'll get this big bull done. But they're
also saying that because everybody's really healthy, so who knows
what's going to happen. It could be a time when
they need that bye week. But I like having it
later on. I don't having them early on in the
season because then it feels like the second half of
(23:00):
the season really can drag on. So I like it there. Well,
what'd you like when you played Nick? What was your preference?
Speaker 3 (23:06):
I like it right there in the middle, I mean
week eight, anywhere from week eight, week nine, week ten,
that was all wise kind of the sweet spot. You
didn't want it too late, and you didn't want it
too early, like I think Ben said that Kansas City
there there by week.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
Is like week five, right, Yeah, that's way early. That's
too early.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
That's too early, And then it just kind of puts
the team as somewhat of a meat grinder for the
remaining portion of the season. So I like what the
Broncos by week of City?
Speaker 2 (23:36):
Me too.
Speaker 1 (23:37):
Yeah, there are there is the potential as we sit
here with the five games we already mentioned that are
prime time more standalone games, there's potential for two others
with the TVD games to end the season at New
England and of course the Chargers here, and then of
course there's flex scheduling. Now I'm not sure that the
Broncos are going to be in week five through ten
up for much flex scheduling, although that Kansas City game
(23:59):
here might be one that would that would fall in there.
Speaker 5 (24:03):
Yeah, absolutely, Yeah, you could see that one going because
that's a two twenty five start moving that to like
a Sunday night game or something like that. Yeah, it is.
It's kind of interesting as you as you look at things.
And I always once the schedule comes out, then I
look at the CSU schedule to see which games I
can go to for Colorado State, and I'm like, man,
I can't get to any of them in October. And
then I start looking like, okay, what might get fletched to?
(24:25):
Where were some things around? I can go to some
of the October games up there? But yeah, it's uh,
it will probably be tough with as many games as
they have, and like doing a Black Friday and doing
a Christmas Day, that takes those weekends out of the
mix of being into any other kind of primetime game.
But those are those are sweet spots on Black Friday
and Christmas, So you can't get better than that.
Speaker 3 (24:47):
We saw the Broncos when fourteen games last season, and
if it wasn't for the loss of Jacksonville, they would
have been undefeated at home. So when you look at
this schedule, where what do you how are you putting
the over under them? And I don't want you to
just kind of give me a prediction on the overall
kind of results of the schedule of the schedule for
(25:07):
the Broncos. Well, what do you think this team is
capable of getting to? Are we talking below nine games
or above ten?
Speaker 5 (25:17):
Oh? I think Jenner above, I really do. And I
know it's a tough schedule and I know that. I mean,
it's going to be a big challenge. Fourteen wins was crazy,
and I think everybody last year when we were talking
about ten games thought that was nuts, and then they
got to fourteen, which was way way over expectations. But
I think this team is capable of ten. I really do.
(25:38):
I think bringing back the guys that they brought back,
grabbing Jaylen Model and adding some of those you know,
key pieces, and I'd love to see what happens with
you know, a couple three of these rookies one or
two at least and maybe get some more action with
special teams. So I think and as possible, what do
you what do you guys? What do you guys think?
And I haven't I haven't listened tonight, so I haven't
heard what you guys have said.
Speaker 1 (26:00):
With ten and seven is uh, I came move with
ten and seven is when I came away with on
this schedule.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
But I might being a bit, I might be being a
bit of a downer. I didn't go that far, Susie. Yeah,
the blanket is damp.
Speaker 3 (26:12):
Well, well, you know what, Susie, we kind of got
to the bottom of why Ben's blanket has been so
wet over the years. It goes back to his adolescent days. Yeah,
because his aunt gave him.
Speaker 2 (26:25):
Uh, I just opened on Christmas Eve and I opened
a beach towel once when I was like twelve years old.
Speaker 5 (26:33):
Oh and that was very disappointing, I bet very.
Speaker 3 (26:36):
Yeah, he cried years of not joy in that pillow
and then that blanket and it just kind of stuck
with him. But yes, yes, that's why I still why
he still bitter about it. But Susie, I have the
team at about twelve wins. Last season, I had him
at ten with ability to win maybe eleven.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
So I'm gonna sit there at twelve. And because the
reason be backing for a second.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
The reason I put my twelve because I look at
what they were doing, you know, with this, this roster, building,
this roster, and more importantly, I know this from the
defense side of the ball, and may be biased, but
defense wist championship and they have one hell of a
defense and they have one hell of a defensive leader.
Speaker 5 (27:18):
Yes, one hundred percent, I totally agree. And the fact
that so many guys are back, I just when I
kept seeing them re signed free agents, I just thought,
oh my gosh, this is great because I thought that
Jay Kwalm would be gone. You know, I just stopped
that so many guys may not be around, and the
fact that they were able to make it all work
without Jay. I mean, JFM obviously isn't here, but I'm
(27:39):
really really excited to see how these guys come together
once again. VJ is back. I mean, Vance wasn't here,
i'd feel little bit of a different story. But just
there's just so many things that are that were so
good last year that are back this year that it
has to get better.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
So I have to asking this question because all off
season there's been one hot, big topic and it wasn't
the broad not being active in free agency, but it
was all to talk about bo.
