Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome into it, Broncos Country Tonight, Benjamin Albright here with
you post see you buff Men's Basketball Edition five six
six nine zeros text line you want to get involved
in the conversation. I had some uh, some interesting conversations
on social media last couple of days and people talking
(00:22):
about bo Nix and Sean Payton and everything else. It's
it's sort of fascinating to watch as people talk themselves
into certain positions and out of other positions that remained
diametrically opposed to each other.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
And we had Ryan Mike a.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Long last night and he, you know, went on to
talk about how Sean Payton really didn't do much without
Drew Bergie and all that kind of stuff, and that's
that's fine.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
You believe it, you don't believe it. That that's fine.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Ryan's got his basis in you know, in numbers, and
you could obviously argue with him on the evidence. But
it's it's fascinating because I get so many people that
are telling me what bo noooks Bonix is progressing, which
key obviously is, and that Sean Payton's a great coach
and you know great. It's probably not the word I
used to describe but good, you know, I think I
(01:10):
think Sean Payton's and that Mike McCarthy John Fox tier
of coaches where you're always going to be competitive, but
you're unlikely to win the big one in most cases
without you know, an elite quarterback or many things going
your way. So my question is is that if if
Bo continues on.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
The trajectory's on? Is that Bo? Is that Sean? Is
it both? And where do people come down on that?
Speaker 1 (01:36):
So that's a conversation I want to have once we
get Nick back in the studio what I have at
that point, but just have you guys's minds turning so
you can chime in on that conversation.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
We do that probably tomorrow. It's been an.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Interesting week here in Broncos Country. Is a lot of
you have continued to insist that the referees of the
weison Kansas City one, which is malarkey. But I want
to turn the page on Kansas City. I want to
look forward to Atlanta. We got the Falcons on Sunday
here in Denver, and to me, that's just where the
(02:11):
focus needs to be. We spend enough time on on
the Kansas City thing. I vehemently disagree that the referees.
I mean, it was a bad call, absolutely, but I
mean it didn't change the game. The Broncos had plenty
of opportunities to stop that drive, including two other uh
they got what two other first down conversions and a
third down conversion for the touchdown. So I'm not I'm
(02:32):
not gonna sit here and and belabor that point part
or or position anymore because it just it just doesn't
make sense to me. I want to move for to
the Falcons. And I did get asked the question of
whether or not people think that the crowd would boo
Justin Simmons, which I hope not. I mean, there's there's
(02:53):
nothing to boo Justin Simmons about it, just because he's
playing for a different team now. It wasn't his choice
to leave, you know, Le Broncos moved on from him,
so it wasn't like he left the Broncos in.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
The lurch or anything like that.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
I don't understand, uh, the thought process behind booing Justin Simmons.
He's been nothing but a fixture in the community. He's
Denvers his full time home, and when he's done playing,
Denver will be.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
His full time home.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
You know, there's a lot of speculation about him doing
a career in media, and I wouldn't be surprised to see.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
That as well. I think he'd be very good at it.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
But I mean, you know, the people went to boo
Russ Okay, I mean that part I barely got, but
I I sort of at least can wrap my head
around that. I can't wrap my head around anybody trying
to boo Justin Simmons this weekend. And it's not like
the Falcons defense is, you know, it is particularly good
or anything like that. They're the absolute worst team in
the league in sacks. They've got nine total sacks on
(03:52):
the year, so you know they're they're They're not great
at uh and rushing the quarterback. They're not particularly great
at stopping the pass. They give up two hundred and
twenty three yards a game. They're not particularly great at
stopping the run, they give up one hundred and twenty
nine hundred and thirty yards a game. And they are
(04:18):
horrible at sacks. They're the worst team in the league
at generating sacks and pressure on the quarterback. So it's
not like their defense is dominant in the sense that
we would boo that as an identity either. So it's
one of those things where I look at, you know,
what's coming up this weekend. I guess I sort of
scratched my head a little bit on some of the
(04:38):
fandom stuff specifically with that those sorts of things. I
do believe the Broncos can win this one. They are
two and a half point favorites in this game. As
it's it's the over under sitting at forty four in
this one. In terms of scoring, the Falcons are a
much better offense. They average twenty four points a game
(05:00):
and the Broncos averaged twenty. But in terms of points against,
they also averaged twenty four points a game, whereas the
Broncos average seventeen point seven. In terms of total yardage,
the Falcons are fifth in the league, Broncos twenty fifth,
difference of about seventy five yards per game. The total
yards against per game, it's almost the exact opposite, where
(05:23):
the Falcons are fifth and in offensive yards per game,
they're twenty fourth in total yards allowed, the Broncos twenty
fifth at offensive yards and fifth in.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Total yards allowed.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
So basically a reversal on either side of the ball
in terms of passing yards per game, the Falcons again
fifth at two hundred and fifty a game, Broncos twenty
eight at one hundred and eighty six. In passing yards against,
the Falcons are twenty fourth, giving up two hundred and
twenty three point four per game. Broadcost tenth at one
ninety two rushing yards per game, the Falcons twelfth, respectable
(05:54):
one hundred and twenty four point seven per game, broadcast
twentieth at one to seventeen point one. In terms of
rush yards allowed, however, the Falcons give up the goat
when it comes to that, giving up one hundred and
twenty nine point four a game, the Broncos only giving
up one o three point five per game On the
ground interceptions, both teams are tied with seven on the season.
