5 questions with Lions Wire ahead of Broncos-Lions game

Here’s what Broncos fans should know about the Lions going into Sunday’s game.

Ahead of the Broncos’ game against the Lions in Week 16, we spoke with Jeff Risdon of Lions Wire about the Detroit-based team and what fans in Denver should expect on Sunday. Here are our questions and Jeff’s answers.

1. Spotrac.com says Matthew Stafford has a potential out in his contract after the 2021 season. Do you think the Lions might draft a QB early within the next two drafts?

It’s doubtful unless Stafford’s back injury is truly debilitating. He was having a phenomenal 2019 before breaking bones in his back, the second year in a row he’s had fractured vertebrae (in different parts of the back). He’s still only 31 and remains blessed with one of the best arms the NFL has ever seen. As long as the team — and Stafford — are confident in his health, he’s going to remain the unquestioned starter for as long as he wants to be in Detroit.

2. Speaking of QBs, do you think Detroit views Kyle Sloter as a guy to groom to become a potential starter or just as a serviceable backup? Many fans in Denver were smitten by Sloter after his strong preseason performances.

Sloter hasn’t had a chance to prove himself yet. He’s firmly behind David Blough, a guy the Lions traded for and are still high on despite his spotty play of late. His best hope is to show enough in practices to get brought back on a futures deal and compete for the No. 3 job in 2020.

3. Broncos WR Courtland Sutton has had a brilliant season. Do you think the Lions might have CB Darius Slay shadow him on Sunday?

Slay hasn’t typically shadowed anyone on a full-time basis. The Lions do use him in that capacity in critical situations, though. Hopefully there will be some of those in the game and we get to watch what the talented guys do against one another. The team is trying to evaluate rookie Amani Oruwariye too and he’s shown some ability, so look for that matchup too.

4. If you could steal one player from Denver and give him to Detroit, who would it be and why?

Von Miller, easily. The Lions sorely lack a pass rusher who can win 1-on-1. Miller is arguably the best in the NFL at doing just that. He’s the kind of talent who elevates the impact of those around him. Detroit has a pretty solid collection of talent on defense when everyone is healthy, but they desperately lack the alpha dog to lead them. That’s Miller.

5. What’s your prediction for Sunday — who wins and why?

What’s left of the Lions is barely an expansion roster. There will be exactly four Week 1 starters on the field on offense, three of them on the OL. The talent drain from injuries is incredible, and that doesn’t even broach the astonishingly inept defensive scheme that passively allows every quarterback to post a QB Rating over 110 since Week 6. Broncos 36, Lions 17.

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5 questions with Chiefs Wire ahead of Broncos-Chiefs game

Here’s what Broncos fans should know about the Chiefs ahead of Sunday’s game.

Ahead of the Broncos’ AFC West showdown with the Chiefs this week, we asked Charles Goldman of Chiefs Wire five questions about the Kansas City-based team and Sunday’s game. Here are our questions and his answers.

1. Are you worried at all about Patrick Mahomes’ longterm health? He’s been banged up a little this year.

The Chiefs have done a really good job of managing Mahomes and his injuries. It is a little alarming seeing him get dinged up through the course of an NFL season, but that’s how the game is. You look across the league and none of these guys are impervious to injury no matter the position they play. Nothing that he’s dealt with so far is career-threatening and knowing the type of guy he is, he’d work back to health if it was. So no, I’m not too worried about the beating he’s taken this season and the long term impact. Perhaps it’ll balance the scales and give us a fully healthy season of Mahomes in 2020.

2. With Damien Williams seemingly healthy again, what kind of rotation should we expect from KC’s backfield?

Yeah, I think we’ve jumped the gun a bit on Damien Williams being healthy again. His limited practice repetitions really showed the Chiefs his ribs might not be ready yet. As I’m writing this he isn’t at practice and could be listed as questionable or out.

Kansas City’s backfield has been a bit of an enigma this season. LeSean McCoy is clearly the Chiefs’ best rusher, but he’s not as agile as he once was and Andy Reid is obsessed with managing his snaps. Darwin Thompson is the budding star, but he’s just had a few mental errors that have the coaching staff hesitant to go all-in. Finally, Spencer Ware, the newcomer who is also an old friend. He didn’t look great carrying the football last week, but he was incredible in pass protection. It was like watching a secret service agent jump in front of a bullet to save the president. That’s a super-valuable thing to have on offense that throws the ball as much as the Chiefs, so expect a healthy dose of Ware.

3. If you could steal one player from the Broncos and give him to the Chiefs, who would it be and why?

This one is an easy choice for me. My fiancee is a diehard Broncos fan and she’d kill me if I didn’t choose her favorite player: Von Miller. She’s even told me that she’s such a fan of Miller that she would follow him to a new team. He’s been a model of consistency for the Broncos for a long time. He wears No. 58 to honor Derrick Thomas, a former Chiefs’ legend at his position. He’s really the perfect match made for Kansas City in my eyes.