Speaker 2 (28:04):
Nix his injury and having to.
Speaker 3 (28:07):
Go in to have clean up whatever that means.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
Known as though Bow.
Speaker 3 (28:12):
Is probably not going to participate in any of the
maybe oca's and mini cams, but he's a I guess
on pace to be ready for training camp. That's where
we've been told. Knowing that information, does that change any
of your perspective about the first six weeks of the
season for the Broncos.
Speaker 5 (28:30):
Well, it depends on who you believe, right who do
you do you believe that he's going to be back
and everything's going to be fine, or if you have
that that skepticism in there that maybe there's still that
little bit of you know, he's got to be careful
and is somebody gonna I mean, the shoot the Chargers
schedule release video went right after his ankle. Our team
is going to be going after his ankles all the time.
(28:52):
You know. I hope not. I hope that everything is
fine and I think he's going to be there week one.
I think Bo's got such an incredible you know, spirit
and fight, and he's tough. I mean, that guy's a
tough guy. So I don't think that unless there's some
reason that he absolutely can't go, if there's step back,
step back, step back, then then yes, I get a
little worried. But I think he's going to be back
(29:14):
and he's gonna give it everything that he possibly can.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
Susie, is there any game in here that you jumps
out at? He is like a favorite? Like for me,
it's the Rams. He hadn't played here.
Speaker 1 (29:24):
Last last time I played here was I think Christmas
twenty twenty two, And so this is one of those
ones where as I look at this stuff, that's one
that jumps out of me geting Sunday Night football gets
the Rams, even if it is earlier in the season.
Speaker 5 (29:38):
Yeah. No, that's a fun one, you know, the one
I'm looking forward to, and this is a just more
of a me thing. One of the stadiums that I
haven't been to is Pittsburgh. I have never been to
Pittsburgh before, so I've been kind of waiting for that one.
I have. I want to experience what it feels like
to be in that stadium. I know it's going to
be crazy and uh and loud, and those fans are
(29:58):
I mean, we see a ton of of them here
whenever the Steelers come here to town, so they've got
a crazy fan base. I'm looking forward to that one.
Like again, it's one of the stadiums I haven't been to,
so that's kind of cool. It'll be fun to go out,
and you know, go to San Francisco in October. I
think that's always, you know, again, whether a big thing
for me because I look at like what could happen
(30:20):
with the elements and what are we going to be
playing and what are we're standing in? Am I looking
forward to MetLife and Jillette in December not so much probably,
but we'll see what happens. I think they're all going
to be fun. And those primetime games. I'm really looking
forward to all the primetime ones for sure.
Speaker 3 (30:37):
Well, Susie, what I will say about that Black Friday
game in Pittsburgh.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
Bundle up, it's going to be cold.
Speaker 5 (30:44):
Oh yeah, planned I know I'm looking at all these
games in December and I'm like, I'm gonna probably need
to get a few more layers for those high humidity,
cold places.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
Yeah, Jet's game especially.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
I look forward to seeing you double park it in
that one out there at Medlife.
Speaker 5 (31:02):
Susie, we got a time we were at Medlife. It
rained and rained and rain. Remember that was that game.
I've never been more soaked in my entire life. That
was insane.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
I do I very much remember, Susan. We appreciate it.
We got to hit a break. Appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (31:15):
Appreciate you taking us the time jumping on here and
going over the schedule with us and looking forward to
hearing you from the sideline all season.
Speaker 5 (31:21):
Always good a chat with you guys. Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
Absolutely take care, Susie Wars sideline reporter for your at
Denver Broncos.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
We got to hit a break. Broncos Country night back
after this
The schedule is out if you missed any part of
the schedule released showing a Rocos Country Dot Dot comp
slash podcast, which podcast, Apple, i Tunes, Spotify, the free
redesigned iHeartRadio appned it. Well, you can get take it
for granted podcast archives and you can listen to that.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
We're of course gonna rebreak it all down right here,
because that's what we do.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Susie Warden, sideline reporter for your Dinner Roccos, is going
to join us in the next segment. We get her
thoughts on the schedule and the schedule release as well.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Nick came away looking at this thing and it's it's
it's a.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Rough start through about six six, seven weeks, six eight
week excuse me, Vit gets really easy for about six
weeks and then it gets tough again for about three weeks.
I came away from this initial impression looking at a
ten and seven record and a wildcard I could be
talked into more.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
What are your initial impressions of this schedule.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
It's very interesting schedule, and I think it's fitting of
what the Broncos were able to accomplish last year. Yet
over the past two years, I mean, this was an
organization who they had a new head coach, a young quarterback.
No one really gave them a ball chance in hell
to do what they've done over the past two years.
