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MHH #1250: Gut Reaction: Denver Broncos 2026 Schedule is a Doozy · Mile High Huddle Podcast

0:01
[SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to the Mile High Huddle Podcast with your football priests, Chad Jensen, and Zach Kilerman.
0:08
[SPEAKER_00]: Remember, Broncos Country is not a geographical location.
0:12
[SPEAKER_00]: It's a state of being.
0:20
[SPEAKER_01]: And we are live, welcome in everybody.
0:23
[SPEAKER_01]: It is the mile high hub of podcasts presented by prize picks on your host.
0:28
[SPEAKER_01]: Chad Jensen with me, my fellow football priest, you know him, you love him, Zach Kelberman Zach.
0:33
[SPEAKER_01]: The schedule's been leaked pretty much for about two hours or so is when the full schedule leak hit.
0:40
[SPEAKER_01]: The Broncos dropped it, I don't know, half an hour ago.
0:43
[SPEAKER_01]: We have it.
0:44
[SPEAKER_01]: First things first, Zach.
0:46
[SPEAKER_01]: Yep.
0:46
[SPEAKER_02]: your gut reaction while you're talking I'm going to I'm going to put on screens or everyone can see it who maybe hasn't checked it out yet man here's the Broncos schedule legit twenty twenty six year gut reaction man the NFL did the Broncos exactly zero favors at least in the first half or so the first six games that's murderers row and I'm not saying the Broncos and I this is the tone I'm going to kind of provide the whole podcast I'm not saying the Broncos can't win these games I'm going to just speak objectively in my opinion
1:14
[SPEAKER_02]: The first six games are pretty difficult.
1:16
[SPEAKER_02]: It lightens up after that chat.
1:18
[SPEAKER_02]: Happy that they have the week 10 by.
1:19
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm not surprised they have as many prime time games.
1:22
[SPEAKER_02]: We kind of predicted that they would.
1:23
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm happy that they're on the road at Kansas City, but they got to survive basically the first six weeks of the season, a lot of witches on prime time, and then if they do, it'll be in really good shape.
1:34
[SPEAKER_02]: That's my gut reaction.
1:35
[SPEAKER_01]: it is a tough start to the season and a relatively tough finish.
1:41
[SPEAKER_01]: It gets a little bit softer in the middle.
1:43
[SPEAKER_01]: Once you get past Chiefs Week 8, you know you got the Panthers who let's not forget they were a playoff team last season.
1:50
[SPEAKER_01]: Then you get the buy week 10.
1:51
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm happy with where the buy is relatively speaking.
1:54
[SPEAKER_01]: It could always be worse.
1:56
[SPEAKER_01]: Last year it was week 12.
1:57
[SPEAKER_01]: As long as it's like week 10
2:00
[SPEAKER_01]: Then, you know, Steelers, Raiders Steelers, Dolphins, Jets Raiders, you know, you get a little bit of a reprieve there Zach for five weeks.
2:10
[SPEAKER_01]: What is it?
2:11
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, five weeks.
2:12
[SPEAKER_01]: And then you got to bear down and host the bills on Christmas, you and I, we just don't get to see our loved ones anymore on Christmas, you know, basically.
2:30
[SPEAKER_01]: This is a schedule the Broncos earned and I think we're starting to understand even more so why they returned 90% of their snaps from last season and resigned 17 of their own free agents.
2:42
[SPEAKER_02]: I think Scott, I like this one, anyone who watch wrestling or no's Rick Flair, he said, to be the best you have to beat the best.
2:48
[SPEAKER_02]: And I won't woo, but my point in saying this chat is if the Brock was wanting to be a big dog, they have to prove they can hang with the big dogs and they had a fantastic season last year.
2:59
[SPEAKER_02]: We knew they were going to have this schedule, none of this is surprising because we knew the opponents are ready.
3:03
[SPEAKER_02]: We just didn't know the order of the opponents, but if they play up to their level,
3:09
[SPEAKER_02]: But I don't think there's a fan alive that could say the first six games or so are not very difficult.
3:15
[SPEAKER_01]: In terms of prime time, indeed, the NFL updum by one.
3:19
[SPEAKER_01]: So last season the Broncos had four official prime time games this season.
3:23
[SPEAKER_01]: They get five starting with the opener on Monday night football against the chiefs and then week three Sunday night football against the Rams at home.
3:33
[SPEAKER_01]: and then week six at home, Seahawks Thursday night football.
3:38
[SPEAKER_01]: So a short week against the defending world champs.
3:41
[SPEAKER_01]: And then you've got the Broncos at the Steelers.
3:44
[SPEAKER_01]: This is a weird one guys.
3:45
[SPEAKER_01]: We talked a little bit about this last night.
3:47
[SPEAKER_01]: It was a week.
3:48
[SPEAKER_01]: Broncos playing on a black Friday the day after Thanksgiving and it's a 1 p.m. kickoff local time.
3:55
[SPEAKER_01]: Of course, in Pittsburgh it's going to be three o'clock.
3:58
[SPEAKER_01]: A lot of people, this is kind of surprises me, Zach, because a lot of people still have to work on Fridays.
4:03
[SPEAKER_01]: I get that.
4:04
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, it's the biggest shopping day of the of the year in the United States and I understand that a lot of that commerce Zack now takes place on the internet Amazon all that stuff, but a lot of it doesn't lot of people want to go walk around in malls and stores and do their stuff people got to work those jobs so that people can go out and shop so anyway you got black Friday Zack and that one's going to be on prime and then the last one is the Christmas day against the bills.
4:30
[SPEAKER_01]: That one's going to be the middle game in an NFL triple header for Christmas and that one's going to be on Netflix.
4:38
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I mean, the NFL is really maximizing Bonix, Sean Payton and Exposure to the Broncos.
4:44
[SPEAKER_02]: And I feel like we're going to hear complaints on Twitter and social media.
4:47
[SPEAKER_02]: Oh, we're sick of seeing the Broncos.
4:48
[SPEAKER_02]: They're going to become the new Cowboys in their eyes, Chad, which is much over Exposure.
4:52
[SPEAKER_02]: But they shouldn't be surprised with the season Denver had last year.
4:56
[SPEAKER_02]: And the opponents, the Broncos are going to face, I'm not happy with the Friday games.
4:59
[SPEAKER_02]: I think it's really weird that they have not won, but two Friday games in a season Friday.
5:04
[SPEAKER_02]: of all days, Chad, but Christmas holidays were used to working that.
5:08
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm not used to working on Black Friday, but the opponents are what I care about, and those are going to be both fantastic games for the casual football fan.
5:15
[SPEAKER_01]: I think it's pretty clear though, now's that it doesn't matter whether Christmas falls on a traditional football day, there's going to be football just like Thanksgiving now, like there's going to be football on Christmas.
5:27
[SPEAKER_01]: Ted, good to see a big dog, a dear member, a long time superstar.
5:31
[SPEAKER_01]: He says, well, no, by week seven, whether this is a legit Super Bowl contender or not.
5:35
[SPEAKER_01]: That said, teams change year to year.
5:37
[SPEAKER_01]: So maybe it's not as bad as it seems now.
5:39
[SPEAKER_01]: Hashtag MHAs for life.
5:41
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, again, we've known the opponents for months, guys.
5:44
[SPEAKER_01]: We've known since January, what the opponent's slate was.
5:47
[SPEAKER_01]: We just didn't know the order.
5:49
[SPEAKER_01]: And in this particular instance, all agree, pardon me, exact.
5:52
[SPEAKER_01]: I'll agree with Zach.
5:53
[SPEAKER_01]: And that is,
5:54
[SPEAKER_01]: NFL didn't really do many favors with a tough start and a tough finish.
5:59
[SPEAKER_01]: But yes, as you say here Ted, and this is a good point, Zach, parody rain supreme in the NFL.
6:05
[SPEAKER_01]: Like here's just one example.
6:07
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm not convinced the Jaguars are going to be as tough as years they were last year.
6:10
[SPEAKER_01]: Although they could be, I'm just saying I'm not 100% sure the last season wasn't a morage.
6:16
[SPEAKER_02]: You know this kind of it's going to seem random and all tied together Tony Romo's press conference his retirement press conference chat will always be memorable for one comment he made about the NFL then it's the ultimate meritocracy meeting you you get what you what you earn it's not what you deserve theoretically it's what you
6:33
[SPEAKER_02]: go out there and you earn.
6:35
[SPEAKER_02]: The Broncos earn this schedule.
