Game Thread: Week 18- Kansas City Chiefs @ Denver Broncos

[iknowftbll]

Fun to watch no doubt and I have a weird confidence against the Bills. Couple of things. The Broncos will be playing with "house money" so to speak. I am thinking the pressure will be on the Bills and Allen.

I think Allen has some vulnerability. I think the defense CAN exploit it.

I picked this team to go 10-7 but I'm not going to pat myself on the back too much because if you look at my predictions from before the season they're way off!

With that said, I was hopeful/optimistic this would be a playoff team and it is. I consider this season a success. But it's not over yet...

 

[Orangeisback]

I've generally never had an issue with the Bengals or their fans. We've even had a pretty cool Bengals fan hanging out here the past couple weeks. Still this must be said. After the way that game between the Broncos and Bengals played out, it feels good to know the playoffs haven't even started and the Broncos have already drawn blood. With a win they eliminated the Bengals getting the first taste of what will hopefully be a lot more revenge to come!

Always felt the entire 97 and 98 seasons were the grand revenge 2 year long tour. First, they destroyed the Jags in that wild card game. Then they got revenge on the Chiefs in the divisional playoff game. They beat the Steelers in the AFC CHAMPIONSHIP game where they lost earlier that year. (Also at Arrowhead stadium which was the revenge.) Then the SB where they played in San Diego where they got blown out by the REDSKINS and Joe Gibbs and Doug Williams did the coin toss. Phil Simms announced the game and it was against Mike Holmgren who was the OC for the 49ers in SB XXIV.

 

[iknowftbll]

Always felt the entire 97 and 98 seasons were the grand revenge 2 year long tour. First, they destroyed the Jags in that wild card game. Then they got revenge on the Chiefs in the divisional playoff game. They beat the Steelers in the AFC CHAMPIONSHIP game where they lost earlier that year. (Also at Arrowhead stadium which was the revenge.) Then the SB where they played in San Diego where they got blown out by the REDSKINS and Joe Gibbs and Doug Williams did the coin toss. Phil Simms announced the game and it was against Mike Holmgren who was the OC for the 49ers in SB XXIV.

2024 won't be nearly that epic, but no matter what happens from here one thing that will be pretty epic is this "worst roster in the league" earning 10 wins and making the playoffs.

 

[Orangeisback]

2024 won't be nearly that epic, but no matter what happens from here one thing that will be pretty epic is this "worst roster in the league" earning 10 wins and making the playoffs.

Then in 98, they crushed Miami 38 to 3 revenge for the loss a few weeks before. Then beat Parcels and Belichick in the AFC Championship game and got the ultimate revenge on Dan Reeves as he was the OC for the Cowboys on SBXII

 

[megalodon30]

Broncos beat KC by 38

Kings beat the Warriors by 30

It was a good day today.

 

[Draft Crazy]

The Broncos put themselves in the playoffs. We don't need to thank the Chiefs. I have people hitting me up saying we should be thanking the Chiefs... I don't think so... Sure it helped but we got ourselves to this point.

My response to them (Sorry Chiefs fans reading) but its my ammo to get them riled up..

"You should be thanking the refs for not going 8-9", that gets them to stop texting me back.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

Obviously as a Bengals fan I would have loved to have seen a real game Sunday between the Chiefs and Broncos. I think the Broncos had what it takes Sunday to even beat starters, and it wouldn't feel so hard watching the Broncos be gifted that last spot because of the Chiefs resting players. Yes, the Bengals should have won more during the season, and that is correct, that is what ultimately held them out of the playoffs, not yesterday, but sitting there knowing the other team is not even going to try kinda sucks.

With that said, I am rooting for the Broncos in the playoffs. If you lose to the Bills I am rooting for them. I started off a Broncos fan back in the early 80's when I lived in Denver from the ages of 5-9. John Elway, Sammy Winder, Gerald Willhite, the Orange Crush defense. I still have tons of family that lives in Denver, and I was giving my cousin a little crap yesterday. However, I still have a love for the Broncos and hope they can win it all again. That would be quite the story with your rookie QB.

