Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Letting them dry that wet blanket out tonight alongside my
guy Nick Ferguson.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Thanks to the.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Hall of Famer Steve Atwater for joining us earlier in
the show.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
And Parker Gabriel as well.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
If you missed any of that, you know where to
find it on the free and redesigned iHeartRadio app, where
you can now set KOA as a preset, just like
you do in your car. On the Common Spirit Health
text line from the seven to zero, people saying the
Broncos are waiting for the playoffs to step it up
or just crossing their fingers that they're actually better than this.
They play bad teams so bad it looks pathetic. Winning
(00:32):
is winning, but that's why they have no respect.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Think there's any truth to that, Nick, Yeah, I.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Think it is. Someone say, well, know that person is
acting as though the team is two and eight and
not eleven and two. But I mean facts are facts.
People know what they see and they wanted to They
wanted to pass the eye test, they wanted this pass
the smell test. So I understand both sides of the argument.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
I just just double checking real quick to make sure
that wasn't Benjamin Olbryce number's that out to the KA
Comic Spirit Health Hotline and bring on one of our favorites.
Breed mastis host of the Less Talk Broncos podcast and
Believe in the Broncos podcast.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Brie, how are you tonight?
Speaker 4 (01:18):
Oh my goodness, I'm doing well this evening. Thanks for
having me on. And what an opportune moment to talk
about the naysayers, the negative guys that are still out
there hanging around, one of which just happens to be
Benjamin Albryce.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
What do you say to those naysayers after a ten
game winning streak in Broncos Country.
Speaker 4 (01:37):
I think it's high expectations in a very football hungry
state that is finally sensing a little bit of the
taste of success, and it can be a little bit bothersome.
I think there is a poignant response to saying that
these worst teams, these raiders of the league, could be
beat more appropriately, the points spread could be a little
(01:59):
bit more dumb. But Denver walked away with a win
in Vegas. They walked out eleven and two. They're riding
a ten game win streak. When you say it out loud,
you have to chalk it into the column of a
win is a win because I feel like the viber
on this team, it feels like confidence is mixed with inevitability.
I know the league has the pension of righting the
(02:20):
wrong and there's going to be a loss on the
schedule somewhere, but you can feel it across the league.
I think there's so much attention on the Broncos and
the naysayers that are saying that it's a cute story
and they're no. They're a problem and they're continuing to
be so. Now there's still at to Knicks point, Yeah,
they need to step it up offensively, but we've seen
that kind of start to come together. The cogs and
(02:42):
the wheels, all the little spokes are starting to fit together.
And I think what makes the win so special against
the Raiders is it felt more complete than a lot
of the other games. And you can try to downplay
the win with the scope of who they were facing.
The opponent maybe wasn't up to speed, but I think
this Raiders team tried to throw a couple of things
to try to change the script up a little bit,
(03:03):
and Nick's played that veteran poise. He was accurate. There
was a rhythm and there was decision, and ultimately that's
what you want to see when it comes to these games.
That last minute for field goal for the Raiders that
ended up skewing the points spread a little bit. That
was garbage time points and that the separator would have
been even greater. So sorry to ramble, but I'm a
(03:24):
little hyped up about it right. This is an exciting
time to be watching this Broncos team.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
Yeah, I think people forget the past five to ten
years in Broncos country and how bad things really were.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Would you call it a dominant wind against the Raiders?
Speaker 5 (03:38):
Breath Now, I don't think dominant, no, Ill, When you
think about dominance, I think a lot of that could
have come from what the defense left on the table, right, Like,
we've seen.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
Them slow down a little bit, and I don't know
if that's just because who they're playing or not being
really stretched to their means. We're going to hope that
that its way on Sunday against the more formidable opponent
in the Packers. But I don't think dominant is the
correct term. Because you guys were just talking about it, right,
you have shades of like the last decade, but in
twenty thirteen that season was like what true dominance speaks
(04:14):
to me? Now, I think a little bit of that
has to come from being a spoiled fan, if you will,
because it's stickle to start picking apart, like, ah, I
wish there were seven touchdowns on the board somewhere. That
to me is truly dominant. But dominant also plays into
the scope of what the defense is able to do
when it comes to turnovers and controlling momentum and really
(04:35):
capitalizing off of that momentum. And so when the Broncos
can be truly dominant, it will be the scope of
taking the ball out of the literal hands of the
other team and then putting points on the board. And
you don't want field goals, right, that's just that's putting
points on the board. But you want a touchdown, you
want to bury them. And I think true dominance comes
from scaring your opponents a little bit. And I think
(04:56):
once they reach that tier, they've put all the pieces together.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
I think the biggest question coming into Sunday's game is
how do you slow down Michael Parson when he's sitting
right now in twelve and a half sacks and when
you look at the Packers overall as a defense, they
I think they ranked maybe twelve in the league as
far as hurries are concerned. So what will be the
(05:22):
mold the answer to being able to slow him down
because you're not going to stop him.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
Yeah, And I think that's a really great way to
put it is you're not looking to absolutely take him
out of the conversation now that he's in the new uniform,
no longer on the Cowboys, now on the Packers. I
think you're talking about trying to neutralize it a little bit.
So you're not going to take away his game, but
you're going to try to limit the amount of disruption
that he's forcing on the field. Because you're not gonna
(05:51):
be able to stop him, you're mail to manage and
I think Sean Payton and the team really tried to
do that. They're not comparable players when you take Max
be a Parsons, right, but I think you can say
that you don't let them hunt in predictable situations. I
think that your early down efficiency is going to come
into play there, and it really has to be a
(06:11):
non negotiable if it's going to be a truly dominant
ace block that handles that when it's through the middle.
Let's say Parsons is going to try to attack the
center and Luke Lautenberg. It's all about making sure your
weakly across the offensive line is not going to cause
you to create pressure on Bonnicks and he's not going
to be out of comfort. But I think a lot
(06:31):
of misdirection will come into play here. You got to
make Parsons hesitate and you have to capitalize on that.
I would expect Bonicks to be very light on his feet,
a little bit of scrambling there, but you have to
make sure that you are trying to not outsmart the
other team. You're not trying to get the defense to
bite on anything. But you have to fight through multiple bodies.
(06:51):
You cannot leave him one on one because if you
allow that to happen, you're going to have a ton
of hits on Bonicks. And that's exactly what this offense does.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Yeah, and speaking of bon Nicks, I mentioned the stat
earlier I saw from Zach Stevens over with DMVR. He said,
bo Nicks is just the third player ever with three
games of twenty five plus completions and an eighty percent
completion rate within first two seasons in the NFL. I mean,
that is efficiency I've ever heard of it. Nick Ferguson,
talking with bre Mastis of the Let's Talk Broncos and
(07:21):
the Believe in the Broncos podcast, want to switch gears
and talk a little Nuggets with you.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Saw this stat earlier today and it kind of blew
my mind.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
Players currently averaging at least twenty five points per game,
shooting fifty percent from the field and forty percent from
three Sga Jannis and two Nuggets Nikolai Jokich and Jamal Murray.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
We just saw Jamal Murray last time we talked to you.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
He just had his fifty point game and then named
Western Conference Player of the Week. If he's playing like
this all year, I mean, Nuggets got to be one
of the top two favorites, right along with the Thunder.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (07:58):
I think they're really in a position now where you're
seeing what they have as a superstar deal, right Like
I think that when you hit the hardwood and you're
looking at what Yokic and Murray are doing, I think
what you love to see is it's happening early. You're
not waiting till the middle of the season to see
if everyone's up to speed, and so I think you're
watching a really great two man combination here and in
(08:21):
the modern NBA history, I think it's something that the
Nugget stands are going to look back on and say, like,
I wish I would have been more present. When there's
eighty two games, I think there's a point where you
start to say, you know, maybe this isn't their night,
but they're truly being dominant here, and if Jamal Murray
is able to put on that All Star effort, I
think that you've gotten your wishes there. You listed on
(08:43):
this Christmas list of Jokic getting continuously signed, him continuing
to play great basketball, but you also wanted those all
stars around him to really elevate his game, and I
really think it's starting to get rolling, especially in the
big moments. I think it becomes a tandem of being unguardable.