(01:14):
And for the team to go fourteen and three, the
number one seed, seven and one home record, this schedule,
to me, just kind of validates what they did. And
the reason I say that ben because looking at how
the start of the season actually shakes out for the team.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Obviously, you know you would like to.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Have some of these games kind of spread out, but
we really want to test the Broncos. We really want
to see what they are from a team standpoint, because
this is I think, by far one of the better
teams last year. Obviously, but they didn't really do too
much from a free agency standpoint, which for a while
(01:55):
kind of sent Broncos Country into somewhat.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
Of a frenzy.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
And the team seems though, Man, they were happy with
the roster that they had, so they brought back twelve guys,
so we get a chance to see that roster maybe
with a new shine on it. And when I say
a new shine, that's because the play calling duties are
supposed to be handed over to Davis web So we
get a chance to see what Davis Webb's vision is
like for this offense in bow Knicks. But we also
(02:21):
get a chance to see what is play calling is
for a first time play caller.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Against some well experienced teams on both sides of the ball.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Yeah, it's gonna be interesting, Web getting thrown right into
the fire, like I said, against some great teams that.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Oh, by the way, the Broncos.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Have two primetime games in their first three games, so
you got a Monday night football to.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Open the season at Kansas City.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
You've got a Sunday Night Football in week three with
the La Rams coming here.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Rams gonna be gassed by that point.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
You open the season in Australia, then you turn on
you on a Monday night football, So you got a
short week against the Broncos for Sunday night football.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
It is.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
It is an interesting schedule that is loaded on the
front end in terms of call the opponents for Denver.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
I know you're saying that the Rams are going to
be gazz because I think they're playing that that that
game against San Francisco in Melbourne.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Again the forty nine in Australia. No time to get
back and you know because you're right back in the fire.
They've got to play a Monday night football game in
week two, and then they gotta play a Sunday night
football game against the Broncos in Week three.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
See.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
But the good thing for them, and I think this
is what Sean mcvayan lessened is gonna tell their team.
Even though you have those those strips, those games, you're
not traveling across these United States like you're flying west
coast to east coast, right, you just going one time
zone to go to Denver. Now, it could present some
issues for sure, but that Rams team has always been tough.
(03:42):
We watched them over the past couple of years. Last
season they were really tough. They had two solid, good
running backs, decent tight end. The question is whether Pulan
the Coup is going to be available to the team
or not in this type of situation. But we know
that team is tough, and they have some good skill players,
and they used the off season to shore up the secondary.
(04:04):
So it's not gonna be somewhat of a cake walk.
But that's gonna be one hell of a game for both.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
Teams that it is.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
We neglected to mention Jacksonville in Week two for the
Broncos coming here.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
That's gonna be a tough one.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
We saw what Jacksonville was capable of last year when
they broke the Broncos winning streak that came in here,
and frankly, they kind of put it to Denver. You know,
a game that felt a little close there, maybe towards
the end of the third, start of the fourth quarter,
but Jacksonville was firmly in control of that thing most
of the way and and that was it certainly was
a was an interesting thing. I think you if you're
a Broncos fan, you're gonna want to get some get
(04:36):
back on that. And then Week four you've got Kansas
City Jacksonville remps a. Week four you're at San Francisco
in Levi Stadium. You know, another tough opponent that first quarter,
that's a that's a pretty tough first quarter of the season.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Yeah, it is, Ben, But wouldn't you rather.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
Get that early test out of the way so you
can actually see what it is you have as far
as coaching staff, players, your execution on either side of
the ball, and when you look at what's.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Gonna happen with the Broncos after the San Francisco game,
I mean you're at the Chargers.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
You want all of those games right at the start.
So if the team goes three and three or whatever,
two and four, to me, you say, okay, well, we
still have some opportunity down the stretch because the season
is going to be a little thin right in the
mid section. And that's the mid part of the season
as you get some teams, several teams that the Broncos
(05:34):
are going to play that last season they were below
five hundred.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
I'm talking about way below five hundred.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
So if you can get through those early first six
tough games from Week two to week six, man, to me,
the Broncos could be in a good position where they say,
you know what the value weight at our roster. We
survived the NFL tough gam and orders of rows of teams.
(06:02):
Now we get a chance to settle down, relax, We're
gonna hit there, buy a ten and we get crews
from thennre Yeah, I mean.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
You don't obviously want to get in the cruise mentality,
but you kind of can't.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
When you look at the schedule. You get the Chiefs, the.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
Jags, the Rams, the Niners, the Chargers, the Seahawks on
a Thursday night, and then all of a sudden it
starts to open up a little. You got you're at
arizonaet Kansas City, coming here to Denver, You're at Carolina,
you got the Raiders, You're you're at Pittsburgh on Black Friday.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
Then you got Miami, the Jets and the Raiders. Again.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
That's a that's a very winnable segment. That is a
very winnable portion of the schedule.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
I know when I first looked at this schedule, I
was like, dang, no, the schedule makers. But then I saw, okay,
they are kind.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Of paying it forward in a sense. Now.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Now, granted, the Broncos have to do the heavy lifting.
They have to go out there and they have to produce.
