Denver, CO
Here’s how the NFL typically handles the top seeded team’s Divisional Round schedule
As the number one seed in the AFC, the Denver Broncos could end up playing on either Saturday or Sunday. It all comes down to which teams win during Wild Card weekend.
Head Coach Sean Payton was asked about the potential Divisional Round schedule and he said nothing is finalized. However, the NFL has been known to follow a certain schedule that could end up with the Broncos playing on Saturday if either the Buffalo Bills or Los Angeles Chargers win on Sunday and they’d play the following Sunday only if they had to wait until Monday for the outcome of the Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers game.
The other thing with that extra week off is about preparation. One of the better questions the media asked of Payton on Friday was whether or not they do more advanced scouting on potential opponents they have not yet played this season.
“Look, there are four options,” Payton said. “One is in the division. We’ve played one two years in a row—or it feels like that with Houston. Buffalo. We’ll break down kind of all four and then look at… We’ll have personnel reports on the four… You do have enough time to look at third down, look at personnel packages, study situational football. I think that’s pretty common when you look at playoff history. A lot of times, you end up with a division team sometimes in the first round. I know that’s happened a number of times over the years with me. It’s hard to gauge how these other games are going to go not having spent much time looking at New England. [We’ve] seen Jacksonville. It’s one of those where you just watch them. You’re working while you watch them. You’re working on each plan, and then you go from there.”
I came away feeling like Payton and the Broncos know two of their potential opponents fairly well. The other two will get some high level review, but nothing super deep as there just isn’t enough time. That is saved for this coming week when the opponent is finalized.
Payton and his staff have some great experience coaching in the playoffs, so this young Broncos team should be well-prepared for their football game.
Frankly, I like the idea of the Broncos getting their game out of the way early. Give Payton and his staff an extra day to begin the prep work needed for the AFC Championship game provided they come out with a win in the Divisional Round.
Denver police put a shelter-in-place order in effect on Saturday night for a two-block area in the southern part of the city. A wireless emergency alert about the order was sent out to a “broader area than intended,” according to the Denver Public Safety Department.
The police department said people in the area of 2495 South Vine Street should stay inside and stay away from windows and doors “until further notice.” That’s in the University neighborhood close to the University of Denver campus.
Numerous police cars could be seen with lights flashing at 8:30 p.m. in the area around an apartment building near the intersection of Vine Street and East Harvard Avenue.
Officials from DU Campus Safety said there is “no active threat to DU” in a post on X.
So far it’s not clear what sort of threat has prompted the safety warning.
Curtis Samuel was activated off Injured Reserve on Friday, solidifying the Buffalo Bills’ wide receiver position ahead of a critical Divisional Round matchup with the Denver Broncos.
With Samuel now on the active roster and expected to be part of the team’s game-day plans against Denver, there should be a clear pecking order for targets in this game.
Buffalo Bills activate Ed Oliver, WR from IR before Divisional Round vs. Broncos
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Khalil Shakir has been the team’s leading receiver each of the past two seasons and is coming off a performance against the Jaguars this past week in which he hauled in all 12 of his targets. He will be the team’s top option once again vs. the Broncos.
Behind Shakir, Brandin Cooks had a big game against the Jaguars as well, continuing his development into the downfield threat the Bills have been searching for throughout the year. He needs to be incorporated into the passing game early if Buffalo hopes to find the consistency required to push past one of the league’s top defenses.
Then you have Keon Coleman and Samuel, who will be jockeying for the leftover targets on the outside. Samuel’s history against the Broncos, which included a 55-yard touchdown in last year’s Wild Card game, may play in his favor. However, Coleman recorded an impressive 36-yard catch and run against the Broncos, and the Bills could elect to give him the leg up in terms of snap share on the critical postseason affair.
Mecole Hardman was elevated from the team’s practice squad on Friday but it remains unclear if he will suit up to play on Saturday.
MORE: Bills suddenly need forgotten WR ‘in right head space’ with season on line vs. Broncos
Tough matchup
It will be interesting to see how the Bills define the pecking order when the two teams take the field at 4:30 p.m. But regardless of which players see their fair share of targets, they will be going up against a talented Broncos’ secondary highlighted by reigning Defensive Player of the Year, cornerback Patrick Surtain II, paired with one of the league’s most fearsome pass rushes.
It’s going to take a heroic effort from the Bills’ pass catchers to help sustain a Buffalo passing game that took positive steps a week ago.
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Denver, CO
Second victim dies over a week after shooting at Denver party celebrating Maduro’s capture
A second person who was shot at a party in Denver celebrating the arrest of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro nearly two weeks ago has died.
Police are still searching for the person responsible for the shooting on Jan.3, which left two people dead and two others wounded. The Denver Police Department said a large crowd gathered in a parking lot near South Galena Street and East Hampden Avenue late that night, and an argument broke out. Someone fired into the crowd, striking 16-year-old William Rodriguez Salas and three adults.
The adults were taken to local hospitals for treatment. Police said a private vehicle also attempted to drive Salas to a hospital, but he died near South Havana Street and East Iliff Avenue.
On Friday, the DPD announced that one of the adult victims has died.
Authorities are still working to discover who was responsible for the shooting. They asked anyone with information on the case to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at (720) 913-7867 or through their website.
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