Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
This is Broncos Country Tonight, Lester rock Tack. Can we
help it?
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Receive us.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Let's go on the official home of the Broncos. Go
all right, all night KOA.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Broncos Country Tonight, rolling along here on this reaction Monday,
here on ko A. I am Anthony Rodriguez, A Rod
as you know me here filling in for Ben Albright,
Nick Ferguson and the crew. Not alone near as I
do have mister Zack Segers on the other side of
the glass. As we, of course are reacting to the
broncos thirty to twenty four loss to the Cincinnati Bengals,
(00:44):
their second loss in a row, still trying to clench
that playoff spot. We want to hear from you. I'm
the common Spear Health text line five six six nine zero.
You can also react with us on Twitter. I am
at Anthony rod thirty three. Zach Seger's over there at
Zach z A h Underscore Segers g A R s
s E G A r S. We want to hear
from you because obviously there's a lot of reaction of
(01:05):
this ballgame as the Broncos once again unable to clinch
their playoff.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Birth first one since they won Super Bowl fifty.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
It's gonna all come down to that matchup with the
two time reigning champs, the Kansas City Chiefs, probably Pat
Mahomes less Kansas City Chiefs, and along with probably a
lot of other starters as well.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
So again, we want to react to it with you
on this ballgame.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
But we're gonna get into something here that I was
telling Zach before we were getting into this today that
I'm pretty sure we're going to disagree on the reason
why I come to that assumption, Zach is because I
think every Broncos fan disagrees with me. So I'm gonna
put you in that in that group, and if I'm wrong,
then then great. But I think that's going to be
part of our conversation here is that we're going to disagree,
and that is on the decision by by Sean Payton
(01:49):
in this ballgame to not go for two. I think
the way that your defense obviously was playing, You're going
against Joe Burrow and company, and you think, well, eight
seconds left, you just had another marvelous touchdown, if you will,
to Marvin m second of the day to tie this
thing up at twenty. Well, essentially would have tied it up,
(02:10):
you know, with a pat but you have the chance
to take this game, go for two. I not only
in this game, Zach, I never ever, when you are down,
like to go for two with the last couple of
seconds on the clock. I'll never like it. And then
the number one argument I hear and the number one
(02:30):
counter I have to it is the following, Well, you
want to take that, you don't. You want to give
the other team chance. You have the one play take
the win. Well, here's the thing that one play. Also,
you're also only giving yourself only one opportunity. The Cincinnati
Bengals would obviously have had no chance, barring a ridiculous miracle,
(02:50):
with a few second, last second heave. You know, maybe
maybe with eight seconds there's there's a slim chance that
they have a touchback, and maybe you you know, take
a deep shot and try to get in field goal range.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
It's probably not happening.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
If I got to a full on heave there, if
the Broncos would have taken the twenty five to twenty
four lead. But you're limiting yourself to just one chance.
It's one, it's one, it's one and done. I will
always be more of the fact that if you are
confident in your team both sides of the ball, that
you give yourself a plethora of opportunities, a full drive
if you will in OT, barring obviously in the regular
(03:26):
season where the opponent, if they score a touchdown, that's
game over. In the playoffs with the Broncos are hopefully
about to be in, that obviously will not be the case.
The Buffalo Bills, who the Broncos a likely match up with,
are thankful for that, especially if they have to face
off against the Chiefs again in the UH what it
would likely be the AFC Conference title game.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
You don't have to do that anymore. Both teams will
now get possession of the ball.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
But Zach, are you in that camp where you believe
that Sean should indeed have gone for two or did
you like.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
The decision to send it to OT?
Speaker 3 (03:57):
And I will counter on what Sean said about it,
because that I disagree with and now I'm not a
big fan of But where overall do.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
You come down on the two point or not to
go for it? I generally wish they went for two, don't.
I think the reaction to it has been over the top.
I think either side would have been pretty defensible. I
don't think this is one of the clear cut you
have to go for two. You can't go for two cases.
For me, I ultimately wish they went for two because
(04:24):
I would have viewed it and it ended up not
going this way. But trying to live in the moment
and not with hindsight, I would have viewed it as
whoever wins that coin toss is going to win the game.
Neither defense was getting stops at that point. Broncos offense
was cutting right through the brain Bengals defense. Bengals offense
(04:44):
only had two drives well, and one of those was
in overtime, so they only had one drive at that
point where they were held outside denvers twenty five, and
that drive required a takeaway. So I would have felt, man,
I've got a fifty to fifty shot. Literally is a
coin flip? How do I feel about my two point plays?
(05:06):
And I get feeling like those are less than fifty
percent bets. The Broncos are bottom ten in the league
in short yardage rushing success rate. They have not been
good at getting the yards they need to get in
those situations all season. Bo Nicks these last few weeks
since I think the Colts three interception game has been
a little more skittish and gun shy. Well, on those
(05:27):
two point plays, you are working with a very small
area of the field that tight windows. You can't afford
to be gun shy in those moments, and it's harder
to draw up a screen or an easy checkdown or
something like that, which is you know, I think helped
bon Nicks or been what he's been leaning on these
past couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
So ultimately I do wish they went for it.
Speaker 4 (05:48):
I think your odds are probably better than fifty to fifty,
but it's close enough that I am okay with the
fact they decided to go to overtime, hope for that
coin flip instead, and then unfortunately very much south from there.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
Well, the two things here, Number one, the conservative part
of me if that's what Broncos fans will say in
terms of liking that they you know, uh went decided
to tie it up and go to o t The
additional part of that conservative side of me says, if
you are going to go for two, I also am
not a big fan on over creativity in that moment
right there. Give it to Oddrey guest to man and
(06:23):
and and and go, because send it, send the bowling
ball downhill, uh, and see if you can see if
you can get in.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
And if you're stopped, you're stopped. You know.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
Then I think all the Broncos fans are saying they
wish it would have gone for two. I think they're
also saying, what's wrong with that play call? Or how
could you not send it to ot and give yourself
more opportunities? So hindsight, we all know about it. The
thing though, that bugs me, Zach is the comment to
me by Sean Payton uh about why he went for
one and two instead of two, mentioning the word tie
(06:56):
bugs me. I understand that a tie benefits them and
that set. I understand that mathematically the tie is beneficial,
but having that at all even part of the mindset,
or or saying it afterwards, saying that you know they
had the momentum correct, but for them to think about
(07:17):
the fact that you're gonna try to play for the
tie first of all. That made me reminded me of
the was a couple of years ago the Chargers and
the Raiders where it benefited them both to tie, which
was kind of funny. Zack, do you know, I actually
don't know what the Bengals. So if the Broncos tied,
are they not emactally and then at that moment.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
Eliminated? Okay?
Speaker 3 (07:39):
So so it's funny in the sense that that it
reminded me of the Chargers Raiders, but wouldn't have been
the same. The tie would have believe gotten them both
in at that in that game.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Correct, But.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
A full overtime period ending in a tie in the
NF I know you've seen a couple.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
We do. We even have one this year. I think
this is why it's been it's been a while.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
They're they're rare, but for a good reason, because after
the first drive, a field goal wins it. In today's offense,
especially when you're starting at the thirty a tie, ties
are so darn near impossible to happen in today's NFL. Okay,
So if you're tying it up twenty four a piece
and you go to t you're not thinking even thinking
(08:24):
about the tie. You're thinking, I'm gonna win this game.
You're thinking I'm not gonna go down to one play
to take the lead in regulation. I'm gonna get this win,
and o T when we have maybe bigger sustained drives
to do it, or stopping the Bengals, and then now
you really only need a field goal to do it.
I'm thinking about how winning this game. I'm not thinking
even even in the back of my head. Okay, a
(08:45):
tie could get us into playoffs too, because it's so on,
it's so unlikely. So Sean mentioning that that part of
going for one in tying and sending regulation, that part
bugs me.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
I'm not. I'm not. I'm not a fan of that
at all.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Is that?
Speaker 3 (09:00):
Where did you come down on Sean even mentioning the
tie being beneficial, I mean, pot mindset.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
I don't mind it now.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
I agree that should not have been a driving force
in the decision. Everything I just said about both offenses
were slicing through each other. It felt like, whoever when
the coin flip was going to win that game.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
I don't think you.