Time of possession the Broncos average twenty nine minutes ten
(06:16):
seconds per game, Falcons average twenty eight minutes thirty two
seconds per game. And then we talked about the sacks.
Broncos second in the NFL in sacks with thirty five,
Falcons thirty second in the NFL and sacks with nine,
and it's just.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Not It has not been a pretty.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Year defensively for the for the Falcons, they've just been
a team that's done it on offense. Kirk Cousins has
averages twent one hundred and sixty three point four yards
per game, seventeen touchdowns, eight interceptions. B Jon Robinson has
been their most effective weapon on the ground. One hundred
fifty five carries, seven hundred forty eight yards, six touchdowns.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
It's a four to eight average.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Tyler Algier is the you know, the change of pace
back eighty five carries, four hundred and twenty nine yards,
two touchdowns, and then there's a sprinkling of carries for
you know, Ray mc cloud and McClellan. On the receiving totals,
Moody and London are the big receivers. Mooney averages are
has more yardage six hundred and eighty four on the
season and averages fourteen point nine per Drake London has
(07:16):
more receptions. There's more of the procession guy, six hundred
and forty nine yards on the season on fifty eight receptions,
six touchdowns. Kyle Pitts gets the you know, it's the
tertiary target. There thirty four receptions, four hundred and eighty
five yards, three touchdowns. Raray McCleod thirty five receptions, there
are thirty five yards in a touchdown, Bijon forty one
catches three thirty one, and then after that it's it's
(07:37):
barely anybody at all. Three catches for Caniro Hadje, eight
for Els year, one for Washington, two for one er.
They just you know, they got a five man rotation
that they that they get the ball to, versus the Broncos,
who have basically a ten man rotation that they get
the ball to this year, Sutton, Javonte, Veley, Little Jordan,
(07:58):
Adam Troutman, Troy frankl Lucas cro Marvin Mimsterleil McLoughlin all
have ten or more receptions on the season except for
trout and he has eight, but he's over one hundred
yards receiving at one fifty five. And by the way,
as hilarious as it may sound, the person on the
Broncos who averages the most perception is Adam Troutman at
nineteen point four set and second at thirteen to five.
(08:18):
No other Broncos player cracks ten on that per per
catch list. On the Broncos, they split the carries pretty
much four ways. Javonte obviously has been the leadback most
of the year. Elo we saw Estimate getting early down work.
Bo Nicks the second leading rusher sixty one carries two
hundred ninety yards four touchdowns, tops on the team and
(08:40):
rushing touchdowns. McLoughlin has a touchdown fifty five yards, two
hundred and twenty soon to be fifty five carries two
undred twenty yards and estimate of course twenty nine carries
one hundred and forty eight yards at five point one
yards per carry.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
Leads the team in per carry average. He also has
a fumble lost.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
In terms of kicking, Young Waykup has been more mostly reliable.
Although he's missed seven field goals this year, he's been
perfect on extra points three twenty three seventeen to twenty
four on field goals Will Lutts. Two of his three
misses came in the Chiefs game. He's eighteen to twenty
one on the season, nineteen for nineteen on extra points.
