Ultimate Fan: Broncos need to take care of business at home with a Mile High win over the Chiefs

What other teams do this weekend should not matter to Denver. The Broncos need to win the final game and nothing better than needing to beat the Chiefs at Mile High to do that.

And here it is.

The last week of the regular season and the Broncos have a chance — which is really all we could have hoped for at the beginning of this journey.

For fun, I went back to read my UFG sign-up post, and it was nice for once to read words that didn’t come back to haunt me (as they have so cruelly since 2016):

For the last several years, I’ve been saying that “it’s been a long time” since Broncos Country has been rewarded with a winning season — especially the ultimate fans.

It keeps getting longer and we keep getting our hopes up. Because that’s what ultimate fans do.

They believe.

And the last few seasons that hasn’t worked out so well.

The thing is, this season definitely seems different. I still think it will be tough to get eight or nine wins with such a hard schedule and an inexperienced team, especially at the most important position.

…Now Payton has his guy, he loves his young team, and things feel like they are falling into place. So whether that translates into wins or not this season, it has great promise in coming years. And either way, this season should be fun!

We just have to BO-lieve.

Welp, ultimate fans, I am thrilled to admit my original 5-12 prediction has been blown out of the water and that “8 or 9 wins” could actually be “10” after Sunday.

What I definitely got right is that the season has been fun. And being able to think about actual growth and continued improvement instead of more “rebuilding” is sooooo refreshing.

Now it’s just time for the Broncos to don that amazing Orange Crush Throwback and for Broncos Country to BO-lieve — and all will be right in the football world.

Week 18: Chiefs at Broncos

MHR – Last week’s loss to the Bengals was such an emotional roller coaster – anger, excitement, surprise, sadness. But it was fun. Despite the loss, did the team leave you hopeful or disappointed overall?
DBforlife: Hopeful. Bo Nix played well, Zach Allen is a beast, and it appears SP is opening the playbook.

MHR – Carson Wentz is the new Patrick Mahomes on Sunday. Wentz has completed BOTH of his passing attempts this season, and his last start was Week 18 last year as backup QB for the Rams. But Sean Payton noted he is “big and strong” and “in this league for a reason.” How scared of him are you? How scared of Andy Reid + Wentz are you?
DBforlife: I am only afraid that the team will take this game lightly because the Chiefs will be playing back-up players.

MHR – Sean Payton said this week that his confidence in Bo Nix for Sunday stems from the QB’s performance in big moments this season (as well as his college career). Do you have the same confidence in Nix against the Chiefs’ defense? Do you think the Broncos’ offense can get some extended drives for regular scores, or will Nix need some more splashy catches from Mims and Sutton? Do you think Nix is up to the mental challenge of such an important game? The physical?
DBforlife: I am confident in Nix to be up for the game mentally and physically. As far as sustaining long drives, that depends upon Sean Payton’s play calling.

MHR – Marvin Mims and Courtland Sutton continued to be clutch last week (for the most part) when the Broncos needed first downs or scores. Although this is no Chase/Higgins duo, do you like the top WRs? Can these two be big enough playmakers for the offense in this final game and perhaps in a playoff game should the Broncos make it?
DBforlife: Yes they are both good receivers in their own way. Mims is capable of taking it to the house every time he touches the ball, and Sutton is great at high-pointing the ball. I still think we need a true No. 1 receiver though. Tee Higgins, perhaps???

MHR – For a team that had a history of great running backs under Mike Shanahan, it has struggled ever since to find that kind of dominance at the position. Can the trio of backs on the roster now be good enough Sunday to help the offense get a win? Which one needs to have the game of his life to help the Broncos on Sunday?
DBforlife: I have lost confidence in Williams. Estime needs to handle the heavy load so that McLaughlin can make some splash plays.

MHR – Zach Allen didn’t make the Pro Bowl (but he did get second among the fan vote!), and his 15 tackles for a loss are the most for a Denver lineman since 2008. How important is he to this defensive scheme that feasts on QB pressure? How crucial will he be on Sunday?
DBforlife: Zach Allen is crucial to our team, and he needs to have his contract extended after the season.

