00:00:00
Speaker 1: It's the battle roll.
00:00:01
Speaker 2: Yeah, four teams remaining and only two teams will advance to Super Bowl sixty in Santa Clara. Welcome inside the Broncos podcast studio for another episode of Altitude Advantage.
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Speaker 1: I'm your host and team reporter. At least said Nan this across the table.
00:00:14
Speaker 2: We have our lead writer on Denver Broncos dot com, Eric Zalala. You guys see him on the two shot there. If you guys are watching on YouTube, you appreciate you guys watching, listening, subscribing, liking, and leaving comments. You have a lot to talk about in this episode. We're gonna read some of your comments. Really look into this matchup, this championship matchup set versus New England, and talk about just the vibes that have been going around the building. Yesterday, Jared Sidham talked on the podium, really gave his thoughts on starting on Sunday. But Championship Sunday will feature a battle between the Patriots and the Broncos with a one pm kickoff time. How excited are you for what's to come this Sunday?
00:00:53
Speaker 3: Yeah? I can't wait.
00:00:53
Speaker 4: And I think my overwhelming takeaway is something we heard from guys like Evan Agrum, like jared'stid I'm like Courtland Sutton, like patz Ortana's just how big of an opportunity this is?
00:01:06
Speaker 3: And that's what it is.
00:01:07
Speaker 4: And listen, we've talked a lot about, Hey, you never know when the Broncos could be back, and that's true. I think my perspective has changed a little bit, just to go back for one second, based on what we saw from this team against the Bills, what we saw from bo Nicks in particular, and how he played at the highest possible level in the highest of stakes, right and on the biggest stage, and.
00:01:35
Speaker 3: So that alone, and.
00:01:37
Speaker 4: Then seeing how this team battled and won a game against arguably one of the best quarterback and not arguably he is one of the best quarterbacks in Josh Allen, and arguably the best quarterback in the league in Josh Allen, seeing Boix go toe to toe with him. You know, I don't know if you can guarantee a one seed every year necessarily, but I have a lot of confidence that the Broncos will be back in the postseason. And so that I just want to say that as we you know, both posted a nice message on Wednesday his first comments and suffering the injury, and I have no doubt that the Broncos will be back with bo Nix. But this is about this year right now, right and this is a superb opportunity that the Broncos have to advance to a Super Bowl and give themselves a chance to win a fourth Lombardi Trophy. And you know, I don't know that it uh. You know, even though you don't have your your starting quarterback as we said Monday or Tuesday or whenever we did our last podcast, I still have every ounce of confidence in this team that they can find a way to get it done. And I think they realize the opportunity that they have and that these don't come around all the time, and that this is you're one of four teams left here it Stidham said, right like, we're one of four teams that's still playing and what could be more fun than that? And Evan Ingram said, I've watched these games on couch my entire career and now finally gets a chance to uh to experience this. Only three players on the Broncos active roster have ever been to a Super Bowl and so what a chance for this team at home with a terrific home field advantage, with an offense that you know, Sean Payton said again and again, how ready Jared Stidham is for this moment And we'll talk about that with a with a Denver defense that is finally seen that turnover floodgate open and forced five turnovers a week ago. And I think with this pass rush have a chance to to get after Drake Man. I think that's gonna be a big part of this game coming up. But but it just you're hosting championship Sunday and to see the excitement from the guys and also to see the fans rally the way they have, particularly.
00:03:51
Speaker 3: Behind Jared Stidham.
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Speaker 4: You know, obviously people feel for bow, but this season is not over and and this is not I know the bron because they're underdogs, but but they're gonna believe they can win, that they can go out and get to the Super Bowl, get to Super Bowl sixty, accomplish what they set out to do at the beginning of the season when they said we'll be back in Santa Clara, And yeah, I just that's kind of the main thing for me, is what a moment, What an opportunity and it's all about the work, the week of work and preparing, but let's go take advantage of this.
00:04:26
Speaker 1: Yeah.
00:04:26
Speaker 2: And Jared Sidham when he spoke to the media on Wednesday, he was very meticulous with his words and saying like, look like me and Bo spend a lot of time together me Bo and Sam Like, he's not only such a good competitor, but he's one of my best friends. And so there's a different layer of what he feels in terms of Bo going down and also the opportunity that he has. And you see Bo also giving that support right back to Jared Sidham, and I think that's again, that's what makes this team so special. I've talked about it on multiple podcasts where people ask me what makes this team different?
00:04:55
Speaker 1: What makes this team special? And it's because of that.
00:04:57
Speaker 2: It's that relationship that these build and understanding wanting to go out there and play for each other. A lot of guys in the locker room have had nothing but good things to say about Jerry Siddam and the way he prepares. Courtland Sign in particular, giving high praise saying if there's the guy that prepares as well as Bo Nigs it's him, and so you know, just kind of that continuity that this team has, that constantly wanting and needing to be ready because they've seen all season guys go down, other guys step up, those kind of unsung heroes that have come in for a few games to really manage the ship.
00:05:29
Speaker 1: Has been really special to watch.
00:05:31
Speaker 2: And I know this Sunday they can't wait, and I know, like you mentioned, it's just another opportunity for them to go out there and showcase. Like you know, they've joke like we've always been underdogs all seasons, what's really changed?
00:05:42
Speaker 1: And now his opportunity to go out there and shrow it once again.
00:05:45
Speaker 3: Yeah, in all year the Broncas have just like.
00:05:51
Speaker 4: This team is all about finding a way, and it's not always pretty and it's not always how you draw it up, but they've done it. And I mean, I don't think there's any better kind of parallel or example than than what you're facing going into this weekend.
00:06:08
Speaker 3: And you've got to find.
00:06:09
Speaker 4: A way with a with your backup quarterback who well again we'll talk about, but I think it's prepared for this moment.
00:06:15
Speaker 3: But but still it's it is a big.
00:06:17
Speaker 4: Change, and like Michael Glinchy said the other day, it's not like a normal piece of adversity that you've lost your your leader and your starting quarterback.
00:06:25
Speaker 3: It is a big deal.
00:06:26
Speaker 4: And yet I just get this sense that like they're gonna be ready to play, and you know, I expect a close game, will see how it turns out. But I would be stunned if if they're not right in this thing. And that's because of the guys on this team that have come up in big moments again and again and again, and end of game scenarios, they find a way. Think of how many different plays there were in that game against the Bills, where if just one of them goes against the Broncos, you know, the locker rooms cleaned out, and we're sitting here talking about what draft pick we have and and the twenty twenty sixth season already like that. But yet they you know, ja Quon McMillan doesn't panic, finds a way to make an unbelievable interception. You've got guys that make big time catches, Bo obviously makes big time throws. You force the turnover like they've just found a way. And I think there are in as we go on well, we'll talk about I think there's like some matchup things here that that could help the Broncos. But also there's just this feeling with this him and I'm sure the Patriots have the same feeling, right like seeing them their team going from you know, four and thirteen or whatever it was to fourteen and three, Like they probably feel the exact same way. That's that's what all teams feel this time of year. But just the the belief in the way that they've won it is eerily similar to the twenty fifteen season and the way they won those games. And in the postseason we talked about it going in the defense took over and Peyton Manning he kind of and I think a lot of people watching that post season would say, like he managed that postseason right. It wasn't twenty twelve, twenty thirteen, two thousand and four. Peyton Manning and the defense had to make a lot of plays for the Broncos to go on that run, and then Manning made the plays when he needed to. And you know, in no way am I comparing Jared sit him to Peyton Manning, but there could be maybe a similar blue yeah, and hearing guys like a keep to leave and TJ. Ward, who were on that defense talking about this team in a way that they still believe, like it gives me confidence that that you can find a way yet again when when nobody believes in you and you and you're the biggest home underdog in conference championship history. I mean, you're talking about fifty plus years of this and no team's ever been a bigger underdog at home on conference championship weekend. And listen that if that's not motivation of and I think maybe Mike mcglinche said out on Monday, like nobody and you mentioned it, like nobody's believed in us all year.