Speaker 4 (09:18):
Bank on multiple stops happening to allow that tie to occur.
That said, I don't mind him.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
I want my head coach to be.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
Thinking about all those potential outcomes and no matter how
unlikely they are. I mean, I think you could argue
the Broncos loss to the Chargers last week because Sean
Payton maybe didn't consider some of those unlikely potential outcomes
at the end of the first half. So I'm glad
he considered it and we saw it end up coming
into play in a major way. If the Broncos get
(09:53):
first down there on that final bon Nick's throw where
he targets Troy Franklin and they were just a little off,
if that connects, Broncos win the game, they can just
kneel it out right there.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
It goes to earth.
Speaker 4 (10:04):
They don't win the game, they clinch a playoff spot,
they can just kneel it out right there. It goes
to a tie, and the Broncos are in the playoffs
right now. Yeah, yeah, And that's one thing that they're
not right now.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
So that's definitely you know, that's that's definitely a point
that you know, you as you watch the clock potentially
tick down and mind you, by the way, you know,
the Bengals won this game with what a minute left?
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Is that is that right about a minute? A minute?
Speaker 3 (10:27):
Uh seven seconds left in this game? Or is a
minute and I'm drawing a blank.
Speaker 4 (10:31):
Now.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
The other thing about this ballgame, Zach, that that bugs
me and we gotta, we gotta, we gotta talk about
this because I don't think many people would be frustrated
with the defense from defensive first half performance when you
hold the Bengals offense only seven points.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
But that's where I'm at. We got to talk about
this defensive performance.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
The last couple of weeks have been a bit of
a slot for Vance Joseph's defense, the bend don't break defense. Now,
mind you, you only hold the colt held the Colts
to thirteen points. It felt like it was it felt
like it was north of twenty thanks to Jonathan Taylor.
Chargers put up thirty four, the Bengals put up thirty.
(11:17):
It's not even the point totals. It's not even necessarily
the overall performance, because I think there were there have
been a lot of games this year where the Broncos
have I don't want to say relied on, and I'm
not going to use the word luck, but kind of
bailed out in the sense with a couple of defensive touchdowns,
a couple lucky breaks at the right times. More specifically
(11:38):
that phrase at the right times, right when a game
is trending in the wrong way, they've getting the they've
gotten the right right plays from their big time playmakers
Nick Bonito, pats er Tan, But overall, I think we've
all used the phrase dating back to Histon as head
coach and now is his defense coordinator, the bend don't
break defense. Uh, you can't really even say again, when
(12:01):
you hold the Bengals offense to only seven points in
the first half, it's not necessarily that it broke, but
it bent way too much, and it bent way too long.
And I understand that there's a massive factor here with
the Broncos offense doing them no favors in the first half.
No favors in the first half outside of their first drive.
Ten plays fifty eight yards in five minutes for the
(12:22):
Broncos offense.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
After that.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
Five plays fourteen yards for three point fifty one, three
and out, and then the end of the half. We
obviously know what happened on the seven play sixteen yards
minute forty nine. I'm not really bringing that in any equation,
but other than that, the Broncos offense did no favors.
This defense was completely gassed in the first half. Quickly
(12:46):
again after that Broncos first drive, it had to have
felt like the defense and none just had to because
because it was true that the Broncos defense was on
the field. It felt like the entire first half, it
felt like it was literally just the defense for the
Broncos versus the for the Bengals. Eleven plays forty eight
yards over five minutes on their first drive obviously ended
in turnover on downs, Seventeen plays sixty eight yards and
(13:08):
over nine minutes, again turnover on downs, where the Broncos
still had the three to nothing lead, and then obviously
the dam broke on the seventh play, sixty two yard,
three minute and six second touchdown drive Joe Burrow to
t Higgins for the first of three touchdowns for the
(13:29):
future Bronco I mean current Cincinnati Bengals.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Did I say that allowed?
Speaker 3 (13:33):
But it was rough And this trend, and there's many
parts of the trend. I'm obviously I'm very aware I'm
broad stroking this thing right now, but we all know
what we're seeing here. It's trending in that it's coming
at the wrong time. It's coming at the absolute wrong time.
And those big plays also are not particularly happening for
this Broncos defense.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
They're struggling to.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
Get to the quarterback, and I know I'm saying that
after a game that the Broncos just had, so this
was a bit more of the liar of.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
The last month.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
But overall, I think we've had a struggle to see
vance sending the blitz, finding the right times to send
the blitz, having enough guys get there when you're only
sending four. It just feels like the Broncs are getting
there fast enough. They got dissected by Justin Herbert, who's
also one of the best, and probably, if I had
to guess, of all the quarterbacks in the NFL, probably
(14:22):
the most frustrating to play against in terms of not
knowing when to send the blitz at the exact right times,
and when you do, he dices you, and he dices
you quickly. So I get that again against Justin Herbert.
That's that's a that's a tall task, especially on the road.
Joe Burrow thanks to what three and a half from
(14:45):
from Zach Allen, who's having his best season as a
bro three and a half sacks half of the seven
of Joe Burrow. But even with those seven, especially in
that first half, it just didn't feel like they're they're
they're getting to him quickly enough. It didn't like we
were doing the right things overall on defense. But just Zach,
I gotta ask you what you're kind of especially in
(15:07):
that first half. The biggest takeaways you have from that
defensive performance because I think you can only pin so
much on the offense doing you no favors. But these
trends are not are not favorable for this defense in
the worst time of the season.
Speaker 4 (15:22):
Yeah, I mean, it's not good. They're definitely trending in
the wrong direction. That said, I feel pretty optimistic about
the group still. You know, I think a lot of
their struggles in this Bengals game, where you have Riley
moss Off an mcl going up against T Higgins, who's
a top fifteen to twenty receiver in the league, and
Joe Burrows maybe played better than any other quarterback in
the league this year, he's just not at all in
(15:42):
MVP conversation because his team's lost too many games. So
I think that was a lot to do with it here.
We know, defensive performance and defensive rankings are so often
driven by the schedule of quarterbacks you face, and these
last two weeks they've played, you know, two of the
top five, top six in the league. And still you know,
if you look at where they rank over these last
(16:03):
two weeks in terms of something like EPA per dropback,
they are a top of the half league or top
half of the league. Defense they rank sixteenth, and again
that's probably getting driven down by playing some really great quarterbacks,
not being one hundred percent at corner. I'm worried about
it for that first playoff game against Josh Allen, because
that's gonna be another elite quarterback and one that can
(16:23):
burn you with his legs, even more so than Herbert
or Burrow did. But I'm not worried about it when
they play Carson Wentz this upcoming week, I think they
got that one.
Speaker 3 (16:32):
Well, you know what else, we don't have to be
worried about Bowe Nigga's armstring. We're gonna put that arm
conversation to bed we come back. We're also gonna head
look ahead to the last game this season again coming
against the two time ranging champ Kansas City Chiefs. Do
you feel bad or do you care about the Broncos
backing in the playoffs with a win against the KCB.
I will say the k c B squad If you
will the JV guys, do you feel bad about it?
(16:53):
We'll talk about that. I'm Anthon Rodriguez A Rod. He're
filling in for Ben Albrighton company is Zach Seegers Broncos Country,
and I rolling along here on KOA this.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
If Broncos Country Tonight, Lester Rock can help it receives,
let's go on the official home of the Broncos, go
all right, all night KOA.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
Broncos Country Tonight.
Speaker 3 (17:27):
Rolling along here on a reaction Monday here on KOA.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
I'm Anthony Rodriguez A Rod. Is you know me on Twitter?
Speaker 3 (17:35):
Now known as z x at Anthony Rod thirty three
Zach on the other side of the glasses at Zach
with a ch underscore Seegers S E G A R
S and we are obviously reacting to the Broncos thirty
to twenty four lost to the Bengals in Week seventeen.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Second game in a row.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
The Broncos are unable to clinch their first playoff berth
since they won Super Bowl fifty, which mean it now
all comes down to the one game that we thought
kind of hoping it wouldn't, but it is down to
the one game against a two time reigning champ Kansas
City Chiefs in the Broncos throwbacks. By the way, let's
throw it back to Super Bowl fifty. They have the opportunity.