I think the defense continues to play well, and just
at the end of the day, I really hope the
(09:04):
mentality has shifted with this Nuggets team where it's not
relying on one gigantic star and it's hard to dim
Yoki when you talk to him to that caliber. He
continues to play high basketball or high level basketball. But
you're not worried about whether or not the bench can
meet him there, or whether or not Jamal Murray can
keep up the pace. You're not worried about getting rid
(09:25):
of Michael Porter Junior and replacing him and all of
those things. The steady heartbeat is they're a fire starter
and when both are healthy. We're seeing that right now.
Denver ceiling is a championship ceiling once again.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Yeah, what a great time to be a Colorado sports fan.
Manu Brie. We appreciate your time as always. Enjoy the
game against the Packers on Sunday.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
Absolutely, have a great evening, guys. Thank you, Gosh.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
I love talking to Brie.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
You can hear her all the time on the Less
Talk Broncos podcast and Believe in the Broncos podcast. Nick,
you mentioned earlier slowing down Micah Parsons, not stopping him,
but trying to slow him down. We had Garrett Bowles
on K Sports earlier today and I mentioned earlier tonight
that the pack Packers are favored in this game against
the Broncos. Ryan Edwards asked Garrett Bowles about that earlier
(10:12):
on K Sports.
Speaker 6 (10:14):
I mean they can think what they want. That's why
you got to play the game. I didn't know that,
so I guess I'm won't have to have some time
to think about that. But obviously, man, you know, we
know what we're supposed to do. Obviously, we have an
undefeated record at home. We want to keep it like that.
We have a great fan base behind us that's going
to be rocking. Obviously, the Packers, they have a lot
I have a lot of respect for their defense. You
know what coach slur is done with that team. You
(10:35):
know what, Obviously our defense.
Speaker 7 (10:37):
Has to handle a freaking nature quarterback that you know,
they got big time players on their offense, and then
obviously they got some big time players on their defense.
So obviously, you know, I got to go up against
one of the best pass rushers in the game. You know,
I love those moments. I love those opportunities. You know,
those are the times, These are the moments that I
lived for to play in this league. So obviously it's
(10:57):
a big challenge for us up front. We got to
handle business. We got to keep both as prescial as
possible and get this way. And obviously it's a big
time game for us. We're gonna do it whatever.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
Weekend to get this w Garrett bowls every Tuesday at
three o'clock on KOA Sports, and he's gonna get his
wish living for those big time challenges. Trying to slow
down Micah Parsons, who really seems to have transformed that
Packers defense like they are dangerous, especially with him and
Gary on the other side. How would you go about
slowing down Micah Parsons and Gary?
Speaker 3 (11:29):
Well, the idea is that you may have to chip him,
and that's not always an ideal philosophy. Where is going
to work one hundred percent of the time. And here's why,
Because when you dedicate a tight end or running back
to chip on the edges, what it does is reduce
those guys' ability to get out in the pass covered.
(11:50):
So from a defense perspective, yeah, that's what you want.
So if I'm covering one of those guys to say
that is Adam Trumpman or or Adam Princes who who's
chipping for me? Now, what I'm gonna do as a
defender if I if my defensive coordinator gives me the leeway,
I'm gonna blitch you. I'm gonna force you to make
a decision either you're gonna chip want Michael Parson or
(12:13):
Shaun Gary, or you're gonna let me come around the edges,
but committing two guys. And we saw the Broncos do
it uh in the game against the Raiders. I mean
Mercedes Lewis and I believe maybe Adam Trumpman both was
trying to pick up and you saw them blocking a
guy like like Max Crosby. But what that does is
that you got two guys blocking one. So that means
(12:33):
you're one to one across the defensive line and offensive line.
So if I'm Jeff Halfley, I'm telling my guys if
they're gonna slide to protection to Michael Parson or they're
gonna use two tight ends to block him, wet one
on one matchups, you guys have to win. And oh,
by the way, what I might do is do a
delayed blitz with one of my linebackers right where we
(12:58):
get to the line of scrimmage and you're gonna sugar.
And what that means is that you're gonna mug the
two A gaps and you're gonna act like you're coming
and then you're gonna drop out. And when those offensive
linemen the garter or the center looks the opposite way.
Now we'll coming right back down the pipe where I
just came from. Now we're gonna force bol to move
in the pocket. But the biggest thing I was telling
(13:20):
Steve this when he was he was in senior with us.
Bow is right handed and watching film Bowl likes to
escape under pressure where his right. So what we're gonna do,
We're gonna bring pressure to that side, and we're gonna
drop out opposite of that and force him to try
to roll to that side. But ultimately, any quarterback, I
(13:40):
don't care if you have a mobile quarterback or your
traditional statuesque quarterback, having someone run free at you and
down the a gap, that's gonna cost you to panic
because you see it right away and you try to
move and then you.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
Move right into the arms of Rashaan Garry or Michael Parsons,
and that that's.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
What you want. Because once again, when we look at
this Broncos offensive line, they let me look at these
numbers I have here. They've only given up seventeen sacks all.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
Season long, three of this last week against the Raiders.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
That's right, and that's first in the league. Now the
Raiders have a decent pass rush. And that's doing part
because Max Crosby, because the idea is that even if
you blought Max Crosby, he's going to create enough pressure
because he's a run and chase guy. He's going to
force you to run into the arms of someone else.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
Yep, right, And.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
That's what you want to do as a Demons a coordinator.
Put that pressure on the offensive line to be able
to hold up. And sometimes, Man, there's been some leaky
pressure and it was because of Bove's ability to escape
and get out of the pocket a Lahr backyard quarterback
type of play, right. But that's the thing that has
(14:57):
saved him and the offensive line.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
Yeah, I will to Bo's credit, man, he rolled out
to the left on one throw against the Raiders, on
a dead sprint to the left sideline and threw a
dime to Troy Franklin and Troy Franklin went right through
his hands against the Raiders. But I think a matchup
like this is exactly why you went out and signed
a guy like Marcedes Lewis is because you're gonna need
that extra help on the edge of blocking. And I
(15:20):
would not be surprised at all if we get into
obvious passing situations. Adam Prentiss is in there all the
time because you're gonna need that extra blocking help. And
Adam Prentiss, Man, what a great surprise he's been. I
know we're close to getting Nate Atkins back, but I
have loved everything I've seen from him.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
Yeah, so have I. I mean that eighteen yard run.
I think that's the longest run in his NFL career.
And you can see that he was just like, hey, dude,
I broke I broke the line of scrimmers. I'm not
going to outrun you. So i' musa stick my hand
up so you can tackle me because I'm not running
that far.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
I'm running out of Steve here, we are running out
of steam on Broncos Country tonight.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
We got the NFL six back, and we come back
on KOA.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
Thanks to the Hall of Famer Steve Atwater, Parker Gabriel
and bre Mastis for joining us earlier in the show.
If you missed any of that, find it on the
free and redesigned iHeartRadio app where you can now set
KOA as a preset, just like you do in your car.
And it is also a beautiful day in our great
state Nick Colorado Gives Day. Show your support for the arts, environment, education,
(16:25):
curing cancer, or a cause that matters to you through
Colorado Gives Foundation. Still time left with thousands of nonprofits
to choose from.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Give today at Colorado gives dot Org.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
I know how much giving back to the community and
helping those less fortunate than yourself is an important part
of your life.
