The Denver Broncos defense will likely be without DeMarcus Ware or Derek Wolfe, but Aqib Talib will be making his first live game appearance and newly acquired defensive lineman Henry Melton will also get his first crack with the NFL's best defense.
There will be much to see. Broncos Defensive Coordinator, Wade Phillips, agrees.
"I’m really looking forward to this game," Phillips said of the third preseason game. "Obviously, our first group is going to play a lot more. There’s more game planning involved. It’s really getting the whole team used to what we do on a regular game basis. We won’t do everything we do during the regular season, but a lot of things we do. We look at the other team a lot more. We look at tendencies and all those things. It’s the dress rehearsal game. I’m looking forward to it. We’ll play some other guys, but I want to see our first group get out there and get after it."
For me, I'll be seeing how Melton fits in with the defense. Reports from last weeks' practice sessions had Melton mostly playing with the first team defense, which is significant. He seems to be picking up the defense rather well.
"Henry Melton, University of Texas," Phillips said of Melton's progress. "He’s picked it up pretty well. I’d say real well. Sometimes it obviously takes a while, a different language than they’ve been in before. He’s had some experience, so that’s helped him. He’s a pretty smart guy."
As in 2015, the success of this team will flow through the defense. Obviously we all hope for some offensive improvement, but the defense knows they can only worry about what they do on their side of the ball.
"It’s a team game, obviously. We’re going to do our part, whatever our part is," Phillips said of the defense stepping it up this year. "If we’re like last year, our team didn’t worry about the other side of the ball, they worried about how well they played. That’s what we want to do. We have to out-play the other team’s defense. If they hold our team to not much, then we hold them to less. That’s the way we play the game."
Either way, I think we're all in for a wild ride. We are literally less than two weeks from the regular season!
Horse Tracks
What to watch for in Rams-Denver Broncos exhibition game Saturday - LA Times
Preview of the Rams' preseason game against the Denver Broncos.
Denver Broncos' offense off-balance for good reason - UPI.com
If the Denver Broncos call passing plays on 65 percent of their snaps in the regular season as they have in the preseason, their offense will likely be in trouble.
Manning, Ware and Von Miller will be featured in ‘America’s Game’ | Broncos Wire
Former quarterback Peyton Manning is among three players that will be featured in NFL Film's "America's Game: 2015 Denver Broncos."
Paxton Lynch seems poised to take over quarterback job during season | Broncos Wire
The Denver Broncos are expected, and reportedly plan to, start rookie Paxton Lynch at quarterback at some point during the 2016 NFL season.
Mistaken identity: Mark Sanchez's photo missing in Broncos' program - ESPN
Quarterback Mark Sanchez might not be in a great mood these days, given that his chance to start for the Denver Broncos could be slipping away.
McGovern prepared to assume unexpectedly significant OL role – The Denver Post
Connor McGovern has admittedly let his mind wander a bit to September 8th. Due to injuries and uncertainty at the position, it isn’t a stretch that the Broncos’ fifth-round pick could be the opening day starter at right guard.
Derek Wolfe Clarifies Story About Saying He’d Eat Tom Brady’s Kids | NESN.com
Tom Brady's children are safe. Denver Broncos safety T.J. Ward relayed a story back in March about teammate Derek Wolfe telling an opposing player he'd eat his kids. At the time, Ward thought Brady had been the subject of Wolfe's Mike Tyson-esque threat.
Mile High Brasil Show - S2016E13 - Mile High Brasil
No Mile High Brasil Show dessa semana comentamos sobre o desempenho do time no segundo jogo da pré temporada 2016.
Fantasy football draft 2016
The 2016 SB Nation Fantasy Football draft guide is live! Get all the position rankings, sleepers, busts, rookie rankings and more to dominate your league!
The Browns are still the Browns, but Josh Gordon is still Josh Gordon - SBNation.com
Smile, Browns fans, Gordon is still a dynamic wide receiver.
Romo injured his back after 3 plays - SBNation.com
The preseason is not the time for heroics.
Wilson is in midseason form turning trainwreck plays into touchdowns - SBNation.com
Russell Wilson has been known to find improbable success at times when it looks like disaster is about to strike. Like last year in the playoffs when he fumbled a snap and yet managed to turn a sure 20-yard loss into a 35-yard gain.