(18:15):
By the way, Zach, I gotta tell you for another
Zach here in town. Zach Sevens was this close as
he dug up those stats to being right on the money,
because when it became seventeen seventeen, Broncos with the ball
were like, this is going to happen. We're gonna win
twenty to seventeen again. Right after the Chargers thirty four
to twenty seven loss. Again since the last time we
clinched the playoffs in SUPERLD fifty, we were this close, man,
(18:38):
and then all was forro not because I think that's
when bo I think through the interception right.
Speaker 2 (18:42):
So unfortunately did not work out that way.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
So again, now it's not gonna all come down to
this Sunday, Yes, Sunday, if in case you haven't seen yet,
it was obviously a TVD between Saturday and Sunday debase
based on what primetime games the NFL wanted on Saturday.
It is going to be the Rounds at the Ravens
in the two thirty slot on Saturday and then Bengals
at Steelers in the six o'clock time slot on Saturday,
(19:08):
which which Zach and I were talking about. Ramifications are
going to be one way or the other for the Steelers,
by the way, in that late game, because they're gonna
know one way or the other whether this game is
going to be playing for the possibility of getting the
three seed or whether they are wanting to stay in
the five and not drop to the six seeds. So
the Pittsburgh Steelers could be anywhere from the three all
(19:29):
the way as low as the sixth. The only spot
that they wouldn't fall as low to would be the four.
Because the Houston Texans are in that spot at nine
and seven, they obviously most that they could do is
ten and seven. I think the tibe would be interesting
actually that actually there is a possibility now I think
about it, because them and the Texans would both be
nine and seven. They both also have the same conference record,
(19:51):
So Zach on if you have them, Frondy, I wondered
what the next tie break is after conference record.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
I don't know if they played head to head this year.
Speaker 3 (19:58):
Let me double check that they did not, so I
don't know what the third tiberg Iss. So maybe there's
a chance to be the four. But the Steelers in
that late slot could be as high as the three.
I do know, they could be as low depending on
if they be the four, they could be the five.
They could be the six if the Chargers, who also
have the same conference record as them, move up to
eleven and six. So the Steelers are looking to all
(20:18):
to either be the three hosting potentially the Chargers in
the six, or they could be I'm not sure. They
could be the four. They could be the five going
to Houston, or they could be the six going to Baltimore.
So I say all that to say that that's a
lot of intrigue there with those two games, those two
AFC North ramification, really the entire AFC playoff picture ramification.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Two games.
Speaker 3 (20:42):
So the Broncos taking on the Chiefs will be on Sunday,
determined late last night, after the end of week seventeen,
minus the Monday night football game tonight that was the
that's the match of the Broncos have is going to.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
Be on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (21:00):
So much I have for all Broncos country out there,
and again you can get involved on the Common Spirit
Health text line five six, six nine zero. If you're
joining us live, if you're joining us here on the podcast,
you can get involved with us again. I mentioned both
of our Twitter accounts. You could do at Kaylee Colorado,
Anthony Rod thirty three, or at Zach Underscore Seekers. Do
you care personally about the Broncos backing into the playoffs
(21:22):
against the KCB is all I call it the kc
B squad, the JV squad, maybe as.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
Low as lower than that. The see who knows?
Speaker 3 (21:30):
My point is, do you care about whether they back
into this thing or not? Because they're backing in one
way or another. Because the Broncos at nine to five
had a chance, as you look at the playoff picture now,
had a chance. It probably would have been slim because
you had to have been one game higher than the
Pittsburgh Steelers because of that tiebreak lost earlier in the
(21:50):
season to them. You could have been as high as
the five if you had won two of three or
all three of the remaining games and finished with either
eleven or twelve wins and going to Houston. Instead, we
are talking about where I will shout out, by the
way to my buddy Nathan who pointed out that essentially,
and you know it's not it's not rocket science here
(22:12):
I'm about to say, but the playoffs start this weekend.
For the Broncos very much play in a wild wild
card round this weekend. It's an extra round for the
playoffs before the actual playoffs start, because the Bronco Is
essentially need to win this game or rely on the
Dolphins and the Bengals to both lose. Now they'll know
whether one of those has already happened, because, like I mentioned,
(22:33):
the Bengals play in Pittsburgh with the Steelers a lot
to play for. Could please hide the three could be
low as the six could be either hosting a playoff
game or going to Houston or going to Baltimore. There's
a lot of difference there. And so Pittsburgh's playing for something.
They're not playing well. They're playing absolutely terrible. Their defense
(22:54):
is playing atrocious. RUSS is starting to beat Denver RUSS
quite a bit in this last month play us. They've
lost what three, no, I think four in a row.
We double checked that real quick. Let's see, they've lost
I just had it right in front of me here,
Steelers now at ten and Sacs I've lost one to
three games in a row and then they you know,
(23:15):
they beat the Browns in the first week of December,
but they've lost three in a row. They were ten
and three, they had everything going for them, and then
including one of those three losses was the loss a
few weeks back to the Ravens. So the Ravens are
in the driver's spot for that three seed right now.
So they've got lots to play for. They could very
(23:37):
well beat the Bengals. It's in Pittsburgh, and so the
Broncs going into Sunday could know the outcome that they
need to have number one.
Speaker 2 (23:44):
They're gonna have to win regardless.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
They know that for sure because they're playing the exact
same time slot as the Miami Dolphins, who if you
want to rely on other teams to help do your business,
the Miami Dolphins are playing against the Jets, and if
you watch, the Jets get just demolish. Yesterday, Zach to
the Buffalo Bills where Aaron Rodgers sat himself and said, hey,
(24:07):
you know, it's thirty three nothing.
Speaker 2 (24:09):
I think it's about time to get tyrod in there.
And then as soon as they said Dad, it became
forty nothing.
Speaker 3 (24:15):
Zach I'm pretty sure if you look up the word
toxicity in the dictionary, it becomes a pictionary and you
just see Aaron Rodgers' big old jerky face right there.
What a toxic teammate. Nothing new. I'm not breaking any
walls down by saying that. I think everyone's been saying
it Ryan Clark and company.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
But Lord have mercy.
Speaker 3 (24:33):
If you think that's a team that's gonna get in
the way of a playoff berth potentially from the Miami Dolphins,
you're kidding yourself if you didn't watch that game yesterday,
Zach Yah.
Speaker 4 (24:43):
I mean, I'll say this about Aaron Rodgers' toxicity. Nothing
is going to be more toxic for the New York
Jets than them winning this final game and plummeting further
down the draft to order. It'll also make it harder
for them to replace him, because they won't have an
easy draft avenue to do so. The irony and He
and Devontae Adams have been playing their best ball in
this last month or so. It didn't show up against
(25:05):
the Buffalo Bills. Absolutely, but that's also the dang Buffalo Bills.
They might be playing better than any team in the AFC.
Right now, even if they're not the one seed. You know,
I think the Jets could definitely win this game. I
think the Dolphins are only favored by three ye so
you know, two and a half. So that's a very
winnable game for the Jets. Here, the Jets are going
(25:26):
to have the best quarterback and two is probably back
because he was questionable for this most recent game and
it's a hip injury. But there's a good chance he's
not one hundred percent and if he's a statue back
there behind a very porous Miami offensive line, he'll be
vulnerable to the like the Jets pass rushers.
Speaker 3 (25:44):
Well, point being is that nothing's given at all for
the Broncos if they don't win this game. I said,
they'll obviously know whether the Cincinnati Bengals are a factor
or not, because and Zach and I were talking about
this before coming on, is that if the Bengals lose
their out we know that. But it's also a point
of emphasis that the Dolphins don't care what happens in
(26:04):
the Bengals game. They have the tie break over the Bengals.
If the Dolphins win and the Broncos lose, they're in.
If the Dolphins win the Broncos lose, the Dolphins are
the team in regardless of what happens in the Cincinnati
Bengals game, because the Dolphins have the edge over Denver
and over Sincy in conference play. They're six and five.
(26:24):
The Broncos and the Bengals are both five and six.
So if the Dolphins win the Broncos lose, there the
Dolphins are in. If the Bengals win, they need the
Broncos and the Dolphins to both lose, and then the
Bengals are then in as the seventh seed. The question
again for Broncos Country, do you care about the Broncos
backing into the playoffs with a potential win over the
(26:46):
b squad. It is not official yet, and I don't
really know if it even will be or has to
be in terms of gamesmanship sportsmanship going into this ball game.
