Ultimate Fan: Broncos need to ‘BOlieve’ and play ‘not scared’

Bo Nix needs to be himself and the defense needs to be aggressive. That’s been the secret to the Broncos’ success.

Nine long years, but here we are…in the playoffs for the first time since winning the Super Bowl.

No matter what your expectations were before the season, they’ve likely at least been met or exceeded. And no matter how many ways the Broncos are underdogs in this matchup with the Bills, they are also “young and hungry” as Sean Payton says, “and that is dangerous.”

So even though this game is at the Bills, against a playoff-experienced team with a veteran quarterback having an MVP season, the Broncos are not without their weapons or their chances.

And you know what they say about chances…

PLAYOFFS, BABY!!! Broncos at Bills

MHR – WE DID IT!!! BRONCOS ARE IN THE PLAYOFFS! YES I’M USING ALL CAPS BECAUSE I’M YELLING! BUT IN A GOOD WAY! OK, done yelling. But seriously, how exciting was that win over KC even if it was against backups?
JasonAult16: I once worked for a coach who told his team that even when the competition was inferior, you still have to play against “the game.” It was clear that the Broncos were executing their plan at a high level. The offense operated efficiently and cleanly. The defense played sound football. Yes, it helped that several key players for the Chiefs weren’t playing, but you can only play the game that is in front of you. Fortunately, the Broncos did enough work over the course of the season that they could be in control of their destiny and not reliant upon other teams to help them.

MHR – So Broncos made it to the postseason – first time in nine years as we’ve been hearing nonstop – and now all of Broncos Country’s expectations are probably out of whack 😉 Will it matter how the playoff game goes for fans to be happy about the season or will “just being here” be good enough for this year?
JasonAult16: If you would have told me on the first day of training camp that the Broncos would finish the season with a 10-7 record, earn the 7-seed, and travel to Buffalo for the first round of the playoffs, I would have taken it with no questions asked. All season, I have reminded myself that the Broncos probably are not true Lombardi contenders just yet, so I just wanted to see incremental improvement to where a playoff berth could be possible. Anything after that would be gravy. Now, having said that, now that the Broncos are here, I hope that they aren’t satisfied and can make the most of this experience. Don’t play scared. Don’t be content. If they can play their backsides off and compete, I can live with the results because I know that this is just the beginning and that even better days are ahead.

MHR – Bo Nix dropped an Instagram hype video earlier this week and it is FIRE! Without talking about his football talent just yet, what do you think about his personality – his cahones to stand up to Sean Payton, his “crazy eyes” toward the Raiders defender earlier this season, his victory lap around Mile High last week – is he Elway in the making?
JasonAult16: I don’t want Bo Nix to be John Elway. I want Bo Nix to be Bo Nix. But the demeanor comparison is on point. What I love about Bo is that while he is extremely competitive and confident on the field, he has a very business-like and humble attitude off the field. Bo definitely has a great aura about him that makes his teammates “BO-lieve” in him. I am excited to see where his career goes.

MHR – Now about his football…what do you like best about his “game” and what kind of play/games do you hope to see from him (and Sean Payton) this Sunday?
JasonAult16: In my pregame research, I am finding that Buffalo’s defensive weakness is the short passing game. The Bills try not to give up explosive plays and force teams to display patience in taking the ball down the field. That actually works to the Broncos advantage because the Broncos are perfectly content to do that. Take the shots if available of course, but 15-play drives that take up 6-7 minutes are cool too. Goes without saying, but it is also important to stay on schedule with down-and-distance situations. Don’t take sacks and don’t commit penalties.

MHR – One more Bo Nix question (well, probably not)…Nix made NFL history as the first QB with 3+ TD passes and 75% completion rating in four games as a rookie. He also matched the franchise record for such games in a season (Peyton Manning had four in both 2012 and 2013). Do you think he deserves OROTY, at least among QBs?
JasonAult16: I have not followed Jayden Daniels enough to competently talk about the difference between him and Bo, but as a biased Broncos fan, I have definitely been impressed with Bo’s play. He generally has improved each and every week. There was only one game that the Broncos were clearly outclassed (the Ravens games), and Bo followed that up with an effort that could/would/should have resulted in a road win at Arrowhead. Whether it translates into Bo winning this award remains to be seen, but again, the future is bright with him.

