Ultimate Fan: ‘Playing the Raiders is about drawing blood’

Our Ultimate Fan this week has zero soft spots for this hated AFC West rival. As it should be.

Another week, another win! And I dare say that curb stomping of the Falcons last week felt amazing. The Broncos have rarely been a team to score right away, get a big lead and keep it. But I know everyone in Broncos Country will be hoping for that again this week.

TheOmen, also a PhD by the way, certainly is predicting it. But for all his outstanding commentary and predictions, none of it compares to his “best Broncos story” at the end.

But don’t skip ahead because there is too much good stuff before that — such as, “This game isn’t about getting a W. It’s about drawing blood.”

Week 12: Broncos at Raiders

MHR – The win over the Falcons was expected, but did you think that BIG of a win would happen? What was your favorite thing about that game? What still gave you pause about this team’s chances against a better team?
TheOmen: The Falcon’s secondary was pretty banged up so I expected Bo to make a run at a career day, but the spread — mostly due to the efforts of the defense — was certainly unexpected. My favorite part was watching the game slow down for Bo. His feet were disciplined, as demonstrated by my favorite play: his last pass of the game, to LJH. Nix was moving left on a hard rollout but kept his shoulders square and timed his throw with his steps. Even though he threw it off his right foot, it didn’t matter; he still had plenty of power and it was dead on.

My pause is there was so little pass rush from Atlanta. Sure, two sacks for huge losses, but generally there was no rush. That’s a credit to our line, but also to the lack of stallions on the edges from Atlanta. The remaining teams on our schedule are not lacking there: Hendrickson (Cincy), Mack and Bosa (LA), Latu & Buckner (Indy) and I’m pretty sure the last game against the Chiefs is going to matter to the Chiefs, so their starters will play.

MHR – In the last matchup with the hated Raiduhs, the Broncos started slow before a Pat Surtain pick-six changed everything. Do you think this improving Broncos team can start as fast as they did last week? How important is it to score early on a division rival
TheOmen: I believe the team started fast last week because Payton, in recognition of the game slowing for Bo, is opening up the playbook more. In his press conference Friday, Payton mentioned he’s been combing through plays from 12-14 years ago that he wanted to resurrect. That’s the sign of a coach getting his mojo back because he’s got a general in the pocket he has confidence in. Bo is developing before our eyes. So, yes, I think the opening offensive drive should be quite productive.

Speaking of Surtain — and not that I have a voice — but I would strongly advocate for the coaching staff to play man against Brock Bowers and to put Surtain on him. Shanahan used to do that with Champ against Tony Gonzalez to great effect. There’s not much going for that offense outside of the Diamond Rookie. And I’d like to point out to my friend hawk7401, who’s been discussing with me what counts as an appropriate sized TE in this league, that Bowers is exactly the same height and weight–6’4”, 230lbs–as potential Broncos 2025 2nd day pick Harold Fannin.

MHR – The Raiders have had another weird year. Rather than firing the head coach mid-season, they decided to fire the offensive staff but have still been on a six-game slide and looking to change that versus the Broncos. What do the Broncos HAVE to do to avoid being complacent about this 3-8 team?
TheOmen: Easy. From January 2020 to Fall 2024, you didn’t win a game against this team. You are 3-14 in the last 17. The all time series record is 73-55-2 in favor of the Raiders. What more damn motivation do you need? This isn’t about getting a W. It’s about drawing blood. I want Al Davis to moan from his grave when the final whistle blows. Hell, we still haven’t been vindicated from when Wintson Moss shoved Elway under the Raiders bench in 1992. (I didn’t think there were enough punches thrown.) I’ll blow the whistle when rigor mortis sets in on the franchise.

MHR – Another week, another bunch of awards for Bo Nix. How impressed are you with the rookie? What do you want to see from him in particular on Sunday?
TheOmen: He’s a lunchpail QB, is he not? Just a total workman. Laser-focused like Manning was in his preparation, in getting better, in identifying a leverage point against the defense even if he has to make it up on the fly. The chemistry with his receivers grows every week and with that goes the growth of the receivers themselves. I still think we are one WR short for him to really unleash this offense (RB, too). I think someone like Xavier Restrepo out of Miami–a guy who comps very well with Antonio Freeman though a touch shorter, or even Jaylin Noel out of Iowa St–who comps well with Aman Ra St. Brown–would fill out the missing piece to this offense. But I’m very happy with Bo and, to be perfectly frank, am very happy with not having to think about drafting/signing a QB anymore.