00:09:07
Speaker 3: It's not going to start.
00:09:08
Speaker 4: Now, and maybe they can ride that to another win into a Super Bowl birth, but just what a what a chance and what an opportunity, and you got to find a way to take advantage of it. And it, like we said, it is the year of the horse, so maybe that has something to do with it.
00:09:23
Speaker 2: Hire horseh You know, it's really interesting when you look back at the season, and we talked about how head coach Sean Payton has managed emotions after big wins, after big losses, and how he has really taught the team how to internalize those things, use it as motivation, flush it, do whatever you need to do. All those things that you learned during the season really kind of factor in now because you're dealing with the emotions of losing your starting quarterback and how do you handle the emotions of coming off a big game and winning in overtime, how do you not let that get too big for the moment, And knowing that they kind of dealt with similar situations, whether it was losing key guy or when Pat went out for a few weeks and things like that, how they were able to manage those things and translate into going on a run. And you're hoping that the Broncos can continue to do it as we head to Super Bowl sixty. And I know that Broncos Country is also excited for this game, and I know that we have some comments to read, so let's check in on the pulse of Broncos Country.
00:10:19
Speaker 3: Yeah. Absolutely.
00:10:20
Speaker 4: These are from our podcast on Monday after Tuesday, who knows what day anything is these days after we talked about the Bonnex news, the Jared Stidham news, all that, and not as many questions this week. But I think we'll talk about Jared Stidham on the field, but the fan base has rallied behind him, and I think that we see that here in the comment section Coltman seven three three we Bo leave and Jared Stidham go Broncos Bulwark tier thoughts for Bow. I know he will recover and come back better than before. Our Broncos are a team first team. I'm continually impressed by the demeanor and the way every member conducts themselves. A true team of professionals and a team of Super Bowl winners. This one's for Bow. Strato Static Conna shot Jared Stidham, Super Bowl sixty m v P.
00:11:09
Speaker 3: Let's go.
00:11:09
Speaker 4: That would be amazing. Chris Brayden, Let's go boys, They've doubted you all year long. Shock the world one more time, sky High sky High's Max Denver six and one at home in AFC Championship games. It's a stadium where opposing playoff champions go to die. Okay, yeah, we'll talk about the home field. That's a that's a big part of it. That is an intense comment. Mythic Games says, I told you where the team of destiny Bow got us this far. Now the team will win it. For him. Let's see who else anybody else? Who else we got, uh, bon Nicks, Let's do this. Boys for Bo, not not the actual Bonex presumably, but.
00:11:51
Speaker 3: But a fan.
00:11:52
Speaker 4: We got some letters and numbers at the At the end, Bo proved he's a top ten QB that's from Alex Barrios City can lee just the Promised Land, and then Broncos ten. Let's go Broncos were very resilient and battle tested. This team has put in so much work this season to get to this moment. Let's capitalize on scoring opportunities, keep making big plays on defense, and fight to win the AFC Championship. We play for bow Let's go love it. And you know kind of mentioned there in the comments the home field advantage. Yeah, the defense want to get to those things. But I think Jared Stidham's where you have to start with this game.
00:12:29
Speaker 1: Yeah, no, I completely agree with you.
00:12:31
Speaker 2: And you know the way that Jerriet talked about this moment to the media on Wednesday, he said, you know, every week the last three years with this team, I prepared the same way I've prepared as if I am the starter. Obviously it hasn't been that way, but nothing's really changed for me going into this week because I'm always preparing for the chance to win, because you've seen it across the league.
00:12:51
Speaker 1: You never know what happens.
00:12:52
Speaker 2: We've seen other quarterbacks from other teams go down early on in the season and backup quarterbacks having to come up, and so you always have to stay ready. And I think that's one of the beautiful things about this team and the culture that's being built that not even being built.
00:13:05
Speaker 1: That's built here is.
00:13:07
Speaker 2: The fact that they go at full speed. Everyone has a chance, you know, everyone is always moving like at the top sped that they possibly can. And they a lot of guys in the locker room were asked about head coach Sean Payton and the way that he's like the ultimate motivator, right and how does that work and how do they feed off of that, especially in a game like this, and they just buy into what he's saying. And I think when you look at Jared Sidham, he's had this for three years, he's been part of this for three years. He knows this team. As I mentioned, Cortland said, say, he knows the playbook and we have all the confidence in the world that he's going to go out there and do the things that need to be done in order.
00:13:46
Speaker 1: For us to have success.
00:13:48
Speaker 4: Yeah, I think there's a bunch of things that give me confidence in Jared Sidtam And then one of them is that Sean Payton and this team are so confident in Jared's Sidtam and that they believe in him and they've seen him up close for three years. And Sean Payton one of the things he said was that this team a lot of the things that Jared Stidham does, the media hasn't seen right because it's been behind the scenes. And the mistake that I think people can make is looking at the clips from twenty twenty two or twenty twenty three and assuming that's the exact Jared Stidham you're going to get, and make no mistake, there's some really exciting plays that he made. You look back at that game he played against the forty nine ers with the Raiders, he was ripping some throws and that sounds like the same approach that they will take this year or excuse me, this week against the Patriots. But that doesn't mean that's the fully developed product that you're going to see on the field. And I think players get better, and Jared Stidham talked Wednesday about how working with Davis Webb, working with Sean Payton, being in this system for three years, that he feels like he's a better quarterback now than he was two or three years ago, and that makes sense. That player's improven. It it's a big reason why he came back. It's a big reason why the Broncos signed him the first day of free agency when Sean Payton first got here. It's a big reason why they re signed him this past offseason. I believe right like it was one of the reasons why he was a key priority. And that was clear to me watching this past preseason. And I know it's just preseason and it's it's not the AFC Championship game, and it's not against the same caliber of players, but the clear difference between Jared Stidham in that action versus even the twenty twenty four preseason I thought was significant. And he made some big time throws. He's got the arm strength he's not gonna be afraid to put in to kind of deliver in those big moments, make big time throws.
00:15:53
Speaker 3: He's got the mobility.
00:15:55
Speaker 4: All those things matter from a physical skill standpoint, and then there's the intelligence of knowing what you're supposed to be doing and knowing what the checks are and how to attack different defenses. There's the calmness in the huddle when you're in a big moment that Sean Payton made it clear he's not comparing him necessarily to other players, but he talks about in Mark Brunell, for example, type of guy who obviously did a lot in this league, and for Jared sent him to share kind of those same calm traits and ability to reset the guys.
00:16:36
Speaker 3: That's a big deal.