Speaker 3 (16:42):
Yeah, it definitely is. Man when you are, you know, blinded,
you just try to get back and bless someone else
and ask as though they paid for Just think about this.
If we all did that for someone either we knew
or someone we didn't know, how much better this world
would actually be. So Giving Day should be every single day.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
I love that.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
Go to Colorado gives dot org to help out someone
that needs a little helping hay in this holiday season.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
And with that, give me a drink. It's time for
the NFL six pack. It's time for the NFL Sick Pat.
Speaker 6 (17:13):
I'm gonna drink a lot of beer by Insight at
Insight Information you can't find anywhere else.
Speaker 7 (17:19):
No.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
Six the top six NFL headlines.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
What the latest NFL power rankings are out this The list,
according to ESPN dot Com, Number one, the La Rams
number two, the New England Patriots number three, the Seattle
Seahawks number four, our Denver Broncos and number five. Our
opponents this weekend the Green Bay Packers honorable mention, Buffalo
(17:44):
Bills at number six, and the San Francisco forty nine
Ers at number seven, Jacksonville Jaguars duvall at number eight,
Philadelphia Eagles at number nine, even though they lost last
night to the Chargers, and the Chicago Bears rounding out
the top ten. What do you make of this latest
NFL Power rankings?
Speaker 3 (18:04):
Nick, These rankings are always very interesting because sometimes they
can be more subjective than objective. But I just thought
that it was wild that and it tells you a
lot about how the Broncos are viewed and comparisional to
other teams. But New England was idle this week. Yeah,
there's still number two, So the Broncos should look at
(18:26):
this and look at it to sign as disrespect and
try to take it out on the Packers on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
Yeah, and I think if they beat the Packers on Sunday,
they're gonna climb even higher on the list from number four.
But man, I remember looking at these power rankings the
last couple of years and being like Broncos twenty eight,
twenty nine, thirty, I'm like, god, this is just this
is tough times of Broncos country. So to be consistently
in the top five. Man, like we were talking about
(18:53):
with Bree earlier, it's a great time to be a
Broncos fan.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
It really is. It is.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
It definitely reminds me of those ye when like Steve
at Water to play for the Denver Broncos. For more
importantly the years when I played for the Broncos and
look at those power rankers and you hear up there,
so that tells you times are a changing, Times are changing.
Speaker 7 (19:12):
Two.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
Philip Rivers instantly has odds as low as fifteen to
one for Comeback Player of the Year. He made it
official earlier today, signing to the Colts practice squad. At
age forty four, Rivers is a third on the list,
behind forty nine Ers running back Christian McCaffrey and Cowboys
quarterback Dak Prescott.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
AP would presumably frown upon.
Speaker 1 (19:37):
Rivers getting votes for the annual prize given the clarification
that was provided a year ago. The spirit of the
AP Comeback Player of the Year award is to honor
a player who has demonstrated resilience in the face of
adversity by overcoming illness, physical injury, or other circumstances that
led him to miss playing time for the previous season.
(19:57):
That didn't stop voters from casting ballots for Viking quarterback
Sam Darnold, who finished third in last year's voting. Anyone
betting on Rivers should keep that in mind. It's our
understanding that all votes will be accepted from the fifty
AP voters. What do you make of Philip Rivers returning
to the NFL after a five year hiatus, coach at
high school football, becoming a grandfather, and now returning to
(20:20):
the Colts at age forty four, hey.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
Man, more power to him for a guy who played
in my era of football still being blessed to have
an opportunity. You can only do this at as a kicker,
long snapper, and quarterback. I wish Tam all the luck,
and I'm sure that this is a message to his kids.
One of you know, you never say never, and if
(20:42):
someone calls your number, you just have to be prepared.
I hope he goes out and you perform as well,
But being as though he's a guy. Even when he's
playing days against teams, my Broncos teams, he can really
move that well in the pocket. I'm wondering how well
can he move in the pocket now that he's been
kind of sitting on the sofa for a bit.
Speaker 1 (20:58):
Well, apparently he was been running the same offense that
him and Shatons Fike and have quite the past and
has worked together a long time. And he's been running
that same offense with his high school team that he's
been coaching these past couple of years, leading them to
a couple of playoff victories. I've told been this last
night when the rumors were circulating that there's never been
a better time to be a statue qu quarterback in
(21:20):
the NFL because you get protected so much. If he
can still sling it, man, what a story it would
be if he can somehow lead the Colts into the
playoffs and a win.
Speaker 3 (21:30):
That sounds like a great story. But cool tub, icy
hot and some icebags he's gonna meet.
Speaker 1 (21:37):
What's more likely he leads the Colts to the playoffs
or he suffers a career ending injury in these next
couple of games. He got to go up against some
great defense. He's got the Seahawks, he's.
Speaker 2 (21:48):
Got the Jags, he's got the Texans.
Speaker 1 (21:50):
I mean, this isn't like he's playing any scrubs, not
that there's any scrubs in the NFL, but he's facing
the best of the best in.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
Some of these games.
Speaker 3 (21:58):
Well, I mean, idea of a career Indie injury. I
mean he just had coming off, you know, retirement, so
career Indian could just be him being sacked and having
a sore bat. But you know, once again, I wish
him nothing but the best. I wanted to see him
play well, but not well enough to be an he
(22:20):
threat to the Denver Broncos, which at this point the
Colts are not.
Speaker 1 (22:23):
Yeah, and just on a little side note, he was
a semi finalist for the Hall of Fame coming up
next year. If he does play on the practice squad,
it'll still say this stay the same. But if he
does get upgraded to the active roster, have to wait
till twenty thirty one for a Hall of Fame.
Speaker 3 (22:39):
Not that may be a better year for him to
get in.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
That's what I said. Yeah, you know, it's all about
who you're going up against.
Speaker 4 (22:44):
Is that certain.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
Yeah, that's Mike Shanahan, right. Oh boy, three, you'd like
that one.
Speaker 1 (22:52):
Jerry Jones has no concerns about George pickens perceived lack
of effort versus Lions. On Thursday Night, Cowboys receiver George
Pickens dusted off some of the concerns that undermined much
of his three years in Pittsburgh. But even those on
the outside question pickens effort against the Lions. The guy
who signs his paychecks does not. One of the things
that you got to appreciate about George Pickens is his
(23:14):
intensity for competition. Cowboys owner and GM Jerry Jones said
on his weekly radio interview. Now, he is a big
time competitor when it comes to competing and when it
comes to.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
Loving the game.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
I emphasize that point right there, loving the game, then
I give him a pluses. What do you think of
people questioning George Pickens's lack of effort, including the one
and only Richard Sherman.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
Well, I can understand because I watched that game as
a wide receiver in the game that your team really
needed to win and keep your playoff hopes to live
with Ceedee lamb out with a concussion you needed to
be that guy. Now we've seen George Pickens be that
guy throughout the season, but the last game he did
not look like he was that guy. He looks like
(23:59):
he was referring to another wide receiver. But I understand
with Jerry Jones, and the only thing that matters is
what the guy who writes the checks actually thinks. That
If he thinks as though, you know what, this was
just an anomaly, you know, then we'll just kind of
go that way. But we'll see this week when the
Dallas Cowboys lease them up again against the Minnesota Vikings
to see if we get a different pickets.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
Yeah, and I think if it's not Jerry Jones, it's
going to be someone else righting George Pickens.
Speaker 2 (24:26):
Pretty big check at the end of this year or.
Speaker 7 (24:31):
So.
Speaker 1 (24:31):
Scott Van Pell's pretty much the only sports center I
watch nowadays, and he does this thing every night when
he's on the best thing I saw today I wanted
to share with you the best thing I heard this
week since we're doing radio.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
This is Fernando Mendoza. After the Indiana Hoosiers upset.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
The Ohio State Buckeyes and the Big Ten championship game,
he was asked what it feels like to hear the
Indiana are Big ten champions.