But once again, when you look at some of those games,
they're all winnable games. And Black Friday, we're all gonna
be looking for discounts on Black It's over with the
Denver Broncos as they go in to.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Roll to play the Pittsburgh Steelers. Yeah, they're hoping it's
a discounted quarterback. And there might be.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
If Aaron Rodgers doesn't discount check, I didn't get his things,
you know what?
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Together and then you've.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
Got a three game stretch. It's pretty tough to end
the season. You've got the Christmas Day game. Now, this
will be a two thirty Mountain Time kickoff, so you
know you will get Christmas morning. We all will get
Christmas morning with our family, unless your Grant Smith, in
which case you'll be in here like five am.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Because because that's okay.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
So really quickly with that great, I'm not gonna I'm
not gonna tell you the text message you sent me
what I said of the schedule ahead.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Of time, like, I'm not gonna not radio friendly, Yeah
might find us.
Speaker 4 (07:38):
But I did say the other day, I think it
was Monday, I was like, the only downfall of the
Broncos being good again is that they're in high demand.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
I guess that very first world problem.
Speaker 4 (07:47):
I would much rather have them be good than have
to go through another four and thirteen season. But man,
my wife's birthday and Christmas Day. Wow, And this will
be the third year in a row.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
Having this conversation the other night, and you know, with
the Bronco with the idea that the Broncos could play
a game on Christmas and being suggested celebrating Christmas on Christmas.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Eve with my kids, and I'm like, man, no, I
was trying to help the kids. Trying to help the kids.
That's what I'm trying to tell them. It is. It
is not the same. I said. What we could do
is you.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
Know, like on when we celebrate the New Year, everyone
kind of starts with the East Coast first. Maybe I
could try to talk to my wife, I could visit we.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
Go families apart.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Come on, Yeah, I was trying to help the kids
out and get the Christmas eat presents.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Man, That's that's all I was trying to do. That
was the best. My parents would always let us open
one present.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
Same except I was telling a story and you guys
can hear it on last night's show if you if
you listen to the podcast.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
I was telling a story.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
We always we had this really cool aunt who always
got us good gifts or whatever, and so I was like,
I'm opening her present on Christmas Eve this year.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Because you know it's going to be something good.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
It's the only one that you can't open, right, Well,
I know I can open one, right, you can.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Only open one.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
So I'm like, I'm gonna open I'm gonna open this.
So like my brother and I was like twelve, it's time.
So my brother's like ten, and my other brother was
it was was five, right, and the littlest brother got
like a Star Wars action figure, and Nathan, I don't
know if you got a Transformer or something or leisure tag, right,
I can't remember what it was.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
So I decided to open my ant's present.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
It was a beach towel she had, which w Now,
I appreciate the effort that she went to in my work.
She had made us all these embroidered beach towels, But
as a twelve year old, I was not having a
beach towel as my.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
Christmas Now, what are you gonna do with that? On
Christmas Eve? Right handmade beach tow monogram. I at least
I had something to wipe the tears up. You know what.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
Now that reminds me that is probably when the wet
blanket actually started.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
Yes, the wet beach towel, right, yeah, I just covered
up with that look like Lyons from from the Peanuts.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Yeah, it was. That was That was my worst, my
worst Christmas Eve.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
But I'm like, at least this is at first thing
in the morning on Christmas where we got to be
up at three am and like we were for an
international game or any that kind of stuff.
Speaker 4 (10:08):
Thank god, I was so much hoping that we weren't
going back to London.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
I knew we weren't going to have an international game
once the Niners vetoed us, because it was gonna be
we were going to play the Niners.
Speaker 4 (10:18):
In Mexico City, which it wouldn't be horrible for the
time change difference, right, well, there's no almost no difference, So.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
We were going to play the Niners, but the Niners
specifically vetoed that, and so we wound up not having
an international game this year. Interesting, it's the second year
in a row in which the Broncos have been vetoed
by an opponent, because they were supposed to play in
Germany last year and the Falcons vetoed that in favor
of the Colts.
Speaker 4 (10:42):
Right, good move by the by them, though, How do
you guys feel about those the Christmas games?
Speaker 3 (10:47):
Because over the years the Broncos have played on Christmas,
they're going to.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Be the Christmas team the same way the Cowboys and
Lions are Thanksgiving teams, guys.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
And it'll say that out loud. I'm telling you, get ready.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
I know no one were it was that, but they
haven't really fair that well over the years playing on Christmas.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
I'm gonna have to quit run on the Broncos games.
You go quit running the Bronco game. They're gonna be
on Christmas every year. Well, you can probably get like
an exception next year, you know, to.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
You know, maybe you can get extinction or something like that.
Speaker 4 (11:18):
I'll be up early anyways, so we can We'll have
plenty of hours to celebrate Christmas with a two month
old baby.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
That's what I'm saying. Like you might still be on
still leave at that point, laughing at us.
Speaker 3 (11:29):
M hm.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
That suckers are up right now, Broncos with a six
thirty a kickoff or.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
Some nonsense texting us doing the broadcast. What are you
guys doing right now?