4. Are you buying the hype surrounding Drew Lock? Do you think Kansas City should be taking him seriously?

I absolutely think that Kansas City is taking Drew Lock seriously. Getting wins in the National Football League is tough and the kid already has two of them. Andy Reid has been following Lock closely because he coached his father, Andrew Lock, as an offensive lineman at Mizzou back in the 80’s. So they have a very good idea about just how talented Lock is dating to his high school days slinging it for Lee’s Summit.

I’m personally a little hesitant to buy into the hype surrounding Lock because there are a lot of quarterbacks in this league that see a little bit of success and fall off for one reason or another. The Broncos, as you know, need a level of consistency at the quarterback spot. It remains to be seen if Lock can provide that.

5. What’s your prediction for Sunday — who wins and why?

I’m expecting the Chiefs to come away with a victory on Sunday. I think it’ll be a little bit closer than the oddsmakers are giving the Broncos credit for.

The Kansas City defense is playing some really dominant football right now. The special teams and offense are finally starting to catch up to the defense too. Denver will put up a valiant fight but with nearly 20 names on the injury report, I have a hard time seeing them having the fresh bodies to compete. Chiefs 33, Broncos 25.

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5 things Broncos fans should know about the Texans

Here are five things Broncos fans should know about the Texans.

Ahead of the Broncos’ game against the Texans this weekend, we asked Mark Lane of Texans Wire five questions about the Houston-based team. Here are our questions and Mark’s answers.

1. How has Bradley Roby looked for the Texans? He never quite lived up to his draft status in Denver.

The former 2014 first-round pick from Ohio State has looked great for the Texans. He was a very key figure in stopping the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 6 when starter Johnathan Joseph was out with an unforeseen hamstring injury. Roby’s problem has been his health. During that Kansas City game, he injured his hamstring, too, and he made his return in Week 13 against the New England Patriots in a 28-22 win. I like the way the Texans under performers like Roby a chance with one-year deals. Roby has been effective when he’s been healthy.

2. If you could steal one player from the Broncos and give him to Houston, who would it be and why?

Von Miller. Houston could use all the pass rush help they can get. Even though Miller has had availability issues himself this year, he would still provide a credible threat on the edge that would open up opportunities for other pass-rushers. Plus, anytime defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel can get his hands on all-decade worthy talent, good things happen. The Texans’ pass rush was an issue even before defensive end J.J. Watt was lost for the year in Week 8 with a pectoral injury.

3. Do the Texans have an underrated player — on offense or defense — that Denver fans should be aware of?

OLB Brennan Scarlett. The problem is he’s questionable with a shoulder injury, the same as last week versus the Patriots, and he missed that game. If he plays, Scarlett has been proficient in getting after the quarterback. With a rookie such as Drew Lock under center, it would be the right type of situation for a guy like Scarlett to flourish.

4. Who’s a better option in non-PPR fantasy football leagues: Duke Johnson or Carlos Hyde?

Carlos Hyde. With Duke Johnson, he will catch passes out of the backfield; he’s a receiver playing running back, as Deshaun Watson described him this week. Hyde has produced 853 rushing yards this season, just 135 yards away from his career high set in 2016 with the San Francisco 49ers. His two 100-yard games this season also match his career-high for 100-yard games from 2016. The 29-year-old is taking advantage of being with a good team, a situation he hasn’t been in since arguably 2014 San Francisco, his rookie year.

5. What’s your prediction for Sunday — who wins and why?

Defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel with Houston is 11-1 against rookie quarterbacks. The Texans had a big win against New England, but they are guarding against a letdown. I think the Broncos’ key to victory is to harass Deshaun Watson, melt clock with Royce Freeman and Phillip Lindsay, and see if they can get a big play or two from Courtland Sutton. Carolina provided kind of a blueprint on how to beat the Texans in Week 4: keep the game close and see if Houston shoots themselves in the foot. But I think Houston has found their identity and they won’t toy around with the Broncos. Texans 31, Broncos 23.

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5 things Broncos fans should know about the Bills

Here’s what Broncos fans should know about the Bills this week.

Ahead of the Broncos’ showdown with the Bills on Sunday, we asked Nick Wojton of Bills Wire five questions about the Buffalo-based team. Here are our questions and Nick’s answers.

1. Isaiah McKenzie had fumbling problems in Denver, which is ultimately why the Broncos cut him. Has that problem popped up in Buffalo and if so, does his explosiveness cancel out the risk of his fumbles?

This season Isaiah McKenzie hasn’t had any sort of problems with fumbling to this point. He did have a couple with the Bills last season, but it was never a glaring problem. But those fumbling issues came up as a returner and now the Bills have All-Pro returner Andre Roberts, so McKenzie actually factors into the Bills offense much more. Speaking of which, he’s going to be a player to watch this week. As you mentioned, this is the “Isaiah McKenzie revenge game.” Semi-kidding, but he did play a season-high 78 percent of snaps on offense as the Bills used a ton of 11 personnel last week against Miami. His explosiveness comes in very handy when the Bills get creative and give him carries on trick plays and end arounds.