Speaker 2 (24:57):
It sounds all beautiful.
Speaker 3 (24:58):
I want to give all the glory to God.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
We're supposed to be in this decision. But by glory God,
the great coaches.
Speaker 3 (25:03):
Great dam everybody I'm around us school, we weren't able
to pull this off.
Speaker 7 (25:08):
Bana who just are.
Speaker 2 (25:09):
Flipping jams Hoosiers are flipping jams man.
Speaker 1 (25:14):
He is a big old nerd, but he could sling
the football and I think he's going to be the
top pick in the NFL draft. What did you think
of those comments from Bernando Mendoza, Well, good.
Speaker 3 (25:24):
For him, and uh, I love the fact that he
started that off by giving all the glory to God.
And now we're seeing more players do that because you know,
at one point it was kind of prowned upon, Right,
are you being too much? You know, too religious and
you wear your heart on your sleep? Like no, if
you want to think you're you're Jesus Christ, your Lord
the Savior, I'm all for it. And just the kind
(25:46):
of emotion that he is showing because that was a
massive feat. I mean, he didn't really blow things up
as far as his numbers were concerned, but to uh
go toe to toe with saying in Ohio State, that
says a lot.
Speaker 1 (26:00):
And he got crunched on that first chip. I was like, this,
dude's day is over. And he came right back and
delivered that strike at the end of the game to
Charlie Becker after one of their top receivers went out
like that, dude's a gamer.
Speaker 2 (26:14):
I want that guy as the quarterback of my team.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
Well, yeah, you want a guy with that mentality. As
far as displaying all the skill set to be a
first round draft choice, I'm not sure, but some team,
because the word the league is, they always talk about quarterbacks.
He's going to be in that conversation.
Speaker 2 (26:31):
You think he win wins the Heisman.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
He's up against Diego Pavia, the Vanderbilt quarterback, Julian saying
that you mentioned the Ohio State quarterback and Jeremiah Love,
who I think is the best player in college football,
the running back for Notre Dame.
Speaker 2 (26:45):
But I don't think he's the winner of the Heisman just.
Speaker 1 (26:47):
Because of how the trophy is usually given out.
Speaker 3 (26:50):
As a Heisman voter, I'll just tell you, let's wait
till the weekend and figure out who wins it.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
I thought I was going to get you to spoil
your pick there. I don't want you to lose your vote,
though now I'll never do that. Five Well, Fernando Mendoza
and the Indiana Hoosiers the number one team and the
college football playoff bracket. The final bracket has been set.
Game schedule Friday, December nineteenth, number eight Oklahoma versus number
(27:16):
nine Alabama Saturday, December twentieth, number seven, Texas A and
m Verse number ten, Miami number six, oh Miss Verse
number eleven, TWU Lane number five, Oregon Verse number twelve
James Madison. That means that you get a couple of
buys for Indiana the number one overall seed, Ohio State
number two, Georgia number three, and Texas Tech number four.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
Who do you like to win it all?
Speaker 1 (27:40):
And do you think Notre Dame has any reason to
feel like they were snubbed? I mean they lost to
Miami at the beginning of the year.
Speaker 3 (27:49):
No, no sympathy for Notre Dame. Notre Dame did it
to themselves thinking that they were better than the ACC,
not wanting to be in the ACC from a football standpoint.
So I mean you can crowd file all you want to,
but hey, man, things worked out the way that they did.
I'm gonna give the nod to Ohio State to because
(28:11):
we saw Ohio State lose to Michigan last year and
everyone was like, oh fire, you know, coach Day or whatever.
What did they do in retaliation? They won the damn thing.
So I think that's gonna happen this season. So I'm
rulling with Ohio State.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
I like Ohio State too, but man, they might have
to face Texas A and M and in that second
round they'll be Okay, I don't know, Texas A and
M is a good football team.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
Oh No, without a doubt, Texas A and M is
a good team. They deserve to have their shot at
the title. But running with the big dogs, I mean,
come on, now.
Speaker 1 (28:50):
What do you think about two non Power for conference
teams getting in.
Speaker 3 (28:54):
I think it is and listen, I think it's great
because several years ago State when Kellen Moore was there,
I mean, they played, they had a good record. I
think they might have been undefeated or may have just
won they one game, but they were shut out. So
I like it. I mean too, Lane, I mean, I
think Old Miss is going to probably destroy them.
Speaker 1 (29:16):
Light earlier in the year and Ole Miss beat them
by five touchdowns.
Speaker 3 (29:19):
Yeah, So once again it's good for these teams to
get in. But I think the committee this is an
opportunity for them and before letting network and everyone else
associated with this College Football Playoffs to push this to
sixteen until eventually eighteen.
Speaker 1 (29:32):
Yeah, and I think the team with the biggest gripe
is BYU. I mean, they lost two games. They were
both to Texas Tech. They're not I'm they didn't play
him great, but I think I mean, you're supposed to
not get punished for losing in your conference championship game.
Speaker 2 (29:49):
They were eleven and one.
Speaker 3 (29:51):
I know you don't want to get punished, but once again,
you had an opportunity to right the wrong that was
done early in the season when you lost to Texas Tech.
So you played them again. He still could be there.
That was the opportunity. Now BYU had beat Texas Tech,
that would have changed everything.
Speaker 1 (30:06):
Six Well, we talked about Notre Dame missing out on
the College Football Playoff. Could they be missing their head
coach after this offseason? But Titans and Giants could interview
Marcus Freeman.
Speaker 2 (30:19):
Now if they want.
Speaker 1 (30:20):
With NFL teams possibly planning to swoop in on South Bend,
Notre Dame is scrambling to keep coach Marcus Freeman.
Speaker 2 (30:27):
Here's the reality.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
Teams with vacancies are permitted to interview him now if
they haven't already. Those teams are the Titans and the Giants.
There's no requirement for those teams to announce or even.
Speaker 2 (30:37):
Disclosed that they have interviewed Freeman.
Speaker 1 (30:40):
That's the rules that relates to any coach who is
currently not working in the NFL. Do you think Marcus
Freeman leaves Notre Dame. I don't know why he would,
But do you think he could leave Notre Dame for
either the Tennessee Titans or the New York Giants head
coaching job.
Speaker 3 (30:55):
Nope, I wouldn't do it. I would say I would
call him up if I had his numbers. Say hey, fan,
right now, your record is forty three and twelve At
Notre Dame. You have more freedom to move about and
do the things that you want to from a roster
standpoint than you would in an NFL organization because, guess what,
you might be the head coach, but there's someone in
(31:16):
the scouting department. They want who they want. You may
want a particular guy. We know, just like in life,
you know, you don't always get what you want, but
you get what you need. And Marcus Freeman needs to
say where he's needed and that's what the Golden Dome
and Irish.
Speaker 2 (31:30):
Yeah, and you know they're not going to.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
Miss out on the college football playoff cording forward if
they're ranked in the top twelve.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
I don't know how they got this rule.
Speaker 3 (31:38):
Isn't that some munch of bs. That's crazy to me,
Like you get the Bowld Committee to say, okay, if
Notre Dame is ranked twelve, they get in? What kind
of hodge podge are they running?
Speaker 2 (31:51):
You think they were Alabama or something?
Speaker 3 (31:53):
Exactly?
Speaker 2 (31:55):
Who holds is no longer.
Speaker 1 (31:56):
Coaching the team anymore, Nick, I appreciate you as always, man,
thanks for making.
Speaker 2 (32:00):
This easy and we'll do this again sometime soon.
Speaker 1 (32:03):
Absolutely, Man, have a great day Broncos country tonight.
Speaker 2 (32:06):
I koa, it's big things like koli.