MHR – The Broncos’ running game is still iffy but has had its moments. Which running back do you like best for Sunday’s matchup – or is a rotation a good idea? How much do you want Payton to rely on the run game against the Bills defense?
JasonAult16: I like the running back by committee approach since none of them have the bellcow-back ability in them. Jaleel McLaughlin has the speed that can cause problems if he gets out in space. Javonte Williams and Audric Estime both have bulldozer abilities that can earn the tough yards in short-yardage situations. The offensive line will obviously need to block well, but if the backs can run well, it will allow the offense to stay balanced and keep the Buffalo defense guessing.

MHR – Marvin Mims has had an outstanding year and has really come around as not just a receiver but a little bit of a gadget player. How much do you want Payton and Nix to incorporate him into the game plan?
JasonAult16: Marvin’s athleticism allows for some creativity. In preparation for the Colts game, I was told about a special formation that was being prepared for Marvin. It ultimately never came to fruition to use it, but I have to think that Sean Payton will use every nugget of his vast expertise to come up with some ideas for some big-play possibilities.

MHR – But then there’s Courtland Sutton, who got another 1,000-yard season and has just been phenomenal in clutch situations. Plus he had that spectacular TD last year against the Bills. Are you expecting the same fireworks?
JasonAult16: I have been very pleased with Courtland Sutton’s season. He has been another leader within this offense and a good security blanket for Bo Nix. Again, Sean Payton will hopefully have a good plan to get some big plays set up for Courtland. I would love to see another big touchdown in Buffalo for Courtland. Hopefully, the degree of difficulty won’t have to be as high.

MHR – Von Miller was my favorite Bronco when he was in Denver and remains one of my all-time faves. He gave nothing but love to Denver earlier this week in his press conference. Is it possible he won’t sack Bo Nix out of respect? Lol, just kidding. But how does it feel to watch him on the other team this weekend? How many sacks do you think he’ll get Sunday?
JasonAult16: I won’t love seeing Von playing in a Broncos game while not wearing a Broncos uniform, but I am glad that he plays for a team that I don’t despise. If he played for a division foe, it would be rough, but I am good with him being in Buffalo. As for his performance, he only had 6 sacks on the season, so I am hopeful that the Broncos can make him a non-factor in this one. He is certainly in the last leg of his career, so I don’t expect a performance like he had in each of the Broncos’ last two postseason games where he destroyed Tom Brady and Cam Newton.

MHR – The biggest X-factor for the Bills offense is undoubtedly Josh Allen. And while our defense led the league in sacks with 63, Allen is one of the few QBs who improves his QBR under pressure. If he escapes a blitz, he could be dangerous. How would you like to see Vance Joseph attack Allen?
JasonAult16: Easier said than done, but the defense just cannot let Josh Allen escape the pocket. Keep him contained and see if you can force some mistakes. I think Josh has played cleaner this season, but that was his knock last season, especially when the Broncos won in Buffalo last year. He had been mistake-prone if you could be patient, keep him in the pocket, and not give up explosive plays.

MHR – Enough cannot be said about the year Nik Bonitto is having. How surprised have you been with his production and what does he need to do this weekend to be a game-changer?
JasonAult16: Nik Bonitto has been a game-wrecker in so many different ways this year. I was at the Colts game and can say that his “fumble return” touchdown was one of the most exciting defensive plays I have seen in this post-Manning era. When he has opportunities to break through and hit Josh Allen, it will be important to bring him down (again, easier said than done). But Nik just needs to keep up the good work and do what he has been doing.

MHR – And then there’s Pat Surtain who just plays elite every game, every season. Remember when fans were mad we took Surtain instead of Justin Fields? How’s that opinion working out now, eh? 😉 But seriously, how big of an impact has he had for this team on and off the field? Where do you want to see him on Sunday – Amari Cooper? Khalil Shakir?
JasonAult16: I am so proud of Pat Surtain’s success. His Pick-6 against the Raiders probably is the defensive play of the year. I think that is great to remind people that some idiots out there wanted Justin Fields instead. I always say that the most important thing is to get the pick right. The PS2 pick has been proven to be right and then even moreso. It will be important for the other defensive backs to do their jobs, but just like Champ Bailey, it is nice to know that a certain portion of the field will be unusable for the opposing offense when PS2 is playing.