In terms of the defensive stuff, I'll get into a
(09:20):
little bit of that directly, but you know, obviously the
Falcons have struggled to generate a pass rush this season,
and they were looking at defensive ends and edge rushers
at the trade deadline, Baron Browning was somebody that they'd
(09:40):
even looked into. Alloy Ultimately with Arizona, it looked like
they were just weren't willing to pay the cost. And
maybe that's something that they will be after in the
draft or this offseason. Is I'm doing their best to
get some more rushing help, edge rushing help, pass rushing
help on the.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Defensive side of the ball.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
In terms of interceptions, Jesse Bait aj Terrell each have
two picks. Sim Justin Simmons, Troy Anderson Clark Phillips each
have one and that accounts for all of their interceptions.
In terms of sacks, Grady Jarrett is their main guy.
Matt Judon's got one and a half, Kate Nellis has one,
David Odion Matta has won, DeAndre Alford has one, James
(10:20):
Walliam Smith has won, Arnold the Big Day has won,
and they just you know, they're just not a team
that gets to the quarterback very often. In terms of
quarterback hits, it's it's Grady Jarrett and Kate Nellis and
Kate Ellis. In case you recognized that last name is
indeed the brother of Broncos rookie Jonah Ellis, So you know,
the little bit another tie there in terms of this game,
(10:44):
the family tie. So that'll be uh, that'll be interesting.
I guess maybe as we're looking for different different ties here.
You know, it's funny because the angle that everybody's coming
at is the Justin Simmons angle. But I sort of
wondered about the Kirk Cousins angle before it ended up
getting mixed. I think most people know the story that
(11:06):
John Elway had approached Mike Shanahan about replacing Vance Joseph
as head coach, and the plan was to bring in
Kirk Cousins. Kirk even came out here to Shanahan's steakhouse.
There was some back room sort of you know, chit
chat on the possibility of that. That was the season
that Kirk Cousins was a free agent and wound up
in Minnesota. But that angle doesn't get talked about. That's
(11:34):
not something that here on sports talk in Denver we're
really hearing much about that portion of it. You know,
a situation that obviously didn't come to fruition, but you'd
feel like it has enough weight to it that it
would be something that people would discuss perhaps a little
bit more so. I yeah, I mean as far as
(11:57):
storylines or tie ins and things like that. That to me,
that would be the big win, although everybody seems to
be focused on Justin Simmons. And then, of course, like
I said, you've got the Kate Ellis, brother of Jodah
Ellis angle as well the Falcons.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
You know, they love to throw the ball. They love
to throw it a lot.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
They run with efficacy, but they don't run it perhaps
as much as they probably should. Kirk Cousins has been
sacked more often this season then you'd like to see
a sack percentages like five point six seven percent. That's high.
They drafted Michael Pennix. I think most people know that,
who's attempted one pass all year for fourteen yards. He's
(12:37):
been a non factor. Cousins passer rating at ninety eight
point nine QBR fifty seven point nine.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
It's pretty big disparity.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
But I will say this, he has three fourth quarter
comebacks and three game winning drives, and you know leads
the NFL and fourth quarter comebacks. They found ways if
you keep the game close. They've found ways to come
back late in games. I think most people saw the
Tampa game back in October. They've found ways to come
back and win football games, and so I think that's
(13:10):
that's something you got to keep an eye on. You
don't want to let them hang around and then come
back on you in the fourth quarter. Wins this year
for the Falcons are They beat the Eagles in Week
two by a point, They beat the Saints in Week
four by two points. They beat Tampa in overtime by
six points, beat Carolina pretty big thirty eight twenty, they
(13:32):
beat Tampa again at Tampa by five points, and they
beat the Dallas Cowboys by six points. Losses for the
Falcons they they opened with an eighteen to ten loss
to the Steelers. They lost seventeen twenty two to the Chiefs,
fourteen thirty four to Seattle, and seventeen to twenty to
New Orleans. So similar schedule for the Falcons in terms
(13:53):
of opponents, played a lot of common opponents and a
lot of similar stories with those opponents in terms of
both the result and score. Even though the Falcons are
perhaps a diametrically opposite team of the Denver Broncos in
terms of what they bring to the table is you know,
(14:14):
as a as a team right now, they are all gas,
no break offense, and just just don't really have much
on defense, and that's that's.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Sort of been the issue.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Which is interesting because they went out and sort of
bought a defense this offseason.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
I think everybody knows.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
Who A j Terrell and Grady Jared are, but they
added Jesse Bates. Everybody knows, they added Justin Simmons, they
added Matthew Judah, and they thought that that was going
to be a little bit more productive for them, although
at thirty two years old, he he just really hasn't
been and so you have, you know, a pushed all
in sort of aging defense, and that's that's really where
(14:52):
the main part of their defense is. They've got what
is it like the eight players on defense that are
over thirty and then out of the starters, you know,
Judah on your Mada, Grady Jarrett, Justin Simmons, Antonio Hamilton,
Eddie Goldman, all those guys are thirty year older. Kaden
(15:12):
Ellis is twenty nine, will be thirty. So they've just
they've got a lot of experience and age on the defense,
but not as much in the way of youth and
explosion and that's part of the reason.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
They've just they've been unable to get to the quarterback.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
That's they've they've just not been able to, uh do
what they need to in terms of rushing the passer,
fluster the passer, and uh and being able to just
slow opposing offenses down. So this theoretically should be a
big game for bon Nicks, right. We should see if
he's you know, unfhazed back there in the pocket. A
great passing game for bo Nicks, another step forward for him.