6:37
[SPEAKER_02]: They earn the prime time games by having the season that they did.
6:40
[SPEAKER_02]: And it's heads right.
6:41
[SPEAKER_02]: It's the it's that's why I don't want to transfer anything over from a 14 and two season everything is wiped a new.
6:48
[SPEAKER_02]: But we know how good the Broncos can be and they got better this off season.
6:51
[SPEAKER_02]: They just play their brand of football again.
6:53
[SPEAKER_02]: They're going to be in every single game on that schedule.
6:57
[SPEAKER_01]: Ted, thanks again, big dog.
6:58
[SPEAKER_01]: We've got the lady D checking in off the top row.
7:00
[SPEAKER_01]: Thank you, Diana.
7:02
[SPEAKER_01]: So good to see you tonight.
7:03
[SPEAKER_01]: We had a blast chatting with you earlier this week.
7:06
[SPEAKER_01]: She says with a very generous super chat.
7:08
[SPEAKER_01]: Hi, Chad and Zach.
7:09
[SPEAKER_01]: Tough schedule, but very doable.
7:12
[SPEAKER_01]: I like week one against the chiefs, show our dominance in the West.
7:16
[SPEAKER_01]: This is our year, Go Broncos, MHH for life.
7:20
[SPEAKER_01]: I like it too.
7:21
[SPEAKER_01]: We talked about this last night, Zach, that
7:23
[SPEAKER_01]: You know you have to go to Arrowhead once every year.
7:26
[SPEAKER_01]: So why not rip the bandaid off, go week one, spend a while since they've played the chiefs this early in the season.
7:32
[SPEAKER_01]: And you got my homes back for the first time if everything stays on track, it's just gonna be his first game since he's towards ACL and LCL in week 15 last season.
7:41
[SPEAKER_01]: You've got kind of a reshape chief secondary with a rookie top six guy that's gonna be starting.
7:46
[SPEAKER_01]: They're gonna be leaning on him out of the gates.
7:48
[SPEAKER_01]: It's going to take him some time to kind of get his NFL bearings if, you know, past experiences any indicator.
7:56
[SPEAKER_01]: Here's another thing, those act that's interesting.
7:58
[SPEAKER_01]: The Broncos have the best all-time record in season openers since 1960.
8:04
[SPEAKER_01]: The Broncos ranked first in the NFL with a 41 and 23 record in week one.
8:12
[SPEAKER_02]: That's true.
8:13
[SPEAKER_02]: I haven't heard that's really interesting.
8:14
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, thank you so much, Deanna, for that.
8:17
[SPEAKER_02]: And it's true.
8:18
[SPEAKER_02]: It's tough, but it's very doable.
8:19
[SPEAKER_02]: That's what I've been saying.
8:20
[SPEAKER_02]: We all know how good the Brock was can be and I tweeted about this last night and you touched on a lot of the things I said on Twitter, a lot of things we said yesterday, Chad, but in week one, it's a lot easier to overcome psychologically as well.
8:31
[SPEAKER_02]: If you lose, which I don't think the Brock was are get it out of the way.
8:35
[SPEAKER_02]: You don't have to worry about an implement weather and Kansas city in week one.
8:38
[SPEAKER_02]: You don't have any expectations of playoff implications on your shoulders in a week one.
8:43
[SPEAKER_02]: You mentioned Mahomes being Rusty and also the I don't know that Kansas City is going to be prepared for Davis wedge, Chad, and what the Brock was going to do on offense, the first regular season game, you know they're going to hold back in the summer.
8:54
[SPEAKER_02]: So we'll know Diana, it's a long-winded way for me to say Chad, that we'll know the identity of this team and the first, I think, quarter of the season, but how they come out in a week one, sure we'll tell us a lot, thank you so much.
9:06
[SPEAKER_01]: And when you look at these teams, man, and the defenses they're going to be facing, the quality of quarterback play across the board.
9:12
[SPEAKER_01]: This is why it's like, hey, man, this rushing offense has to stay intact and take a step forward in 2026, man.
9:21
[SPEAKER_01]: Mike McDonald is defense the Rams defense.
9:24
[SPEAKER_01]: It is good though that the two
9:27
[SPEAKER_01]: You're playing the whole NFC West this season, right?
9:30
[SPEAKER_01]: And the two home games are against the two in my opinion, toughest teams in the NFC West.
9:35
[SPEAKER_01]: So for whatever that's worth, and both of them, prime time games, Shannon off the top row.
9:40
[SPEAKER_01]: Here she is, a dear member, a bona fide superstar.
9:44
[SPEAKER_01]: Thank you so much, Shannon, for your support, my friends.
9:46
[SPEAKER_01]: She says, good evening, Chad Zach Scott and MHH fam.
9:50
[SPEAKER_01]: This is a rough schedule.
9:52
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, no very quickly how good this team is.
9:55
[SPEAKER_01]: I have faith, though, go Broncos.
9:57
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I mean, it's again, it's one of those things where they're going to be tested early and he looked at the schedule as a whole.
10:04
[SPEAKER_01]: You go, hmm, oh my goodness, but when you go game by game, it's like I did a quick prediction was as an in an article's act where I'm listing the prime time games and doing just kind of a way too early prediction.
10:15
[SPEAKER_01]: Each one of those, the Broncos can win.
10:18
[SPEAKER_01]: Like each one of those, the Broncos are easily in a position to come out on top.
10:24
[SPEAKER_01]: But at the same time, these are all high quality opponents where you go into each one of these games, Zach, and it's really, especially the prime time games I'm talking about.
10:32
[SPEAKER_01]: They're going to be coin flip type of games where the Broncos just have to be that team much like they were last season that finds a way to save their best for the end of the game.
10:42
[SPEAKER_01]: Because these are the type of opponents
10:46
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, maybe it's just me and Shannon first of all.
10:48
[SPEAKER_02]: Thank you so much for that's very generous to you.
10:50
[SPEAKER_02]: We definitely appreciate it.
10:52
[SPEAKER_02]: Maybe it's just me, but I noticed the Broncos in certain times under Sean Peyton, Bonix.
10:57
[SPEAKER_02]: They tend to play down to their level of competition.
11:00
[SPEAKER_02]: So maybe if they have quality of ponet chat, they always seem to rise to the top.
11:04
[SPEAKER_02]: Like, look at the Buffalo bills upset, for example, and they would have beaten the Patriots if they had Bonix.
11:09
[SPEAKER_02]: So I kind of encourage my point is by the fact that they have all
11:13
[SPEAKER_02]: heavy hitters on the roster because they're going to take down some chat if not all and they're going to prove once and for all in front of everyone that they're here to stay and they are our an elite team in the NFL.
11:23
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, it's like our friend Drew last night on super check on why not undefeated.
11:27
[SPEAKER_01]: You're seeing why not undefeated.
11:30
[SPEAKER_01]: It's unlikely obviously very unlikely.
11:33
[SPEAKER_01]: The Broncos go undefeated and this is going to be a season guys where look, they're probably not going to go.
11:38
[SPEAKER_01]: They're probably not going to win 14 games.
11:40
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, they'll probably, somewhere like if they can win 12 games in this schedule, Zach, not, well, that probably be enough to win the AFC West, but get pretty solid seeding because everyone kind of got to bump this season and the strength of schedule if you look at it.
11:55
[SPEAKER_01]: But Sam Bam, checking in as well with the generous super team here.
11:59
[SPEAKER_01]: a Mount Rushmore superstar, a dear member who we're looking forward to having on the show very, very soon.
12:04
[SPEAKER_01]: He says evening guys, schedules out and those first six games going to be tough, but I think the Broncos can go foreign to at worst in those six, uh, in those first six and route to a 13 and four record, the opener against KC's going to be a pivotal opener to set the tone for the season, gold Broncos.
12:22
[SPEAKER_01]: I agree.
12:23
[SPEAKER_01]: It's almost like, you know, you don't want to throw out the whole must win and all that stuff.
12:27
[SPEAKER_01]: When we get closer, Zach, we're going to hear that kind of stuff.
12:30
[SPEAKER_01]: You can't really use that for a season opener, but as Sam's talking about, if you're trying to set the tone and build that, they already have to use Sean Payton's phrase, you know, confidence comes from demonstrated ability.
12:42
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, they have that, they demonstrated the ability last season.
12:45
[SPEAKER_01]: Their confidence grew exponentially as as 2025 kind of marched ahead.
12:51
[SPEAKER_01]: But as he likes to talk about as well, Sean Payton, Zach, everybody starts over from square one.