MHR – We can’t talk about this defense without talking about Zach Allen. That guy is like a quiet giant. Off the field, his face makes him look 12, but on the field he is a menace. How much of an addition to the defense has he been and how great was it to get Roach and JFM on the line this season?
JasonAult16: That defensive line is stout. If you can have success in the trenches (on either side of the ball), you will have a chance for success. The defensive line makes it possible for the defense to have success without necessarily needing to rely on jailbreak blitzes that can possibly leave pass coverage vulnerable.

MHR – Kickers are people too, and ours have been outstanding this year. What do you think of the job Ben Kotwica has done on Special Teams overall – kicking, returning, covering…all of it?
JasonAult16: Special teams is like offensive line play. If you are talking about it, it is probably because something terrible has happened. Save for that epic fail in the final play at Arrowhead, the special teams play has been pretty good. Wil Lutz seems to make his kicks. Riley Dixon has had good kicks that either got the necessary distance to flip the field or were placed well enough to pin the opposing defense back. I am happy with it.

MHR – Regular season is over so give us some grades for the following (can grade as a group or just specific individuals within the group). Add as much or as little explanation as you’d like!

Bo Nix: A- Without his exemplary play (for a rookie), the Broncos are sitting at home this weekend. Still some room to grow though,

Offensive line: A. One of the best offensive lines in the NFL. Funny how the sacks have reduced so much from last season with basically the same guys on the line. I wonder what the difference has been. (Perhaps I would come up with the answer during a session of “unlimited cooking.”)

Running backs: C. Not a whole lot of electric play from this group, but they have had some decent moments.

WRs: B-. Pretty good play. I think this group could use an elite playmaker this offseason.

TEs/FB: C. Capable group but not spectacular. Again, an addition would be welcomed this offseason. Perhaps Tyler Warren from Penn State, who I’m told that the Broncos LOVE.

Secondary: B+. A couple games lately have been quite a challenge for this unit, so I had to knock the grade down a little bit. Much room to grow but potential is there.

D-line: A. Superb play from this group.

Edge rushers: A. Along with d-line, this crew has helped create the most sacks in the NFL this season

Linebackers: C. Decent, respectable play here, but much room to grow. Losing Alex Singleton early was crushing.

Special Teams: A-. As mentioned earlier, overall really good, but one major miscue cost the Broncos at Arrowhead, so I have to grade down a bit for that one.

Will Lutz: A. Has been a reliable kicker, so I will give him the A.

Riley Dixon: Can’t remember talking about him this season, so that’s a good sign.

MHR – How would you grade Sean Payton? Do you see a Shanny/Elway type relationship developing here?
JasonAult16: High marks for Sean Payton. Again, the outsiders thought that the Broncos would have the worst roster in the NFL and would be lucky to win 5-6 games. For the Broncos to be 10-7 and competitive in all but one game is proof that HCSP deserves some consideration for Coach of the Year honors. I think the Shanahan-Elway comparison is a good one. When the Broncos drafted Bo Nix, I harkened back to 2017 when the Chiefs drafted Patrick Mahomes. Some people panned it, but a few people raved about how it was a perfect marriage between head coach and QB. Mahomes would be good under anyone, but his pairing with Andy Reid has been lethal. I hated to make this comparison early on because it sounded like I was predicting Chiefs-like results, but I told anyone who would listen that Bo Nix would be a perfect QB for Sean Payton. Time will tell if Chiefs-like success will happen, but it has been off to a good start.

MHR – Which players are your MVPs on offense? Defense? ST?
JasonAult16: Bo Nix has to be the guy on offense. Barring an other-worldy performance like Saquon Barkley this season, show me a team whose QB isn’t the MVP on offense, and I will show you a struggling football team. Pat Surtain is the dude on defense. Not much debate there. I will give the nod on Special Teams to Marvin Mims who had several big punt returns, earning him the All-Pro award for Punt Returner.

MHR – The Broncos dropped this video today and this one with Emmanuel Sanders earlier in the week. How great is it that we can have these kinds of videos again? Do you BOlieve the Broncos can beat the Bills?
JasonAult16: It is so fun to have hope again and watch the Broncos play well. If these videos don’t stop, I am going to budget for major home renovations by replacing all the walls I want to run through. Do I believe the Broncos can win this game? Absolutely. This is the NFL. Anyone can beat anyone. This isn’t Georgia playing Tennessee Tech where the ‘Dogs will undoubtedly name the score. Granted, it will be a very difficult task to leave Buffalo with a win, but the Broncos have a shot if they can hang around and withstand any explosive plays from the Bills.
I wrote the UFG article last year before the Chiefs home game, and I got crushed in the comments when I said that the Broncos talent level wasn’t really that far behind Kansas City. “The Chiefs can win this game with their arms tied behind their backs” was the general sentiment from certain yahoos. Yeah well, since then, the only touchdowns the Chiefs have had in Denver were at the airport, so I do indeed occasionally know what I am talking about.