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Yeah, but there's the Christmas Day game will kick off
at two thirty.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
But let's let's let's have a let's have a Broncos
tailgate out there, Christmas tail gate out there in the
in the parking lot.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
Listen, I'm gonna say say this for that that Christmas
game either is going to be uh fest of us
for the rest of us, or it's gonna be a
nightmare on Christmas.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
This season goes sideways for some reason.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
Oh my god, I cannot again, I'm not dragging myself
out to that. You know, third to last game of
the year. If the season goes sideways like that, you
are already enough. Like the Grinch, we don't need to.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
But what I don't understand.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
You know, what I don't understand about that movie is
it feels like they're trying to portray him as a
villain when he's very clearly the hero.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Yes, he is the hero. He is a great guy
after his heart grows through.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Well, no, he has this weird transformation in the middle
where he becomes what society wants. But but prior to
that he was he was the hero standing for his
own beliefs.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
To see that sounds selfish. That's what see and everything
is in wordings.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
Yeah, bands trying to phrase it almost like put it
in large quotations.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Standing for himself, right, that's ended up for your beliefs. Yes,
just saying the Grinch, it's my hero.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
Stand up for your own beliefs while others are get sacrificed.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Yeh.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
Final two games of the season at New England, and
that'll either be on January second or third, don't know
yet because it could be a Saturday game.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
Probably will be a Saturday.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
If the Broncos and Patriots are what everybody thinks, both
these games will probably get played on Saturday, which means
the standalone game total would go from five to seven
for the Broncos for the season currently, since at five
that's primetime or games in which you have your own
time slot. Given the Christmas and the Black Friday games,
the Charge you're at New England, and then you've got
the Chargers here that Chargers game, most those two games
could be very meaningful, and especially that Chargers game could
(13:27):
be the ball for at all here in Denver.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
Well, I think it's going to start with Week sixteen,
the Christmas game against Buffalo, because that is going to
be potentially seeding far as who gets the first round
by in my opinion, and then as far as the
AFC was, who actually wins the AFC West Is it
the Chargers or will it be the Denver Broncos. So
(13:51):
that Week six through eightem man, that's gonna be tough
and must see TV for sure.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
Yeah, this is gonna be interesting as we look at
this again.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
You got weeks one through six that are rough, week
seven through fifteen that are looking almost like a cakewalk,
and then sixteen through eighteen where it gets real rough again.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
So it's gonna be a fascinating schedule with the.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
The you know, the the interior of it being very
winnable and the challenges coming at the book ends, which
might might turn out.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
To be a good thing.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
You know, maybe you get challenged early a little bit,
you raise your level of your play, you get challenged,
you get a little easy during the you know, the
meat of the season, and then you get challenged again
towards the end, right as you're ramping up for the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (14:32):
And that's why I believe, for me, in my opinion,
those early games against teams that were divisional winners last year,
teams that went to the playoffs and with super Bowls,
it just it just sharpens your knife, It just builds callous.
So once you get to that back half where you're
(14:52):
talking about week sixteen through eighteen, you were prepared.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
You know who you are. You've already went through the burn.
Speaker 3 (14:59):
And says over the firing glass already, so you primed.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
You ready to go? Yeah, we'll find out what Susie
Wargen thinks about this schedule. We get the Broncos Syline
reporter coming up next.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
Congratulations to Mark Francis, who won the pair of tickets early.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
Did he decide on the home game? No, he did.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
I decided, Well, he's got an option, so he was
so excited though. Yeah, he's like. I sent a prayer up.
Speaker 4 (15:21):
To the heavens before I called in because I never
win these giveaways, and I said, you better go buy
a lottery ticket tonight.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
You want it today.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
So congratulations and Mark Francis for winning his choice of
a pair of home game tickets for the Broncos this year.
I think there's another pair available at the Instagram page
for Kai. If you guys go to Instagram, there's a
second pair available there. So if you missed out, you
got a chance there. Appreciate you guys being a law
for the ride. We got hit a break. Broncos Country
to Night backing for this. If you are door dashing
at Chipotle, don't get a double order of meat because
(15:50):
you won't even get a single order of meat in
your burrito bowl.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
You guys want to see what I'm talking about.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
I just spent twenty eight dollars for a burrito bowl
that has nothing in it.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
Shame on you, Chipotle. How much meat did you order
or double? Wait a minute, yeah, sorry, who chicken? There's
like three here that's supposed to be double.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
Meat meat the label right here, Dude, I don't need
muscle him off of some of your meat before beyonder.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
You guys want to see the picture of it. I
put it up on Wow. Let's go out to Kiwi Commas.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
Pro hotline and bring on somebody who always brings it,
never skips, and that's Susie Wards.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
And Susie, how you doing.
Speaker 5 (16:32):
Always double the protein when I'm on.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
Hey look, I look, And I'm being told by people
on Twitter that what I should have done is order
a regular one and then order the side of extra
meat because it's the same cost.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
And that way they have to do both. So I'm
being told that's the hack for that. But still twenty eight.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
Dollars for a taxi from my burrito bowl that barely
had any food, and it is ridiculous.