Speaker 2 (26:57):
I don't know win will know.
Speaker 3 (26:58):
I don't know if Andy Reid's point blank ever say
whether or not the starters, including Pat Mahomes will play.
I will say this, I'm drawing a blank on who
pointed it out, But in almost if not every clinching scenario,
where in my clinching scenario, I mean when they have
(27:19):
clinch and there really is nothing to play for. Andy
Reid does not play the guys. He does not play Mahomes,
he does not play the guys. The first time I
believe that happened is when Pat Mahomes played in his
first start against the Denver Broncos in Denver when they
were set up already with Alex Smith.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
So I believe that was a scenario.
Speaker 3 (27:37):
But in every other scenario, I think since Mahomes doesn't
play and the guys don't play, Zach, have you seen
that as well? I believe I'm right on that where
I don't think they ever play their starters.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
You're dead on.
Speaker 4 (27:48):
And then on our opening line, I forget if it
was the opening line or the Fantasy Hour. On Sunday,
Albright reported he was getting some some insiders scoop that
it does sound like the Chiefs will be sitting everyone,
and maybe you see an Xavier Worthy or one of those.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
Guys out there.
Speaker 4 (28:02):
That wouldn't shock me. But I'd say Mahomes definitely sitting,
Kelsey definitely sitting. Their best offensive linemen are probably sitting
because that offensive line is shaky enough. I don't think
you want to risk losing one of those good pieces. No,
you know, Chris Jones, that'll be a big one. I
guarantee he's sitting. Yeah, yeah, Mahome.
Speaker 3 (28:19):
Mahomes will definitely, definitely definitely sit because he's already I mean,
there was already conversation when they were playing Houston about
whether he was going to sit moving into the rest
of the game to kind of get ready to clinch
that one seed. Because obviously nothing can happened for the
Kensey Chiefs. They're fifteen to one. I don't really think
they care too much about being fifteen and two. I
don't think they really care too much about being sixteen one. Now,
(28:40):
if they were undefeated, we're having a different conversation, because
then they could be the first ever team to be
seventeen to zero, and then you're going into not only
trying to three pete, you're trying to do it in
a perfect season. That'd be a different conversation. I'm glad
the Broncos are in that case. But the question I
will now answer that I've been asking. We'll get Zach's
take as well. I don't care one iota if your
(29:04):
tenth win that gets you in the playoffs. For the
first time in a damn near decade is against the
b squad for KC. It doesn't matter if you are
a Broncos fan and you're saying, oh, they've lost two straight,
they're nine and seven, they're backing into this thing. They're
gonna get boat raised in Buffalo, it doesn't matter. I
don't care. It's it's got an asterisk. Get out of here,
(29:29):
miss me. With that, it'd be tenth win with bo Knicks.
By the way, every time I say bo Nicks, I
really had he had a like a longer like Boaciphis
or something so he can like have more emphasis. Bo
Chapman Knicks, which is his middle name, doesn't really have
the same punch as you would want it to. But
I wanted to say right there, like bo Cephis Nicks
(29:49):
in his rookie season. Anyway, Bo Nicks and his rookie season,
after starting oh and two, after not looking too great
in the first month of the year, after everyone counting
you out, after the Vegas over under, hovering around five
wins whatever it was, four and a half, five, and
think five and a half, you have your chance to
first of all, going into week eighteen and not being
(30:10):
in the same position as the dolphins of the Bengals.
Speaker 2 (30:12):
Right now, you hold the keys.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
You have your destiny in your hands, first and foremost,
whether whoever you're playing, the fact that if you win,
you're in not you need this to happen. You need
this to happen. You need this to happen. In the
rain to be a certain way, you need the temperature
to be a certain way. You need to be like this,
you need to turn to your left. And then if
you win, you make the playoffs. No, if you win,
you're in the Denver Broncos after the last ten years
(30:35):
of what we've been through.
Speaker 2 (30:36):
You win and you're in the damn playoffs.
Speaker 3 (30:39):
So if you really believe that there's any issue with
backing in with a win against the b squad of
Casey after failing to take advantage of the last two
opportunities to clinch in sin Z and in La, then you've.
Speaker 2 (30:52):
Got major problems Broncos fans.
Speaker 3 (30:55):
If you feel like that this would be your tenth
win in a season where you're paying a boat low
an unpresent amount of money to a quarterback that's not
on your roster. You have so much money tied up
in that you are basically rebuilding. You've got Sean Payton
trying to teach bow Knicks this NFL offense, trying to
(31:16):
make him be his guy on the fly season one.
In season one with bow Knicks, the worst this team
will ever be with Sean and bow And you have
your chance to have your tenth win against the Chiefs
at home in the throwbacks and go to the playoffs. Zach,
please tell me you don't feel any disdain for the
(31:37):
possibility of backing in against the b squad for kz.
Speaker 4 (31:41):
No, I mean, if people need to find some sort
of solace in it, view it as a makeup game.
You know, you probably should have beat the Chiefs the
first time around. The Broncos win that game, and the
Chiefs aren't playing backups this week. They have the one
seat on the line. They're playing starters, and you know,
(32:02):
maybe win, you maybe lose, who knows what happens. But
they'd also already have their playoff spot clinched up because
of that crazy end to that game that was incredibly unlikely.
Broncos did everything perfect to secure the upset there because
of that crazy fluky ending, you are now playing a
squad of backups and you're now favored by ten with
playoffs on the line. It's a makeup for that incredibly
(32:23):
unlikely end to that other KC game. Get that win
against the Chiefs back on the schedule, do you know?
And this isn't the way you'd ideally like to make
the playoffs? But who cares? You weren't supposed to make it.
You weren't supposed to win near ten games. You're supposed
to win half of that. It's all money. I don't know,
it's all house money at this point. Who cares? The
(32:46):
method in which they make the playoffs Next year, there'll
be more expectations. If you hope they close the season
stronger this year, they are already so far above expectations.
And I think it's silly that in some ways we're
punishing Sean Payton for being too good at his job.
If he just did the bare minimum that we would
have been happy with. They get seven wins. Bo Nicks
has this promising rookie year. We're fine, and no one
(33:09):
is losing their mind about a loss to the Bengals
in December because it's what we all expected preseason, because
he got them out to at nine and five start
and we're so far ahead of schedule. That's the only
reason we're mat at and we are punishing him for
a good coaching job. And it's ridiculous that phraze.
Speaker 3 (33:24):
You just use house manas where I want to end
on because I want to extend that house money.
Speaker 2 (33:29):
Am By extending it, I mean, you win a hand.
Speaker 3 (33:33):
Black jack against the Chiefs, You're gonna play another hand
against likely Josh Allen. The Buffalo Bills be probably thirteen
and a half point underdogs in the wildcard round. But
you know, you know what, you know what we're talking
about his house money with Zach just said, because you
have an opportunity to extend the experience for bo and
this squad, regardless of the outcome in what will likely
(33:56):
be a big time loss in Buffalo in the wildcar round.
Because you know what you want to about pressure in
the NFL, it's all on Buffalo in that game. There's
zero If the Broncos win this game, they're going to Buffalo,
which is the very ninety ninety percent likelihood. All the
pressure is on Buffalo house money. You just beat the
Chiefs clinch your first playoff birth for the first time
(34:16):
since you won Super Bowl fifty almost a decade ago,
and you're gonna go to Buffalo where everyone's picking the Bills.
Everyone's saying this is the first of many. Everyone's saying,
oh with Bills. Basically got a bye week. You don't
back into this thing. You're given the new era of
Broncos football an extended dose of experience. So you win
this game against the Chiefs, you go to Buffalo, you
(34:37):
see what happens, and if the worst case scenario happens,
you get blown out, you know what, that's another week
of experience. You can go into next season ready to
rock and roll, just like everyone talked about with the
Texans last year. Hasn't worked over for them this year,
but we have that experience going in next year. This
is Broncos Country to Night. He is Zach Segers on
the other side of the glass. We will continue to
break down this thing here on this show and all
the programs talking all things remember Broncos football here on
KOA throughout the week, getting ready for the Week eighteen
(34:59):
mat against the Kansas City Chiefs coming up on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (35:02):
You're listening to Broncos Country Night on KOA
This is Broncos Country Tonight, Lester rock Tack. Can we
help it?