Speaker 3 (32:08):
Oh look, keep on on on loving you
Letting them dry that wet blanket out tonight alongside my
guy Nick Ferguson.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Thanks to the.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Hall of Famer Steve Atwater for joining us earlier in
the show.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
And Parker Gabriel as well.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
If you missed any of that, you know where to
find it on the free and redesigned iHeartRadio app, where
you can now set KOA as a preset, just like
you do in your car. On the Common Spirit Health
text line from the seven to zero, people saying the
Broncos are waiting for the playoffs to step it up
or just crossing their fingers that they're actually better than this.
They play bad teams so bad it looks pathetic. Winning
(00:32):
is winning, but that's why they have no respect.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Think there's any truth to that, Nick, Yeah, I.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Think it is. Someone say, well, know that person is
acting as though the team is two and eight and
not eleven and two. But I mean facts are facts.
People know what they see and they wanted to They
wanted to pass the eye test, they wanted this pass
the smell test. So I understand both sides of the argument.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
I just just double checking real quick to make sure
that wasn't Benjamin Olbryce number's that out to the KA
Comic Spirit Health Hotline and bring on one of our favorites.
Breed mastis host of the Less Talk Broncos podcast and
Believe in the Broncos podcast.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Brie, how are you tonight?
Speaker 4 (01:18):
Oh my goodness, I'm doing well this evening. Thanks for
having me on. And what an opportune moment to talk
about the naysayers, the negative guys that are still out
there hanging around, one of which just happens to be
Benjamin Albryce.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
What do you say to those naysayers after a ten
game winning streak in Broncos Country.
Speaker 4 (01:37):
I think it's high expectations in a very football hungry
state that is finally sensing a little bit of the
taste of success, and it can be a little bit bothersome.
I think there is a poignant response to saying that
these worst teams, these raiders of the league, could be
beat more appropriately, the points spread could be a little
(01:59):
bit more dumb. But Denver walked away with a win
in Vegas. They walked out eleven and two. They're riding
a ten game win streak. When you say it out loud,
you have to chalk it into the column of a
win is a win because I feel like the viber
on this team, it feels like confidence is mixed with inevitability.
I know the league has the pension of righting the
(02:20):
wrong and there's going to be a loss on the
schedule somewhere, but you can feel it across the league.
I think there's so much attention on the Broncos and
the naysayers that are saying that it's a cute story
and they're no. They're a problem and they're continuing to
be so. Now there's still at to Knicks point, Yeah,
they need to step it up offensively, but we've seen
that kind of start to come together. The cogs and
(02:42):
the wheels, all the little spokes are starting to fit together.
And I think what makes the win so special against
the Raiders is it felt more complete than a lot
of the other games. And you can try to downplay
the win with the scope of who they were facing.
The opponent maybe wasn't up to speed, but I think
this Raiders team tried to throw a couple of things
to try to change the script up a little bit,
(03:03):
and Nick's played that veteran poise. He was accurate. There
was a rhythm and there was decision, and ultimately that's
what you want to see when it comes to these games.
That last minute for field goal for the Raiders that
ended up skewing the points spread a little bit. That
was garbage time points and that the separator would have
been even greater. So sorry to ramble, but I'm a
(03:24):
little hyped up about it right. This is an exciting
time to be watching this Broncos team.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
Yeah, I think people forget the past five to ten
years in Broncos country and how bad things really were.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Would you call it a dominant wind against the Raiders?
Speaker 5 (03:38):
Breath Now, I don't think dominant, no, Ill, When you
think about dominance, I think a lot of that could
have come from what the defense left on the table, right, Like,
we've seen.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
Them slow down a little bit, and I don't know
if that's just because who they're playing or not being
really stretched to their means. We're going to hope that
that its way on Sunday against the more formidable opponent
in the Packers. But I don't think dominant is the
correct term. Because you guys were just talking about it, right,
you have shades of like the last decade, but in
twenty thirteen that season was like what true dominance speaks
(04:14):
to me? Now, I think a little bit of that
has to come from being a spoiled fan, if you will,
because it's stickle to start picking apart, like, ah, I
wish there were seven touchdowns on the board somewhere. That
to me is truly dominant. But dominant also plays into
the scope of what the defense is able to do
when it comes to turnovers and controlling momentum and really
(04:35):
capitalizing off of that momentum. And so when the Broncos
can be truly dominant, it will be the scope of
taking the ball out of the literal hands of the
other team and then putting points on the board. And
you don't want field goals, right, that's just that's putting
points on the board. But you want a touchdown, you
want to bury them. And I think true dominance comes
from scaring your opponents a little bit. And I think
(04:56):
once they reach that tier, they've put all the pieces together.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
I think the biggest question coming into Sunday's game is
how do you slow down Michael Parson when he's sitting
right now in twelve and a half sacks and when
you look at the Packers overall as a defense, they
I think they ranked maybe twelve in the league as
far as hurries are concerned. So what will be the
(05:22):
mold the answer to being able to slow him down
because you're not going to stop him.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
Yeah, And I think that's a really great way to
put it is you're not looking to absolutely take him
out of the conversation now that he's in the new uniform,
no longer on the Cowboys, now on the Packers. I
think you're talking about trying to neutralize it a little bit.
So you're not going to take away his game, but
you're going to try to limit the amount of disruption
that he's forcing on the field. Because you're not gonna
(05:51):
be able to stop him, you're mail to manage and
I think Sean Payton and the team really tried to
do that. They're not comparable players when you take Max
be a Parsons, right, but I think you can say
that you don't let them hunt in predictable situations. I
think that your early down efficiency is going to come
into play there, and it really has to be a
(06:11):
non negotiable if it's going to be a truly dominant
ace block that handles that when it's through the middle.
Let's say Parsons is going to try to attack the
center and Luke Lautenberg. It's all about making sure your
weakly across the offensive line is not going to cause
you to create pressure on Bonnicks and he's not going
to be out of comfort. But I think a lot
(06:31):
of misdirection will come into play here. You got to
make Parsons hesitate and you have to capitalize on that.
I would expect Bonicks to be very light on his feet,
a little bit of scrambling there, but you have to
make sure that you are trying to not outsmart the
other team. You're not trying to get the defense to
bite on anything. But you have to fight through multiple bodies.
(06:51):
You cannot leave him one on one because if you
allow that to happen, you're going to have a ton
of hits on Bonicks. And that's exactly what this offense does.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Yeah, and speaking of bon Nicks, I mentioned the stat
earlier I saw from Zach Stevens over with DMVR. He said,
bo Nicks is just the third player ever with three
games of twenty five plus completions and an eighty percent
completion rate within first two seasons in the NFL. I mean,
that is efficiency I've ever heard of it. Nick Ferguson,
talking with bre Mastis of the Let's Talk Broncos and
(07:21):
the Believe in the Broncos podcast, want to switch gears
and talk a little Nuggets with you.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Saw this stat earlier today and it kind of blew
my mind.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
Players currently averaging at least twenty five points per game,
shooting fifty percent from the field and forty percent from
three Sga Jannis and two Nuggets Nikolai Jokich and Jamal Murray.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
We just saw Jamal Murray last time we talked to you.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
He just had his fifty point game and then named
Western Conference Player of the Week. If he's playing like
this all year, I mean, Nuggets got to be one
of the top two favorites, right along with the Thunder.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (07:58):
I think they're really in a position now where you're
seeing what they have as a superstar deal, right Like
I think that when you hit the hardwood and you're
looking at what Yokic and Murray are doing, I think
what you love to see is it's happening early. You're
not waiting till the middle of the season to see
if everyone's up to speed, and so I think you're
watching a really great two man combination here and in
(08:21):
the modern NBA history, I think it's something that the
Nugget stands are going to look back on and say, like,
I wish I would have been more present. When there's
eighty two games, I think there's a point where you
start to say, you know, maybe this isn't their night,
but they're truly being dominant here, and if Jamal Murray
is able to put on that All Star effort, I
think that you've gotten your wishes there. You listed on
(08:43):
this Christmas list of Jokic getting continuously signed, him continuing
to play great basketball, but you also wanted those all
stars around him to really elevate his game, and I
really think it's starting to get rolling, especially in the
big moments. I think it becomes a tandem of being unguardable.
