This week, the Broncos will square off against the Chiefs, and as hopeless as that sounds, at least they’ll have a quarterback for this game.
In this article, Mile High Sports’ Broncos experts, Rich Kurtzman, Doug Ottewill and Zach Segars take a look at Denver’s upcoming matchup with Kansas City and answer some of your pressing questions in regards to Garett Bolles and Vic Fangio.
What do you make of the Vic Fangio hot seat rumors? Do you think the Broncos should move on after the season?
Rich Kurtzman (@RichKurtzman): Denver is not moving on this year. At least, they shouldn’t. Look, they’re not where they want to be. But this isn’t Vance Joseph bad, just regular bad. The defense is actually top-notch and that’s without Von Miller all year. The offense is a mess but there are a ton of moving parts. I’d like to see Fangio move on from McMahon because that special teams unit must improve. Give him one more year to hit .500 or better.
Doug Ottewill: Yes. I think Fangio is an excellent football mind, but he’s not a CEO-type in the mold of Shanahan, Belichick, etc. He’s a coordinator and a good one. In an ideal world, Fangio stays on on as a coordinator but hands the reins over to someone who is a CEO type. I don’t know, a Jim Harbaugh kind of hire. But that’s an entirely different question
Zach Segars: I think they’re wildly overblown. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Broncos have sent out some feelers or have tried to arrange a backup plan in case the season goes up in smoke, but I don’t see them moving on, barring a complete disaster, and that’s the way it should be. Forget about whether or not you think Fangio is a good coach, because regardless of that, that staff he’s constructed is rivaled by few in the league. That’s the real loss if you move on from Fangio.
Do you think Garett Bolles will live up to his contract?
Rich Kurtzman: Bolles won’t live up to his contract, it’s huge! But, I’m looking for him to keep up this solid and consistent play the rest of the season. If he does, that points to it continuing next year and beyond. This is his best season yet but it’s not over yet.
Doug Ottewill: Bolles will be a serviceable tackle for as long as he plays. He won’t be a hall of famer – but if he was a ring of famer the Broncos would have struck gold. Give me 2-3 ProBowl seasons and I’ll call him a major success.
Zach Segars: Although Bolles’ track record makes this contract a risk, I think his play this season could make the contract a bargain in the long term. If he continues to play like this $17 million annually is a discount in today’s league, but if he regresses back to ‘Garett holds’, that contract could become an albatross on Denver’s books.
What is the biggest key to a Broncos victory this week?
Rich Kurtzman: Score a million. Maybe knock Mahomes out of the game? That’s probably still not enough.
Doug Ottewill: Having the Ravens stop by Kansas City for a SuperSpreader BBQ event of some sort. That’s really Denver’s best and only shot.
Zach Segars: I think the biggest key for victory is to establish an efficient and dangerous ground attack, but I don’t think the Broncos need to come away from this game with a win, though it’d obviously be nice. The Broncos aren’t a playoff team yet, but lets start seeing steps in that direction. Maybe Drew Lock doesn’t beat Mahomes and the Chiefs, but after getting blown out twice, he needs to at least keep it respectable and competitive.
Who will be Denver’s player of the game?
Rich Kurtzman: Drew Lock. Well, if the game is close. Everyone will remember why they need him after last week’s debacle.
Doug Ottewill: Alexander Johnson. Why? Because he’s a player, no matter the opponent. Win or lose, he’ll make plays and be someone the vaunted KC offense must account for.
Zach Segars: If the Broncos are competitive, it will be because of Phillip Lindsay. What were Drew Lock’s two best complete games this season? New England and Miami. Those also happen to be Phillip Lindsay’s two best games this season and that’s not a coincidence.
What’s your score prediction?
Rich Kurtzman: Chiefs win 52-10.
Doug Ottewill: Chiefs win 42-23
Zach Segars: Chiefs win 41-31