(15:50):
That's what we're all hoping for this weekend. And you know,
Broncos turned this into a win. You got to your
six and five and and you've you've got the the
other soft part.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
Of your sk And I say soft to me, it's
the NFL.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
But softer part of your schedule than what you just
got through, which was Baltimore, Kansas City, Atlanta.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
Then you get teams like the Colts and the Browns
and you know, and all that before you load up
for a final three game stand with the Chargers, Bengals
and Chiefs to end the season. So U so I
was talking about yesterday, it's possible that this team could
get as high you know, could get out to a
you know, almost like a nine to five record before.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
The final three games.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
And if you can do that, then you're you're pretty
much punching your ticket to the playoffs. Probably only need
to win one of those three and and you're in
and you control your destiny right now as you're sitting
in the seven seeds.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
So, uh, things looking more or less optimistic for the Broncos.
You just you gotta win this game. You got to come.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
Away beat the Falcons, and you know, pick up one,
like we said, one of these three. Now you're down
to the one you have to pick up the home
game against Atlanta. So you listen to Broncos Country tonight
right here on ka Save the Am ninety four TERFM
News Talk Sports
Welcome into it, Broncos Country Tonight, Benjamin Albright here with
you post see you buff Men's Basketball Edition five six
six nine zeros text line you want to get involved
in the conversation. I had some uh, some interesting conversations
on social media last couple of days and people talking
(00:22):
about bo Nix and Sean Payton and everything else. It's
it's sort of fascinating to watch as people talk themselves
into certain positions and out of other positions that remained
diametrically opposed to each other.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
And we had Ryan Mike a.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Long last night and he, you know, went on to
talk about how Sean Payton really didn't do much without
Drew Bergie and all that kind of stuff, and that's
that's fine.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
You believe it, you don't believe it. That that's fine.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Ryan's got his basis in you know, in numbers, and
you could obviously argue with him on the evidence. But
it's it's fascinating because I get so many people that
are telling me what bo noooks Bonix is progressing, which
key obviously is, and that Sean Payton's a great coach
and you know great. It's probably not the word I
used to describe but good, you know, I think I
(01:10):
think Sean Payton's and that Mike McCarthy John Fox tier
of coaches where you're always going to be competitive, but
you're unlikely to win the big one in most cases
without you know, an elite quarterback or many things going
your way. So my question is is that if if
Bo continues on.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
The trajectory's on? Is that Bo? Is that Sean? Is
it both? And where do people come down on that?
Speaker 1 (01:36):
So that's a conversation I want to have once we
get Nick back in the studio what I have at
that point, but just have you guys's minds turning so
you can chime in on that conversation.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
We do that probably tomorrow. It's been an.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Interesting week here in Broncos Country. Is a lot of
you have continued to insist that the referees of the
weison Kansas City one, which is malarkey. But I want
to turn the page on Kansas City. I want to
look forward to Atlanta. We got the Falcons on Sunday
here in Denver, and to me, that's just where the
(02:11):
focus needs to be. We spend enough time on on
the Kansas City thing. I vehemently disagree that the referees.