12:57
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, you shake them and not believe board everyone starts over at the very beginning.
13:00
[SPEAKER_01]: And so that applies for all the other opponents as well, much to the earlier point.
13:06
[SPEAKER_01]: So from from Ted.
13:08
[SPEAKER_01]: So look, the Broncos going into this season opener my point here is if you want to set the toning and really reinvigorate that confidence that we belong where we can take on anybody,
13:21
[SPEAKER_01]: That first game is going to be very important.
13:24
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.
13:25
[SPEAKER_02]: I tend to look at the schedules and like quarters and separate them by force.
13:29
[SPEAKER_02]: And I don't, you know, it's not a must win in the sense of playoff implications, because there's a long season ahead of them.
13:34
[SPEAKER_02]: But I think for the first quarter of the season, the first four games, five games even, that is a must win in game if they want some momentum chat.
13:41
[SPEAKER_02]: Because again, it's easier to overcome psychologically, but the boost they would get from being in front of the entire world in week one.
13:48
[SPEAKER_02]: at Kansas City's House, the return of Patrick Mahomes, the return of Bonix as well, and the Broncos win that game after winning the West last year, that would just put them on a rocket ship right back to the top.
13:59
[SPEAKER_01]: Ron, jumping in with the super chat.
14:01
[SPEAKER_01]: Thank you, brother.
14:02
[SPEAKER_01]: Dear member, the mayor of our community here at MHH, and he says, once the meet and greet date, Chad and Zach, I'll tell you.
14:08
[SPEAKER_01]: I'll give you a little hint.
14:09
[SPEAKER_01]: It's not a for sure yet.
14:10
[SPEAKER_01]: We will have an absolute answer for you guys by Sunday's show.
14:14
[SPEAKER_01]: When Zach and I are both back in the saddle for the mile.
14:17
[SPEAKER_01]: High Huddle podcast, we'll have the announcement ready to rock.
14:20
[SPEAKER_01]: but I'll give you a little sneak preview.
14:21
[SPEAKER_01]: It's either going to be week two or week three.
14:23
[SPEAKER_01]: It's either going to be jaguars or rams.
14:25
[SPEAKER_01]: Why we can't just announce right away is why I'm just we got to go through the last now that it's locked and we know for sure just cross-check in because one of the priorities of the meet and greet is trying to set it up at a time where as many of the podcast hosts can be available many of whom as you guys know travel from outside the market to come here and be a part of the whole thing.
14:45
[SPEAKER_01]: and so it's just making sure lining up that stuff cross-checking so we just need a couple days, but it's either going to be Jaguars or Rams Week 2, Week 3, early in the season, is that where we can count on probably good weather.
14:59
[SPEAKER_02]: And both good football games, I feel like.
15:02
[SPEAKER_02]: So, well, well, how you pronounce this, dude?
15:04
[SPEAKER_01]: That's been, you know, one of the, we've kind of gone 50, 50, I would say, over the years, Zach, in the weeks we choose whether they're great opponents, great games or not, like we've had some jet games.
15:15
[SPEAKER_01]: We had the giant game, which on the surface, when we booked it, it was like, uh,
15:18
[SPEAKER_01]: probably not going to be that much of an exciting game and it ended up being a historic game.
15:23
[SPEAKER_01]: So you never know and then that's been sprinkled with games like the Steelers Act, the 49ers.
15:28
[SPEAKER_01]: So this season though, it's going to be against a playoff quality opponent.
15:32
[SPEAKER_01]: It's going to be either week two or week three.
15:34
[SPEAKER_01]: And we'll have a for sure answer for everybody on Sunday.
15:37
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, looking forward to to our sharing that is.
15:41
[SPEAKER_01]: All right, let's get some other reactions from the members.
15:45
[SPEAKER_01]: We got Jordan says, let's go brutal for six games.
15:48
[SPEAKER_01]: But I'm excited.
15:50
[SPEAKER_01]: David Youngen says, I'm going to do my predictions for the season and go 13 and 4.
15:55
[SPEAKER_01]: All right, I like it.
15:57
[SPEAKER_01]: Michaela jumping in the Duchess.
15:58
[SPEAKER_01]: Thank you, Michaela.
15:59
[SPEAKER_01]: Talk about members and Mount Rushmore superstars in the house.
16:02
[SPEAKER_01]: And she's going to be on the show on Monday.
16:04
[SPEAKER_01]: So,
16:05
[SPEAKER_01]: We'll get some even deeper thoughts from the Duchess on the schedule on Monday, but she says, I'm really worried about this schedule, super hard in my opinion, record prediction.
16:15
[SPEAKER_01]: Love you priests and all my MHH family.
16:18
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, again, guys, we shouldn't be too surprised by the opponents.
16:22
[SPEAKER_01]: We've known that one for a while.
16:24
[SPEAKER_01]: However,
16:25
[SPEAKER_01]: The order of games as Zach said, the NFL didn't do the Broncos, too many favors, but they're testing them.
16:32
[SPEAKER_01]: They're like, OK, hey, you got the first place schedule.
16:34
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, and by the way, not only do, did you qualify for the first place schedule, Zach, but you're getting the NFC West and you're getting a chief's team twice because it's your division that's trying to rebound and prove that last season wasn't anomaly.
16:46
[SPEAKER_01]: You got a chargers team that is not failed to make the playoffs in two years since Harba arrived.
16:53
[SPEAKER_01]: It's a tough, tough out.
16:54
[SPEAKER_01]: What's your message for McKayla?
16:58
[SPEAKER_02]: Uh, first of all, thank you, Michaela has always my message, my second message to you is any time in the past that you were worried about something, either the quarterback situation or Sean Peyton working out or how the Broncos season was going to go for the most part, it's worked out okay and I would encourage you to have a little faith in this team, I'm not saying you don't and is daunting for sure and we'll know more after week one, but just have some faith in the Broncos knowing that we've seen them at their best.
17:26
[SPEAKER_02]: And after best, they can take down and they did any team in the NFL, including the chiefs, including the Eagles, the back to the other rating, both were in the Super Bowl.
17:34
[SPEAKER_02]: You know, the rating champions and the runners up, they can hang with anyone.
17:38
[SPEAKER_02]: So just have a little faith.
17:40
[SPEAKER_01]: So here's what's kind of crazy and adds to the difficulty and strength of this particular schedule is.
17:47
[SPEAKER_01]: Look, we all know last season for the chiefs was an anomaly.
17:52
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, we could try and get to the bottom of all the reasons why they struggled well before my homes got hurting all that.
17:58
[SPEAKER_01]: But the odds are they're gonna bounce back and they're gonna be a force to be reckoned with in the AFC as they
18:04
[SPEAKER_01]: Traditionally, have been since Mahomes emerged circa, you know, 2018.
18:10
[SPEAKER_01]: I think was his coming out part of year anyway, drafted in 17.
18:14
[SPEAKER_01]: When you combine that, Zach.
18:15
[SPEAKER_01]: So this is the 67th season of the Denver Broncos.
18:20
[SPEAKER_01]: 10 of their 17 games.
18:22
[SPEAKER_01]: are against opponents who advanced to the 2025 postseason.
18:27
[SPEAKER_01]: That includes the bills, the Panthers, the Jags, the Chargers, the Rams, the Patriots, the Steelers, the Niners, and the Seahawks, plus you got to throw in there the Chiefs, because they are, we'll just call them since they didn't make the playoffs last year's act, a playoff caliber opponent.
18:44
[SPEAKER_01]: But the Denver Broncos, this isn't the Broncos of 2021, 2022, or even 2023.
18:51
[SPEAKER_01]: This is a different team.
18:53
[SPEAKER_01]: And I think we're going to see that this is their opportunities act to really prove themselves to the NFL that, hey, it doesn't matter what the schedule is, we're forced to be reckoned with gaming game out.
19:04
[SPEAKER_02]: And don't we want them to, isn't that the point?
19:06
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, we all ragged on the Patriots for the schedule last year.
19:11
[SPEAKER_02]: And they just, they didn't really beat up anyone that was an elite team.
19:14
[SPEAKER_02]: Don't we want the Broncos to be facing the elite teams?
19:17
[SPEAKER_02]: Don't we want the Broncos to prove that they are the best and leave no doubt about it?
19:22
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't want to take the Patriots route.
19:24
[SPEAKER_02]: I really don't.
19:24
[SPEAKER_02]: I want the Broncos to form their own path and be as dominant as they were under paid manning.
19:29
[SPEAKER_02]: And that is just as plausible now as it was back then in my opinion.