Predictions

Stats for Bo Nix? 21-30, 200 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT

Stats for each Broncos RB? Williams 40 yards, Estime 30 yards, McLaughlin 30 yards, Mims 10 yards

Number of yards receiving/TDs for the receivers? Sutton 70 yards and TD, Mims 40 yards and TD, Vele 20 yards, Others 70 yards

Longest FG for Lutz? 40 yards

Number of sacks to Josh Allen? 3 sacks

Broncos player with the most tackles? Brandon Jones

Who gets the first sack of the game for the Broncos? Nik Bonitto

How many sacks by Von Miller? Zero.

How many times will we see that damn “12 QBs since Manning” graphic? Too many

How many times will we hear “9 years since the Broncos made it to the playoffs?” Also too many

How many INTs/FF/FR for the Bills’ D? Probably one in there somewhere

How many INTs/FF/FR for the Broncos’ D? I will say 2.

Final Score? I won’t make a score prediction because I don’t want to choose between a heart pick and a head pick. I will predict that one of two things happen. Either the Bills jump out early and take control for most of the game (similar to the Broncos loss at Baltimore) or the Broncos hang around for the duration and make it sphincter-tightening time for Bills Mafia.

The Favorites (changing this up for the playoffs)

Second Favorite John Elway playoffs win (because The Drive has to be the first, right?) I am the wrong person to ask about The Drive because it predates me just a little bit. I was old enough to start following football in 1988 when I was 5, so The Drive and The Fumble are pieces of history to me. As a student of Broncos history, I certainly appreciate them, but not having actually experienced them as they happened, it is not quite as definite for me. My favorite John Elway win was the playoff win in Kansas City in January 1998. There is a long story describing how my family watched that game. Plus, living in central Kansas at the time right in the middle of the Chiefs fanbase, that win was extra sweet. I have described that one as my favorite win that wasn’t either a Super Bowl or a game I attended.

Favorite Bo Nix win ever? I was at the Browns game this year, which was really fun. I said that I experienced just about every emotion that one can experience during that one. Crazy, crazy win. Being on primetime Monday Night Football added more juice to the environment.

Second Favorite Peyton Manning win? I presume you are putting SB50 up top, so I will pick the game that took place right before that: the AFC Championship win versus New England. I was at that one. That might have been the best overall sporting event I ever attended (Tebow-Thomas being best single play). That Broncos-Patriots game was such a grown-man’s rock fight. I was in the upper deck in the northeast corner of the stadium and had a perfect view of Von Miller’s untouched sack on Tom Brady. Freaking beautiful! Such an intense environment. Hard to believe that it has been that long since the Broncos have hosted a playoff game. I miss that. We need that back pronto…next year being preferred.

Team you love to beat the most in the AFC West? I now live in Wellington, KS, just south of Wichita, so again, I am right in the middle of the Chiefs fanbase. I get extra joy out of being those guys. It just had not happened there for awhile, so it has been tough to be me during recent NFL seasons. It’s bad enough when my favorite team is awful, but my most hated team being really good is extra painful.

Team you hate to lose to the most in the rest of the AFC? It has tamed now, but I hated losing to the Patriots during the 2010s. Baltimore and Pittsburgh also put a bit of a bad taste in my mouth.

NFC team you could cheer for in the Super Bowl? In most years, I could probably root for any NFC team other than Dallas, and even then, I would root for them if I hated the AFC team. For most of the last decade, if the Broncos weren’t in the Super Bowl, it was either Kansas City or New England. Since I despise both, I had to root for the NFC. It was kinda refreshing to see Cincinnati make the Super Bowl a few years back. I could enjoy watching that game without any bitterness or hatred.

AFC team you could cheer for in the Super Bowl (if it can’t be the Broncos)? I would have zero issue rooting for Buffalo in the Super Bowl. Bills Mafia has suffered long enough, so they are deserving of a Lombardi Trophy. I have a former co-worker who lives in the Buffalo area. I texted him earlier in the week. I wished him luck in this game and said that I want our winner to go to the Super Bowl. I obviously want the Broncos to win it all, but if that cannot happen, then my next hope is that Buffalo can do so.