I mean, it was a bad call, absolutely, but I
mean it didn't change the game. The Broncos had plenty
of opportunities to stop that drive, including two other uh
they got what two other first down conversions and a
third down conversion for the touchdown. So I'm not I'm
(02:32):
not gonna sit here and and belabor that point part
or or position anymore because it just it just doesn't
make sense to me. I want to move for to
the Falcons. And I did get asked the question of
whether or not people think that the crowd would boo
Justin Simmons, which I hope not. I mean, there's there's
(02:53):
nothing to boo Justin Simmons about it, just because he's
playing for a different team now. It wasn't his choice
to leave, you know, Le Broncos moved on from him,
so it wasn't like he left the Broncos in.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
The lurch or anything like that.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
I don't understand, uh, the thought process behind booing Justin Simmons.
He's been nothing but a fixture in the community. He's
Denvers his full time home, and when he's done playing,
Denver will be.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
His full time home.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
You know, there's a lot of speculation about him doing
a career in media, and I wouldn't be surprised to see.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
That as well. I think he'd be very good at it.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
But I mean, you know, the people went to boo
Russ Okay, I mean that part I barely got, but
I I sort of at least can wrap my head
around that. I can't wrap my head around anybody trying
to boo Justin Simmons this weekend. And it's not like
the Falcons defense is, you know, it is particularly good
or anything like that. They're the absolute worst team in
the league in sacks. They've got nine total sacks on
(03:52):
the year, so you know they're they're They're not great
at uh and rushing the quarterback. They're not particularly great
at stopping the pass. They give up two hundred and
twenty three yards a game. They're not particularly great at
stopping the run, they give up one hundred and twenty
nine hundred and thirty yards a game. And they are
(04:18):
horrible at sacks. They're the worst team in the league
at generating sacks and pressure on the quarterback. So it's
not like their defense is dominant in the sense that
we would boo that as an identity either. So it's
one of those things where I look at, you know,
what's coming up this weekend. I guess I sort of
scratched my head a little bit on some of the
(04:38):
fandom stuff specifically with that those sorts of things. I
do believe the Broncos can win this one. They are
two and a half point favorites in this game. As
it's it's the over under sitting at forty four in
this one. In terms of scoring, the Falcons are a
much better offense. They average twenty four points a game
(05:00):
and the Broncos averaged twenty. But in terms of points against,
they also averaged twenty four points a game, whereas the
Broncos average seventeen point seven. In terms of total yardage,
the Falcons are fifth in the league, Broncos twenty fifth,
difference of about seventy five yards per game. The total
yards against per game, it's almost the exact opposite, where
(05:23):
the Falcons are fifth and in offensive yards per game,
they're twenty fourth in total yards allowed, the Broncos twenty
fifth at offensive yards and fifth in.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Total yards allowed.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
So basically a reversal on either side of the ball
in terms of passing yards per game, the Falcons again
fifth at two hundred and fifty a game, Broncos twenty
eight at one hundred and eighty six. In passing yards against,
the Falcons are twenty fourth, giving up two hundred and
twenty three point four per game. Broadcost tenth at one
ninety two rushing yards per game, the Falcons twelfth, respectable
(05:54):
one hundred and twenty four point seven per game, broadcast
twentieth at one to seventeen point one. In terms of
rush yards allowed, however, the Falcons give up the goat
when it comes to that, giving up one hundred and
twenty nine point four a game, the Broncos only giving
up one o three point five per game On the
ground interceptions, both teams are tied with seven on the season.
Time of possession the Broncos average twenty nine minutes ten
(06:16):
seconds per game, Falcons average twenty eight minutes thirty two
seconds per game. And then we talked about the sacks.
Broncos second in the NFL in sacks with thirty five,
Falcons thirty second in the NFL and sacks with nine,
and it's just.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Not It has not been a pretty.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Year defensively for the for the Falcons, they've just been
a team that's done it on offense. Kirk Cousins has
averages twent one hundred and sixty three point four yards
per game, seventeen touchdowns, eight interceptions. B Jon Robinson has
been their most effective weapon on the ground. One hundred
fifty five carries, seven hundred forty eight yards, six touchdowns.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
It's a four to eight average.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Tyler Algier is the you know, the change of pace
back eighty five carries, four hundred and twenty nine yards,
two touchdowns, and then there's a sprinkling of carries for
you know, Ray mc cloud and McClellan. On the receiving totals,
Moody and London are the big receivers. Mooney averages are
has more yardage six hundred and eighty four on the
season and averages fourteen point nine per Drake London has
(07:16):
more receptions. There's more of the procession guy, six hundred
and forty nine yards on the season on fifty eight receptions,
six touchdowns. Kyle Pitts gets the you know, it's the
tertiary target. There thirty four receptions, four hundred and eighty
five yards, three touchdowns. Raray McCleod thirty five receptions, there
are thirty five yards in a touchdown, Bijon forty one
catches three thirty one, and then after that it's it's
(07:37):
barely anybody at all. Three catches for Caniro Hadje, eight
for Els year, one for Washington, two for one er.