Speaker 5 (16:52):
Yeah, well you are on a diet, right I am,
But I need.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
The protein like it's just this Bowl is just chickens
and lettuce.
Speaker 5 (16:59):
Have some protein.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
I'm not doing that'll be encouraging.
Speaker 5 (17:05):
Sorry, Nick, I'm not a beans guy.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
I like beach, I don't I like beech, so that
you don't have to worry about that anyway, Susie.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
The schedules out, it's fascinating. It's a lot.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
It's real tough all the front and real tough all
the back end, and kind of I don't want to
call it easy in the middle. It's certainly manageable. As
we look at these schedule. What are your initial thoughts?
Speaker 5 (17:23):
Initial? Thus, I mean, I think the same as everybody.
You know, you get the five prime time games going
to k C week one. I like that, we get
the Super Bowl champs at home in that first part.
I do think that first part is very tough. We've
got three California teams right in a row, two of
them on the road. But you know, those are easy
trips for us. What I look at, too, is the
(17:44):
back half, and I you know, I look at at
you know, obviously who the Broncos are playing, but then
I look at what are we going to face in
that back half? As far as stadiums go, and you know,
we enjoyed all these wonderful games last year at home
where it was like sixty degrees plus for most just
about every game one or two. And we've got some
places that we're going there after the bye week. I
(18:05):
mean when Gill Pittsburgh, we've got MetLife Stadium, we have
the one in Vegas at Allegiance, so it'll be the
one that'll be covered. And then we got in New England,
so and then you know, who knows what happens here
in Denver in November and December. We were very fortunate
last year, but there could be some very dicey weather
games that the Broncos are facing in that second half
(18:25):
of the season, not only you know, against great good teams,
but as far as the elements go too, so it
could be a lot different. It could be very different
than it was this past year, as you guys know,
just because that's what happens when you win a lot
of games, but the elements might be very different as well.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
Well. Susie, how do you feel about some of these
primetime games? And for me, when I look at it,
I'm glad that the Broncos have this primetime game. Like
last year, they had five the year before that too,
the year before that too. And the team that's had
the most over the past couple of years, and I
think it was last year with Kansas City they had seven.
So you look at a lot of these primetime games,
(19:03):
what do you think that the league is saying about
the Denver Broncos or how they view them.
Speaker 5 (19:09):
That's again, because didn't we have seven the first year
that we had Russ. Wasn't that a seven primetime game
season or something close to that? We had six or seven?
I want to say, yeah, so and then we all
know what happened. It didn't go very well, and I
think the league was like, yeah, we're gonna put you
guys on the back burner for a little bit. So
I think it's saying, hey, you know what, the Broncos
are legit again, we can see it. We want them
(19:30):
on primetime. I mean, the Broncos are our universally I'm
not going to say universally liked, but we have a
huge fan base and the NFL sees that. And there's
nothing not to like about bon Nix. And there's like
very likable guys on this roster that people can connect
to and get to know more, and I think it's
great getting on all those primetime games. It's exciting. It's
(19:52):
going to be interesting to play on a Black Friday game.
That'll be really weird, so that'll be interesting. It'll be
nice to play Christmas at home. That's going to be
a home game. You know. I think it's always fun
to play primetime games. There's just always that little extra
juice in the air. People are a little more excited.
You know, things are just a little bit different. And
Nick you know this from playing. It's just it's a
(20:14):
different feel on the field when you're in those type
of games.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
You just talk with Snuseie Warrigen, you're a Broncos sideline
reporter here for Kawa, and you know it is. There
are a couple of quirks here that seem a bit interesting. Obviously,
Kansas City, we're playing them twice by November one. Kansas
City also has its bye week in Week five this year.
Speaker 5 (20:36):
Ooh, I didn't know that. Yeah, so that's interesting, fascinating,
the home little break early on.
Speaker 1 (20:41):
Yeah, we you know, I mean the Chargers at the
end of the season, that could be the ball for
at all Chargers A Darling this year amongst pundits. You're
talking about a team that could be much improved at
the improvements they've made on the offensive line. Bringing Mike
McDaniels the offensive coordinator. We could be setting up for
a Week eighteen matchup that could be a.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
Brawl for it all.
Speaker 5 (20:59):
Oh absolutely, yeah, you know different than what it was
last year is I feel like we didn't play We
only played what a couple of our AFC West games
in the first part of the season were very heavy
in the second half within the division, and now it's
the complete opposite. I mean, we've just got the two
around three I should say, after the bye week. We
have both and we don't play the Raiders till after
the bye week, which is kind of like, you know
(21:21):
what we did last year, not with the Raiders. But
so yeah, it's interesting. It's uh, that could be a
big game and that'll be fun. I mean, and that
one's at home, So what better way to finish up
the season and have some big old huge game against
the Chargers And maybe it's for everything that's uh, I
could and again those down there, I mean, you never know,
we may see more primetime games because you could get
(21:42):
flexed into something and be under the spotlight?