I think the defense continues to play well, and just
at the end of the day, I really hope the
(09:04):
mentality has shifted with this Nuggets team where it's not
relying on one gigantic star and it's hard to dim
Yoki when you talk to him to that caliber. He
continues to play high basketball or high level basketball. But
you're not worried about whether or not the bench can
meet him there, or whether or not Jamal Murray can
keep up the pace. You're not worried about getting rid
(09:25):
of Michael Porter Junior and replacing him and all of
those things. The steady heartbeat is they're a fire starter
and when both are healthy. We're seeing that right now.
Denver ceiling is a championship ceiling once again.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Yeah, what a great time to be a Colorado sports fan.
Manu Brie. We appreciate your time as always. Enjoy the
game against the Packers on Sunday.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
Absolutely, have a great evening, guys. Thank you, Gosh.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
I love talking to Brie.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
You can hear her all the time on the Less
Talk Broncos podcast and Believe in the Broncos podcast. Nick,
you mentioned earlier slowing down Micah Parsons, not stopping him,
but trying to slow him down. We had Garrett Bowles
on K Sports earlier today and I mentioned earlier tonight
that the pack Packers are favored in this game against
the Broncos. Ryan Edwards asked Garrett Bowles about that earlier
(10:12):
on K Sports.
Speaker 6 (10:14):
I mean they can think what they want. That's why
you got to play the game. I didn't know that,
so I guess I'm won't have to have some time
to think about that. But obviously, man, you know, we
know what we're supposed to do. Obviously, we have an
undefeated record at home. We want to keep it like that.
We have a great fan base behind us that's going
to be rocking. Obviously, the Packers, they have a lot
I have a lot of respect for their defense. You
know what coach slur is done with that team. You
(10:35):
know what, Obviously our defense.
Speaker 7 (10:37):
Has to handle a freaking nature quarterback that you know,
they got big time players on their offense, and then
obviously they got some big time players on their defense.
So obviously, you know, I got to go up against
one of the best pass rushers in the game. You know,
I love those moments. I love those opportunities. You know,
those are the times, These are the moments that I
lived for to play in this league. So obviously it's
(10:57):
a big challenge for us up front. We got to
handle business. We got to keep both as prescial as
possible and get this way. And obviously it's a big
time game for us. We're gonna do it whatever.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
Weekend to get this w Garrett bowls every Tuesday at
three o'clock on KOA Sports, and he's gonna get his
wish living for those big time challenges. Trying to slow
down Micah Parsons, who really seems to have transformed that
Packers defense like they are dangerous, especially with him and
Gary on the other side. How would you go about
slowing down Micah Parsons and Gary?
Speaker 3 (11:29):
Well, the idea is that you may have to chip him,
and that's not always an ideal philosophy. Where is going
to work one hundred percent of the time. And here's why,
Because when you dedicate a tight end or running back
to chip on the edges, what it does is reduce
those guys' ability to get out in the pass covered.
(11:50):
So from a defense perspective, yeah, that's what you want.
So if I'm covering one of those guys to say
that is Adam Trumpman or or Adam Princes who who's
chipping for me? Now, what I'm gonna do as a
defender if I if my defensive coordinator gives me the leeway,
I'm gonna blitch you. I'm gonna force you to make
a decision either you're gonna chip want Michael Parson or
(12:13):
Shaun Gary, or you're gonna let me come around the edges,
but committing two guys. And we saw the Broncos do
it uh in the game against the Raiders. I mean
Mercedes Lewis and I believe maybe Adam Trumpman both was
trying to pick up and you saw them blocking a
guy like like Max Crosby. But what that does is
that you got two guys blocking one. So that means
(12:33):
you're one to one across the defensive line and offensive line.
So if I'm Jeff Halfley, I'm telling my guys if
they're gonna slide to protection to Michael Parson or they're
gonna use two tight ends to block him, wet one
on one matchups, you guys have to win. And oh,
by the way, what I might do is do a
delayed blitz with one of my linebackers right where we
(12:58):
get to the line of scrimmage and you're gonna sugar.
And what that means is that you're gonna mug the
two A gaps and you're gonna act like you're coming
and then you're gonna drop out. And when those offensive
linemen the garter or the center looks the opposite way.
Now we'll coming right back down the pipe where I
just came from. Now we're gonna force bol to move
in the pocket. But the biggest thing I was telling
(13:20):
Steve this when he was he was in senior with us.
Bow is right handed and watching film Bowl likes to
escape under pressure where his right. So what we're gonna do,
We're gonna bring pressure to that side, and we're gonna
drop out opposite of that and force him to try
to roll to that side. But ultimately, any quarterback, I
(13:40):
don't care if you have a mobile quarterback or your
traditional statuesque quarterback, having someone run free at you and
down the a gap, that's gonna cost you to panic
because you see it right away and you try to
move and then you.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
Move right into the arms of Rashaan Garry or Michael Parsons,
and that that's.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
What you want. Because once again, when we look at
this Broncos offensive line, they let me look at these
numbers I have here. They've only given up seventeen sacks all.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
Season long, three of this last week against the Raiders.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
That's right, and that's first in the league. Now the
Raiders have a decent pass rush. And that's doing part
because Max Crosby, because the idea is that even if
you blought Max Crosby, he's going to create enough pressure
because he's a run and chase guy. He's going to
force you to run into the arms of someone else.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
Yep, right, And.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
That's what you want to do as a Demons a coordinator.
Put that pressure on the offensive line to be able
to hold up. And sometimes, Man, there's been some leaky
pressure and it was because of Bove's ability to escape
and get out of the pocket a Lahr backyard quarterback
type of play, right. But that's the thing that has
(14:57):
saved him and the offensive line.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
Yeah, I will to Bo's credit, man, he rolled out
to the left on one throw against the Raiders, on
a dead sprint to the left sideline and threw a
dime to Troy Franklin and Troy Franklin went right through
his hands against the Raiders. But I think a matchup
like this is exactly why you went out and signed
a guy like Marcedes Lewis is because you're gonna need
that extra help on the edge of blocking. And I
(15:20):
would not be surprised at all if we get into
obvious passing situations. Adam Prentiss is in there all the
time because you're gonna need that extra blocking help. And
Adam Prentiss, Man, what a great surprise he's been. I
know we're close to getting Nate Atkins back, but I
have loved everything I've seen from him.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
Yeah, so have I. I mean that eighteen yard run.
I think that's the longest run in his NFL career.
And you can see that he was just like, hey, dude,
I broke I broke the line of scrimmers. I'm not
going to outrun you. So i' musa stick my hand
up so you can tackle me because I'm not running
that far.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
I'm running out of Steve here, we are running out
of steam on Broncos Country tonight.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
We got the NFL six back, and we come back
on KOA.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
Thanks to the Hall of Famer Steve Atwater, Parker Gabriel
and bre Mastis for joining us earlier in the show.
If you missed any of that, find it on the
free and redesigned iHeartRadio app where you can now set
KOA as a preset, just like you do in your car.
And it is also a beautiful day in our great
state Nick Colorado Gives Day. Show your support for the arts, environment, education,
(16:25):
curing cancer, or a cause that matters to you through
Colorado Gives Foundation. Still time left with thousands of nonprofits
to choose from.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Give today at Colorado gives dot Org.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
I know how much giving back to the community and
helping those less fortunate than yourself is an important part
of your life.