 

[iknowftbll]

The Broncos put themselves in the playoffs. We don't need to thank the Chiefs. I have people hitting me up saying we should be thanking the Chiefs... I don't think so... Sure it helped but we got ourselves to this point.

My response to them (Sorry Chiefs fans reading) but its my ammo to get them riled up..

"You should be thanking the refs for not going 8-9", that gets them to stop texting me back.

It's quite simple. To silence any talk of the Chiefs gifting the Broncos a playoff spot, the Broncos must first upset the Bills and follow that up with an upset of the Chiefs.

No problem at all!

 

[CEH]

Obviously as a Bengals fan I would have loved to have seen a real game Sunday between the Chiefs and Broncos. I think the Broncos had what it takes Sunday to even beat starters, and it wouldn't feel so hard watching the Broncos be gifted that last spot because of the Chiefs resting players. Yes, the Bengals should have won more during the season, and that is correct, that is what ultimately held them out of the playoffs, not yesterday, but sitting there knowing the other team is not even going to try kinda sucks.

With that said, I am rooting for the Broncos in the playoffs. If you lose to the Bills I am rooting for them. I started off a Broncos fan back in the early 80's when I lived in Denver from the ages of 5-9. John Elway, Sammy Winder, Gerald Willhite, the Orange Crush defense. I still have tons of family that lives in Denver, and I was giving my cousin a little crap yesterday. However, I still have a love for the Broncos and hope they can win it all again. That would be quite the story with your rookie QB.

if Denver didn’t make it i wanted Bengals in.
how much of the failure of the seaon is on Zac Taylor? The Broncos OT game should have never went to OT had Taylor kicked FGs. Was he making these type of decisions all season?

i think the KC game was nullified by the Dallas game. and don’t go sub .500 in September losing to Jacoby Brisette at home

 

[CrashDavisSports]

if Denver didn’t make it i wanted Bengals in.
how much of the failure of the seaon is on Zac Taylor? The Broncos OT game should have never went to OT had Taylor kicked FGs. Was he making these type of decisions all season?

i think the KC game was nullified by the Dallas game. and don’t go sub .500 in September losing to Jacoby Brisette at home

Yes. He is so afraid of is stars getting hurt in preseason that he never plays them until the season opener, which is why it takes us 3 to 4 games to get our bearings. He is too aggressive at times, doesn't know when to take points, etc. He needs to start risking starters in preseason to make sure we are capable of putting an NFL quality product on the field game 1.

We had a lot of bad luck all season too, which was not Taylor's fault. Missed FG holds on game winning FG's, etc. Plus, our defense wasn't good enough to play college teams half the season. When you lose an NFL record 4 games in a season when scoring 33+ points in those games, you have an issue. When you have a QB that set an NFL record for having 30 completions in a game, 300+ yards passing and 4 TD's and 1 or less INT in a game and lose, then you turn around and have the same exact record setting numbers again against the same team, Baltimore, and lose again. It doesn't bode well. Or how about being the only team in NFL history to score over 33+ points and never punt during a game and LOSE to a Commanders team that did the same thing? Teams are 26-1 when doing that in the modern era, and the Bengals earned that only loss this year.

 

[CEH]

Yes. He is so afraid of is stars getting hurt in preseason that he never plays them until the season opener, which is why it takes us 3 to 4 games to get our bearings. He is too aggressive at times, doesn't know when to take points, etc. He needs to start risking starters in preseason to make sure we are capable of putting an NFL quality product on the field game 1.