Speaker 2 (21:45):
Suji?
Speaker 3 (21:45):
Do you like where the Broncos bye week is the
reason why I asked that because last year it was
Week twelve and the one thing that the Broncos did
successfully last year was that they were really healthy. I
don't know how they did it, but they were able
to get through some some tough games to come out healthy. Well,
we know being healthy is an intricate part of a
(22:06):
team's success. So what the bye week sits?
Speaker 2 (22:09):
Do you like it?
Speaker 3 (22:10):
And do you think the Broncos will be as healthy
grounding out the twenty twenty sixth season as they were
the twenty twenty five season.
Speaker 5 (22:18):
Well, I think Bo Lowry and his crew must have
some kind of magic dust that they've got going on,
because that's been a huge key the last couple of
years when Sean brought bow in and so I think
that's a big part of it that they've been able
to stay healthy with him in charge of everything. And
then I do think, you know, getting through you know,
nine games and then having that bye week the twelveth,
(22:39):
so really late last year, like really really late, but
the guys all said, hey, we don't mind. You know,
it's okay. We'll get this big bull done. But they're
also saying that because everybody's really healthy, so who knows
what's going to happen. It could be a time when
they need that bye week. But I like having it
later on. I don't having them early on in the
season because then it feels like the second half of
(23:00):
the season really can drag on. So I like it there. Well,
what'd you like when you played Nick? What was your preference?
Speaker 3 (23:06):
I like it right there in the middle, I mean
week eight, anywhere from week eight, week nine, week ten,
that was all wise kind of the sweet spot. You
didn't want it too late, and you didn't want it
too early, like I think Ben said that Kansas City
there there by week.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
Is like week five, right, Yeah, that's way early. That's
too early.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
That's too early, And then it just kind of puts
the team as somewhat of a meat grinder for the
remaining portion of the season. So I like what the
Broncos by week of City?
Speaker 2 (23:36):
Me too.
Speaker 1 (23:37):
Yeah, there are there is the potential as we sit
here with the five games we already mentioned that are
prime time more standalone games, there's potential for two others
with the TVD games to end the season at New
England and of course the Chargers here, and then of
course there's flex scheduling. Now I'm not sure that the
Broncos are going to be in week five through ten
up for much flex scheduling, although that Kansas City game
(23:59):
here might be one that would that would fall in there.
Speaker 5 (24:03):
Yeah, absolutely, Yeah, you could see that one going because
that's a two twenty five start moving that to like
a Sunday night game or something like that. Yeah, it is.
It's kind of interesting as you as you look at things.
And I always once the schedule comes out, then I
look at the CSU schedule to see which games I
can go to for Colorado State, and I'm like, man,
I can't get to any of them in October. And
then I start looking like, okay, what might get fletched to?
(24:25):
Where were some things around? I can go to some
of the October games up there? But yeah, it's uh,
it will probably be tough with as many games as
they have, and like doing a Black Friday and doing
a Christmas Day, that takes those weekends out of the
mix of being into any other kind of primetime game.
But those are those are sweet spots on Black Friday
and Christmas, So you can't get better than that.
Speaker 3 (24:47):
We saw the Broncos when fourteen games last season, and
if it wasn't for the loss of Jacksonville, they would
have been undefeated at home. So when you look at
this schedule, where what do you how are you putting
the over under them? And I don't want you to
just kind of give me a prediction on the overall
kind of results of the schedule of the schedule for
(25:07):
the Broncos. Well, what do you think this team is
capable of getting to? Are we talking below nine games
or above ten?
Speaker 5 (25:17):
Oh? I think Jenner above, I really do. And I
know it's a tough schedule and I know that. I mean,
it's going to be a big challenge. Fourteen wins was crazy,
and I think everybody last year when we were talking
about ten games thought that was nuts, and then they
got to fourteen, which was way way over expectations. But
I think this team is capable of ten. I really do.
(25:38):
I think bringing back the guys that they brought back,
grabbing Jaylen Model and adding some of those you know,
key pieces, and I'd love to see what happens with
you know, a couple three of these rookies one or
two at least and maybe get some more action with
special teams. So I think and as possible, what do
you what do you guys? What do you guys think?
And I haven't I haven't listened tonight, so I haven't
heard what you guys have said.
Speaker 1 (26:00):
With ten and seven is uh, I came move with
ten and seven is when I came away with on
this schedule.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
But I might being a bit, I might be being a
bit of a downer. I didn't go that far, Susie. Yeah,
the blanket is damp.
Speaker 3 (26:12):
Well, well, you know what, Susie, we kind of got
to the bottom of why Ben's blanket has been so
wet over the years. It goes back to his adolescent days. Yeah,
because his aunt gave him.
Speaker 2 (26:25):
Uh, I just opened on Christmas Eve and I opened
a beach towel once when I was like twelve years old.