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Receive us.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Let's go on the official home of the Broncos. Go
all right, all night KOA.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Broncos Country Tonight, rolling along here on this reaction Monday,
here on ko A. I am Anthony Rodriguez, A Rod
as you know me here filling in for Ben Albright,
Nick Ferguson and the crew. Not alone near as I
do have mister Zack Segers on the other side of
the glass. As we, of course are reacting to the
broncos thirty to twenty four loss to the Cincinnati Bengals,
(00:44):
their second loss in a row, still trying to clench
that playoff spot. We want to hear from you. I'm
the common Spear Health text line five six six nine zero.
You can also react with us on Twitter. I am
at Anthony rod thirty three. Zach Seger's over there at
Zach z A h Underscore Segers g A R s
s E G A r S. We want to hear
from you because obviously there's a lot of reaction of
(01:05):
this ballgame as the Broncos once again unable to clinch
their playoff.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Birth first one since they won Super Bowl fifty.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
It's gonna all come down to that matchup with the
two time reigning champs, the Kansas City Chiefs, probably Pat
Mahomes less Kansas City Chiefs, and along with probably a
lot of other starters as well.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
So again, we want to react to it with you
on this ballgame.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
But we're gonna get into something here that I was
telling Zach before we were getting into this today that
I'm pretty sure we're going to disagree on the reason
why I come to that assumption, Zach is because I
think every Broncos fan disagrees with me. So I'm gonna
put you in that in that group, and if I'm wrong,
then then great. But I think that's going to be
part of our conversation here is that we're going to disagree,
and that is on the decision by by Sean Payton
(01:49):
in this ballgame to not go for two. I think
the way that your defense obviously was playing, You're going
against Joe Burrow and company, and you think, well, eight
seconds left, you just had another marvelous touchdown, if you will,
to Marvin m second of the day to tie this
thing up at twenty. Well, essentially would have tied it up,
(02:10):
you know, with a pat but you have the chance
to take this game, go for two. I not only
in this game, Zach, I never ever, when you are down,
like to go for two with the last couple of
seconds on the clock. I'll never like it. And then
the number one argument I hear and the number one
(02:30):
counter I have to it is the following, Well, you
want to take that, you don't. You want to give
the other team chance. You have the one play take
the win. Well, here's the thing that one play. Also,
you're also only giving yourself only one opportunity. The Cincinnati
Bengals would obviously have had no chance, barring a ridiculous miracle,
(02:50):
with a few second, last second heave. You know, maybe
maybe with eight seconds there's there's a slim chance that
they have a touchback, and maybe you you know, take
a deep shot and try to get in field goal range.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
It's probably not happening.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
If I got to a full on heave there, if
the Broncos would have taken the twenty five to twenty
four lead. But you're limiting yourself to just one chance.
It's one, it's one, it's one and done. I will
always be more of the fact that if you are
confident in your team both sides of the ball, that
you give yourself a plethora of opportunities, a full drive
if you will in OT, barring obviously in the regular
(03:26):
season where the opponent, if they score a touchdown, that's
game over. In the playoffs with the Broncos are hopefully
about to be in, that obviously will not be the case.
The Buffalo Bills, who the Broncos a likely match up with,
are thankful for that, especially if they have to face
off against the Chiefs again in the UH what it
would likely be the AFC Conference title game.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
You don't have to do that anymore. Both teams will
now get possession of the ball.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
But Zach, are you in that camp where you believe
that Sean should indeed have gone for two or did
you like.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
The decision to send it to OT?
Speaker 3 (03:57):
And I will counter on what Sean said about it,
because that I disagree with and now I'm not a
big fan of But where overall do.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
You come down on the two point or not to
go for it? I generally wish they went for two, don't.
I think the reaction to it has been over the top.
I think either side would have been pretty defensible. I
don't think this is one of the clear cut you
have to go for two. You can't go for two cases.
For me, I ultimately wish they went for two because
(04:24):
I would have viewed it and it ended up not
going this way. But trying to live in the moment
and not with hindsight, I would have viewed it as
whoever wins that coin toss is going to win the game.
Neither defense was getting stops at that point. Broncos offense
was cutting right through the brain Bengals defense. Bengals offense
(04:44):
only had two drives well, and one of those was
in overtime, so they only had one drive at that
point where they were held outside denvers twenty five, and
that drive required a takeaway. So I would have felt, man,
I've got a fifty to fifty shot. Literally is a
coin flip? How do I feel about my two point plays?
(05:06):
And I get feeling like those are less than fifty
percent bets. The Broncos are bottom ten in the league
in short yardage rushing success rate. They have not been
good at getting the yards they need to get in
those situations all season. Bo Nicks these last few weeks
since I think the Colts three interception game has been
a little more skittish and gun shy. Well, on those
(05:27):
two point plays, you are working with a very small
area of the field that tight windows. You can't afford
to be gun shy in those moments, and it's harder
to draw up a screen or an easy checkdown or
something like that, which is you know, I think helped
bon Nicks or been what he's been leaning on these
past couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
So ultimately I do wish they went for it.
Speaker 4 (05:48):
I think your odds are probably better than fifty to fifty,
but it's close enough that I am okay with the
fact they decided to go to overtime, hope for that
coin flip instead, and then unfortunately very much south from there.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
Well, the two things here, Number one, the conservative part
of me if that's what Broncos fans will say in
terms of liking that they you know, uh went decided
to tie it up and go to o t The
additional part of that conservative side of me says, if
you are going to go for two, I also am
not a big fan on over creativity in that moment
right there. Give it to Oddrey guest to man and
(06:23):
and and and go, because send it, send the bowling
ball downhill, uh, and see if you can see if
you can get in.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
And if you're stopped, you're stopped. You know.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
Then I think all the Broncos fans are saying they
wish it would have gone for two. I think they're
also saying, what's wrong with that play call? Or how
could you not send it to ot and give yourself
more opportunities? So hindsight, we all know about it. The
thing though, that bugs me, Zach is the comment to
me by Sean Payton uh about why he went for
one and two instead of two, mentioning the word tie
(06:56):
bugs me. I understand that a tie benefits them and
that set. I understand that mathematically the tie is beneficial,
but having that at all even part of the mindset,
or or saying it afterwards, saying that you know they
had the momentum correct, but for them to think about
(07:17):
the fact that you're gonna try to play for the
tie first of all. That made me reminded me of
the was a couple of years ago the Chargers and
the Raiders where it benefited them both to tie, which
was kind of funny. Zack, do you know, I actually
don't know what the Bengals. So if the Broncos tied,
are they not emactally and then at that moment.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
Eliminated? Okay?
Speaker 3 (07:39):
So so it's funny in the sense that that it
reminded me of the Chargers Raiders, but wouldn't have been
the same. The tie would have believe gotten them both
in at that in that game.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Correct, But.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
A full overtime period ending in a tie in the
NF I know you've seen a couple.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
We do. We even have one this year. I think
this is why it's been it's been a while.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
They're they're rare, but for a good reason, because after
the first drive, a field goal wins it. In today's offense,
especially when you're starting at the thirty a tie, ties
are so darn near impossible to happen in today's NFL. Okay,
So if you're tying it up twenty four a piece
and you go to t you're not thinking even thinking
(08:24):
about the tie. You're thinking, I'm gonna win this game.
You're thinking I'm not gonna go down to one play
to take the lead in regulation. I'm gonna get this win,
and o T when we have maybe bigger sustained drives
to do it, or stopping the Bengals, and then now
you really only need a field goal to do it.
I'm thinking about how winning this game. I'm not thinking
even even in the back of my head. Okay, a
(08:45):
tie could get us into playoffs too, because it's so on,
it's so unlikely. So Sean mentioning that that part of
going for one in tying and sending regulation, that part
bugs me.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
I'm not. I'm not. I'm not a fan of that
at all.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Is that?
Speaker 3 (09:00):
Where did you come down on Sean even mentioning the
tie being beneficial, I mean, pot mindset.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
I don't mind it now.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
I agree that should not have been a driving force
in the decision. Everything I just said about both offenses
were slicing through each other. It felt like, whoever when
the coin flip was going to win that game.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
I don't think you.