MHR – Maxx Crosby.
(that’s it, that’s the question…WTF do we do to stop him? Mike McGlinchey didn’t play the past two Raiders-Broncos matchups but in his 2023 Week 1 matchup against Crosby, McGlinchey accounted for 1 sack and two QB hits to Russell Wilson…Why will this game be different)?
TheOmen: Maxx isn’t having his best year. He’s got 6.5 sacks, yes, but after having three straight years graded out in the 90s by PFF, Maxx is currently sitting at 74.5. His last three games in particular have not been quality. Despite having as many or more pass rush snaps as any other game in the season, he has had no sacks. He has had 11 hurries in that span, which maybe suggests he’s a step slower (maybe undisclosed injury?) It could also be because there’s no rush coming from the other side, as Wilkinson went down for the season. So if we put Surtain on Bowers, just chip the hell out of Crosby all game, we can wear the man down. I’d use Estime a lot for that since he’s built like a Roo.

MHR – Nix threw two touchdowns against the Raiders last time, and this week the Silver and Black are down two starting corners. Does that imply a big day in the air for the Broncos? Which receivers do you think can pose the biggest problems for the Raiders?
TheOmen: Both their boundary corners are out and their wispy slot corner was out almost all week with a back injury. Not one of their backup corners has played even enough to garner a grade from PFF. So, yeah, when I mentioned blood earlier…

Atlanta had a bunch of corners out as well but still had good safety play. That’s the same as the Raiders this week. If you have inexperienced corners, those tunnel throws, like the TDs to Mimms and Franklin, can be very effective because the corners don’t navigate the blocking well. In addition, with Payton pulling out graduate level plays, that will confuse inexperienced corners. That TD to Nate Adkins was one of the first we had seen of that complication. Adkins had time to totally sell blocking at the line, then snuck under the middle LB to a wide open left side. I expect a lot of misdirection using the young playmakers.

MHR – The Broncos continue to have a committee of running backs and it’s impossible to predict “whose day” it will be. While that is frustrating for fantasy football owners and maybe the backs themselves, how much of an advantage can it be that Vegas won’t know what running game/back to prepare for? Which running back would you like to see the most from on Sunday?
TheOmen: The 2025 draft class is RB-heavy. There is more than one ranked as a first-round talent. Many of them should be available when we pick. We need to know what we have. I believe this is Williams last season with the team. McLaughlin has his role, but it ain’t Clydesdale. Estime could be a workhorse, but he’s not the fastest dude. Nevertheless, we ABSOLUTELY need to know what we have in him and whether he’s learned to hold on to the ball. He needs to get the work. He’s still the only dude I’ve seen hurdle two consecutive players on the same play (at ND), so he’s plenty athletic.

MHR – The Broncos defense has dominated every week (except one) and seems to only be getting better. Which “group” excites you the most – Nik Bonitto/Jonathon Cooper at edge; Pat Surtain/Riley Moss at corner; John Franklin-Myers/Zach Allen D-line; Cody Barton/Justin Strnad at inside linebacker – and why?
TheOmen: They all excite me, honestly. But I’ll focus on the shoulder-dippers on the outside: if Bonitto and Cooper combine for at least 25 sacks this season, and with Ellis in the shadows–hell, maybe even Tillman, we will know we have the edge set for many seasons to come.

I should point out Moss had a few good game stretch there, but his play has not been great the last few weeks. To date he’s given up 48 receptions for 559 yards and two tuddies. He’s given up a pass of at least 20 yards in 7 separate games this year. We’ll have to keep an eye on that. I may want to hit corner on day 2 of the draft next year.

MHR – The Raiders lost two running backs to injury last week and are going to be relying on Ameer Abdullah. Is he much of a threat for the Broncos run D?
TheOmen: Who? Seriously though, the diminutive one hasn’t done shiite this season, and his best game so far came against [checks notes] the Denver Broncos. He averaged 8.4 ypc and scored his only TD that game. Don’t be frightened though — 40 of his 42 yards came on one carry when JFM got blown up by the LT. (it was such a good block, though, you could hear JFM’s pads explode.) I expect Strnad and the Whales to make sure Abdullah has a rough day. (Seriously awesome band name for anyone who wants it.)

MHR – What would you do if Patrick Surtain got another 100-yard pick six against the Raiders?
TheOmen: Well, I wouldn’t do much since I’m TheOmen and, therefore, would have already known it was coming. But I would insist Surtain enter the conversation for DPOY at that point.

MHR – If (when) the Broncos win Sunday, it will be the first time sweeping the AFC West rival since 2014. How great would it be to regain that accolade?
TheOmen: Again, it’s a start. But until the corpse of John Madden says “well, lemme tell you (grumble grumble), THAT was a real beating!,” the bloodletting should continue. I grew up in Northern California near the Bay Area when they were the Oakland Raiders. As a Broncos fan, I endured hell during the first three Elway SB years. Payback’s a bitch.

Predictions

Stats for Bo Nix? A new career game in yards: 315. Two passing TD’s, one on the ground.

Stats for each Broncos RB? I’ll give you the best one: Jaleel gets a receiving TD, 35 yards.

Number of yards receiving/TDs for the receivers? Sutton gets the other one, a 15 yard fade in the left corner.

Longest FG for Lutz? 36. We’ll be in the red zone all day.