2. Is seems like Josh Allen is protecting the football better this year than last season but he still has 10 turnovers in 10 games — is that a concern?

In regard to Allen’s giveaways, it’s a flip of a coin. In the past five games, he actually doesn’t have an interception. The Broncos have a good secondary so there’s a chance he could have the streak snapped. The MUCH bigger issue is his fumbling. When he carries the ball, he loses the ball far too often. I would bet the Broncos are well aware of this and will be swatting at the pigskin any time he takes off.

3. Do the Bills have any underrated players — on offense or defense — who Broncos fans should keep an eye on?

Linebacker Matt Milano is truthfully a Pro Bowler and borderline All-Pro some weeks. As a first-rounder in the middle of their defense, Tremaine Edmunds gets a lot of the credit and it’s deserved, too. He’s an athletic freak at 6-foot-5 who is all over the field. Milano is an undersized former safety and fifth-round pick who’s all over tight ends and backs and is just consistently impressive. Tre’Davious White at cornerback didn’t have his best game last week, but he’s also arguably amongst the best at his position in the league. On offense, to our shock here in Buffalo, John Brown leads the AFC in receiving yards entering this game. Yes, it’s true. He’s not a dynamic, explosive, guy. He’s just consistent. At least 50 yards in every game this season and he’s on pace for 1,300 yards. That simply doesn’t happen for Bills wideouts… or at least not in the past two decades.

4. Should we pick up Dawson Knox in dynasty fantasy football leagues (or even season-long leagues)?

Great question. I wouldn’t peg him as a top-tier guy type of potential, but he’s got some. When Tyler Kroft came back off injury, he was inserted as the starter. That lasted about a game and a half and over the past few weeks, the Bills haven’t been able to keep Knox off the field. He’s still a bit raw, but there is obvious upside with him as both a playmaker and blocker. A nugget for your readers: before scoring this season with the Bills, he actually had not scored a touchdown since high school. At Ole Miss he made plays, but AJ Brown and DK Metcalf were scooping up all the scores because he never once found the end zone in college. Go figure.

5. What’s your prediction for Sunday — who wins and why?

I’ve been back and forth on this one all week. The Broncos defensive improvements have been impressive, but I’m going to go with the home team here since Denver hasn’t had the most success on the year and the Bills shut down Tom Brady. No offense to Brandon Allen, but… yeah. I don’t think Josh Allen does much either, but this might be a game where a special teams or defensive score from the Bills makes all the difference at home so we’ll go 17-10 Bills.

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5 things Broncos fans should know about the Vikings

Here’s what Broncos fans should know about the Vikings ahead of Sunday’s game.

Ahead of the Broncos’ game against the Vikings this weekend, we asked Kyle Ratke of Vikings Wire five questions about the Minnesota-based team and Sunday’s showdown. Here are our questions and Kyle’s answers:

1. Gary Kubiak was beloved by Broncos fans and it was a big deal when he left the team earlier this year. Has he made any noticeable changes to the Vikings’ offense — good or bad — since last season?

On Wednesday, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer called Kubiak “maybe the best thing” that’s happened to him since taking over in Minnesota. Is that a weird thing to say? Sure, but Zimmer’s probably right. Kubiak’s commitment to running the ball, along with mentoring offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski, has helped the team immensely. The zone blocking scheme plays to the offensive line’s strengths. Obviously having a running back like Dalvin Cook certainly doesn’t hurt.

2. Many fans in Denver wanted John Elway to go after Kirk Cousins last year but the Broncos went after Case Keenum instead (that obviously didn’t work out). How do Vikings fans feel about Cousins — was he worth giving $84M guaranteed? Is it too early to say?

Is he worth the $84 million? I don’t know. What I do know is that there was really no better option for the Vikings at the time. Keenum proved to be a flash in the pan. Teddy Bridgewater wasn’t ready for game action. For a team ready to win now, Cousins proved as the best option. In 26 games as the Vikings starter, he’s gone 15-10-1 and thrown for 6,735 yards, 48 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Those numbers are good, but what matters the most is a playoff appearance for this team, which looks pretty favorable right now.

3. Broncos fans have mostly good memories of Britton Colquitt — has he performed well for Minnesota?

Colquitt has been very good for the Vikings, and he seems to be a well-respected locker room guy. Apart from a 27-yard punt against the Chiefs which helped Kansas City win the game, everything’s been cool with Colquitt.

4. Do the Vikings have any under-the-radar players that Broncos fans should keep an eye on?

With nose tackle Linval Joseph likely to miss the game after undergoing knee surgery last week, keep an eye on Jaleel Johnson. Johnson was solid in getting the start for Joseph against Ezekiel Elliott and the Cowboys. We know the Broncos want to run the ball, and this Vikings defense has been great at defending the run. We’ll see if Johnson can help continue that.

5. What’s your prediction for Sunday — who wins and how?

It’s going to be closer than people think. The Broncos will cover the 10.5-point spread, but the Vikings will create a few turnovers and Cook will have a few big plays to push the Vikings to a 21-13 win.

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