Speaker 4 (09:18):
Bank on multiple stops happening to allow that tie to occur.
That said, I don't mind him.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
I want my head coach to be.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
Thinking about all those potential outcomes and no matter how
unlikely they are. I mean, I think you could argue
the Broncos loss to the Chargers last week because Sean
Payton maybe didn't consider some of those unlikely potential outcomes
at the end of the first half. So I'm glad
he considered it and we saw it end up coming
into play in a major way. If the Broncos get
(09:53):
first down there on that final bon Nick's throw where
he targets Troy Franklin and they were just a little off,
if that connects, Broncos win the game, they can just
kneel it out right there.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
It goes to earth.
Speaker 4 (10:04):
They don't win the game, they clinch a playoff spot,
they can just kneel it out right there. It goes
to a tie, and the Broncos are in the playoffs
right now. Yeah, yeah, And that's one thing that they're
not right now.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
So that's definitely you know, that's that's definitely a point
that you know, you as you watch the clock potentially
tick down and mind you, by the way, you know,
the Bengals won this game with what a minute left?
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Is that is that right about a minute? A minute?
Speaker 3 (10:27):
Uh seven seconds left in this game? Or is a
minute and I'm drawing a blank.
Speaker 4 (10:31):
Now.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
The other thing about this ballgame, Zach, that that bugs
me and we gotta, we gotta, we gotta talk about
this because I don't think many people would be frustrated
with the defense from defensive first half performance when you
hold the Bengals offense only seven points.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
But that's where I'm at. We got to talk about
this defensive performance.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
The last couple of weeks have been a bit of
a slot for Vance Joseph's defense, the bend don't break defense. Now,
mind you, you only hold the colt held the Colts
to thirteen points. It felt like it was it felt
like it was north of twenty thanks to Jonathan Taylor.
Chargers put up thirty four, the Bengals put up thirty.
(11:17):
It's not even the point totals. It's not even necessarily
the overall performance, because I think there were there have
been a lot of games this year where the Broncos
have I don't want to say relied on, and I'm
not going to use the word luck, but kind of
bailed out in the sense with a couple of defensive touchdowns,
a couple lucky breaks at the right times. More specifically
(11:38):
that phrase at the right times, right when a game
is trending in the wrong way, they've getting the they've
gotten the right right plays from their big time playmakers
Nick Bonito, pats er Tan, But overall, I think we've
all used the phrase dating back to Histon as head
coach and now is his defense coordinator, the bend don't
break defense. Uh, you can't really even say again, when
(12:01):
you hold the Bengals offense to only seven points in
the first half, it's not necessarily that it broke, but
it bent way too much, and it bent way too long.
And I understand that there's a massive factor here with
the Broncos offense doing them no favors in the first half.
No favors in the first half outside of their first drive.
Ten plays fifty eight yards in five minutes for the
(12:22):
Broncos offense.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
After that.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
Five plays fourteen yards for three point fifty one, three
and out, and then the end of the half. We
obviously know what happened on the seven play sixteen yards
minute forty nine. I'm not really bringing that in any equation,
but other than that, the Broncos offense did no favors.
This defense was completely gassed in the first half. Quickly
(12:46):
again after that Broncos first drive, it had to have
felt like the defense and none just had to because
because it was true that the Broncos defense was on
the field. It felt like the entire first half, it
felt like it was literally just the defense for the
Broncos versus the for the Bengals. Eleven plays forty eight
yards over five minutes on their first drive obviously ended
in turnover on downs, Seventeen plays sixty eight yards and
(13:08):
over nine minutes, again turnover on downs, where the Broncos
still had the three to nothing lead, and then obviously
the dam broke on the seventh play, sixty two yard,
three minute and six second touchdown drive Joe Burrow to
t Higgins for the first of three touchdowns for the
(13:29):
future Bronco I mean current Cincinnati Bengals.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Did I say that allowed?
Speaker 3 (13:33):
But it was rough And this trend, and there's many
parts of the trend. I'm obviously I'm very aware I'm
broad stroking this thing right now, but we all know
what we're seeing here. It's trending in that it's coming
at the wrong time. It's coming at the absolute wrong time.
And those big plays also are not particularly happening for
this Broncos defense.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
They're struggling to.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
Get to the quarterback, and I know I'm saying that
after a game that the Broncos just had, so this
was a bit more of the liar of.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
The last month.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
But overall, I think we've had a struggle to see
vance sending the blitz, finding the right times to send
the blitz, having enough guys get there when you're only
sending four. It just feels like the Broncs are getting
there fast enough. They got dissected by Justin Herbert, who's
also one of the best, and probably, if I had
to guess, of all the quarterbacks in the NFL, probably
(14:22):
the most frustrating to play against in terms of not
knowing when to send the blitz at the exact right times,
and when you do, he dices you, and he dices
you quickly. So I get that again against Justin Herbert.
That's that's a that's a tall task, especially on the road.
Joe Burrow thanks to what three and a half from
(14:45):
from Zach Allen, who's having his best season as a
bro three and a half sacks half of the seven
of Joe Burrow. But even with those seven, especially in
that first half, it just didn't feel like they're they're
they're getting to him quickly enough. It didn't like we
were doing the right things overall on defense. But just Zach,
I gotta ask you what you're kind of especially in
(15:07):
that first half. The biggest takeaways you have from that
defensive performance because I think you can only pin so
much on the offense doing you no favors. But these
trends are not are not favorable for this defense in
the worst time of the season.
Speaker 4 (15:22):
Yeah, I mean, it's not good. They're definitely trending in
the wrong direction. That said, I feel pretty optimistic about
the group still. You know, I think a lot of
their struggles in this Bengals game, where you have Riley
moss Off an mcl going up against T Higgins, who's
a top fifteen to twenty receiver in the league, and
Joe Burrows maybe played better than any other quarterback in
the league this year, he's just not at all in
(15:42):
MVP conversation because his team's lost too many games. So
I think that was a lot to do with it here.
We know, defensive performance and defensive rankings are so often
driven by the schedule of quarterbacks you face, and these
last two weeks they've played, you know, two of the
top five, top six in the league. And still you know,
if you look at where they rank over these last
(16:03):
two weeks in terms of something like EPA per dropback,
they are a top of the half league or top
half of the league. Defense they rank sixteenth, and again
that's probably getting driven down by playing some really great quarterbacks,
not being one hundred percent at corner. I'm worried about
it for that first playoff game against Josh Allen, because
that's gonna be another elite quarterback and one that can
(16:23):
burn you with his legs, even more so than Herbert
or Burrow did. But I'm not worried about it when
they play Carson Wentz this upcoming week, I think they
got that one.
Speaker 3 (16:32):
Well, you know what else, we don't have to be
worried about Bowe Nigga's armstring. We're gonna put that arm
conversation to bed we come back. We're also gonna head
look ahead to the last game this season again coming
against the two time ranging champ Kansas City Chiefs. Do
you feel bad or do you care about the Broncos
backing in the playoffs with a win against the KCB.
I will say the k c B squad If you
will the JV guys, do you feel bad about it?
(16:53):
We'll talk about that. I'm Anthon Rodriguez A Rod. He're
filling in for Ben Albrighton company is Zach Seegers Broncos Country,
and I rolling along here on KOA this.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
If Broncos Country Tonight, Lester Rock can help it receives,
let's go on the official home of the Broncos, go
all right, all night KOA.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
Broncos Country Tonight.
Speaker 3 (17:27):
Rolling along here on a reaction Monday here on KOA.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
I'm Anthony Rodriguez A Rod. Is you know me on Twitter?
Speaker 3 (17:35):
Now known as z x at Anthony Rod thirty three
Zach on the other side of the glasses at Zach
with a ch underscore Seegers S E G A R
S and we are obviously reacting to the Broncos thirty
to twenty four lost to the Bengals in Week seventeen.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Second game in a row.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
The Broncos are unable to clinch their first playoff berth
since they won Super Bowl fifty, which mean it now
all comes down to the one game that we thought
kind of hoping it wouldn't, but it is down to
the one game against a two time reigning champ Kansas
City Chiefs in the Broncos throwbacks. By the way, let's
throw it back to Super Bowl fifty. They have the opportunity.