We had a lot of bad luck all season too, which was not Taylor's fault. Missed FG holds on game winning FG's, etc. Plus, our defense wasn't good enough to play college teams half the season. When you lose an NFL record 4 games in a season when scoring 33+ points in those games, you have an issue. When you have a QB that set an NFL record for having 30 completions in a game, 300+ yards passing and 4 TD's and 1 or less INT in a game and lose, then you turn around and have the same exact record setting numbers again against the same team, Baltimore, and lose again. It doesn't bode well. Or how about being the only team in NFL history to score over 33+ points and never punt during a game and LOSE to a Commanders team that did the same thing? Teams are 26-1 when doing that in the modern era, and the Bengals earned that only loss this year.

Thanks. The D Coordinator just got fired.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

Thanks. The D Coordinator just got fired.

There is another thing. I don't think they are going to fire the D-Coordinator, Anarumo. He will come back because the defense played much better in the last 5. So one hot streak to still fail to get us in the playoffs will save everyone's job.

It did suck losing our top two starting CB's at the beginning of the season. Geno Stone was one of the worst free agency pickups in the league, he was miserable. Vonn Bell got too old. Tons of injuries on the defensive line. They were finally healthy at the end of the season. Just too many excuses built in for anyone to lose a job.

 

[Mountain Bronco]

There is another thing. I don't think they are going to fire the D-Coordinator, Anarumo. He will come back because the defense played much better in the last 5. So one hot streak to still fail to get us in the playoffs will save everyone's job.

It did suck losing our top two starting CB's at the beginning of the season. Geno Stone was one of the worst free agency pickups in the league, he was miserable. Vonn Bell got too old. Tons of injuries on the defensive line. They were finally healthy at the end of the season. Just too many excuses built in for anyone to lose a job.

Anarumo is gone............. I think he is a quality coordinator, just didn't have a ton to work with.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

Thanks. The D Coordinator just got fired.

Wow. I didn't think they would actually do it. Praise the Lord!

 

[cdumler7]

Yes. He is so afraid of is stars getting hurt in preseason that he never plays them until the season opener, which is why it takes us 3 to 4 games to get our bearings. He is too aggressive at times, doesn't know when to take points, etc. He needs to start risking starters in preseason to make sure we are capable of putting an NFL quality product on the field game 1.

We had a lot of bad luck all season too, which was not Taylor's fault. Missed FG holds on game winning FG's, etc. Plus, our defense wasn't good enough to play college teams half the season. When you lose an NFL record 4 games in a season when scoring 33+ points in those games, you have an issue. When you have a QB that set an NFL record for having 30 completions in a game, 300+ yards passing and 4 TD's and 1 or less INT in a game and lose, then you turn around and have the same exact record setting numbers again against the same team, Baltimore, and lose again. It doesn't bode well. Or how about being the only team in NFL history to score over 33+ points and never punt during a game and LOSE to a Commanders team that did the same thing? Teams are 26-1 when doing that in the modern era, and the Bengals earned that only loss this year.

I would also argue though the Bengals got gifted a couple of wins as well. Cowboys game with that weird punt situation for example. Heck the Broncos game where they chose not to go for 2 when they had all the momentum in their direction. So it was one of those up and down seasons for the Bengals that I'm sure many will be asking the question what the heck happened. MVP type season for Burrow, maybe best WR in football, offense putting up huge stats, but just shows how important committing to improving the defense is a must. Only 1 team of the top-10 scoring defenses missed the playoffs this year and that was #9 Miami. 14 of the top-19 made the playoffs. Bengals need to show they are committed to improving that defense. I think they relied on their DC to cover up the lack of talent. They have not drafted well on that side of the ball and seem to refuse to pay many of the players who do show some actual talent.

 

[DJ Fieri]

Buffalo got a very tough draw for their WC game.

 

[cdumler7]

Buffalo got a very tough draw for their WC game.

I think compared to earlier in the season when many were thinking there were only about 4 good teams in football, there is a lot more looking 1-7 in the playoffs and seeing how each team could have success. I would say the Steelers and Texans are the two I look at and say they don't stand a chance of winning the Super Bowl. Broncos probably should be included in that list, but with a top-10 scoring offense and defense you cannot completely count them out either. Nix having 4 straight great games as a rookie on the road against great teams though is really hard to see happening.