Speaker 3 (16:42):
Yeah, it definitely is. Man when you are, you know, blinded,
you just try to get back and bless someone else
and ask as though they paid for Just think about this.
If we all did that for someone either we knew
or someone we didn't know, how much better this world
would actually be. So Giving Day should be every single day.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
I love that.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
Go to Colorado gives dot org to help out someone
that needs a little helping hay in this holiday season.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
And with that, give me a drink. It's time for
the NFL six pack. It's time for the NFL Sick Pat.
Speaker 6 (17:13):
I'm gonna drink a lot of beer by Insight at
Insight Information you can't find anywhere else.
Speaker 7 (17:19):
No.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
Six the top six NFL headlines.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
What the latest NFL power rankings are out this The list,
according to ESPN dot Com, Number one, the La Rams
number two, the New England Patriots number three, the Seattle
Seahawks number four, our Denver Broncos and number five. Our
opponents this weekend the Green Bay Packers honorable mention, Buffalo
(17:44):
Bills at number six, and the San Francisco forty nine
Ers at number seven, Jacksonville Jaguars duvall at number eight,
Philadelphia Eagles at number nine, even though they lost last
night to the Chargers, and the Chicago Bears rounding out
the top ten. What do you make of this latest
NFL Power rankings?
Speaker 3 (18:04):
Nick, These rankings are always very interesting because sometimes they
can be more subjective than objective. But I just thought
that it was wild that and it tells you a
lot about how the Broncos are viewed and comparisional to
other teams. But New England was idle this week. Yeah,
there's still number two, So the Broncos should look at
(18:26):
this and look at it to sign as disrespect and
try to take it out on the Packers on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
Yeah, and I think if they beat the Packers on Sunday,
they're gonna climb even higher on the list from number four.
But man, I remember looking at these power rankings the
last couple of years and being like Broncos twenty eight,
twenty nine, thirty, I'm like, god, this is just this
is tough times of Broncos country. So to be consistently
in the top five. Man, like we were talking about
(18:53):
with Bree earlier, it's a great time to be a
Broncos fan.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
It really is. It is.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
It definitely reminds me of those ye when like Steve
at Water to play for the Denver Broncos. For more
importantly the years when I played for the Broncos and
look at those power rankers and you hear up there,
so that tells you times are a changing, Times are changing.
Speaker 7 (19:12):
Two.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
Philip Rivers instantly has odds as low as fifteen to
one for Comeback Player of the Year. He made it
official earlier today, signing to the Colts practice squad. At
age forty four, Rivers is a third on the list,
behind forty nine Ers running back Christian McCaffrey and Cowboys
quarterback Dak Prescott.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
AP would presumably frown upon.
Speaker 1 (19:37):
Rivers getting votes for the annual prize given the clarification
that was provided a year ago. The spirit of the
AP Comeback Player of the Year award is to honor
a player who has demonstrated resilience in the face of
adversity by overcoming illness, physical injury, or other circumstances that
led him to miss playing time for the previous season.
(19:57):
That didn't stop voters from casting ballots for Viking quarterback
Sam Darnold, who finished third in last year's voting. Anyone
betting on Rivers should keep that in mind. It's our
understanding that all votes will be accepted from the fifty
AP voters. What do you make of Philip Rivers returning
to the NFL after a five year hiatus, coach at
high school football, becoming a grandfather, and now returning to
(20:20):
the Colts at age forty four, hey.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
Man, more power to him for a guy who played
in my era of football still being blessed to have
an opportunity. You can only do this at as a kicker,
long snapper, and quarterback. I wish Tam all the luck,
and I'm sure that this is a message to his kids.
One of you know, you never say never, and if
(20:42):
someone calls your number, you just have to be prepared.
I hope he goes out and you perform as well,
But being as though he's a guy. Even when he's
playing days against teams, my Broncos teams, he can really
move that well in the pocket. I'm wondering how well
can he move in the pocket now that he's been
kind of sitting on the sofa for a bit.
Speaker 1 (20:58):
Well, apparently he was been running the same offense that
him and Shatons Fike and have quite the past and
has worked together a long time. And he's been running
that same offense with his high school team that he's
been coaching these past couple of years, leading them to
a couple of playoff victories. I've told been this last
night when the rumors were circulating that there's never been
a better time to be a statue qu quarterback in
(21:20):
the NFL because you get protected so much. If he
can still sling it, man, what a story it would
be if he can somehow lead the Colts into the
playoffs and a win.
Speaker 3 (21:30):
That sounds like a great story. But cool tub, icy
hot and some icebags he's gonna meet.
Speaker 1 (21:37):
What's more likely he leads the Colts to the playoffs
or he suffers a career ending injury in these next
couple of games. He got to go up against some
great defense. He's got the Seahawks, he's.
Speaker 2 (21:48):
Got the Jags, he's got the Texans.
Speaker 1 (21:50):
I mean, this isn't like he's playing any scrubs, not
that there's any scrubs in the NFL, but he's facing
the best of the best in.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
Some of these games.
Speaker 3 (21:58):
Well, I mean, idea of a career Indie injury. I
mean he just had coming off, you know, retirement, so
career Indian could just be him being sacked and having
a sore bat. But you know, once again, I wish
him nothing but the best. I wanted to see him
play well, but not well enough to be an he
(22:20):
threat to the Denver Broncos, which at this point the
Colts are not.
Speaker 1 (22:23):
Yeah, and just on a little side note, he was
a semi finalist for the Hall of Fame coming up
next year. If he does play on the practice squad,
it'll still say this stay the same. But if he
does get upgraded to the active roster, have to wait
till twenty thirty one for a Hall of Fame.
Speaker 3 (22:39):
Not that may be a better year for him to
get in.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
That's what I said. Yeah, you know, it's all about
who you're going up against.
Speaker 4 (22:44):
Is that certain.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
Yeah, that's Mike Shanahan, right. Oh boy, three, you'd like
that one.
Speaker 1 (22:52):
Jerry Jones has no concerns about George pickens perceived lack
of effort versus Lions. On Thursday Night, Cowboys receiver George
Pickens dusted off some of the concerns that undermined much
of his three years in Pittsburgh. But even those on
the outside question pickens effort against the Lions. The guy
who signs his paychecks does not. One of the things
that you got to appreciate about George Pickens is his
(23:14):
intensity for competition. Cowboys owner and GM Jerry Jones said
on his weekly radio interview. Now, he is a big
time competitor when it comes to competing and when it
comes to.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
Loving the game.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
I emphasize that point right there, loving the game, then
I give him a pluses. What do you think of
people questioning George Pickens's lack of effort, including the one
and only Richard Sherman.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
Well, I can understand because I watched that game as
a wide receiver in the game that your team really
needed to win and keep your playoff hopes to live
with Ceedee lamb out with a concussion you needed to
be that guy. Now we've seen George Pickens be that
guy throughout the season, but the last game he did
not look like he was that guy. He looks like
(23:59):
he was referring to another wide receiver. But I understand
with Jerry Jones, and the only thing that matters is
what the guy who writes the checks actually thinks. That
If he thinks as though, you know what, this was
just an anomaly, you know, then we'll just kind of
go that way. But we'll see this week when the
Dallas Cowboys lease them up again against the Minnesota Vikings
to see if we get a different pickets.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
Yeah, and I think if it's not Jerry Jones, it's
going to be someone else righting George Pickens.
Speaker 2 (24:26):
Pretty big check at the end of this year or.
Speaker 7 (24:31):
So.
Speaker 1 (24:31):
Scott Van Pell's pretty much the only sports center I
watch nowadays, and he does this thing every night when
he's on the best thing I saw today I wanted
to share with you the best thing I heard this
week since we're doing radio.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
This is Fernando Mendoza. After the Indiana Hoosiers upset.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
The Ohio State Buckeyes and the Big Ten championship game,
he was asked what it feels like to hear the
Indiana are Big ten champions.
