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NFL execs don’t expect much from Denver Broncos

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1 year ago

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NFL execs don’t expect much from Denver Broncos


ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Optimism for the Denver Broncos abounds in the Mile High City and points beyond.

But beyond Denver? Not quite as much. And in a recent survey of six NFL executives in The Athletic this week, the consensus is this: The Broncos’ prospects for 2023 aren’t grim, but they aren’t great, either.

Those executives collectively placed Sean Payton’s Broncos 12th among 16 AFC teams. That’s well out of playoff position, for one thing. For another, they placed Denver ahead of only Tennessee, Las Vegas, Indianapolis and Houston.

Three of the unnamed executives ranked the Broncos 13th. Two had them 12th. One had them 10th.

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One executive quoted cited the injures at wide receiver. The Broncos already lost Tim Patrick and potential vertical threat Jalen Virgil for the season. The team also released KJ Hamler after he came down with pericarditis. The club also re-issued his old jersey number — 1 — this week.

“It all comes back to how much progress Payton can make with the offense, and it’s a huge uphill climb because so many of his receivers are unavailable,” the executive told The Athletic. “It’s tough to develop and preserve timing when guys are not available for all or part of the season.”

However, Jerry Jeudy appears ahead of schedule in his rehab. He returned to practice on a limited basis Wednesday.

But a bigger challenge for the Denver Broncos is their surroundings. A viable scenario for the 2023 edition is some promising bursts, but a struggle to keep pace with the leviathans in the conference — particularly those with top-shelf quarterbacks.

Six of the Broncos’ 17 games come against teams led by Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, Josh Allen and Aaron Rodgers. Denver hasn’t beaten the Chiefs with Mahomes at quarterback. The Broncos are also winless against Bills teams led by Allen and 1-2 against teams piloted by Rodgers. But Denver is 3-3 against the Chargers with Herbert starting.

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Beyond them, the Broncos still have a conference with quality teams and excellent quarterbacks — Joe Burrow in Cincinnati, Lamar Jackson in Baltimore and Trevor Lawrence in Jacksonville, to name a few.

“I’m not completely out on Russell Wilson,” another executive said, “but yeah, it is hard to see them moving the needle and passing the juggernaut teams in that conference.”

***





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Denver, CO

Denver area events for Nov. 25: Pop-up holiday lounge at Union Station and more

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3 hours ago

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November 25, 2024

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Denver area events for Nov. 25: Pop-up holiday lounge at Union Station and more


If you have an event taking place in the Denver area, email information to carlotta.olson@gazette.com at least two weeks in advance. All events are listed in the calendar on space availability.

Monday

Sipping N’ Painting Hampden — “Alaska Night,” 6:30-8:30 p.m., Sipping N’ Painting Hampden, 6461 E. Hampden Ave., Denver, $35. Registration required: sippingnpaintinghampden.com.

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Brazilian Zouk Classes and Social Dance — 7-11:30 p.m., Mercury Café, 2199 California St., Denver, $20 class and social, $15 social only; mercurycafe.com.

Cloud Nothings — With Armlock, Famers Wife, 8 p.m., Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, $25. Tickets: axs.com.

Mile High Holidays Drone Show — 7 p.m. through Dec. 31, Denver skies; denver.org/milehighholidays.

“American Dreams” Exhibit — Through Dec. 31, Molly Brown House Museum, 1340 Pennsylvania St., Denver, go online for prices. Tickets: mollybrown.org.

“Shadow and Light: Patrick Marold” — Through Jan. 5, Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St., Denver, go online for prices; botanicgardens.org.

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“Vanity & Vice: American Art Deco” — Through Jan. 12, Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art, 1201 Bannock St., Denver. Go online for prices. Tickets: kirklandmuseum.org.

“Dawoud Bey: Street Portraits” — Through May 11, Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway, Denver, go online for prices: denverartmuseum.org.

Monday-Dec. 28

Miracle at Union Station: Buddy’s Bar — Pop-up cocktail lounge featuring holiday décor, cocktails and a designated Hanukkah table, 4-p.m.-midnight, Galley Bar on lower level, Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop St., Denver. Reservations: denverunionstation.com.

Monday-Dec. 30

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Free Downtown Trolley Rides — See the downtown Castle Rock decorations, 5-7 p.m. Mondays-Tuesdays, no rides Dec. 24, pickup/drop-off points Encore Garage Entrance on South Street between Wilcox and Perry Street and Douglas County School District Parking Lot Entrance on 6th Street Wilcox and Perry Street, Castle Rock; crgov.com/2622/season-of-the-star.

CARLOTTA OLSON, The Denver Gazette



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PHOTOS: Denver Broncos beat Las Vegas Raiders, 29-19, in NFL Week 12

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12 hours ago

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November 24, 2024

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PHOTOS: Denver Broncos beat Las Vegas Raiders, 29-19, in NFL Week 12




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Raiders HC Sounds Off on Broncos QB Bo Nix’s Rapid Rise

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20 hours ago

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November 24, 2024

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Raiders HC Sounds Off on Broncos QB Bo Nix’s Rapid Rise


On Sunday, fans will be treated to a head-to-head contest between two rapidly emerging offensive powerhouses, both of whom are bonafide Rookie of the Year contenders. Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix and Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers found new homes with consecutive picks during last April’s NFL draft, and since then, they’ve performed exceptionally well in the pro ranks.

Nix is firmly on the radar of Raiders head coach Antonio Piece, but that’s even more true after yet another award-winning performance last week.

“He was a winner as a freshman. He was a winner as a six-year player,” Pierce noted of Nix. “All he does is win, come in the league. Won the quarterback battle there in Denver. Maybe they were keeping them tight on the leash early on, and now they’re not. He has full control that offense. You can see that Sean Payton gives him opportunities to audible and make some adjustments. He’s making throws, he’s running with his legs, he’s taking care of the football, and he’s winning. That’s all you can ask for from a rookie.”

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Nix presents a clear and present danger to the Raiders’ chances of squeezing out what would be only their third win of their massively disappointing season. Stopping the impressive rookie is proving to be another matter entirely for NFL defenses, especially one with a badly beaten-up roster like the Raiders.

“This is crazy,” Raiders linebacker Divine Deablo said via ESPN‘s Paul Gutierrez. “I’ve never seen this amount of injuries on any team I’ve been on.”

This week, Broncos head coach Sean Payton has pumped the brakes a little on the burgeoning hype exploding around Nix. That being said, you get the distinct feeling that Payton is more than comfortable unleashing Nix’s full array of talents at his disposal. Confidence is growing in Nix, and that’s been reflected in how Payton has opened up the playbook for his first-year signal-caller.

The juices are flowing, and Payton may have found an answer in dynamic second-year receiver Marvin Mims Jr. The mystical “joker” role within the Broncos offense seems to have been filled.

“I think we always gotta be saying, ‘Hey, are we doing everything we can to highlight his strengths?’ And so, yeah, I don’t know if he’s got the ‘joker’ tattoo, but he might be invited to the club,” Payton said via Andrew Mason.

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When push comes to shove, if Nix plays lights out again, an easy win might come Denver’s way, but stopping Bowers would also ensure the victory and help in the race for Rookie of the Year honors. Payton is already on high alert, but it was also tinged with a bit of football envy when he illustrated Bowers’ “joker” abilities.

“Someone had a really good vision for him and you see all the ‘Joker’ traits, means and change of direction,” Payton said of Bowers. “It can’t be a little. It’s a high-end receiving trait and he can move, he can be outside and he can run a route tree maybe different than most tight ends.” 

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