(18:15):
By the way, Zach, I gotta tell you for another
Zach here in town. Zach Sevens was this close as
he dug up those stats to being right on the money,
because when it became seventeen seventeen, Broncos with the ball
were like, this is going to happen. We're gonna win
twenty to seventeen again. Right after the Chargers thirty four
to twenty seven loss. Again since the last time we
clinched the playoffs in SUPERLD fifty, we were this close, man,
(18:38):
and then all was forro not because I think that's
when bo I think through the interception right.
Speaker 2 (18:42):
So unfortunately did not work out that way.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
So again, now it's not gonna all come down to
this Sunday, Yes, Sunday, if in case you haven't seen yet,
it was obviously a TVD between Saturday and Sunday debase
based on what primetime games the NFL wanted on Saturday.
It is going to be the Rounds at the Ravens
in the two thirty slot on Saturday and then Bengals
at Steelers in the six o'clock time slot on Saturday,
(19:08):
which which Zach and I were talking about. Ramifications are
going to be one way or the other for the Steelers,
by the way, in that late game, because they're gonna
know one way or the other whether this game is
going to be playing for the possibility of getting the
three seed or whether they are wanting to stay in
the five and not drop to the six seeds. So
the Pittsburgh Steelers could be anywhere from the three all
(19:29):
the way as low as the sixth. The only spot
that they wouldn't fall as low to would be the four.
Because the Houston Texans are in that spot at nine
and seven, they obviously most that they could do is
ten and seven. I think the tibe would be interesting
actually that actually there is a possibility now I think
about it, because them and the Texans would both be
nine and seven. They both also have the same conference record,
(19:51):
So Zach on if you have them, Frondy, I wondered
what the next tie break is after conference record.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
I don't know if they played head to head this year.
Speaker 3 (19:58):
Let me double check that they did not, so I
don't know what the third tiberg Iss. So maybe there's
a chance to be the four. But the Steelers in
that late slot could be as high as the three.
I do know, they could be as low depending on
if they be the four, they could be the five.
They could be the six if the Chargers, who also
have the same conference record as them, move up to
eleven and six. So the Steelers are looking to all
(20:18):
to either be the three hosting potentially the Chargers in
the six, or they could be I'm not sure. They
could be the four. They could be the five going
to Houston, or they could be the six going to Baltimore.
So I say all that to say that that's a
lot of intrigue there with those two games, those two
AFC North ramification, really the entire AFC playoff picture ramification.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Two games.
Speaker 3 (20:42):
So the Broncos taking on the Chiefs will be on Sunday,
determined late last night, after the end of week seventeen,
minus the Monday night football game tonight that was the
that's the match of the Broncos have is going to.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
Be on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (21:00):
So much I have for all Broncos country out there,
and again you can get involved on the Common Spirit
Health text line five six, six nine zero. If you're
joining us live, if you're joining us here on the podcast,
you can get involved with us again. I mentioned both
of our Twitter accounts. You could do at Kaylee Colorado,
Anthony Rod thirty three, or at Zach Underscore Seekers. Do
you care personally about the Broncos backing into the playoffs
(21:22):
against the KCB is all I call it the kc
B squad, the JV squad, maybe as.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
Low as lower than that. The see who knows?
Speaker 3 (21:30):
My point is, do you care about whether they back
into this thing or not? Because they're backing in one
way or another. Because the Broncos at nine to five
had a chance, as you look at the playoff picture now,
had a chance. It probably would have been slim because
you had to have been one game higher than the
Pittsburgh Steelers because of that tiebreak lost earlier in the
(21:50):
season to them. You could have been as high as
the five if you had won two of three or
all three of the remaining games and finished with either
eleven or twelve wins and going to Houston. Instead, we
are talking about where I will shout out, by the
way to my buddy Nathan who pointed out that essentially,
and you know it's not it's not rocket science here
(22:12):
I'm about to say, but the playoffs start this weekend.
For the Broncos very much play in a wild wild
card round this weekend. It's an extra round for the
playoffs before the actual playoffs start, because the Bronco Is
essentially need to win this game or rely on the
Dolphins and the Bengals to both lose. Now they'll know
whether one of those has already happened, because, like I mentioned,
(22:33):
the Bengals play in Pittsburgh with the Steelers a lot
to play for. Could please hide the three could be
low as the six could be either hosting a playoff
game or going to Houston or going to Baltimore. There's
a lot of difference there. And so Pittsburgh's playing for something.
They're not playing well. They're playing absolutely terrible. Their defense
(22:54):
is playing atrocious. RUSS is starting to beat Denver RUSS
quite a bit in this last month play us. They've
lost what three, no, I think four in a row.
We double checked that real quick. Let's see, they've lost
I just had it right in front of me here,
Steelers now at ten and Sacs I've lost one to
three games in a row and then they you know,
(23:15):
they beat the Browns in the first week of December,
but they've lost three in a row. They were ten
and three, they had everything going for them, and then
including one of those three losses was the loss a
few weeks back to the Ravens. So the Ravens are
in the driver's spot for that three seed right now.
So they've got lots to play for. They could very
(23:37):
well beat the Bengals. It's in Pittsburgh, and so the
Broncs going into Sunday could know the outcome that they
need to have number one.
Speaker 2 (23:44):
They're gonna have to win regardless.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
They know that for sure because they're playing the exact
same time slot as the Miami Dolphins, who if you
want to rely on other teams to help do your business,
the Miami Dolphins are playing against the Jets, and if
you watch, the Jets get just demolish. Yesterday, Zach to
the Buffalo Bills where Aaron Rodgers sat himself and said, hey,
(24:07):
you know, it's thirty three nothing.
Speaker 2 (24:09):
I think it's about time to get tyrod in there.
And then as soon as they said Dad, it became
forty nothing.
Speaker 3 (24:15):
Zach I'm pretty sure if you look up the word
toxicity in the dictionary, it becomes a pictionary and you
just see Aaron Rodgers' big old jerky face right there.
What a toxic teammate. Nothing new. I'm not breaking any
walls down by saying that. I think everyone's been saying
it Ryan Clark and company.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
But Lord have mercy.
Speaker 3 (24:33):
If you think that's a team that's gonna get in
the way of a playoff berth potentially from the Miami Dolphins,
you're kidding yourself if you didn't watch that game yesterday,
Zach Yah.
Speaker 4 (24:43):
I mean, I'll say this about Aaron Rodgers' toxicity. Nothing
is going to be more toxic for the New York
Jets than them winning this final game and plummeting further
down the draft to order. It'll also make it harder
for them to replace him, because they won't have an
easy draft avenue to do so. The irony and He
and Devontae Adams have been playing their best ball in
this last month or so. It didn't show up against
(25:05):
the Buffalo Bills. Absolutely, but that's also the dang Buffalo Bills.
They might be playing better than any team in the AFC.
Right now, even if they're not the one seed. You know,
I think the Jets could definitely win this game. I
think the Dolphins are only favored by three ye so
you know, two and a half. So that's a very
winnable game for the Jets. Here, the Jets are going
(25:26):
to have the best quarterback and two is probably back
because he was questionable for this most recent game and
it's a hip injury. But there's a good chance he's
not one hundred percent and if he's a statue back
there behind a very porous Miami offensive line, he'll be
vulnerable to the like the Jets pass rushers.
Speaker 3 (25:44):
Well, point being is that nothing's given at all for
the Broncos if they don't win this game. I said,
they'll obviously know whether the Cincinnati Bengals are a factor
or not, because and Zach and I were talking about
this before coming on, is that if the Bengals lose
their out we know that. But it's also a point
of emphasis that the Dolphins don't care what happens in
(26:04):
the Bengals game. They have the tie break over the Bengals.
If the Dolphins win and the Broncos lose, they're in.
If the Dolphins win the Broncos lose, the Dolphins are
the team in regardless of what happens in the Cincinnati
Bengals game, because the Dolphins have the edge over Denver
and over Sincy in conference play. They're six and five.
(26:24):
The Broncos and the Bengals are both five and six.
So if the Dolphins win the Broncos lose, there the
Dolphins are in. If the Bengals win, they need the
Broncos and the Dolphins to both lose, and then the
Bengals are then in as the seventh seed. The question
again for Broncos Country, do you care about the Broncos
backing into the playoffs with a potential win over the
(26:46):
b squad. It is not official yet, and I don't
really know if it even will be or has to
be in terms of gamesmanship sportsmanship going into this ball game.