19:34
[SPEAKER_02]: that.
19:35
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, again, it looks really tough on paper, but think back to 2025 did anybody really expect the Broncos to go into Philly and beat the world champion Eagles in their house, like nobody picked the Broncos to win that game, including MHH.
19:50
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, I don't have the roundtable picks right in front of me, Zach, but I remember most of us being pleasantly surprised by the outcome of that game.
19:58
[SPEAKER_01]: And it was kind of a turning point moment, I think, because even though at that point, you know, they, they won their opener, then they lost to an arrow close heartbreakers to quality opponents.
20:10
[SPEAKER_01]: So that set them at two and two for the season, but it also sparked Zack there.
20:15
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, I guess week four was the technically the beginning of their winning streak against the Bengals.
20:22
[SPEAKER_01]: But my point is that week five game going in, beating the Eagles, because it wasn't just having to face the world champs in their house act, but the dreaded two-week East Coast road trip intensified by the reality that they had to cross the pond and go and play the Jets the following week in London.
20:39
[SPEAKER_01]: And even though that Jets game in London was a tight one, went down to the wire, the Broncos
20:45
[SPEAKER_01]: And no one expected the jet's game, by the way, to be that close for the Broncos.
20:49
[SPEAKER_01]: So my point here is a parody rain supreme in the NFL.
20:53
[SPEAKER_01]: And in the same way that I think some of those games on the schedule and the outcome and the way they shook out last season, surprised Broncos fans pleasantly surprised.
21:02
[SPEAKER_01]: And then also shock the NFL.
21:04
[SPEAKER_01]: You're going to see some of that in 2026 as well.
21:07
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, that's a good point in saying that the Broncos in easier games against worse opponents, they struggle just as mildly as they did against elite opponents who they beat.
21:17
[SPEAKER_02]: That's what I was saying earlier, they tend to punch above their weight.
21:21
[SPEAKER_02]: If there is a better team than them, the Broncos usually show up and at least make it competitive.
21:25
[SPEAKER_02]: But there's plenty of times that I can recall chat of the Broncos playing with their food.
21:29
[SPEAKER_02]: Look at the Giants game, for example.
21:31
[SPEAKER_02]: That shouldn't have been close at all.
21:36
[SPEAKER_02]: They should have won in a blowout if the Broncos didn't complete one of the most historic comebacks and NFL history.
21:41
[SPEAKER_02]: So you can't judge the Broncos, the bow-led Sean Peyton coach Broncos by the quality of opponent if they show up on Sunday and take care of their business, they'll be in every game.
21:52
[SPEAKER_02]: I firmly believe that.
21:53
[SPEAKER_02]: or Friday.
21:55
[SPEAKER_01]: No doubt about it.
21:55
[SPEAKER_01]: No doubt about it.
21:57
[SPEAKER_01]: Uh, let me see some other, uh, and Blacks to say, and I predict the meeting greet will be week three.
22:03
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, at least for now, you're pretty dang close.
22:05
[SPEAKER_01]: It's either week two or week three.
22:07
[SPEAKER_01]: And again, guys, well, announced that, um, well, announced that on Sunday.
22:12
[SPEAKER_01]: Uh, Jordan says opening up.
22:14
[SPEAKER_01]: There goes opening up, uh, opening up with Monday.
22:17
[SPEAKER_01]: What's going on stream here?
22:19
[SPEAKER_01]: click.
22:20
[SPEAKER_01]: There we go.
22:21
[SPEAKER_01]: Opening up with a Monday night football game and then week three Sunday night football against the Rams.
22:26
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, dude, it's a tough road ahead for the Denver Broncos and one of the things people got to keep in mind too about this season is and why we should, I'm not saying everyone lower expectations, you know, 14 wins.
22:40
[SPEAKER_01]: Let's not forget, man, that's they tied the franchise
22:46
[SPEAKER_01]: 14 win seasons are hard to come by in Broncos history and there've been some great teams talking about eight Super Bowl births, three world championships, 14 wins hard to come by.
22:56
[SPEAKER_01]: So they might not win 14 games.
22:58
[SPEAKER_01]: If they can get somewhere between 11 and 13, I think they're going to be in a commanding position for not only the division's act, but the AFC and the conference seating, but don't forget
23:08
[SPEAKER_01]: the chiefs and the charges because first things first, you got to master the division.
23:11
[SPEAKER_01]: You got to conquer the division and you look at the AFC West chiefs have to play all those NFC West teams as well.
23:18
[SPEAKER_01]: They got to play the NFAFC East, which means they got to play the Patriots.
23:22
[SPEAKER_01]: They got to play the bills.
23:23
[SPEAKER_01]: So, you know, there's, again, it might not be this big romping 14th win season, but I'm very confident that the Broncos that even in the face of a very, very stiff test are
23:37
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, so do I and I don't think we can even judge it on wins and law.
23:41
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, obviously we want the Barcos to win every game.
23:43
[SPEAKER_02]: We want them to do what Drew wants them to do and go undefeated.
23:46
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't think it's all that likely, but there have been Super Bowl champions that won 9 or 10 games in the regular season that went on to win it all.
23:53
[SPEAKER_02]: So again, and I'm going to sound like a broken record after a while, but if they just
23:57
[SPEAKER_02]: they play in a plus brand of football, they're going to hang with every opponent here, and especially if they survive the first six weeks, if they go no worse than three and three coming out of the first six weeks, I think they're going to be an excellent shape going forward.
24:10
[SPEAKER_01]: All right, guys, we go back to the chat real quick.
24:13
[SPEAKER_01]: Tonight, guys, I have a, I have a thing going on with one of my kids very inconveniently because of all the big news and the schedule release and all that stuff.
24:21
[SPEAKER_01]: But he's about to graduate high school and it's a big celebratory thing for his senior basketball team and I gotta get there.
24:28
[SPEAKER_01]: So I gotta leave here in just a few more minutes.
24:30
[SPEAKER_01]: But before we dip on out of here before I dip Zach's going to keep it rolling for a while guys So before I get out here, I just want to say hello to a few more folks Roy good to see you pal and he says there is a few more question marks with this Broncos team that need to be answered And there's time yet Roy to get those answers Rock says the NFL scared of the Broncos because they want the Broncos to pay for their 14 and three record by giving them a tough schedule to start this 26 NFL off
24:58
[SPEAKER_01]: I understand what you're getting at, but like, you know, we can, we can pick nets that and split hairs over the order of these games, but the schedule is what the schedule is in terms of the opponents when you finish first in in your division, you get a first place schedule and it just kind of goes from there and then the divisions in both in conference and outside conference and just rotates and it just so happens that on the hills of that 14 win season.
25:22
[SPEAKER_01]: Not only did you qualify Zach for first place schedule, but you're getting NFC West and the NFC East.
25:31
[SPEAKER_02]: People are acting or some people I should qualify that are acting like these are the opponents got released today Like they sprung up out of nowhere We've known years and advance who the Broncos are gonna play and it doesn't really matter like if at the end of this season in the unlikely event They have a down year.
25:48
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't think the first three four or five reasons.
25:50
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm gonna go to is oh The schedule was tough.
25:53
[SPEAKER_02]: It's probably gonna be something more important something bigger than that.
25:55
[SPEAKER_02]: So if they just again take care of business You'll be good
25:59
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, really, the key here is going to be Stan healthy.
26:03
[SPEAKER_01]: Bone X is going to be back in the saddle, so we shouldn't worry too much about that.
26:06
[SPEAKER_01]: But Stan healthy is going to make all the difference in the world for the Broncos.
26:11
[SPEAKER_01]: And that's one of the reasons why, I mean, again, they've known who their opponents are as well.
26:14
[SPEAKER_01]: They didn't know the order of things till this week, but they've known since January who their opponents are, and that's one of the reasons that they're taking the offseason approach that they are, kicking the whole OTA process down the road until
26:27
[SPEAKER_01]: June, not really putting any pressure on Bonix to get back out there till they're 100% sure and he's 100% sure he's ready.
26:35
[SPEAKER_01]: And you can kind of expect that approach to continue throughout the summer through the preseason because if this team is healthy, they can be anybody.
26:45
[SPEAKER_01]: And that includes the Seahawks.
26:46
[SPEAKER_01]: Guys, I mean, there was only a couple months ago where Zack and I were standing up on this podcast saying, man, Bonix.
26:53
[SPEAKER_01]: doesn't get hurt at the end of the bill's game, and he starts that AFC title game.