They just you know, they got a five man rotation
that they that they get the ball to, versus the Broncos,
who have basically a ten man rotation that they get
the ball to this year, Sutton, Javonte, Veley, Little Jordan,
(07:58):
Adam Troutman, Troy frankl Lucas cro Marvin Mimsterleil McLoughlin all
have ten or more receptions on the season except for
trout and he has eight, but he's over one hundred
yards receiving at one fifty five. And by the way,
as hilarious as it may sound, the person on the
Broncos who averages the most perception is Adam Troutman at
nineteen point four set and second at thirteen to five.
(08:18):
No other Broncos player cracks ten on that per per
catch list. On the Broncos, they split the carries pretty
much four ways. Javonte obviously has been the leadback most
of the year. Elo we saw Estimate getting early down work.
Bo Nicks the second leading rusher sixty one carries two
hundred ninety yards four touchdowns, tops on the team and
(08:40):
rushing touchdowns. McLoughlin has a touchdown fifty five yards, two
hundred and twenty soon to be fifty five carries two
undred twenty yards and estimate of course twenty nine carries
one hundred and forty eight yards at five point one
yards per carry.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
Leads the team in per carry average. He also has
a fumble lost.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
In terms of kicking, Young Waykup has been more mostly reliable.
Although he's missed seven field goals this year, he's been
perfect on extra points three twenty three seventeen to twenty
four on field goals Will Lutts. Two of his three
misses came in the Chiefs game. He's eighteen to twenty
one on the season, nineteen for nineteen on extra points.
In terms of the defensive stuff, I'll get into a
(09:20):
little bit of that directly, but you know, obviously the
Falcons have struggled to generate a pass rush this season,
and they were looking at defensive ends and edge rushers
at the trade deadline, Baron Browning was somebody that they'd
(09:40):
even looked into. Alloy Ultimately with Arizona, it looked like
they were just weren't willing to pay the cost. And
maybe that's something that they will be after in the
draft or this offseason. Is I'm doing their best to
get some more rushing help, edge rushing help, pass rushing
help on the.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Defensive side of the ball.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
In terms of interceptions, Jesse Bait aj Terrell each have
two picks. Sim Justin Simmons, Troy Anderson Clark Phillips each
have one and that accounts for all of their interceptions.
In terms of sacks, Grady Jarrett is their main guy.
Matt Judon's got one and a half, Kate Nellis has one,
David Odion Matta has won, DeAndre Alford has one, James
(10:20):
Walliam Smith has won, Arnold the Big Day has won,
and they just you know, they're just not a team
that gets to the quarterback very often. In terms of
quarterback hits, it's it's Grady Jarrett and Kate Nellis and
Kate Ellis. In case you recognized that last name is
indeed the brother of Broncos rookie Jonah Ellis, So you know,
the little bit another tie there in terms of this game,
(10:44):
the family tie. So that'll be uh, that'll be interesting.
I guess maybe as we're looking for different different ties here.
You know, it's funny because the angle that everybody's coming
at is the Justin Simmons angle. But I sort of
wondered about the Kirk Cousins angle before it ended up
getting mixed. I think most people know the story that
(11:06):
John Elway had approached Mike Shanahan about replacing Vance Joseph
as head coach, and the plan was to bring in
Kirk Cousins. Kirk even came out here to Shanahan's steakhouse.
There was some back room sort of you know, chit
chat on the possibility of that. That was the season
that Kirk Cousins was a free agent and wound up
in Minnesota. But that angle doesn't get talked about. That's
(11:34):
not something that here on sports talk in Denver we're
really hearing much about that portion of it. You know,
a situation that obviously didn't come to fruition, but you'd
feel like it has enough weight to it that it
would be something that people would discuss perhaps a little
bit more so. I yeah, I mean as far as
(11:57):
storylines or tie ins and things like that. That to me,
that would be the big win, although everybody seems to
be focused on Justin Simmons. And then, of course, like
I said, you've got the Kate Ellis, brother of Jodah
Ellis angle as well the Falcons.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
You know, they love to throw the ball. They love
to throw it a lot.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
They run with efficacy, but they don't run it perhaps
as much as they probably should. Kirk Cousins has been
sacked more often this season then you'd like to see
a sack percentages like five point six seven percent. That's high.
