(3-7. Last week: 25)
Whatever you think about the prospects for the 2019 Broncos, first-year head coach Vic Fangio is one of the brightest defensive minds of this era, and he showed why in the first half of Sunday’s game against the Vikings. Denver ran up a 20-0 first-half lead as Fangio’s defense showed all kinds of different coverage and pressure looks at Kirk Cousins, throwing the Minnesota quarterback way off his game. At the same time, Broncos quarterback Brandon Allen was able to take advantage of Minnesota’s vulnerable secondary to a degree. But when the Vikings went no-huddle in the second half and forced Denver into base personnel situations, the picture cleared for Cousins, and Minnesota scored touchdowns on all four of its drives in the third and fourth quarter. What the Broncos can take away from this loss, and other close losses this season, is that they have a capable head coach, a strong defensive vision, and two offensive stars in wide receiver Courtland Sutton and running back Phillip Lindsay. It isn’t going to be enough for a winning record this season, especially with yet another limited quarterback in a seemingly endless string of them since Peyton Manning retired. Still, there are arrows pointing up in the Mile High City.