26:58
[SPEAKER_01]: Broncos are going to the Super Bowl, and if they go to the Super Bowl, looking back at how that particular game shook out, I felt confident that at worst, the Broncos with bone next, we're going to be able to trade field goals with Sam Darnold, unlike Drake may, he was not able to do that, and then in the second half,
27:16
[SPEAKER_01]: Drake may start to turn in the ball over the Seahawks defense really turns it on and just kind of pulls away.
27:21
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't think Bonyx would have allowed that to happen.
27:24
[SPEAKER_01]: He's a tough sack, right?
27:25
[SPEAKER_01]: He's not going to be turning the ball over.
27:26
[SPEAKER_01]: I think it would have come down to the closing moments and Bonyx in this team knowing what they were capable of last season.
27:33
[SPEAKER_01]: Anything could have happened.
27:34
[SPEAKER_01]: And I think that's really the model in the mode against some of these high quality opponents.
27:46
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, you said, including the seahawks and I was going to say, especially the seahawks for the same reason, they had a tremendous year last year, but I think they caught a lot of teams by surprise with Sam Darnold and Mike McDonald, that's not going to happen this year.
28:08
[SPEAKER_01]: By the way, Jake, good to see you pal.
28:10
[SPEAKER_01]: Thank you for being a member.
28:11
[SPEAKER_01]: He says, not great.
28:13
[SPEAKER_01]: Yikes, not great for a Sean Peyton lead team who traditionally start slow and playoff contenders in the beginning.
28:21
[SPEAKER_01]: So I mean, you look at the last two years with both.
28:23
[SPEAKER_01]: Let's just keep it with Bonyx, the bow and Peyton era.
28:27
[SPEAKER_01]: Zach, they started O and two in year one and they started one and two in year two together and it's kind of ironic when you realize the bone nicks is the winningest Quarterback in NFL history through his first two years, right like oh oh, you know, O and two and then one and two, but I digress the point here is
28:49
[SPEAKER_01]: You know what, even if it, they come out of that first six games act, let's say it's the inverted, I think it was, was it Ted that said, thing it, or my demand sandbam foreign to either way.
29:00
[SPEAKER_01]: Let's say it's inverted, the Broncos come out of that first six week, a six week's act at two and four.
29:05
[SPEAKER_01]: That next stretch, they're going to have a much lesser difficulty in terms of opponents that will also get there by.
29:13
[SPEAKER_01]: It'll shape up nicely for them to finish strong with those final three games being against tough opponents, which include, again, the bills on Christmas, Patriots in week 17 and the Chargers in the season.
29:27
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, that's what I was going to say.
29:28
[SPEAKER_02]: I think there's a little too much pearl clutch and go, I'm not a little too much concern and consternation and Brock was country over this, because like you said, the inverse to starting off slow is that you finish hot.
29:41
[SPEAKER_02]: And you can point out that it's not great for a Sean paid lead team, but you're talking about the Sean paid lead team that.
29:47
[SPEAKER_02]: started out slow, but just won 14 games last year.
29:50
[SPEAKER_02]: The Sean Pate lead team that was a bonus injury away from making or winning the Super Bowl, I think we need to just trust the process a little bit more.
30:00
[SPEAKER_01]: No doubt.
30:01
[SPEAKER_01]: Anyway, Jake, good to see you, pal.
30:03
[SPEAKER_01]: Guys, I got a dip out for now.
30:06
[SPEAKER_01]: Love and appreciate each one of you.
30:08
[SPEAKER_01]: Shout out to the superstars, shout out to the members.
30:11
[SPEAKER_01]: But Zach and I will be back together on Sunday for the MHH podcast and will announce the official date for the meet and greet again.
30:18
[SPEAKER_01]: See you there gonna be week two or week three.
30:21
[SPEAKER_01]: We'll know for sure on Sunday.
30:22
[SPEAKER_01]: Have a great rest of the show, Zach.
30:24
[SPEAKER_01]: Love you guys.
30:25
[SPEAKER_01]: See you soon.
30:28
[SPEAKER_02]: All right, y'all, so we're gonna make it what where we at 31 minutes.
30:32
[SPEAKER_02]: I'll be on for like, I don't know 15 more.
30:36
[SPEAKER_02]: And in this section of the podcast for the remainder, I kind of want to just kind of maybe cool down the temperature a little bit.
30:44
[SPEAKER_02]: I agree with what Richie said here, and I think he's going to make the same point I am.
30:48
[SPEAKER_02]: We need to be real here.
30:50
[SPEAKER_02]: We are a cohesive team and our first opponent and they're starting quarterback at a devastating injury, so I like our odds.
30:55
[SPEAKER_02]: I think we need to relax a little bit, because I saw a comment, the Broncos have a lot of question marks to answer, so the other teams in the NFL.
31:07
[SPEAKER_02]: Other teams are also looking at their schedules right now saying, oh, that's a tough game.
31:12
[SPEAKER_02]: Oh, I don't want to play that one.
31:13
[SPEAKER_02]: That's a prime time.
31:14
[SPEAKER_02]: A lot of pressers on us.
31:15
[SPEAKER_02]: It's worth
31:16
[SPEAKER_02]: not weird, but some of the fans in braco's country are treating this like the braco's got completely shafted and are playing on a different field than they're and literally and figuratively than the rest of the NFL.
31:27
[SPEAKER_02]: No, we knew the opponents a while in advance.
31:31
[SPEAKER_02]: We knew it was going to be difficult fairly considering the season the braco's had and who the opponents are.
31:37
[SPEAKER_02]: But I think we also have to realize that so many things can change in the NFL at any given time.
31:44
[SPEAKER_02]: It's parody, meritocracy, whatever you want to call it, it changes week by week, not even season by season because again, Chad mentioned the Eagles game, who thought they'd come back in the fourth quarter yet, who touchdowns in the fourth quarter and win that game.
31:58
[SPEAKER_02]: But then again, who thought they would struggle with the giants and barely by the skin of their you know what when that game not me, I picked a blow out and I almost really severely ate my crow.
32:10
[SPEAKER_02]: So there is the overall macro view of the schedule being this daunting, super difficult, impossible hill to climb.
32:18
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't see it that way.
32:19
[SPEAKER_02]: And that whole freak out to me began with the week one leak when it got reported that the Broncos are gonna go to Kansas City.
32:29
[SPEAKER_02]: Why is that a bad thing?
32:31
[SPEAKER_02]: Oh, the Broncos deserve to be at home.
32:33
[SPEAKER_02]: They shouldn't have been at home.
32:35
[SPEAKER_02]: Are we putting pride now before what's best for the team?
32:38
[SPEAKER_02]: Why, so, you know, you can be there cheering your team on or you could say that the home opener is also week one.
32:44
[SPEAKER_02]: No, you want what's best for the team and what's best for the team as we laid out is the Broncos actually opening if they have to play them in week one, playing the Kansas City, get it over with.
32:54
[SPEAKER_02]: And I think the end result will surprise a lot of you, uh, worry warts.
33:00
[SPEAKER_02]: I'll call you that.
33:02
[SPEAKER_02]: Tony winners 16.
33:04
[SPEAKER_02]: Thank you, Tony for chiming in the Kansas City secondary is completely new.
33:08
[SPEAKER_02]: Actually, they're whole defense is mostly green.
33:11
[SPEAKER_02]: Have you seen the the depth chart snapshot of the chief secondary?
33:15
[SPEAKER_02]: I think they could be good.
33:18
[SPEAKER_02]: These players that they have in their secondary.
33:20
[SPEAKER_02]: I think they could be good.
33:22
[SPEAKER_02]: And I imagine they will be good.
33:24
[SPEAKER_02]: at some point except for Gilman, he's a good player, but it's not going to all come together in week one.
33:31
[SPEAKER_02]: And it's a good point zone because we all harp on my homes and rightly so, he's not going to be the homes that we expect him to be in week one more than likely, but the same could be said for the Kansas City Secondary.
33:41
[SPEAKER_02]: The cohesiveness or lack thereof could show up.
33:46
[SPEAKER_02]: And their Casey secondary, I would imagine, we'll look a lot different come week 17 that in week one.
33:52
[SPEAKER_02]: But who really cares?
33:53
[SPEAKER_02]: The brokers aren't playing in the week 17.
33:55
[SPEAKER_02]: They're playing in week one, and then I think in week eight or whatever.
33:57
[SPEAKER_02]: So.
33:59
[SPEAKER_02]: And yeah, and Rodney, I'll get to you call me in a second.