00:16:38
Speaker 4: And so does anybody really know what we're gonna see someday?
00:16:43
Speaker 3: No? I don't think so.
00:16:44
Speaker 4: What all echo would I have heard from a lot of other national people people in this market. Dave Logan, for example, voice of the Broncos on his show. I would be more surprised if Jared Stidham doesn't play well compared to coming out and operating this offense efficiently, making some big time throws, making some plays when needed when his leg with his legs. I think one of the keys will be to avoid sacks. Obviously, that's one of the things bo does very well. I think I saw a stat that maybe like since they start among players with enough qualifying stats, he's one of the best all time in terms of avoiding sacks. And obviously we know that those can can hurt drives and can end drives, and so can Jarrett Stidham avoid those types of plays Against a really good Patriots defense that's had a lot of success. He does have an offensive line in front of him that has two first team All Pros on it has played at a really high level, probably better than either of the offensive lines that the Patriots have faced in the playoffs this season. And then there's one more thing which I saw a story by Troy Rank with the Denver Post. He talked to Jeff Hosteler, who is kind of one of the best people that you could compare in this scenario. He goes in for the Giants after Phil Simms goes out and he ends up leading the Giants to a Super Bowl victory. And he said Bill Parcells, who we know is obviously Sean Payton's mentor. Parcels gets up in front of the Giants and he told this to the Never Post. If we lose the game, it's not gonna be because of Jeff Hosteller and then he says, basically, it's the concern is about everybody else stepping up, and not just stepping up, but like doing your job. And he basically said, Jeff Hosteller's gonna be fine. And I think we've heard Sean Payton talk about before, like Teddy Bridgewater. He's gonna be fine, not worried about Teddy. And so that to me is another part of this is like there's so much attention this week on Jared Stidham listening to Jared Stidham, listening to Sean Payton talk about Jared Sidham. Jared Stidham is gonna be fine. He's gonna go in there and do what he needs to do. Can everybody else around him put aside the difficulty of losing bow the sudden change of having Jared step into the lineup and then play at their best. Portland Sutton, can you play at your best?
00:19:17
Speaker 1: Yeah?
00:19:17
Speaker 3: You know?
00:19:18
Speaker 4: Offensive line? Can you play at your best? Running backs? Can you play at your best? You got to play well around Jared Stidham. But this is not It's still a team game. It's not just about one player. I feel good about his ability to come and step in and play at a high level. But everyone else has to do their part too, and so that'll be key this weekend.
00:19:34
Speaker 2: Yeah, you said it right there, just talking about the old line, the way they protected Bonix all season long, like that same protection is going to have to come for Jared Sidam And I know that those guys take a lot of pride in keeping the quarterbacks Jersey clean, and I know that they're going to do their best to give Jared what they need, what he needs to find his receivers, especially in a game that's going to be as physical as we're expecting it to be. And obviously whether whatever the weather is and things like that, things might have to change. But I think another big part of Jared said I'm coming in is what the Broncos have preached all season long is protecting home field, playing these big games.
00:20:11
Speaker 1: At your home field.
00:20:12
Speaker 2: I can only imagine the difference it would be if the Broncos had to travel this weekend for the AFC Championship game with this happening, right, It's a different mindset that you have to have versus you're at home. You're able to do things that you normally do and have the same routine your game day routine for a home game. And when you look at this matchup overall all time, this is the sixth time the Broncos will play the Patriots in the postseason. They've met five times before. Denver leads at all time series four to one, with each franchise winning their games at home. Because at this point in the postseason, yes, it is about fall security and pretend the quarterback and limiting turnovers and things like that, but it's also when things aren't going your way earlier, things may not be falling the way that you want them to. Your crowds still being loud, still rallying behind you, still yelling out with they need to yell out, disrupting their huddle and things like that. All those little nuances matter even more at this level in the AFC Championship game, and I think with them having the home field advantage aspect to this game, it's really going to help this team, especially in those moments where less pretend a drive does not go or doesn't end the way that they wanted to. It's hard to get down when you have Broncos country screaming for support in those moments.
00:21:28
Speaker 4: Yeah, And I think starting with the offensive side of the ball. Obviously, it makes things easier for Jared Stidham in this offense as they get adjusted. And Sean Payne I think mentioned something about like the cadence can be a little different. You have to worry about false starts. To me, that feels easier to deal with at home than on the road. And so that's you know, Jared stidium is going to have as calm an atmosphere to it to operate in as possible. And obviously there's still nerves and there's still the pressure, if you will, that comes with playing an AFC championship game, but you don't have to deal with an opposing crowd. And we've heard Bonick and Courtland Sutton talk a lot about how valuable that is for them in terms of checks and that sort of thing. That's a huge advantage. And then on the other side, and this kind of will lead into our defensive pow wow, is that you have the advantage of having Drake may come on the road and he's a really impressive young quarterback, taken a huge step year over year.
00:22:32
Speaker 3: He might be the league MVP. It'll be him or Stafford.
00:22:34
Speaker 4: It seems like he's beaten two top five defenses each of the last two weeks. I do not believe the Patriots lost on the road this year, so he he's played at a really high level. That said, obviously you prefer the advantage of him having to come on the road and play in a hostile environment as opposed to getting the benefit of playing at Chollette Stadium. And it's worth mentioning. I think we said it Monday. The only reason this game is here is because the Patriots lost Week one of the Raiders, And it's crazy that a Week one game could decide where this game is being played, and especially against a team that ended up with the number one pick in the NFL Draft.
00:23:18
Speaker 3: It's just it's wild.
00:23:20
Speaker 2: And that was so early on in the season, and you couldn't maybe have even seen that coming because that game happened so earlier.
00:23:26
Speaker 1: Kind of like, all right, well, I'm sure.
00:23:28
Speaker 2: Patriot uns a probably thinking, oh, they're not in our division, like it's a loss, but whatever, like we can move on from that and then next thing, you know, the implications later on the line are huge, especially in this moment. And you are correct, the Patriots did not lose on the world during the regular season, and this will be the first time they're traveling this postseason.
00:23:44
Speaker 4: Yeah, and so any edge you can get, and whether it's the altitude kind of wearing a team down late, whether it's the crowd noise, you take anything you can get. And I think kind of the strength of this Broncos defense has been the pass rush. And I asked Vance Joseph at some point, like, hey, is it a real thing that playing at home for a pass rush is an advantage? And he was like, yeah, you can time the snap count better than you can on the road because they're going silent. You can kind of play the play clock to some advantage. And we've seen this year. I don't have the splits in front of me, but like at home, especially, this pass rush has gotten after teams and then you get a big sack and it gets the crowd going, and then it puts them in third and long and it sets up chances for turnovers.
00:24:34
Speaker 3: Like those are big deals.
00:24:37
Speaker 2: I mean, you saw what happened in the last minute of the game versus Buffalo and the way the bron goes able to respond, get a turnaround, get more points.
00:24:45
Speaker 4: Yeah, exactly, And so that's where the home field advantage I think really matters is that you have.
00:24:52
Speaker 3: A younger quarterback who had how Grady is like, it's still a.
