Some No Bull big-picture perspective on 2016’s last 6 games

I’ve been a Bronco fan for decades. Don’t get me wrong...there are many in Broncos Country who have been here longer and have cheered our team on through leaner times by far. I’m just saying that I’ve seen a lot of football played by the orange and blue.

I’ve seen Elway with Reeves, Elway with Phillips, Elway with Shanahan. I’ve watched the team try to move on from Elway and wallow in mediocrity. I’ve seen the dumpster fire that was the Josh McDaniel’s era. I’ve read about our lean times in the 60’s and 70’s and marveled at the mighty Orange Crush. The Peyton Manning era was a roller coaster ride I’ll never forget.

Every year is a brand new creature. Every season an opportunity for us to cheer our team on to greatness. I’ve seen great. I’ve seen good. I’ve seen bad...and I’ve definitely seen ugly.

It is time though, Broncos Country. Throw out the stats. Toss away the scorecards. Kick the dust of the first 10 games of the season off your heels.

We are now approaching real, meaningful football. This is the time of year where NFL teams are marked, measured, and judged.

This is the time of year that separates the “haves” from the “have nots.” This is the time of year where our beloved franchise shines. This is why our fan base is seen as so spoiled and entitled...because this is the time of year where our team throws down the gauntlet and gets to work.

We cheer for the Denver Broncos and the Denver Broncos has a rich, storied, and supremely successful history of post-season success. As a fan, I measure a season good or bad based on whether we make the playoffs or not. As a fan, I’ve been blessed far more than cursed in this arena.

So yeah, we can keep going in circles about how bad the offense is, the QB, the running game, the run defense, etc. But let’s get our eyes on the prize.

This coaching staff knows what it takes to get it done. We are blessed with a large number of players who just tasted the sweet ambrosia of a truly successful season. They all know the passion, struggle, confidence, strain, blood, sweat, and tears needed to get to the promised land.

Our team is out there right now grindin’ away for another shot. We have Aqib Talib and Derek Wolfe, two of our most gritty, determined warriors getting healthy at just the right time. DeMarcus Ware is approaching retirement...this season could be his last. Von Miller is an NFL star that has the drive and desire to be the greatest at his position ever. Demaryius Thomas has been taking heat in recent years and looks recently like a guy playing with a chip on his shoulder. Emmanuel Sanders leaves it on the field every week selling out to catch every pass thrown his way. Matt Paradis is a young fiery leader on a patchwork line that takes heat every week.

NFL football games aren’t won by reading over stat sheets. They are won by a team imposing its will and by going to battle with their brothers to defeat the opposition. The postseason is coming. Every game counts from here on out. Cheer strong and loud, Broncos Country. Do not forget the face of your father.

“I do not aim with my hand; he who aims with his hand has forgotten the face of his father.

I aim with my eye.

I do not shoot with my hand; he who shoots with his hand has forgotten the face of his father.

I shoot with my mind.

I do not kill with my gun; he who kills with his gun has forgotten the face of his father.

I kill with my heart.”

― Stephen King, The Gunslinger