Speaker 2 (26:57):
I don't know win will know.
Speaker 3 (26:58):
I don't know if Andy Reid's point blank ever say
whether or not the starters, including Pat Mahomes will play.
I will say this, I'm drawing a blank on who
pointed it out, But in almost if not every clinching scenario,
where in my clinching scenario, I mean when they have
(27:19):
clinch and there really is nothing to play for. Andy
Reid does not play the guys. He does not play Mahomes,
he does not play the guys. The first time I
believe that happened is when Pat Mahomes played in his
first start against the Denver Broncos in Denver when they
were set up already with Alex Smith.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
So I believe that was a scenario.
Speaker 3 (27:37):
But in every other scenario, I think since Mahomes doesn't
play and the guys don't play, Zach, have you seen
that as well? I believe I'm right on that where
I don't think they ever play their starters.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
You're dead on.
Speaker 4 (27:48):
And then on our opening line, I forget if it
was the opening line or the Fantasy Hour. On Sunday,
Albright reported he was getting some some insiders scoop that
it does sound like the Chiefs will be sitting everyone,
and maybe you see an Xavier Worthy or one of those.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
Guys out there.
Speaker 4 (28:02):
That wouldn't shock me. But I'd say Mahomes definitely sitting,
Kelsey definitely sitting. Their best offensive linemen are probably sitting
because that offensive line is shaky enough. I don't think
you want to risk losing one of those good pieces. No,
you know, Chris Jones, that'll be a big one. I
guarantee he's sitting. Yeah, yeah, Mahome.
Speaker 3 (28:19):
Mahomes will definitely, definitely definitely sit because he's already I mean,
there was already conversation when they were playing Houston about
whether he was going to sit moving into the rest
of the game to kind of get ready to clinch
that one seed. Because obviously nothing can happened for the
Kensey Chiefs. They're fifteen to one. I don't really think
they care too much about being fifteen and two. I
don't think they really care too much about being sixteen one. Now,
(28:40):
if they were undefeated, we're having a different conversation, because
then they could be the first ever team to be
seventeen to zero, and then you're going into not only
trying to three pete, you're trying to do it in
a perfect season. That'd be a different conversation. I'm glad
the Broncos are in that case. But the question I
will now answer that I've been asking. We'll get Zach's
take as well. I don't care one iota if your
(29:04):
tenth win that gets you in the playoffs. For the
first time in a damn near decade is against the
b squad for KC. It doesn't matter if you are
a Broncos fan and you're saying, oh, they've lost two straight,
they're nine and seven, they're backing into this thing. They're
gonna get boat raised in Buffalo, it doesn't matter. I
don't care. It's it's got an asterisk. Get out of here,
(29:29):
miss me. With that, it'd be tenth win with bo Knicks.
By the way, every time I say bo Nicks, I
really had he had a like a longer like Boaciphis
or something so he can like have more emphasis. Bo
Chapman Knicks, which is his middle name, doesn't really have
the same punch as you would want it to. But
I wanted to say right there, like bo Cephis Nicks
(29:49):
in his rookie season. Anyway, Bo Nicks and his rookie season,
after starting oh and two, after not looking too great
in the first month of the year, after everyone counting
you out, after the Vegas over under, hovering around five
wins whatever it was, four and a half, five, and
think five and a half, you have your chance to
first of all, going into week eighteen and not being
(30:10):
in the same position as the dolphins of the Bengals.
Speaker 2 (30:12):
Right now, you hold the keys.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
You have your destiny in your hands, first and foremost,
whether whoever you're playing, the fact that if you win,
you're in not you need this to happen. You need
this to happen. You need this to happen. In the
rain to be a certain way, you need the temperature
to be a certain way. You need to be like this,
you need to turn to your left. And then if
you win, you make the playoffs. No, if you win,
you're in the Denver Broncos after the last ten years
(30:35):
of what we've been through.
Speaker 2 (30:36):
You win and you're in the damn playoffs.
Speaker 3 (30:39):
So if you really believe that there's any issue with
backing in with a win against the b squad of
Casey after failing to take advantage of the last two
opportunities to clinch in sin Z and in La, then you've.
Speaker 2 (30:52):
Got major problems Broncos fans.
Speaker 3 (30:55):
If you feel like that this would be your tenth
win in a season where you're paying a boat low
an unpresent amount of money to a quarterback that's not
on your roster. You have so much money tied up
in that you are basically rebuilding. You've got Sean Payton
trying to teach bow Knicks this NFL offense, trying to
(31:16):
make him be his guy on the fly season one.
In season one with bow Knicks, the worst this team
will ever be with Sean and bow And you have
your chance to have your tenth win against the Chiefs
at home in the throwbacks and go to the playoffs. Zach,
please tell me you don't feel any disdain for the
(31:37):
possibility of backing in against the b squad for kz.
Speaker 4 (31:41):
No, I mean, if people need to find some sort
of solace in it, view it as a makeup game.
You know, you probably should have beat the Chiefs the
first time around. The Broncos win that game, and the
Chiefs aren't playing backups this week. They have the one
seat on the line. They're playing starters, and you know,
(32:02):
maybe win, you maybe lose, who knows what happens. But
they'd also already have their playoff spot clinched up because
of that crazy end to that game that was incredibly unlikely.
Broncos did everything perfect to secure the upset there because
of that crazy fluky ending, you are now playing a
squad of backups and you're now favored by ten with
playoffs on the line. It's a makeup for that incredibly
(32:23):
unlikely end to that other KC game. Get that win
against the Chiefs back on the schedule, do you know?
And this isn't the way you'd ideally like to make
the playoffs? But who cares? You weren't supposed to make it.
You weren't supposed to win near ten games. You're supposed
to win half of that. It's all money. I don't know,
it's all house money at this point. Who cares? The
(32:46):
method in which they make the playoffs Next year, there'll
be more expectations. If you hope they close the season
stronger this year, they are already so far above expectations.
And I think it's silly that in some ways we're
punishing Sean Payton for being too good at his job.
If he just did the bare minimum that we would
have been happy with. They get seven wins. Bo Nicks
has this promising rookie year. We're fine, and no one
(33:09):
is losing their mind about a loss to the Bengals
in December because it's what we all expected preseason, because
he got them out to at nine and five start
and we're so far ahead of schedule. That's the only
reason we're mat at and we are punishing him for
a good coaching job. And it's ridiculous that phraze.
Speaker 3 (33:24):
You just use house manas where I want to end
on because I want to extend that house money.
Speaker 2 (33:29):
Am By extending it, I mean, you win a hand.
Speaker 3 (33:33):
Black jack against the Chiefs, You're gonna play another hand
against likely Josh Allen. The Buffalo Bills be probably thirteen
and a half point underdogs in the wildcard round. But
you know, you know what, you know what we're talking
about his house money with Zach just said, because you
have an opportunity to extend the experience for bo and
this squad, regardless of the outcome in what will likely
(33:56):
be a big time loss in Buffalo in the wildcar round.
Because you know what you want to about pressure in
the NFL, it's all on Buffalo in that game. There's
zero If the Broncos win this game, they're going to Buffalo,
which is the very ninety ninety percent likelihood. All the
pressure is on Buffalo house money. You just beat the
Chiefs clinch your first playoff birth for the first time
(34:16):
since you won Super Bowl fifty almost a decade ago,
and you're gonna go to Buffalo where everyone's picking the Bills.
Everyone's saying this is the first of many. Everyone's saying,
oh with Bills. Basically got a bye week. You don't
back into this thing. You're given the new era of
Broncos football an extended dose of experience. So you win
this game against the Chiefs, you go to Buffalo, you
(34:37):
see what happens, and if the worst case scenario happens,
you get blown out, you know what, that's another week
of experience. You can go into next season ready to
rock and roll, just like everyone talked about with the
Texans last year. Hasn't worked over for them this year,
but we have that experience going in next year. This
is Broncos Country to Night. He is Zach Segers on
the other side of the glass. We will continue to
break down this thing here on this show and all
the programs talking all things remember Broncos football here on
KOA throughout the week, getting ready for the Week eighteen
(34:59):
mat against the Kansas City Chiefs coming up on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (35:02):
You're listening to Broncos Country Night on KOA
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