00:24:55
Speaker 4: Challenge to go and play on the road, and we just saw Josh Allen struggle with it to some degree, like you said. And so the Broncos pass rush Drake May has been sacked ten times over two games in the postseason, a number of turnovers as well. He's had some fumbles, haven't hasn't lost all of them, but it's fumbled several times. To me, one of the keys is can this pass rush get to Drake May? Can they force a couple of turnovers? Like you might need a strip sack from Nick Benino, you might need a strip sack from Zach Allen or for him to knock the ball out on Drake May's way to the ground. Those feel like last week the five turnovers Sean Payton said, the single handedly were the reason we won the football game. And that feels to me like something this week you've got to do again as well, is you have to force turnovers. You have to win the turnover battle. I think you've got to win the kind of that sack differential as well. And with this pass rush operating off that home field advantage. That extra gives you, even if it's a split second, to just kind of get up field, get an early beat on the tackle.
00:26:06
Speaker 3: That will matter.
00:26:07
Speaker 4: And if the Broncos can can win up front at the line of scrimmage, they've got to stop the run better than they did a week ago. Obviously they gave up a lot of yards to James kak Yep, to James Cook, to Josh Allen. If they can stop Ramandre Stevenson Traveon Henderson and then put them in these third and long scenarios, that's when your pass rush can really get after him. But this to me feels like it could be a defensive battle. And so a key sack a one area where that the Patriots, for as good as an event, have not been as good as in the red zone and on third down. And so if the Broncos, who I believe have the number one red zone defense in the NFL and the second third down defense, can they get an edge there? Like these are the small things that will decide who wins this football game. But but if Drake may said at this week he's not afraid to take shots down the field, basically got some talented receivers there talented tight ends. But if you can hold up in the red zone and hold them to three or it's a big third down, can you hold them, that's going to matter. And then I think it could be the same as last week, Like you could be in a spot where you're up for you're up three with two minutes to play. Can your defense this week find a way to get a big time stop. It's kind of strength on strength Patriots offense first, Denver defense. But that's where a lot of this game is going to be decided.
00:27:33
Speaker 2: I think, yeah, you talked about a lot there, especially limiting those big plays and forcing third and long. Against Houston, the Patriots were three or fourteen on third down, They had eight punts. He was sacked five times in that game. As you mentioned those turnovers, New England hand they're having two fumbles and win interception. I mean, those are the moments that now you need the offense to respond and capitalize when that happens. When you saw them out on third and long and they have to punt it, when you get a key interception, use that field position. I mean, we've seen a bunch of games this season where the Broncos have played primarily on the other side of the field and taken advantage of field position, whether the it's to special teams or turnovers. All that's going to be a massive emphasis with this game, especially given the fact that Houston is one of the top defenses in the NFL. And you saw what Drake May was able to do against him, but you also saw where Drake May struggled against them, and.
00:28:24
Speaker 1: How do you use that to your advantage?
00:28:26
Speaker 2: And I believe it was Nick Bonito after the game on Saturday when he was asked about his stripsacks and he said, like, why, I watched a lot of film and I saw like when he kind of leaves the pocket, he tends to put the ball in one hand for like a split second, Like, so I use that attention to detail to then knock the ball out. That's exactly the attension of detail that the Broncos are going to need to have to attack Drake May, to limit their playmakers, limit those big plays. And I just I can't wait to see Tlenohafunga in this game. If you guys haven't seen the sights and sounds that was produced after that Saturday when he was micd Up on the field and just seeing that intensity that he has, especially when he's hunting for the ball. It's gonna be really interesting to see him and how he kind of manages the backfield there.
00:29:08
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:29:09
Speaker 4: I mean again, like we said on offense, these guys have to step up and make big plays in big moments, and you need your best players in Nick Benito's the telenohufung As the Pats Ertans to play at a high level and respond in big moments. And that's what these games come down to. A few big plays here or there. I don't expect that to be any different. And even though the conversation is widely going to be about Jared Sidham, like, it's still about what everybody else does and how do you do your job? And yeah, it just feels like this defense is ready to respond. And it was an interesting game last week. You know, they had five turnovers but didn't force a punt. Like may need to force a few more punts this week and it could be a defensive battle. But I think you me the Texans game. I look at that and think if the Texans had played cleaner football, And granted some of this is forced by New England's defense, which is playing at a really high level. But if they played cleaner football and they'd avoid the turnovers. Now you're talking about a game that is much closer and maybe one that Houston even wins.
00:30:18
Speaker 3: And so.
00:30:21
Speaker 4: Their defense probably did enough to keep them in that football game, right. And so if Denver's defense plays close to that level, and it has the advantage of playing at home versus on the road like Houston, and then Jared Stidham and this offense can do their part, then you're looking that's kind of the recipe for success there. And I know, again the Broncos are underdogs, but I fully expect them to come out and be in this football game. Use the energy, use the doubt, nationally, use the motivation of playing for bo Nicks.
00:30:56
Speaker 3: All those things matter.
00:30:58
Speaker 4: And you give yourself a chance to put yourself in this elite group and earn a Super Bowl berth and put yourself one win away from a Lombardi Trophy, and you become a team that gets remembered forever around here.
00:31:15
Speaker 3: Right.
00:31:16
Speaker 4: And so you have this opportunity, now you've got to go find a way to take it.
00:31:22
Speaker 2: Set in the tone I think is really important, and when I spoke to Talanohafunga last week ahead of the Buffalo game. I said, you know, coming off that week, by how do you not start slow? And he's like, will you prepare? And when you're prepare, you're able to start fast. And I think that same tone needs to be set in this game where they're able to whether it's three and out, you know, score first, get some points on the board first, whatever you need to do to start fast against this Patriots team.
00:31:48
Speaker 1: Because I think.
00:31:50
Speaker 2: Everyone's kind of talking about, as you mentioned, the playmakes and things like that, but in these moments, you do you definitely lean on your captains and the guys i've had playoff experience like Talanohafunga, but you also lean on your biggest stars. And I mean, let's not forget the Broncos have the reigning defensive player of the Year in Patzertan. They have a finalist for defensive put of the Year in Nick Bonito. Those two guys, I feel like you're gonna be very integral part in how this defense is able to function and create disruption for the Patriots. I mean Patzertan last week in the Division a lotg of three receptions and thirty one receiving yards. As the primary defender in coverage and per next Gen stats, Certan has only allowed one receiving touchdown on five hundred and seventy two covered snaps in twenty twenty five. That's including the playoffs. And so everyone knows what patser Tan can do. But I think when you look at just the caliber of the players on this team, I think it adds to what you know they're capable of on Sunday.
00:32:46
Speaker 3: Yeah, and they.
00:32:47
Speaker 4: Know what's at stake. We know what's at stake, and I can't wait to watch it.
00:32:52
Speaker 2: Well, I know, Broncos country, you can't wait to be there, and as we've told you all season long, want to make sure you guys are allowed to disrupt their huddle. Kickoff for Championships is at one pm Adam Powerfield at Mile High where the Broncos will take on the New England Patriots for a chance to punch their ticket to Super Bowl sixty in Santa Clara. We appreciate you guys listening to another episode of Altitude Advantage. I'm your host and TIM reporter Lisa Nandez.
00:33:13
Speaker 1: Across the table.
00:33:14
Speaker 2: We have our lead writer on Denver broncos dot com or Exlala for everything leading up to Championship Sunday.
00:33:19
Speaker 1: That's where you need to head.
00:33:20
Speaker 2: Denver Broncos dot com
Speaker 1: It's the battle roll.