Speaker 5 (26:33):
Oh and that was very disappointing, I bet very.
Speaker 3 (26:36):
Yeah, he cried years of not joy in that pillow
and then that blanket and it just kind of stuck
with him. But yes, yes, that's why I still why
he still bitter about it. But Susie, I have the
team at about twelve wins. Last season, I had him
at ten with ability to win maybe eleven.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
So I'm gonna sit there at twelve. And because the
reason be backing for a second.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
The reason I put my twelve because I look at
what they were doing, you know, with this, this roster, building,
this roster, and more importantly, I know this from the
defense side of the ball, and may be biased, but
defense wist championship and they have one hell of a
defense and they have one hell of a defensive leader.
Speaker 5 (27:18):
Yes, one hundred percent, I totally agree. And the fact
that so many guys are back, I just when I
kept seeing them re signed free agents, I just thought,
oh my gosh, this is great because I thought that
Jay Kwalm would be gone. You know, I just stopped
that so many guys may not be around, and the
fact that they were able to make it all work
without Jay. I mean, JFM obviously isn't here, but I'm
(27:39):
really really excited to see how these guys come together
once again. VJ is back. I mean, Vance wasn't here,
i'd feel little bit of a different story. But just
there's just so many things that are that were so
good last year that are back this year that it
has to get better.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
So I have to asking this question because all off
season there's been one hot, big topic and it wasn't
the broad not being active in free agency, but it
was all to talk about bo.
Speaker 2 (28:04):
Nix his injury and having to.
Speaker 3 (28:07):
Go in to have clean up whatever that means.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
Known as though Bow.
Speaker 3 (28:12):
Is probably not going to participate in any of the
maybe oca's and mini cams, but he's a I guess
on pace to be ready for training camp. That's where
we've been told. Knowing that information, does that change any
of your perspective about the first six weeks of the
season for the Broncos.
Speaker 5 (28:30):
Well, it depends on who you believe, right who do
you do you believe that he's going to be back
and everything's going to be fine, or if you have
that that skepticism in there that maybe there's still that
little bit of you know, he's got to be careful
and is somebody gonna I mean, the shoot the Chargers
schedule release video went right after his ankle. Our team
is going to be going after his ankles all the time.
(28:52):
You know. I hope not. I hope that everything is
fine and I think he's going to be there week one.
I think Bo's got such an incredible you know, spirit
and fight, and he's tough. I mean, that guy's a
tough guy. So I don't think that unless there's some
reason that he absolutely can't go, if there's step back,
step back, step back, then then yes, I get a
little worried. But I think he's going to be back
(29:14):
and he's gonna give it everything that he possibly can.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
Susie, is there any game in here that you jumps
out at? He is like a favorite? Like for me,
it's the Rams. He hadn't played here.
Speaker 1 (29:24):
Last last time I played here was I think Christmas
twenty twenty two, And so this is one of those
ones where as I look at this stuff, that's one
that jumps out of me geting Sunday Night football gets
the Rams, even if it is earlier in the season.
Speaker 5 (29:38):
Yeah. No, that's a fun one, you know, the one
I'm looking forward to, and this is a just more
of a me thing. One of the stadiums that I
haven't been to is Pittsburgh. I have never been to
Pittsburgh before, so I've been kind of waiting for that one.
I have. I want to experience what it feels like
to be in that stadium. I know it's going to
be crazy and uh and loud, and those fans are
(29:58):
I mean, we see a ton of of them here
whenever the Steelers come here to town, so they've got
a crazy fan base. I'm looking forward to that one.
Like again, it's one of the stadiums I haven't been to,
so that's kind of cool. It'll be fun to go out,
and you know, go to San Francisco in October. I
think that's always, you know, again, whether a big thing
for me because I look at like what could happen
(30:20):
with the elements and what are we going to be
playing and what are we're standing in? Am I looking
forward to MetLife and Jillette in December not so much probably,
but we'll see what happens. I think they're all going
to be fun. And those primetime games. I'm really looking
forward to all the primetime ones for sure.
Speaker 3 (30:37):
Well, Susie, what I will say about that Black Friday
game in Pittsburgh.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
Bundle up, it's going to be cold.
Speaker 5 (30:44):
Oh yeah, planned I know I'm looking at all these
games in December and I'm like, I'm gonna probably need
to get a few more layers for those high humidity,
cold places.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
Yeah, Jet's game especially.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
I look forward to seeing you double park it in
that one out there at Medlife.
Speaker 5 (31:02):
Susie, we got a time we were at Medlife. It
rained and rained and rain. Remember that was that game.
I've never been more soaked in my entire life. That
was insane.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
I do I very much remember, Susan. We appreciate it.
We got to hit a break. Appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (31:15):
Appreciate you taking us the time jumping on here and
going over the schedule with us and looking forward to
hearing you from the sideline all season.
Speaker 5 (31:21):
Always good a chat with you guys. Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
Absolutely take care, Susie Wars sideline reporter for your at
Denver Broncos.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
We got to hit a break. Broncos Country night back
after this
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