NFC team you want to face more than any other in the Super Bowl? I promised myself that I will find a way to attend a Broncos Super Bowl someday. When that happens, I kinda hope for an NFC opponent that is not a marquee name and wouldn’t necessarily travel as well so that I can have a bit more ease in getting tickets. Part of that depends on where the Super Bowl would be played, but I would guess that maybe some of the NFC South teams or maybe Arizona would fit that bill as a team that wouldn’t travel well.

Favorite Broncos player on the current roster? Since my answer will show up again in an upcoming question, I will go for a different angle. I am told that there are so many good dudes on this team. One guy who I gravitate towards is Mike McGlinchey. He seems to be very well-spoken and thoughtful with his comments in the media. He is one of those great locker room guys that every team needs to have. I would not be surprised to see him earn the Broncos’ nomination for the Walter Payton Man of the Year. To me, that is just as important as anything that happens on the field.

Favorite Broncos player of all time not named John Elway? Sheesh, it really depends on what day you ask me this. I have a dear friend who loves this guy, so I will say Shannon Sharpe. Unc Shay played with so much swagger and flair, but he backed it up. The National Guard phone call will never not be funny.

Favorite new guy/rookie on the team? I GO WITH BO. I like his demeanor. He seems like a great young man who plays the game the right way. I understand his importance to the team. I am excited to have him on the Broncos, hopefully for the next decade-plus.

Rituals on game day? I enjoy that my kids are starting to get old enough to be able to watch the games with me and somewhat understand what is happening. My son Denver (yes, I actually named my son after my favorite team’s city) has gone to a couple games with me, so he gets excited to see his city/stadium on television.

I also text my Broncos Text Chain buddies during games if we cannot actually get together. If any of us are at the game but others aren’t, the ones watching at home know to send any info related to what is being said about replays, challenges, etc. I love those guys so much not just for being Broncos fans but being the brothers I never had. We run the gamut and talk about everything from praises/prayer concerns happening in our lives to other topics that might or definitely might be inappropriate to discuss in polite company.

Favorite game analyst/commentator? Showing my Broncos bias, I enjoy listening to Mark Schlereth. He obviously loves the Broncos but is not hesitant about calling them out when they have been bad in recent years. He seems to be well-prepared and informed about his takes.

As for other general Broncos media members, I enjoy reading Andrew Mason’s articles and watching his postgame video. He is so analytical, which jives with my nerdy Broncos brain. I adore Bruce Haertl with KDVR Fox 31 in Denver. I grew up watching him in the Wichita market and then got to know him really well when I worked for Wichita State Athletics and he was still covering the Shockers. I have kept in touch with him as he moved to Denver years ago. Bruce is so gracious with his time, meeting up with me at games when he can and texting me back when I have questions or ask about inside information. And, last but not least, not to suck up to my article co-author (not too much anyway), but I love Laurie. Her snark is impeccable and hilarious. She too has been gracious with her time, exchanging texts with me about the Broncos and other parts of life. Laurie once told me that I could help her by carrying her laptop bag around at a future Broncos Super Bowl, so I am holding her to that.

Who is in your Broncos’ Mount Rushmore? Oh wow. This is going to be a challenge. I will choose John Elway, Floyd Little, Terrell Davis, and Randy Gradishar. First three seem pretty obvious. I felt like the Orange Crush defense deserved representation on a Broncos Rushmore, so Randy got the nod. I could listen to other arguments though. Lots of great options.

How excited is Denver about watching his first playoff game?

Denver Dude is still young enough that he doesn’t quite grasp the significance of the playoffs yet. He gets excited for games but hasn’t quite taken on my ridiculously-rabid Broncos fandom (though, in fairness, that’s a high bar). But as I said earlier, Denver likes going to games in what he calls “My City.” The two of us went to the Carolina game with my best bud Travis. The weather was wonderful, unlike that snowy Chiefs game last season. We had fun tailgating with some other friends who met up with us. More important than game outcomes, it is awesome to be able to spend time with my son, sharing a beloved hobby with him like my dad did with me. Next season, my daughter Dakota will be old enough to go to her first game, so my wife and I are already plotting a big family outing.