00:00:01
Speaker 2: Yeah, four teams remaining and only two teams will advance to Super Bowl sixty in Santa Clara. Welcome inside the Broncos podcast studio for another episode of Altitude Advantage.
00:00:11
Speaker 1: I'm your host and team reporter. At least said Nan this across the table.
00:00:14
Speaker 2: We have our lead writer on Denver Broncos dot com, Eric Zalala. You guys see him on the two shot there. If you guys are watching on YouTube, you appreciate you guys watching, listening, subscribing, liking, and leaving comments. You have a lot to talk about in this episode. We're gonna read some of your comments. Really look into this matchup, this championship matchup set versus New England, and talk about just the vibes that have been going around the building. Yesterday, Jared Sidham talked on the podium, really gave his thoughts on starting on Sunday. But Championship Sunday will feature a battle between the Patriots and the Broncos with a one pm kickoff time. How excited are you for what's to come this Sunday?
00:00:53
Speaker 3: Yeah? I can't wait.
00:00:53
Speaker 4: And I think my overwhelming takeaway is something we heard from guys like Evan Agrum, like jared'stid I'm like Courtland Sutton, like patz Ortana's just how big of an opportunity this is?
00:01:06
Speaker 3: And that's what it is.
00:01:07
Speaker 4: And listen, we've talked a lot about, Hey, you never know when the Broncos could be back, and that's true. I think my perspective has changed a little bit, just to go back for one second, based on what we saw from this team against the Bills, what we saw from bo Nicks in particular, and how he played at the highest possible level in the highest of stakes, right and on the biggest stage, and.
00:01:35
Speaker 3: So that alone, and.
00:01:37
Speaker 4: Then seeing how this team battled and won a game against arguably one of the best quarterback and not arguably he is one of the best quarterbacks in Josh Allen, and arguably the best quarterback in the league in Josh Allen, seeing Boix go toe to toe with him. You know, I don't know if you can guarantee a one seed every year necessarily, but I have a lot of confidence that the Broncos will be back in the postseason. And so that I just want to say that as we you know, both posted a nice message on Wednesday his first comments and suffering the injury, and I have no doubt that the Broncos will be back with bo Nix. But this is about this year right now, right and this is a superb opportunity that the Broncos have to advance to a Super Bowl and give themselves a chance to win a fourth Lombardi Trophy. And you know, I don't know that it uh. You know, even though you don't have your your starting quarterback as we said Monday or Tuesday or whenever we did our last podcast, I still have every ounce of confidence in this team that they can find a way to get it done. And I think they realize the opportunity that they have and that these don't come around all the time, and that this is you're one of four teams left here it Stidham said, right like, we're one of four teams that's still playing and what could be more fun than that? And Evan Ingram said, I've watched these games on couch my entire career and now finally gets a chance to uh to experience this. Only three players on the Broncos active roster have ever been to a Super Bowl and so what a chance for this team at home with a terrific home field advantage, with an offense that you know, Sean Payton said again and again, how ready Jared Stidham is for this moment And we'll talk about that with a with a Denver defense that is finally seen that turnover floodgate open and forced five turnovers a week ago. And I think with this pass rush have a chance to to get after Drake Man. I think that's gonna be a big part of this game coming up. But but it just you're hosting championship Sunday and to see the excitement from the guys and also to see the fans rally the way they have, particularly.
00:03:51
Speaker 3: Behind Jared Stidham.
00:03:54
Speaker 4: You know, obviously people feel for bow, but this season is not over and and this is not I know the bron because they're underdogs, but but they're gonna believe they can win, that they can go out and get to the Super Bowl, get to Super Bowl sixty, accomplish what they set out to do at the beginning of the season when they said we'll be back in Santa Clara, And yeah, I just that's kind of the main thing for me, is what a moment, What an opportunity and it's all about the work, the week of work and preparing, but let's go take advantage of this.
00:04:26
Speaker 1: Yeah.
00:04:26
Speaker 2: And Jared Sidham when he spoke to the media on Wednesday, he was very meticulous with his words and saying like, look like me and Bo spend a lot of time together me Bo and Sam Like, he's not only such a good competitor, but he's one of my best friends. And so there's a different layer of what he feels in terms of Bo going down and also the opportunity that he has. And you see Bo also giving that support right back to Jared Sidham, and I think that's again, that's what makes this team so special. I've talked about it on multiple podcasts where people ask me what makes this team different?
00:04:55
Speaker 1: What makes this team special? And it's because of that.
00:04:57
Speaker 2: It's that relationship that these build and understanding wanting to go out there and play for each other. A lot of guys in the locker room have had nothing but good things to say about Jerry Siddam and the way he prepares. Courtland Sign in particular, giving high praise saying if there's the guy that prepares as well as Bo Nigs it's him, and so you know, just kind of that continuity that this team has, that constantly wanting and needing to be ready because they've seen all season guys go down, other guys step up, those kind of unsung heroes that have come in for a few games to really manage the ship.
00:05:29
Speaker 1: Has been really special to watch.
00:05:31
Speaker 2: And I know this Sunday they can't wait, and I know, like you mentioned, it's just another opportunity for them to go out there and showcase. Like you know, they've joke like we've always been underdogs all seasons, what's really changed?
00:05:42
Speaker 1: And now his opportunity to go out there and shrow it once again.
00:05:45
Speaker 3: Yeah, in all year the Broncas have just like.
00:05:51
Speaker 4: This team is all about finding a way, and it's not always pretty and it's not always how you draw it up, but they've done it. And I mean, I don't think there's any better kind of parallel or example than than what you're facing going into this weekend.
00:06:08
Speaker 3: And you've got to find.
00:06:09
Speaker 4: A way with a with your backup quarterback who well again we'll talk about, but I think it's prepared for this moment.
00:06:15
Speaker 3: But but still it's it is a big.
00:06:17
Speaker 4: Change, and like Michael Glinchy said the other day, it's not like a normal piece of adversity that you've lost your your leader and your starting quarterback.
00:06:25
Speaker 3: It is a big deal.
00:06:26
Speaker 4: And yet I just get this sense that like they're gonna be ready to play, and you know, I expect a close game, will see how it turns out. But I would be stunned if if they're not right in this thing. And that's because of the guys on this team that have come up in big moments again and again and again, and end of game scenarios, they find a way. Think of how many different plays there were in that game against the Bills, where if just one of them goes against the Broncos, you know, the locker rooms cleaned out, and we're sitting here talking about what draft pick we have and and the twenty twenty sixth season already like that. But yet they you know, ja Quon McMillan doesn't panic, finds a way to make an unbelievable interception. You've got guys that make big time catches, Bo obviously makes big time throws. You force the turnover like they've just found a way. And I think there are in as we go on well, we'll talk about I think there's like some matchup things here that that could help the Broncos. But also there's just this feeling with this him and I'm sure the Patriots have the same feeling, right like seeing them their team going from you know, four and thirteen or whatever it was to fourteen and three, Like they probably feel the exact same way. That's that's what all teams feel this time of year. But just the the belief in the way that they've won it is eerily similar to the twenty fifteen season and the way they won those games. And in the postseason we talked about it going in the defense took over and Peyton Manning he kind of and I think a lot of people watching that post season would say, like he managed that postseason right. It wasn't twenty twelve, twenty thirteen, two thousand and four. Peyton Manning and the defense had to make a lot of plays for the Broncos to go on that run, and then Manning made the plays when he needed to. And you know, in no way am I comparing Jared sit him to Peyton Manning, but there could be maybe a similar blue yeah, and hearing guys like a keep to leave and TJ. Ward, who were on that defense talking about this team in a way that they still believe, like it gives me confidence that that you can find a way yet again when when nobody believes in you and you and you're the biggest home underdog in conference championship history. I mean, you're talking about fifty plus years of this and no team's ever been a bigger underdog at home on conference championship weekend. And listen that if that's not motivation of and I think maybe Mike mcglinche said out on Monday, like nobody and you mentioned it, like nobody's believed in us all year.
