The Denver Broncos are back in the NFL playoffs for the first time since 2015, and their longest-tenured player — left tackle Garett Bolles — is now set to make his first postseason appearance.
Bolles, 32, was picked by the Broncos in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft. He lived through the team’s eight-year playoff drought that was snapped with a 38-0 win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
“I am grateful for these last eight years,” Bolles said after the victory. “It’s just made me who I am today, made this organization who it is today. Sometimes, when you’re in these type of moments, you look back and wonder how you got here, and it’s just by all these amazing people in this organization. From [GM] George [Paton] and Coach [Sean] Payton, I’ve gone through so many different coaches and so many different things and so many different quarterbacks, but to be in this moment, take this franchise back to where it belongs, in the playoffs, and be one of the longest-tenured Broncos… It’s the sweetest moment that I can think of and I’m just extremely grateful.”
Bolles is joined by veteran wide receiver Courtland Sutton, the second-longest tenured Bronco who has also clinched his first postseason appearance on Sunday.
“I think we care about who was out there or what we’re doing,” Bolles said. “We just wanted to get it done. Me and Courtland, we’ve been here for a long time and when the team rallied behind us and knew that they wanted to get [a spot in the playoffs] for us, it was a sweet moment. I’m just grateful for all my teammates.”
Broncos players would have wanted to make the playoffs regardless, but there was an extra push for veteran teammates like Bolles and Sutton.
“It feels amazing,” pass rusher Nik Bonitto said of clinching a playoff berth. “Obviously this is something that we’ve all wanted, but I’m just happy for guys like Garett Bolles and Courtland Sutton, guys who have been around here for a while, finally being able to do it for them. I know they are happy. It’s a good feeling.”
Denver’s rookie quarterback, Bo Nix, echoed Bonitto’s message.
“That’s really what it comes down to,” Nix said. “That’s all of it. Those guys have worked really hard. They deserve it, and they owned it this year. It means a lot. You hate to see the work you do each year (and) kind of be a little short, but this year was not. Those two have led us really well this year. They’re going to continue to lead us. Guys that are going to be around and are going to continue to make plays for this team, and it’s great.
“Also, for the young guys, Pat [Surtain] and all those guys on defense that have worked really hard this year to be in this position. [I’m] just very happy and proud of the guys. More importantly, just the organization. I think we owe it to the organization. We have a very strong ownership group that does a lot for us, and we’ve just got a lot of people that have our back, so it’s good to make the playoffs for this team.”
Surtain has reached the playoffs in his fourth season in the NFL.
“Honestly, they deserve it between them two,” Surtain said of Bolles and Sutton finally getting in. “I’ve seen in the locker room, the times where we’ve fallen short, the frustration, not being able to get it right but now we’re finally here embracing this mark — this opportunity. I’m proud for those guys because they’ve been Broncos for a long time and they hadn’t reached that moment or that point but now seeing them being able to be successful and reaching this mark, it’s a great opportunity for them.
“I’m very stoked for them and I think it gives credit towards their loyalty towards the organization. Knowing things are going to get right. Knowing things are going to follow through. Before the season, we even said, ‘This is the year where we reach that opportunity, where we reach that mark to reach the playoffs.’ Without those guys in the locker room with their belief and leadership, there’s no telling where this team would be because their leadership has been very great for this team and very deserving.”
Sutton, as usual, was well-spoken in his lengthy reaction to his first-ever playoff berth.
“It’s kind of hard to put into words the feeling,” Sutton said. “It’s a lot of hard work. You kind of heard Bo talking about it. It’s a lot of hard work, and a lot of dedication behind the scenes, offseason, during the season. There’s a lot of work that goes into these seasons. Unfortunately, there have been more times than not [where] this would probably be the last time we’re talking to you all. To be in that situation where we get a chance to extend our season one week at a time, it’s a really cool experience. I’m so happy. ‘GB’ [Bolles] and I got to have a little moment on the sideline when the game was getting ready to be over. You want to talk about a guy who has been through a lot, a guy who has battled through injuries, a guy who has battled through just as much as I have and you add a year on top of it… To see the joy and the light in his eyes, man. To know that we have a chance. That’s all you can ask for — to have a chance.
“It’s a really good feeling to just know that we have an opportunity to extend our season, to do something special and get this organization back on track to what it’s known [for]. You look on the wall and you see all of the success that this organization has had. For the past nine years, we haven’t held up our end of the bargain on the field. To be able to be in this spot where we get to continue this legacy of this season and to potentially do something special to get put up on this wall of past champions. It’s a humbling experience.
“I’m just grateful that I’m able to do this with the guys in that locker room. It’s a very hungry, dedicated locker room that we have. I tell you guys all the time how grateful I am for those guys, including the practice squad guys. We have a great group of guys in that locker room that believe in each other. To be able to go to work everyday with a group of guys like that, it’s humbling to be able to have this moment with them.”
Denver, of course, wants to accomplish more than just reaching the postseason. The Broncos are now set to go on the road to face the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the NFL playoffs, and Denver is considered a big underdog.
“Let the doubters doubt, man, this team is full,” Bolles said.
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: ESPN 