As for the Buffalo game I think the Broncos line up pretty well against them. They are one of the few defenses that has shown they can handle both the run and the pass. Buffalo has been an incredible offense because they can win multiple ways and thrived on taking advantage of teams wherever they are weakest.

Defensively the Bills come into the playoffs not looking great to close out the season. They gave up a lot points...28.8 over the final 5 games of the season and 3 of those offenses were not great offenses. So Broncos could find some success, but this is the playoffs where things get amped up. I'm not expecting a win for the Broncos but they really do have nothing to lose at this point. No one expects them to win so they could do a few crazy things and catch Buffalo by surprise.

 

[MileHigh64]

It's just so great to be here...having these conversations. Normally, our draft thread would be the focal point after the immediate conclusion of the regular season. Thank you Walton/Penner group, George Paton, Sean Payton and the Broncos players. It's been a long time!

I would give the Broncos less than a 1% chance to make it to the Super Bowl this year. Similarly, I would give them about a 20% chance to go into Buffalo and win. I think they'll make the game very competitive but also believe that this young team is just not ready for that level of opponent on the road. Josh Allen can beat you in many ways. Buffalo in January is a tall task. The Bills are undefeated at home this year.

Having said all that, I'm extremely happy with this season and believe that the next 2-3 years are going to be wildly fun for Broncos fans! Go Broncos!

 

[cdumler7]

It's just so great to be here...having these conversations. Normally, our draft thread would be the focal point after the immediate conclusion of the regular season. Thank you Walton/Penner group, George Paton, Sean Payton and the Broncos players. It's been a long time!

I would give the Broncos less than a 1% chance to make it to the Super Bowl this year. Similarly, I would give them about a 20% chance to go into Buffalo and win. I think they'll make the game very competitive but also believe that this young team is just not ready for that level of opponent on the road. Josh Allen can beat you in many ways. Buffalo in January is a tall task. The Bills are undefeated at home this year.

Having said all that, I'm extremely happy with this season and believe that the next 2-3 years are going to be wildly fun for Broncos fans! Go Broncos!

Everything we could have hoped for heading into this season to point to this being a successful season has happened. Coaching staff being set...Check. Heck we have a few of our staff getting interview requests because of the success this season. Ownership being a positive for the overall organization...Check Check and Double Check. Do we have our QB...YES SIR! And can we finally end the playoff streak...Yes we did! Everything more beyond this point is just icing on a beautiful cake called the 2024 season.

 

[Orangeisback]

It's just so great to be here...having these conversations. Normally, our draft thread would be the focal point after the immediate conclusion of the regular season. Thank you Walton/Penner group, George Paton, Sean Payton and the Broncos players. It's been a long time!

I would give the Broncos less than a 1% chance to make it to the Super Bowl this year. Similarly, I would give them about a 20% chance to go into Buffalo and win. I think they'll make the game very competitive but also believe that this young team is just not ready for that level of opponent on the road. Josh Allen can beat you in many ways. Buffalo in January is a tall task. The Bills are undefeated at home this year.

Having said all that, I'm extremely happy with this season and believe that the next 2-3 years are going to be wildly fun for Broncos fans! Go Broncos!

Still like Kyle Sloter.

Anyone see what he did after he was signed as a free agent for team after team after team and even though he thrived on their teams....never had one snap in the NFL.

Oh and his jersey is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Did you all know that?

On June 16, 2022, Sloter was named to the All-USFL Team.[58] Sloter finished the regular season second in the league in passing yards with 1,798 and helped the Breakers become one of the league's top offenses. Sloter had nine passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown .[59][60] Sloter's championship hopes fell short after the Birmingham Stallions beat the Breakers 31–17 in the semi-final.[61]

Sloter's Breakers jersey was put in display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.[62]