00:09:07
Speaker 3: It's not going to start.
00:09:08
Speaker 4: Now, and maybe they can ride that to another win into a Super Bowl birth, but just what a what a chance and what an opportunity, and you got to find a way to take advantage of it. And it, like we said, it is the year of the horse, so maybe that has something to do with it.
00:09:23
Speaker 2: Hire horseh You know, it's really interesting when you look back at the season, and we talked about how head coach Sean Payton has managed emotions after big wins, after big losses, and how he has really taught the team how to internalize those things, use it as motivation, flush it, do whatever you need to do. All those things that you learned during the season really kind of factor in now because you're dealing with the emotions of losing your starting quarterback and how do you handle the emotions of coming off a big game and winning in overtime, how do you not let that get too big for the moment, And knowing that they kind of dealt with similar situations, whether it was losing key guy or when Pat went out for a few weeks and things like that, how they were able to manage those things and translate into going on a run. And you're hoping that the Broncos can continue to do it as we head to Super Bowl sixty. And I know that Broncos Country is also excited for this game, and I know that we have some comments to read, so let's check in on the pulse of Broncos Country.
00:10:19
Speaker 3: Yeah. Absolutely.
00:10:20
Speaker 4: These are from our podcast on Monday after Tuesday, who knows what day anything is these days after we talked about the Bonnex news, the Jared Stidham news, all that, and not as many questions this week. But I think we'll talk about Jared Stidham on the field, but the fan base has rallied behind him, and I think that we see that here in the comment section Coltman seven three three we Bo leave and Jared Stidham go Broncos Bulwark tier thoughts for Bow. I know he will recover and come back better than before. Our Broncos are a team first team. I'm continually impressed by the demeanor and the way every member conducts themselves. A true team of professionals and a team of Super Bowl winners. This one's for Bow. Strato Static Conna shot Jared Stidham, Super Bowl sixty m v P.
00:11:09
Speaker 3: Let's go.
00:11:09
Speaker 4: That would be amazing. Chris Brayden, Let's go boys, They've doubted you all year long. Shock the world one more time, sky High sky High's Max Denver six and one at home in AFC Championship games. It's a stadium where opposing playoff champions go to die. Okay, yeah, we'll talk about the home field. That's a that's a big part of it. That is an intense comment. Mythic Games says, I told you where the team of destiny Bow got us this far. Now the team will win it. For him. Let's see who else anybody else? Who else we got, uh, bon Nicks, Let's do this. Boys for Bo, not not the actual Bonex presumably, but.
00:11:51
Speaker 3: But a fan.
00:11:52
Speaker 4: We got some letters and numbers at the At the end, Bo proved he's a top ten QB that's from Alex Barrios City can lee just the Promised Land, and then Broncos ten. Let's go Broncos were very resilient and battle tested. This team has put in so much work this season to get to this moment. Let's capitalize on scoring opportunities, keep making big plays on defense, and fight to win the AFC Championship. We play for bow Let's go love it. And you know kind of mentioned there in the comments the home field advantage. Yeah, the defense want to get to those things. But I think Jared Stidham's where you have to start with this game.
00:12:29
Speaker 1: Yeah, no, I completely agree with you.
00:12:31
Speaker 2: And you know the way that Jerriet talked about this moment to the media on Wednesday, he said, you know, every week the last three years with this team, I prepared the same way I've prepared as if I am the starter. Obviously it hasn't been that way, but nothing's really changed for me going into this week because I'm always preparing for the chance to win, because you've seen it across the league.
00:12:51
Speaker 1: You never know what happens.
00:12:52
Speaker 2: We've seen other quarterbacks from other teams go down early on in the season and backup quarterbacks having to come up, and so you always have to stay ready. And I think that's one of the beautiful things about this team and the culture that's being built that not even being built.
00:13:05
Speaker 1: That's built here is.
00:13:07
Speaker 2: The fact that they go at full speed. Everyone has a chance, you know, everyone is always moving like at the top sped that they possibly can. And they a lot of guys in the locker room were asked about head coach Sean Payton and the way that he's like the ultimate motivator, right and how does that work and how do they feed off of that, especially in a game like this, and they just buy into what he's saying. And I think when you look at Jared Sidham, he's had this for three years, he's been part of this for three years. He knows this team. As I mentioned, Cortland said, say, he knows the playbook and we have all the confidence in the world that he's going to go out there and do the things that need to be done in order.
00:13:46
Speaker 1: For us to have success.
00:13:48
Speaker 4: Yeah, I think there's a bunch of things that give me confidence in Jared Sidtam And then one of them is that Sean Payton and this team are so confident in Jared's Sidtam and that they believe in him and they've seen him up close for three years. And Sean Payton one of the things he said was that this team a lot of the things that Jared Stidham does, the media hasn't seen right because it's been behind the scenes. And the mistake that I think people can make is looking at the clips from twenty twenty two or twenty twenty three and assuming that's the exact Jared Stidham you're going to get, and make no mistake, there's some really exciting plays that he made. You look back at that game he played against the forty nine ers with the Raiders, he was ripping some throws and that sounds like the same approach that they will take this year or excuse me, this week against the Patriots. But that doesn't mean that's the fully developed product that you're going to see on the field. And I think players get better, and Jared Stidham talked Wednesday about how working with Davis Webb, working with Sean Payton, being in this system for three years, that he feels like he's a better quarterback now than he was two or three years ago, and that makes sense. That player's improven. It it's a big reason why he came back. It's a big reason why the Broncos signed him the first day of free agency when Sean Payton first got here. It's a big reason why they re signed him this past offseason. I believe right like it was one of the reasons why he was a key priority. And that was clear to me watching this past preseason. And I know it's just preseason and it's it's not the AFC Championship game, and it's not against the same caliber of players, but the clear difference between Jared Stidham in that action versus even the twenty twenty four preseason I thought was significant. And he made some big time throws. He's got the arm strength he's not gonna be afraid to put in to kind of deliver in those big moments, make big time throws.
00:15:53
Speaker 3: He's got the mobility.
00:15:55
Speaker 4: All those things matter from a physical skill standpoint, and then there's the intelligence of knowing what you're supposed to be doing and knowing what the checks are and how to attack different defenses. There's the calmness in the huddle when you're in a big moment that Sean Payton made it clear he's not comparing him necessarily to other players, but he talks about in Mark Brunell, for example, type of guy who obviously did a lot in this league, and for Jared sent him to share kind of those same calm traits and ability to reset the guys.
00:16:36
Speaker 3: That's a big deal.