34:02
[SPEAKER_02]: Rodney, the chief still got the Spagnolo.
34:05
[SPEAKER_02]: Okay, the Broncos, just beat Spagnolo's defense the last three times.
34:11
[SPEAKER_02]: And I don't mean to take this, I don't know you, but I see your comments and you kind of embody that more of the skeptic, your more of the, the warrior.
34:19
[SPEAKER_02]: And I don't think you should be.
34:21
[SPEAKER_02]: I think you should be confident.
34:23
[SPEAKER_02]: They have Spagnolo, we have Sean Page.
34:26
[SPEAKER_02]: Sean Paine's 3-0 is last head-to-head match-ups against Kansas City.
34:30
[SPEAKER_02]: It's time for the rest of the NFL to be scared of us, not the other way around.
34:35
[SPEAKER_02]: We spend a decade being scared of other teams.
34:39
[SPEAKER_02]: I want teams when they see their scheduled tonight to look and if they're playing the Broncos they go, oh crap, we got Denver this year, man.
34:47
[SPEAKER_02]: What are we going to do?
34:47
[SPEAKER_02]: That's going to be a tough game.
34:49
[SPEAKER_02]: I want their fans to have the same reactions, the
34:54
[SPEAKER_02]: That's how it should be.
34:55
[SPEAKER_02]: That's my opinion Colby dollar 99.
34:58
[SPEAKER_02]: Thank you so much for this super Colby this evening 11 and 6.
35:02
[SPEAKER_02]: I almost think 10 wins, but I'll be positive.
35:05
[SPEAKER_02]: I think 10 wins is still good though and we can't also forget where we came from.
35:11
[SPEAKER_02]: I just mentioned we spent a decade doing this or whatever.
35:14
[SPEAKER_02]: We spent a decade praying for a 10 win season that never freaking came.
35:21
[SPEAKER_02]: So even if they do, if that qualifies as a down year, if they do go 10 and 7, that says a lot about where they are.
35:28
[SPEAKER_02]: So we need to not adjust our expectations, but if anyone's really thinking, they're gonna win 14 games again, just because they won 14 games last year, that's the wrong way to go about it.
35:39
[SPEAKER_02]: And I say that not because of the schedule, if they had the easiest schedule in the NFL, I still say that.
35:43
[SPEAKER_02]: It's because the NFL changes week by week, let alone year by year.
35:47
[SPEAKER_02]: And the Broncos also seem to change week by week.
35:50
[SPEAKER_02]: How many times on the podcast last year, it's that I call them jekyll and hide and the good broccos and the bad broccos.
35:57
[SPEAKER_02]: It's the same thing.
35:58
[SPEAKER_02]: So it's hard to be worried now on May 14 about what the September October December matchups are gonna look like.
36:08
[SPEAKER_02]: We have to be confident, Colby and everybody else that they're gonna show up be at Friday, Monday, Sunday, and they're gonna do their job.
36:17
[SPEAKER_02]: Bonyx is going to play like Bonyx.
36:19
[SPEAKER_02]: And he has that clutch factor.
36:20
[SPEAKER_02]: He has the effector, the Broncos defense is going to be the Broncos defense and you're not going to win every game, but they are going to be in every game.
36:29
[SPEAKER_02]: And there's a there's a lot to take from that and a lot to celebrate about that.
36:33
[SPEAKER_02]: Unique prepping member for seven months.
36:35
[SPEAKER_02]: Thank you unique.
36:37
[SPEAKER_02]: Thank you for being you, MHH, UN.
36:39
[SPEAKER_02]: Thank you for being you.
36:41
[SPEAKER_02]: We appreciate you.
36:43
[SPEAKER_02]: We appreciate
36:47
[SPEAKER_02]: Uh, okay.
36:49
[SPEAKER_02]: Sorry, Chad was deeming me.
36:51
[SPEAKER_02]: I know.
36:51
[SPEAKER_02]: All right, sorry.
36:52
[SPEAKER_02]: Sandbam, thank you for that second super.
36:55
[SPEAKER_02]: I think it's your second, but multiple supers from Sam.
36:57
[SPEAKER_02]: Thank you so much, man.
36:58
[SPEAKER_02]: Zach, what are your thoughts on the Broncos getting a week 10 by I had an eerie feeling you was going to be like week six.
37:04
[SPEAKER_02]: Also looks like five prime time standalone games what's your thoughts on that go Broncos Sam I said this earlier in the pot it was kind of an off-hand comment you might not have caught it I said yesterday too on kelvin's quarter and I also said it
37:19
[SPEAKER_02]: And I mostly speculated about it on on these previous shows that if the Broncos had a middle of this season by, you know, I didn't know about it yesterday back I kind of figured that it was going to be around that I don't think we knew until last night's pod, but if they had a midseason or so by Sean Peyton was going to let the NFL slide on that it seems like in the last couple years he's protected that and he's preferred a later season by I like this more than last season because it's like literally right in the middle.
37:49
[SPEAKER_02]: And it will give them a chance to turn the page from any faults they might have earlier and correct any issues earlier than last year.
37:59
[SPEAKER_02]: Because if you remember Sam, after the buy is when everything, at least on defense kind of slipped a little bit with VJ.
38:06
[SPEAKER_02]: He went from the hottest NFL head coaching candidate to being a, I don't know if I want this guy and he still the Broncos DC now.
38:13
[SPEAKER_02]: So I like the fact that they'll get a chance to kind of reset recoup rest pick up the pieces earlier on I it's not week five, which is good and it's not week 14, which is good it's right in the middle and in terms of the prime time games not surprised at all that is something I did talk about on KK and yesterday show and leading up to this schedule release.
38:33
[SPEAKER_02]: We all should have assumed none of this again, none of this, just like the opponents, none of this is a surprise.
38:39
[SPEAKER_02]: The Broncos were one of the hottest teams, maybe the hottest scene in the NFL last year, until Bonix broke his ankle.
38:45
[SPEAKER_02]: They have a lot of good opponents on their schedule and the NFL likes to milk their cash cows right now, whether you like them or not, Bonix Sean Peyton, they are a cash cow because their games are entertaining as hell, whether they win or whether they lose, they are entertaining and the NFL likes that.
39:02
[SPEAKER_02]: So it's hard to really poo, poo, Sam, and you can disagree when you have the rams coming to Denver and power field of mile high to take on bow nicks and the brakos, Matt Stafford, bow nicks, Sean McVeishon, Peyton, under the prime time lights, that could be a Super Bowl preview in week three.
39:22
[SPEAKER_02]: I love it.
39:22
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't like the Black Friday games.
39:25
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm not because I want to go shopping.
39:26
[SPEAKER_02]: I hate Black Friday shopping in person that is not my cup of tea.
39:31
[SPEAKER_02]: It's just a, I think it's a competitive disadvantage for the Broncos to go across the country and play on a Friday and then I know they're going to be at home, but they got to do it on Christmas again, too.
39:41
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't like the Friday games.
39:43
[SPEAKER_02]: Christmas a little different because again, everyone wants to be with their family.
39:46
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm used to it.
39:46
[SPEAKER_02]: We've, we've covered Thanksgiving Christmas Eve Christmas everything, you know, anyone will tell you in this business, you're going to work through anniversary, you're going to work through weekends holidays, whether you're sick with
39:57
[SPEAKER_02]: That's just the nature of it.
39:58
[SPEAKER_02]: So I don't care about Christmas too much.
40:01
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't care about the other primetime.
40:02
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't like the Friday games Sam and of only because I just think it doesn't it doesn't do the Broncos any favors.
40:09
[SPEAKER_02]: Danna.
40:09
[SPEAKER_02]: Thank you so much for this Danna bomb fifty dollars super Seriously, I do it every pod every KK you are incredible Literally the glue of this podcast keeping us together you and so many others, but you are so instrumental to that process.
40:24
[SPEAKER_02]: Thank you
40:25
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm confident DNSS, the Brocos win these games can't wait to see what Waterbrings to the game.
40:32
[SPEAKER_02]: I really like that we are going to the Chiefs would rather see them at home later in the season.
40:36
[SPEAKER_02]: I believe in this team and believe in Bonyx, Go Brocos.
40:41
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, and that's what we were talking about yesterday at DNF, again, thank you.
40:45
[SPEAKER_02]: I want to get this game out of the way.
40:47
[SPEAKER_02]: We knew, again, we knew.
40:49
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm going to sell a broker record, but we knew all these things.
40:52
[SPEAKER_02]: We knew they were going to have a road trip to Kansas City.