Number of sacks to Aidan O’Connell? 5. Bonitto strikes again. Allen and Cooper with two each.

Broncos player with the most tackles? Barton with 6

Who gets the first sack of the game for the Broncos? Allen, Q1

How many times will we see that damn “11 QBs since Manning” graphic? If it appears on the dude wearing the t-shirt with the names crossed off, as long as I can focus on the beer that dude’s drinking I’m ok.

How many INTs/FF/FR for the Raiders D? One FF on ST. Somebody has a boo-boo that results in a Raiders short TD.

How many INTs/FF/FR for the Broncos’ D? Moss gets a pick–let’s give the young guy some love. But this game is about the front seven disrupters, who force three fumbles, two on the QB.

Final Score? 31-13.

The Favorites

Favorite John Elway win outside of the Super Bowls? It wasn’t a win, but bear with me. Week 6, 1993. Elway vs. Favre. Pack jump out to 30-7 lead but Elway brings them (almost) all the way back behind FIFTY-NINE passing attempts. Reggie White sacks him twice on the final drive to end the comeback, but that was pretty vintage Elway.

Favorite Broncos win ever? The Broncos first SB win. I got a congratulatory call from my dad, who was dying of brain cancer. He was a Falcons fan but wouldn’t live to see the subsequent SB between the two teams. Special moment.

Team you love to beat the most in the AFC West? I bet you can guess after reading this.

Coach you laugh at the most in the NFL? Annie Agar doing Arthur Smith

Coach you most want to throat triple-chin-punch? Andy Reid

Team you hate to lose to the most in the rest of the AFC? Ever since Montana’s comeback, it’s been the Chiefs

NFC team you could cheer for in the Super Bowl? Bills, easy. Love Josh Allen. What a baller.

NFC team you want to face more than any other in the Super Bowl? GB. One of my best friends is a really obnoxious GB fan. I’m not German, but my palette loves schadenfreude.

Favorite game so far this season? NO was the game Bo turned the corner, IMO. So that’s my favorite.

Favorite Broncos player on the current roster? It’s the player outside of QB that, if we lost him, the team would be hurting the most. And that’s Sutton. His leadership during this growth stage for Bo has been tremendous. We owe him.

Favorite Broncos player of all time not named John Elway? How about the guy who eats, drinks, and sleeps Broncos and always has a chip on his shoulder, the perpetual underdog? Rod Smith.

Favorite new guy/rookie on the team? Devaughn Vele. He’s Eddie Mac reincarnated. Both were 6’5”. Eddie was slightly heavier (215 to 210). Both had a torso the length of an ironing board. Both can take a hit and get right back up. Both with super reliable hands, able to find openings in the soft underbelly of the D.

Food/Snack you have to eat on game day? I’m 6’1”, 187 and in shape. At 51. I can’t eat snacks!

Favorite game analyst/commentator? Dick Enberg’s voice is forever associated with John Elway. But I really loved Paul McGuire. He had two of the best calls for the Broncos ever: The absolute patriot missile that was Al Wilson against Tyrone Wheatley to force a turnover on downs (there’s a Raiders throwback for you) and the punisher block by McCaffrey in SB 32 that sprung Griffith for a TD.

Who is in your Broncos’ Mount Rushmore? How about some unsung guys for once? The five steer who blocked for the Team’s only 2,000 rusher — Tony Jones, Mark Schlereth, Tom Nalen, Dan Niel, and (bet you can’t name the last one!)…Harry Swayne.

How did you become a Broncos fan?

I’m going to do you one better and tell you my best Broncos story.

January 4, 1997. If you’re an old timer like me, your heart just sank. Stay with me. We were destined to win a SB that year–we all knew it. TD was a force, we were the 1 seed…playing the Jags.

It also was the day I got married. Obviously, I cannot watch the game. Can’t even think about it. And–I’m gonna be vulnerable here–as a good little preachers kid, I was a virgin on my wedding day. Stop laughing.

So we are just arriving in our hotel in San Diego–obviously I’m one year early, since we win the SB there next year. But I get to our honeymoon suite and the wifey–damn, she’s hot. She says she’s going into the bathroom to freshen up. Cue “It’s happppennnnning!” meme. Well, I’ve got nothing to do, and no idea what I should be doing. So I sit for a second, check my watch, and realize the game must have just ended. THE game. This is going to be such a great day! So I turn on the TV to catch the scores/highlights on ESPN. Chris Berman! I love that guy.

So I watch.

&$%@

^#%&$#%@&%#$&^%!!!!!!!!!!

Look, I’m not going to describe what happened next because I’m a gentleman. But let me put it to you this way. 23 years of pent-up horniness was no match for what I just saw on my tee-vee screen. John Elway ripping off his helmet and throwing it down. Jags owning us at home.

Let’s just say Tom Brady has nothing on me. I’m the OG. I AM THE ORIGINAL DEFLATEGATE.