00:16:38
Speaker 4: And so does anybody really know what we're gonna see someday?
00:16:43
Speaker 3: No? I don't think so.
00:16:44
Speaker 4: What all echo would I have heard from a lot of other national people people in this market. Dave Logan, for example, voice of the Broncos on his show. I would be more surprised if Jared Stidham doesn't play well compared to coming out and operating this offense efficiently, making some big time throws, making some plays when needed when his leg with his legs. I think one of the keys will be to avoid sacks. Obviously, that's one of the things bo does very well. I think I saw a stat that maybe like since they start among players with enough qualifying stats, he's one of the best all time in terms of avoiding sacks. And obviously we know that those can can hurt drives and can end drives, and so can Jarrett Stidham avoid those types of plays Against a really good Patriots defense that's had a lot of success. He does have an offensive line in front of him that has two first team All Pros on it has played at a really high level, probably better than either of the offensive lines that the Patriots have faced in the playoffs this season. And then there's one more thing which I saw a story by Troy Rank with the Denver Post. He talked to Jeff Hosteler, who is kind of one of the best people that you could compare in this scenario. He goes in for the Giants after Phil Simms goes out and he ends up leading the Giants to a Super Bowl victory. And he said Bill Parcells, who we know is obviously Sean Payton's mentor. Parcels gets up in front of the Giants and he told this to the Never Post. If we lose the game, it's not gonna be because of Jeff Hosteller and then he says, basically, it's the concern is about everybody else stepping up, and not just stepping up, but like doing your job. And he basically said, Jeff Hosteller's gonna be fine. And I think we've heard Sean Payton talk about before, like Teddy Bridgewater. He's gonna be fine, not worried about Teddy. And so that to me is another part of this is like there's so much attention this week on Jared Stidham listening to Jared Stidham, listening to Sean Payton talk about Jared Sidham. Jared Stidham is gonna be fine. He's gonna go in there and do what he needs to do. Can everybody else around him put aside the difficulty of losing bow the sudden change of having Jared step into the lineup and then play at their best. Portland Sutton, can you play at your best?
00:19:17
Speaker 1: Yeah?
00:19:17
Speaker 3: You know?
00:19:18
Speaker 4: Offensive line? Can you play at your best? Running backs? Can you play at your best? You got to play well around Jared Stidham. But this is not It's still a team game. It's not just about one player. I feel good about his ability to come and step in and play at a high level. But everyone else has to do their part too, and so that'll be key this weekend.
00:19:34
Speaker 2: Yeah, you said it right there, just talking about the old line, the way they protected Bonix all season long, like that same protection is going to have to come for Jared Sidam And I know that those guys take a lot of pride in keeping the quarterbacks Jersey clean, and I know that they're going to do their best to give Jared what they need, what he needs to find his receivers, especially in a game that's going to be as physical as we're expecting it to be. And obviously whether whatever the weather is and things like that, things might have to change. But I think another big part of Jared said I'm coming in is what the Broncos have preached all season long is protecting home field, playing these big games.
00:20:11
Speaker 1: At your home field.
00:20:12
Speaker 2: I can only imagine the difference it would be if the Broncos had to travel this weekend for the AFC Championship game with this happening, right, It's a different mindset that you have to have versus you're at home. You're able to do things that you normally do and have the same routine your game day routine for a home game. And when you look at this matchup overall all time, this is the sixth time the Broncos will play the Patriots in the postseason. They've met five times before. Denver leads at all time series four to one, with each franchise winning their games at home. Because at this point in the postseason, yes, it is about fall security and pretend the quarterback and limiting turnovers and things like that, but it's also when things aren't going your way earlier, things may not be falling the way that you want them to. Your crowds still being loud, still rallying behind you, still yelling out with they need to yell out, disrupting their huddle and things like that. All those little nuances matter even more at this level in the AFC Championship game, and I think with them having the home field advantage aspect to this game, it's really going to help this team, especially in those moments where less pretend a drive does not go or doesn't end the way that they wanted to. It's hard to get down when you have Broncos country screaming for support in those moments.
00:21:28
Speaker 4: Yeah, And I think starting with the offensive side of the ball. Obviously, it makes things easier for Jared Stidham in this offense as they get adjusted. And Sean Payne I think mentioned something about like the cadence can be a little different. You have to worry about false starts. To me, that feels easier to deal with at home than on the road. And so that's you know, Jared stidium is going to have as calm an atmosphere to it to operate in as possible. And obviously there's still nerves and there's still the pressure, if you will, that comes with playing an AFC championship game, but you don't have to deal with an opposing crowd. And we've heard Bonick and Courtland Sutton talk a lot about how valuable that is for them in terms of checks and that sort of thing. That's a huge advantage. And then on the other side, and this kind of will lead into our defensive pow wow, is that you have the advantage of having Drake may come on the road and he's a really impressive young quarterback, taken a huge step year over year.
00:22:32
Speaker 3: He might be the league MVP. It'll be him or Stafford.
00:22:34
Speaker 4: It seems like he's beaten two top five defenses each of the last two weeks. I do not believe the Patriots lost on the road this year, so he he's played at a really high level. That said, obviously you prefer the advantage of him having to come on the road and play in a hostile environment as opposed to getting the benefit of playing at Chollette Stadium. And it's worth mentioning. I think we said it Monday. The only reason this game is here is because the Patriots lost Week one of the Raiders, And it's crazy that a Week one game could decide where this game is being played, and especially against a team that ended up with the number one pick in the NFL Draft.
00:23:18
Speaker 3: It's just it's wild.
00:23:20
Speaker 2: And that was so early on in the season, and you couldn't maybe have even seen that coming because that game happened so earlier.
00:23:26
Speaker 1: Kind of like, all right, well, I'm sure.
00:23:28
Speaker 2: Patriot uns a probably thinking, oh, they're not in our division, like it's a loss, but whatever, like we can move on from that and then next thing, you know, the implications later on the line are huge, especially in this moment. And you are correct, the Patriots did not lose on the world during the regular season, and this will be the first time they're traveling this postseason.
00:23:44
Speaker 4: Yeah, and so any edge you can get, and whether it's the altitude kind of wearing a team down late, whether it's the crowd noise, you take anything you can get. And I think kind of the strength of this Broncos defense has been the pass rush. And I asked Vance Joseph at some point, like, hey, is it a real thing that playing at home for a pass rush is an advantage? And he was like, yeah, you can time the snap count better than you can on the road because they're going silent. You can kind of play the play clock to some advantage. And we've seen this year. I don't have the splits in front of me, but like at home, especially, this pass rush has gotten after teams and then you get a big sack and it gets the crowd going, and then it puts them in third and long and it sets up chances for turnovers.
00:24:34
Speaker 3: Like those are big deals.
00:24:37
Speaker 2: I mean, you saw what happened in the last minute of the game versus Buffalo and the way the bron goes able to respond, get a turnaround, get more points.
00:24:45
Speaker 4: Yeah, exactly, And so that's where the home field advantage I think really matters is that you have.
00:24:52
Speaker 3: A younger quarterback who had how Grady is like, it's still a.