40:55
[SPEAKER_02]: They do every year.
40:57
[SPEAKER_02]: So if they were going to have it, it actually is so fortuitous that it happened in a week one.
41:02
[SPEAKER_02]: In that sense, the NFL schedule makers did the Broncos of Favor.
41:05
[SPEAKER_02]: Get it out of the way with a rusty mohomes.
41:08
[SPEAKER_02]: please I love it and then you get to save that match up in Denver for a little later in the season when the weather could be a little different when playoff implications start heating up and the braco should be firing at all cylinders and maybe from a position of strength maybe there'll be up on Kansas City in the division by that point we don't know
41:27
[SPEAKER_02]: Um, but yeah, I think it worked out really well.
41:29
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't understand any fan besides the, the chest beating and the ego of saying, oh, we should have been at home.
41:36
[SPEAKER_02]: We deserve to be at home in week one.
41:39
[SPEAKER_02]: I want what's best for the Broncos, Diana, and I know you do too, and what's best for the Broncos, if they had to play KC in week one, with to go to KC and just get it over with.
41:48
[SPEAKER_02]: And then we'll move on and either celebrate a win and momentum in week two, or we'll pick up the pieces quickly after a loss.
41:57
[SPEAKER_02]: All right, where'd we at?
41:58
[SPEAKER_02]: Now 43.
41:59
[SPEAKER_02]: I'll be on for a few more.
42:00
[SPEAKER_02]: So we'll call this the two-minute warning.
42:02
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know how many we have in the hopper, but I already hear my voice going and that's the downside to these ramps, man.
42:08
[SPEAKER_02]: These ramps, I love being on here and yelling and screaming and getting worked up.
42:14
[SPEAKER_02]: The vocals don't want to cooperate and I don't have anything to drink, unfortunately.
42:18
[SPEAKER_02]: So, two minute warning guys, it's just me here.
42:21
[SPEAKER_02]: So, any last minute comments, questions, stupers, any last minute reactions of the Broncos schedule fired in, and I'll cover it, George Fox.
42:30
[SPEAKER_02]: I think I've figured out how to do this on YouTube, great pod, as always, Denver, Broncos for life.
42:35
[SPEAKER_02]: And it changed for life.
42:35
[SPEAKER_02]: Hit the thumbs up guys.
42:36
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, thank you for that, George.
42:38
[SPEAKER_02]: We're glad you found your way.
42:40
[SPEAKER_02]: For anyone who might be a straggler, listening on Facebook, we are not streaming there anymore.
42:45
[SPEAKER_02]: So the last survivors, clinging to the whole that is Facebook, let go and follow us on YouTube.
42:55
[SPEAKER_02]: Meet us on YouTube.
42:55
[SPEAKER_02]: Find us there.
42:58
[SPEAKER_02]: Well, I thought we had a comment, Scott.
43:00
[SPEAKER_02]: We have anything?
43:02
[SPEAKER_02]: Thank you.
43:04
[SPEAKER_02]: Oh, draws 80.
43:05
[SPEAKER_02]: That seems like a newer name.
43:06
[SPEAKER_02]: Maybe it's not, but if it is, welcome.
43:08
[SPEAKER_02]: And thank you for popping in tonight.
43:11
[SPEAKER_02]: I appreciate you.
43:12
[SPEAKER_02]: I may change.
43:13
[SPEAKER_02]: Can't wait for the meet and greedy.
43:14
[SPEAKER_02]: I can't either.
43:15
[SPEAKER_02]: And maybe I'll close on that note.
43:17
[SPEAKER_02]: Thank you, Roy, for that great show.
43:18
[SPEAKER_02]: Chattin Zach.
43:19
[SPEAKER_02]: Thank you, Roy.
43:20
[SPEAKER_02]: Hope you're having a good one.
43:21
[SPEAKER_02]: I'll close on this note about the meat and greet and then I'll give my schedule prediction my record prediction at the very, very end and guys get years and now I want to see your record predictions for the Broncos now read some off as I go on.
43:49
[SPEAKER_02]: the being great could be the best one yet.
43:51
[SPEAKER_02]: I think of any meeting group we've had.
43:53
[SPEAKER_02]: There we go.
43:54
[SPEAKER_02]: Tony.
43:55
[SPEAKER_02]: I love it.
43:56
[SPEAKER_02]: Because if I had a my way and I'll be sure for anyone who wants it in week in week three to come out to that game and see us and hang out with us, I will do your bidding.
44:05
[SPEAKER_02]: I will campaign on your behalf to charge directly and try to get the week three game.
44:10
[SPEAKER_02]: I think that would be much more exciting than week two against Jacksonville.
44:14
[SPEAKER_02]: Both are going to be good games, but the prospect of staffer and Nick's and McVey and Peyton,
44:22
[SPEAKER_02]: 13 and 4 plus plus plus plus.
44:24
[SPEAKER_02]: Love that Shannon that prospect is so tantalizing until it's a night game so we can hang out longer in the tailgate.
44:31
[SPEAKER_02]: We don't have to get up so early as what I'm saying.
44:35
[SPEAKER_02]: I just I really wanted to be that game and also when we had in a week to a couple years ago that was the Steelers and Brock was game that might have been one of the worst games and I can't even believe Russ because that was bonus, but and it wasn't him, but.
44:50
[SPEAKER_02]: his fault.
44:52
[SPEAKER_02]: It was one of the worst offensive football games.
44:54
[SPEAKER_02]: It was offensive to my eyes to watch.
44:57
[SPEAKER_02]: So just on that alone, I'm so superstitious.
44:59
[SPEAKER_02]: I wanted in week three and I see Rodney wants it as well.
45:03
[SPEAKER_02]: Rodney hoped to see you out there if we get it to go.
45:05
[SPEAKER_02]: But yeah, I'm going to be pushing for that.
45:07
[SPEAKER_02]: Diana, 12 in five.
45:08
[SPEAKER_02]: I love it.
45:09
[SPEAKER_02]: I love it.
45:11
[SPEAKER_02]: So,
45:12
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know if I was supposed to talk about it or not, but that's my own preference.
45:16
[SPEAKER_02]: I want week three.
45:17
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm going to try to make week three happen for y'all.
45:19
[SPEAKER_02]: And I want to see each and every person who's able to, I know it's tough.
45:23
[SPEAKER_02]: The economy sucks right now.
45:25
[SPEAKER_02]: Money's tight.
45:26
[SPEAKER_02]: I understand all that, but anyone who can.
45:28
[SPEAKER_02]: Anyone who can all you have to do is show up.
45:30
[SPEAKER_02]: We will take care of you.
45:31
[SPEAKER_02]: We have food.
45:32
[SPEAKER_02]: We have drinks.
45:33
[SPEAKER_02]: We have foam.
45:34
[SPEAKER_02]: We talk football.
45:35
[SPEAKER_02]: We we we smooth about the Broncos.
45:38
[SPEAKER_02]: We we have an adult beverage.
45:40
[SPEAKER_02]: It's it's a very, very good time.
45:41
[SPEAKER_02]: So I would encourage anyone who wants to.
45:45
[SPEAKER_02]: Oh, dross is going to be there.
45:46
[SPEAKER_02]: I love it, love it, oh, dross.
45:48
[SPEAKER_02]: And Rodney, we need you out there, man.
45:49
[SPEAKER_02]: If you can go, we would love to have you out there.
45:52
[SPEAKER_02]: Anyone who wants to come out, we got you.
45:54
[SPEAKER_02]: We'll take care of you.
45:55
[SPEAKER_02]: We will show you a good time.
45:57
[SPEAKER_02]: And we will watch a Broncos victory under the primetime lights together.
46:01
[SPEAKER_02]: It's going to be fun.
46:03
[SPEAKER_02]: So my record prediction where we had 47 minutes.
46:06
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, it's time to get out of here.
46:08
[SPEAKER_02]: A lot of people have said it already.
46:10
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm not going to go crazy.
46:11
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm going to be relatively objective.
46:14
[SPEAKER_02]: It's easy for me to go up here and say, Oh, well, the Broncos when 14 and three, they got jailed and water, they got so good players in the draft, some players are coming back healthy.
46:23
[SPEAKER_02]: It's easy for me to say, Oh, 15 and two, 16 and one, it's easy for me to be like Drew and predict 70 to know.
46:31
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm not going to do that though.
46:32
[SPEAKER_02]: I do think there's always a regression back to the mean a little bit with teams that go on these these parabolic runs.