MHR – Nik Bonitto and Jonathan Cooper have been outstanding pass rushers for the defense. Did you think both of these players – especially Bonitto who has 11.5 sacks this season – would be so dominant? What do you like the most about their games?
DBforlife: I was confident in Cooper because I am a Buckeyes fan. Bonitto surprised me. I like that Cooper is relentless and Bonitto can do everything, e.g., sack QBs, intercept passes, tackle. The complete package.

MHR – Pat Surtain continues to shut down every wide receiver he defends. How lucky are the pass rushers to have such an elite corner in the secondary? How unlucky is Riley Moss who gets targeted more because of it? 😉 Surtain promised after last week’s tough game for Moss, who had just returned from IR, that Moss would have a big game this week. Do you think that will happen?
DBforlife: No. I did not think the Moss pick was a good one, and it showed against the Bengals. I think the Broncos need to draft a corner over a TE.

MHR – Nik Bonitto, Pat Surtain II and Marvin Mims, Jr., made first-team Pro Bowl selections with eight others as alternates. Even though the Pro Bowl selection isn’t what it used to be, do you agree with the choices?
DBforlife: I think Allen and Meinerz should be first team, but I am happy we have 11 guys in the mix.

MHR – Is the season still a success if the Broncos don’t make the playoffs given that they would have been sooooooo close if they don’t?
DBforlife: I think so. The collapse down the stretch was not enjoyable, but the over/under on wins before the season was 5.5 so …

MHR – Ultimately the Broncos’ postseason fate is up to them (as it has been the past three weeks!) But how much are you really rooting for the Steelers and Jets too?
DBforlife: I am not really paying attention to those games. I would not feel good about going into the playoffs with a losing streak and a date with the Bills.

MHR – What was your favorite moment from this season (before this upcoming win over the Chiefs, of course!!)
DBforlife: I liked how Mims has really broken out this season, so I guess it is multiple moments.

MHR – The Broncos will wear the greatest Throwback uniforms on the planet once again this week. The last game they did that, they beat Vegas and broke the winning streak the Raiders had held for far too long. Do you predict the uniforms will bring the same Mile High Magic on Sunday versus the Chiefs?
DBforlife: Haha, it will not be the uniforms that beat the Chiefs. It will be the players in them.

Predictions

Stats for BO NIX? 20 for 30, 256 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception

Stats for each Broncos RB? Williams, 2 carries, 2 yards; Estime, 14 carries, 64 yards; McLaughlin, 10 carries, 52 yards, 1 TD

Number of yards receiving/TDs for the receivers? Sutton 75 yards 1 TD; Mims 65 yards, 1TD

Longest FG for Lutz? 45

Number of sacks to Carson Wentz? 5

Broncos player with the most tackles? Brandon Jones

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

How many times will the announcers talk about “if Mahomes had played?” 5

How many INTs/FF/FR for the Chiefs D? 1

How many INTs/FF/FR for the Broncos’ D? 2

How many terrible PI calls will go against the Broncos defense? Too many

Final Score? 27-17

The Favorites

Favorite John Elway win outside of the Super Bowls? The Drive

Favorite Broncos win ever? Super Bowl over the Packers

Favorite Peyton Manning win? Super Bowl

Team you love to beat the most in the AFC West? Chiefs

Favorite win over the Chiefs? Any of them

Coach you laugh at the most in the NFL? Josh McDaniels. Is he still around?

Coach you most want to throw an egg at? Andy Reid, but he would just catch it in his mouth and eat it.

Team you hate to lose to the most in the rest of the AFC? Ravens

NFC team you could cheer for in the Super Bowl? Minnesota

NFC team you want to face more than any other in the Super Bowl? 49ers

Favorite game so far this season? Every game we won

Favorite Broncos player on the current roster? PS2

Favorite Broncos player of all time not named John Elway? Randy Gradishar

Favorite new guy/rookie on the team? Mims. I still consider him a new guy.

Favorite game analyst/commentator? Aikman and Buck. Just kidding they annoy the stuff out of me.

Who is on your Broncos’ Mount Rushmore? Elway, TD, Von, Gradishar

How did you become a Broncos fan? My uncle went to college with Gradishar at OSU.