00:24:55
Speaker 4: Challenge to go and play on the road, and we just saw Josh Allen struggle with it to some degree, like you said. And so the Broncos pass rush Drake May has been sacked ten times over two games in the postseason, a number of turnovers as well. He's had some fumbles, haven't hasn't lost all of them, but it's fumbled several times. To me, one of the keys is can this pass rush get to Drake May? Can they force a couple of turnovers? Like you might need a strip sack from Nick Benino, you might need a strip sack from Zach Allen or for him to knock the ball out on Drake May's way to the ground. Those feel like last week the five turnovers Sean Payton said, the single handedly were the reason we won the football game. And that feels to me like something this week you've got to do again as well, is you have to force turnovers. You have to win the turnover battle. I think you've got to win the kind of that sack differential as well. And with this pass rush operating off that home field advantage. That extra gives you, even if it's a split second, to just kind of get up field, get an early beat on the tackle.
00:26:06
Speaker 3: That will matter.
00:26:07
Speaker 4: And if the Broncos can can win up front at the line of scrimmage, they've got to stop the run better than they did a week ago. Obviously they gave up a lot of yards to James kak Yep, to James Cook, to Josh Allen. If they can stop Ramandre Stevenson Traveon Henderson and then put them in these third and long scenarios, that's when your pass rush can really get after him. But this to me feels like it could be a defensive battle. And so a key sack a one area where that the Patriots, for as good as an event, have not been as good as in the red zone and on third down. And so if the Broncos, who I believe have the number one red zone defense in the NFL and the second third down defense, can they get an edge there? Like these are the small things that will decide who wins this football game. But but if Drake may said at this week he's not afraid to take shots down the field, basically got some talented receivers there talented tight ends. But if you can hold up in the red zone and hold them to three or it's a big third down, can you hold them, that's going to matter. And then I think it could be the same as last week, Like you could be in a spot where you're up for you're up three with two minutes to play. Can your defense this week find a way to get a big time stop. It's kind of strength on strength Patriots offense first, Denver defense. But that's where a lot of this game is going to be decided.
00:27:33
Speaker 2: I think, yeah, you talked about a lot there, especially limiting those big plays and forcing third and long. Against Houston, the Patriots were three or fourteen on third down, They had eight punts. He was sacked five times in that game. As you mentioned those turnovers, New England hand they're having two fumbles and win interception. I mean, those are the moments that now you need the offense to respond and capitalize when that happens. When you saw them out on third and long and they have to punt it, when you get a key interception, use that field position. I mean, we've seen a bunch of games this season where the Broncos have played primarily on the other side of the field and taken advantage of field position, whether the it's to special teams or turnovers. All that's going to be a massive emphasis with this game, especially given the fact that Houston is one of the top defenses in the NFL. And you saw what Drake May was able to do against him, but you also saw where Drake May struggled against them, and.
00:28:24
Speaker 1: How do you use that to your advantage?
00:28:26
Speaker 2: And I believe it was Nick Bonito after the game on Saturday when he was asked about his stripsacks and he said, like, why, I watched a lot of film and I saw like when he kind of leaves the pocket, he tends to put the ball in one hand for like a split second, Like, so I use that attention to detail to then knock the ball out. That's exactly the attension of detail that the Broncos are going to need to have to attack Drake May, to limit their playmakers, limit those big plays. And I just I can't wait to see Tlenohafunga in this game. If you guys haven't seen the sights and sounds that was produced after that Saturday when he was micd Up on the field and just seeing that intensity that he has, especially when he's hunting for the ball. It's gonna be really interesting to see him and how he kind of manages the backfield there.
00:29:08
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:29:09
Speaker 4: I mean again, like we said on offense, these guys have to step up and make big plays in big moments, and you need your best players in Nick Benito's the telenohufung As the Pats Ertans to play at a high level and respond in big moments. And that's what these games come down to. A few big plays here or there. I don't expect that to be any different. And even though the conversation is widely going to be about Jared Sidham, like, it's still about what everybody else does and how do you do your job? And yeah, it just feels like this defense is ready to respond. And it was an interesting game last week. You know, they had five turnovers but didn't force a punt. Like may need to force a few more punts this week and it could be a defensive battle. But I think you me the Texans game. I look at that and think if the Texans had played cleaner football, And granted some of this is forced by New England's defense, which is playing at a really high level. But if they played cleaner football and they'd avoid the turnovers. Now you're talking about a game that is much closer and maybe one that Houston even wins.
00:30:18
Speaker 3: And so.
00:30:21
Speaker 4: Their defense probably did enough to keep them in that football game, right. And so if Denver's defense plays close to that level, and it has the advantage of playing at home versus on the road like Houston, and then Jared Stidham and this offense can do their part, then you're looking that's kind of the recipe for success there. And I know, again the Broncos are underdogs, but I fully expect them to come out and be in this football game. Use the energy, use the doubt, nationally, use the motivation of playing for bo Nicks.
00:30:56
Speaker 3: All those things matter.
00:30:58
Speaker 4: And you give yourself a chance to put yourself in this elite group and earn a Super Bowl berth and put yourself one win away from a Lombardi Trophy, and you become a team that gets remembered forever around here.
00:31:15
Speaker 3: Right.
00:31:16
Speaker 4: And so you have this opportunity, now you've got to go find a way to take it.
00:31:22
Speaker 2: Set in the tone I think is really important, and when I spoke to Talanohafunga last week ahead of the Buffalo game. I said, you know, coming off that week, by how do you not start slow? And he's like, will you prepare? And when you're prepare, you're able to start fast. And I think that same tone needs to be set in this game where they're able to whether it's three and out, you know, score first, get some points on the board first, whatever you need to do to start fast against this Patriots team.
00:31:48
Speaker 1: Because I think.
00:31:50
Speaker 2: Everyone's kind of talking about, as you mentioned, the playmakes and things like that, but in these moments, you do you definitely lean on your captains and the guys i've had playoff experience like Talanohafunga, but you also lean on your biggest stars. And I mean, let's not forget the Broncos have the reigning defensive player of the Year in Patzertan. They have a finalist for defensive put of the Year in Nick Bonito. Those two guys, I feel like you're gonna be very integral part in how this defense is able to function and create disruption for the Patriots. I mean Patzertan last week in the Division a lotg of three receptions and thirty one receiving yards. As the primary defender in coverage and per next Gen stats, Certan has only allowed one receiving touchdown on five hundred and seventy two covered snaps in twenty twenty five. That's including the playoffs. And so everyone knows what patser Tan can do. But I think when you look at just the caliber of the players on this team, I think it adds to what you know they're capable of on Sunday.
00:32:46
Speaker 3: Yeah, and they.
00:32:47
Speaker 4: Know what's at stake. We know what's at stake, and I can't wait to watch it.
00:32:52
Speaker 2: Well, I know, Broncos country, you can't wait to be there, and as we've told you all season long, want to make sure you guys are allowed to disrupt their huddle. Kickoff for Championships is at one pm Adam Powerfield at Mile High where the Broncos will take on the New England Patriots for a chance to punch their ticket to Super Bowl sixty in Santa Clara. We appreciate you guys listening to another episode of Altitude Advantage. I'm your host and TIM reporter Lisa Nandez.
00:33:13
Speaker 1: Across the table.
00:33:14
Speaker 2: We have our lead writer on Denver broncos dot com or Exlala for everything leading up to Championship Sunday.
00:33:19
Speaker 1: That's where you need to head.
00:33:20
Speaker 2: Denver Broncos dot com