They drafted Michael Pennix. I think most people know that,
who's attempted one pass all year for fourteen yards. He's
(12:37):
been a non factor. Cousins passer rating at ninety eight
point nine QBR fifty seven point nine.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
It's pretty big disparity.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
But I will say this, he has three fourth quarter
comebacks and three game winning drives, and you know leads
the NFL and fourth quarter comebacks. They found ways if
you keep the game close. They've found ways to come
back late in games. I think most people saw the
Tampa game back in October. They've found ways to come
back and win football games, and so I think that's
(13:10):
that's something you got to keep an eye on. You
don't want to let them hang around and then come
back on you in the fourth quarter. Wins this year
for the Falcons are They beat the Eagles in Week
two by a point, They beat the Saints in Week
four by two points. They beat Tampa in overtime by
six points, beat Carolina pretty big thirty eight twenty, they
(13:32):
beat Tampa again at Tampa by five points, and they
beat the Dallas Cowboys by six points. Losses for the
Falcons they they opened with an eighteen to ten loss
to the Steelers. They lost seventeen twenty two to the Chiefs,
fourteen thirty four to Seattle, and seventeen to twenty to
New Orleans. So similar schedule for the Falcons in terms
(13:53):
of opponents, played a lot of common opponents and a
lot of similar stories with those opponents in terms of
both the result and score. Even though the Falcons are
perhaps a diametrically opposite team of the Denver Broncos in
terms of what they bring to the table is you know,
(14:14):
as a as a team right now, they are all gas,
no break offense, and just just don't really have much
on defense, and that's that's.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Sort of been the issue.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Which is interesting because they went out and sort of
bought a defense this offseason.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
I think everybody knows.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
Who A j Terrell and Grady Jared are, but they
added Jesse Bates. Everybody knows, they added Justin Simmons, they
added Matthew Judah, and they thought that that was going
to be a little bit more productive for them, although
at thirty two years old, he he just really hasn't
been and so you have, you know, a pushed all
in sort of aging defense, and that's that's really where
(14:52):
the main part of their defense is. They've got what
is it like the eight players on defense that are
over thirty and then out of the starters, you know,
Judah on your Mada, Grady Jarrett, Justin Simmons, Antonio Hamilton,
Eddie Goldman, all those guys are thirty year older. Kaden
(15:12):
Ellis is twenty nine, will be thirty. So they've just
they've got a lot of experience and age on the defense,
but not as much in the way of youth and
explosion and that's part of the reason.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
They've just they've been unable to get to the quarterback.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
That's they've they've just not been able to, uh do
what they need to in terms of rushing the passer,
fluster the passer, and uh and being able to just
slow opposing offenses down. So this theoretically should be a
big game for bon Nicks, right. We should see if
he's you know, unfhazed back there in the pocket. A
great passing game for bo Nicks, another step forward for him.
(15:50):
That's what we're all hoping for this weekend. And you know,
Broncos turned this into a win. You got to your
six and five and and you've you've got the the
other soft part.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
Of your sk And I say soft to me, it's
the NFL.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
But softer part of your schedule than what you just
got through, which was Baltimore, Kansas City, Atlanta.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
Then you get teams like the Colts and the Browns
and you know, and all that before you load up
for a final three game stand with the Chargers, Bengals
and Chiefs to end the season. So U so I
was talking about yesterday, it's possible that this team could
get as high you know, could get out to a
you know, almost like a nine to five record before.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
The final three games.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
And if you can do that, then you're you're pretty
much punching your ticket to the playoffs. Probably only need
to win one of those three and and you're in
and you control your destiny right now as you're sitting
in the seven seeds.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
So, uh, things looking more or less optimistic for the Broncos.
You just you gotta win this game. You got to come.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
Away beat the Falcons, and you know, pick up one,
like we said, one of these three. Now you're down
to the one you have to pick up the home
game against Atlanta. So you listen to Broncos Country tonight
right here on ka Save the Am ninety four TERFM
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