Speaker 2 (24:57):
It sounds all beautiful.
Speaker 3 (24:58):
I want to give all the glory to God.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
We're supposed to be in this decision. But by glory God,
the great coaches.
Speaker 3 (25:03):
Great dam everybody I'm around us school, we weren't able
to pull this off.
Speaker 7 (25:08):
Bana who just are.
Speaker 2 (25:09):
Flipping jams Hoosiers are flipping jams man.
Speaker 1 (25:14):
He is a big old nerd, but he could sling
the football and I think he's going to be the
top pick in the NFL draft. What did you think
of those comments from Bernando Mendoza, Well, good.
Speaker 3 (25:24):
For him, and uh, I love the fact that he
started that off by giving all the glory to God.
And now we're seeing more players do that because you know,
at one point it was kind of prowned upon, Right,
are you being too much? You know, too religious and
you wear your heart on your sleep? Like no, if
you want to think you're you're Jesus Christ, your Lord
the Savior, I'm all for it. And just the kind
(25:46):
of emotion that he is showing because that was a
massive feat. I mean, he didn't really blow things up
as far as his numbers were concerned, but to uh
go toe to toe with saying in Ohio State, that
says a lot.
Speaker 1 (26:00):
And he got crunched on that first chip. I was like, this,
dude's day is over. And he came right back and
delivered that strike at the end of the game to
Charlie Becker after one of their top receivers went out
like that, dude's a gamer.
Speaker 2 (26:14):
I want that guy as the quarterback of my team.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
Well, yeah, you want a guy with that mentality. As
far as displaying all the skill set to be a
first round draft choice, I'm not sure, but some team,
because the word the league is, they always talk about quarterbacks.
He's going to be in that conversation.
Speaker 2 (26:31):
You think he win wins the Heisman.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
He's up against Diego Pavia, the Vanderbilt quarterback, Julian saying
that you mentioned the Ohio State quarterback and Jeremiah Love,
who I think is the best player in college football,
the running back for Notre Dame.
Speaker 2 (26:45):
But I don't think he's the winner of the Heisman just.
Speaker 1 (26:47):
Because of how the trophy is usually given out.
Speaker 3 (26:50):
As a Heisman voter, I'll just tell you, let's wait
till the weekend and figure out who wins it.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
I thought I was going to get you to spoil
your pick there. I don't want you to lose your vote,
though now I'll never do that. Five Well, Fernando Mendoza
and the Indiana Hoosiers the number one team and the
college football playoff bracket. The final bracket has been set.
Game schedule Friday, December nineteenth, number eight Oklahoma versus number
(27:16):
nine Alabama Saturday, December twentieth, number seven, Texas A and
m Verse number ten, Miami number six, oh Miss Verse
number eleven, TWU Lane number five, Oregon Verse number twelve
James Madison. That means that you get a couple of
buys for Indiana the number one overall seed, Ohio State
number two, Georgia number three, and Texas Tech number four.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
Who do you like to win it all?
Speaker 1 (27:40):
And do you think Notre Dame has any reason to
feel like they were snubbed? I mean they lost to
Miami at the beginning of the year.
Speaker 3 (27:49):
No, no sympathy for Notre Dame. Notre Dame did it
to themselves thinking that they were better than the ACC,
not wanting to be in the ACC from a football standpoint.
So I mean you can crowd file all you want to,
but hey, man, things worked out the way that they did.
I'm gonna give the nod to Ohio State to because
(28:11):
we saw Ohio State lose to Michigan last year and
everyone was like, oh fire, you know, coach Day or whatever.
What did they do in retaliation? They won the damn thing.
So I think that's gonna happen this season. So I'm
rulling with Ohio State.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
I like Ohio State too, but man, they might have
to face Texas A and M and in that second
round they'll be Okay, I don't know, Texas A and
M is a good football team.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
Oh No, without a doubt, Texas A and M is
a good team. They deserve to have their shot at
the title. But running with the big dogs, I mean,
come on, now.
Speaker 1 (28:50):
What do you think about two non Power for conference
teams getting in.
Speaker 3 (28:54):
I think it is and listen, I think it's great
because several years ago State when Kellen Moore was there,
I mean, they played, they had a good record. I
think they might have been undefeated or may have just
won they one game, but they were shut out. So
I like it. I mean too, Lane, I mean, I
think Old Miss is going to probably destroy them.
Speaker 1 (29:16):
Light earlier in the year and Ole Miss beat them
by five touchdowns.
Speaker 3 (29:19):
Yeah, So once again it's good for these teams to
get in. But I think the committee this is an
opportunity for them and before letting network and everyone else
associated with this College Football Playoffs to push this to
sixteen until eventually eighteen.
Speaker 1 (29:32):
Yeah, and I think the team with the biggest gripe
is BYU. I mean, they lost two games. They were
both to Texas Tech. They're not I'm they didn't play
him great, but I think I mean, you're supposed to
not get punished for losing in your conference championship game.
Speaker 2 (29:49):
They were eleven and one.
Speaker 3 (29:51):
I know you don't want to get punished, but once again,
you had an opportunity to right the wrong that was
done early in the season when you lost to Texas Tech.
So you played them again. He still could be there.
That was the opportunity. Now BYU had beat Texas Tech,
that would have changed everything.
Speaker 1 (30:06):
Six Well, we talked about Notre Dame missing out on
the College Football Playoff. Could they be missing their head
coach after this offseason? But Titans and Giants could interview
Marcus Freeman.
Speaker 2 (30:19):
Now if they want.
Speaker 1 (30:20):
With NFL teams possibly planning to swoop in on South Bend,
Notre Dame is scrambling to keep coach Marcus Freeman.
Speaker 2 (30:27):
Here's the reality.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
Teams with vacancies are permitted to interview him now if
they haven't already. Those teams are the Titans and the Giants.
There's no requirement for those teams to announce or even.
Speaker 2 (30:37):
Disclosed that they have interviewed Freeman.
Speaker 1 (30:40):
That's the rules that relates to any coach who is
currently not working in the NFL. Do you think Marcus
Freeman leaves Notre Dame. I don't know why he would,
But do you think he could leave Notre Dame for
either the Tennessee Titans or the New York Giants head
coaching job.
Speaker 3 (30:55):
Nope, I wouldn't do it. I would say I would
call him up if I had his numbers. Say hey, fan,
right now, your record is forty three and twelve At
Notre Dame. You have more freedom to move about and
do the things that you want to from a roster
standpoint than you would in an NFL organization because, guess what,
you might be the head coach, but there's someone in
(31:16):
the scouting department. They want who they want. You may
want a particular guy. We know, just like in life,
you know, you don't always get what you want, but
you get what you need. And Marcus Freeman needs to
say where he's needed and that's what the Golden Dome
and Irish.
Speaker 2 (31:30):
Yeah, and you know they're not going to.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
Miss out on the college football playoff cording forward if
they're ranked in the top twelve.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
I don't know how they got this rule.
Speaker 3 (31:38):
Isn't that some munch of bs. That's crazy to me,
Like you get the Bowld Committee to say, okay, if
Notre Dame is ranked twelve, they get in? What kind
of hodge podge are they running?
Speaker 2 (31:51):
You think they were Alabama or something?
Speaker 3 (31:53):
Exactly?
Speaker 2 (31:55):
Who holds is no longer.
Speaker 1 (31:56):
Coaching the team anymore, Nick, I appreciate you as always, man,
thanks for making.
Speaker 2 (32:00):
This easy and we'll do this again sometime soon.
Speaker 1 (32:03):
Absolutely, Man, have a great day Broncos country tonight.
Speaker 2 (32:06):
I koa, it's big things like koli.
Speaker 3 (32:08):
Oh look, keep on on on loving you
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