46:42
[SPEAKER_02]: It wasn't a symmetric rise the Broncos had it was very asymmetric it was straight up.
46:48
[SPEAKER_02]: And when you have something like that, you know, the loss of gravity or for anyone who trades stocks, what goes up inevitably comes back down.
47:00
[SPEAKER_02]: And I'm not saying that we're gonna come back down to the point of nine and eight or even 10 and seven, but I don't see a 14 and two season again.
47:07
[SPEAKER_02]: However, I do see a 12 win season for the Broncos.
47:12
[SPEAKER_02]: I see them going 12 and 5.
47:14
[SPEAKER_02]: I see them contending if not winning the AFC West.
47:18
[SPEAKER_02]: And even if they don't get the number one seed, even if they don't have home field advantage in a first round by, they are going to win playoff football.
47:30
[SPEAKER_02]: And they are going to end the year.
47:31
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't, I'm not gonna say exactly where yet.
47:34
[SPEAKER_02]: because things can change and will change.
47:37
[SPEAKER_02]: But we are going to come out of this season going in a 27 saying they improved on what we saw from last year.
47:43
[SPEAKER_02]: Even if it means they get to the AFC title game again and they lose.
47:48
[SPEAKER_02]: I think we will have looked back at this season and said the Broncos are an improved team.
47:52
[SPEAKER_02]: They took another step forward and NFL watch out again for us in 2027.
47:58
[SPEAKER_02]: That's my read.
48:00
[SPEAKER_02]: So yeah, Roddy, watched him go 17 and no bow revenge tour.
48:04
[SPEAKER_02]: I would love it.
48:04
[SPEAKER_02]: Who wouldn't love that?
48:06
[SPEAKER_02]: But Chad brought up a good point that I want to expand on.
48:09
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, I could expand on it really quickly.
48:11
[SPEAKER_02]: He mentioned the Patriots going 18 and one.
48:15
[SPEAKER_02]: Wherever it was, they lost one game.
48:18
[SPEAKER_02]: If they couldn't do it with, and again, don't flame me, but the greatest quarterback of all time, arguably, one of the greatest coaches of all time, a defense that was more clutch maybe than the Broncos and more experience, more accomplished, whatever, if they couldn't do it, it's so tough.
48:38
[SPEAKER_02]: That's why it hasn't been done since 1972.
48:41
[SPEAKER_02]: And I think you don't even want that.
48:44
[SPEAKER_02]: If you guys remember, I was actually rooting.
48:47
[SPEAKER_02]: not rooting, but relax.
48:49
[SPEAKER_02]: I was like, toward the end of the year, I would say to myself, if the Brock was lost to football game, I wasn't going to be too mad.
48:56
[SPEAKER_02]: I would rather than get the loss out of the way than then lose in the playoffs.
49:00
[SPEAKER_02]: You guys remember me saying that, we said that a lot.
49:03
[SPEAKER_02]: And that's kind of the same thing.
49:05
[SPEAKER_02]: There would be so much pressure if the Brock was at a perfect regular season to play that first playoff game.
49:13
[SPEAKER_02]: It's it's not very tenable in today's NFL.
49:16
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't if if the Broncos end up winning a Super Bowl I do not care what their final record is.
49:22
[SPEAKER_02]: That's all for vanity.
49:24
[SPEAKER_02]: That's all for ego.
49:25
[SPEAKER_02]: That's all for chess beating and style points I don't care if they win nine games ten games in the regular season as long as they win their playoff games and as long as by the end of the year in February It is them lifting up the trophy
49:42
[SPEAKER_02]: That is all that matters.
49:44
[SPEAKER_02]: I hate to make it so simplistic, and I hate to boil it down to what that is, but that's what's so.
49:51
[SPEAKER_02]: It doesn't matter what their final record is as long as they get to the promised land.
49:56
[SPEAKER_02]: And I'll say one more time, I don't know why I hold up two fingers, one more time.
50:00
[SPEAKER_02]: if they just, if Bonix is healthy, God willing, knock wood, if they just play even a similar brand of football as last season with how clutch they are and how talented they are and even better now, they're gonna be in every game.
50:14
[SPEAKER_02]: they can win 12, 13, 14 games, that's possible.
50:18
[SPEAKER_02]: Even though I'm not predicting 14 wins, it is certainly possible.
50:21
[SPEAKER_02]: Who thought they were going to win 14 last year?
50:23
[SPEAKER_02]: Who thought they'd win 10 and 20, 24?
50:26
[SPEAKER_02]: Who thought they'd win 8 and 20, 23?
50:29
[SPEAKER_02]: With the corpse of Russell Wilson.
50:31
[SPEAKER_02]: Not me.
50:32
[SPEAKER_02]: Not me.
50:34
[SPEAKER_02]: Last year, I was as bullish as you could be about the Broncos, you could have held a gun to my head.
50:45
[SPEAKER_02]: I didn't have them playing as well as they did.
50:50
[SPEAKER_02]: That's kind of my rant.
50:51
[SPEAKER_02]: That's kind of my take as long as we don't have any last minute comments, question, supers.
50:54
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm gonna get out of here.
50:55
[SPEAKER_02]: What's your audience saying?
50:56
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I would love week three to be the meet and greet.
50:58
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, again, for anyone who wants week three that, that excellent, what I think, Ram's game, a game that could be the game of the year, could be a super bowl preview, you never know.
51:08
[SPEAKER_02]: I will be pushing for that to Chad and, you know, I said something earlier, but I think if I know him, that's what it's gonna be.
51:14
[SPEAKER_02]: But we're gonna have to do,
51:16
[SPEAKER_02]: connect some, you know, some dots here and find out what's good.
51:19
[SPEAKER_02]: We will let you guys know on Sunday at the latest, what the meet and greet is.
51:23
[SPEAKER_02]: I see you, O draws week through your down.
51:26
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, honestly, even if it's week two, it's gonna be an exciting time.
51:28
[SPEAKER_02]: It's gonna be an amazing time.
51:29
[SPEAKER_02]: Everyone still come out.
51:31
[SPEAKER_02]: I just, there's something about the Rams coming the town.
51:34
[SPEAKER_02]: Sunday night football, you know, I don't know, Stafford and Bone, it's going to be amazing.
51:38
[SPEAKER_02]: So take care of draws, take care of rock, take care of Danna, take care of McKay.
51:42
[SPEAKER_02]: Let me go through the shout-out truly quickly.
51:45
[SPEAKER_02]: I want to give love to everyone.
51:47
[SPEAKER_02]: Riley Bacon, to be good.
51:49
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't think we got this, to be good this.
51:51
[SPEAKER_02]: Riley Bacon 47, we doing an MHH, did we do this guy?
51:55
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't remember this.
51:56
[SPEAKER_02]: Okay.
51:57
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, we're going to be doing an image-rich fantasy league like every year.
52:00
[SPEAKER_02]: I believe Riley that Boise is going to be the commissioner another year last I heard from him a couple months ago.
52:07
[SPEAKER_02]: That is still the plan.
52:08
[SPEAKER_02]: So we will have more information Riley as the season gets closer.
52:13
[SPEAKER_02]: We tend to have the draft the Tuesday or so before the first game of the year.
52:18
[SPEAKER_02]: So the week of the week one, the week of week one, we will have the fantasy draft either that Tuesday, that Monday, that Sunday.
52:25
[SPEAKER_02]: We will keep you guys in the loop.
52:27
[SPEAKER_02]: If you're interested, shoot us an email, mile, high huddle at gmail.com.
52:31
[SPEAKER_02]: I will put you on the watch list.
52:32
[SPEAKER_02]: Thank you for reaching out
52:35
[SPEAKER_02]: All right, so thank you for to thank you to Deanna.
52:38
[SPEAKER_02]: Thank you to Shannon, thank you to Sam, thank you to Michaela.
52:42
[SPEAKER_02]: Who else, Ronk, unique prepping, is that it?
52:47
[SPEAKER_02]: And Ted, we'll know by week seven, whether this is a legit supermarket tender or not, that has said things change year to year.
52:54
[SPEAKER_02]: Okay, yeah, I was going through it, it's all good.
52:57
[SPEAKER_02]: Thank you to each and every one of you, Scott Conflashton, if he wants, but I read all this super, staying could each and every one of you, everyone who commented, everyone who interacted, we will have more about the mean and great, we will break down the schedule further on Sunday, Chad and I are off and until then, we will see you then, have a great start to your weekend, take care and as always, go Broncos.
53:17
[SPEAKER_00]: head on over to mylhy-huddle.com for all things broke-oose.