Ultimate fan with a tall order for beating the Jets - ‘Score. On offense. More than once’

Well Broncos fans, grab your ice cold beer here and get some “shrimps on the barbie” (sorry, j-mac!) because we’ve got a los, er game, to preview!

Our favorite 3-9 team will be hosting the 5-7 Jets (how did that happen?) - and being the ultimate fans we are, we predict that this game, this pathetic matchup in which our favorite Broncos are an underdog at Mile High to a team with a losing record (no seriously, how did that happen?)

But do not fear, Broncos Country! We have drinking games, good stories, a little football insight and some glory days to recall here on the UFG, so enjoy the entertainment from our favorite Aussie Broncos fan (and also claimer to the “some of - but not all of - the choices above” option on our polls)!

Go BRONCOS!

Week 14: Jets at Broncos

MHR - For fun (and to stall talking about the game), which Broncos players would make good rugby or Australian football players?
j-mac31: Just for starters, there are two types of rugby - league and union. I follow league much more closely than union, but I’m even more into football (the Australian one).

All NFL players would suck at Australian football. They’re just not fit enough, the game is too different and all players are required to kick (like a punt) to teammates on the run. (BTW my team for a very long time had a coach who straddled the very fine line between genius and mad and he brought a former RB over in the 90s to try to convert him - he stunk!)

The obvious answer for rugby is Domata Peko. Being Samoan, he might actually know the rules, and if he slimmed down a little he might be able to make it as a forward in rugby union, which is similar to American football line play. RBs might be able to give it a go with their burst speed and ability to find holes, but I’m going to go with Von Miller (for either version). He’s got great size and quickness, so he might be able to make plays and being a defensive player can actually tackle. Oh yeah, in the rugbys and football all players are two-way. And no pads.

MHR - So if Trevor Siemian were in a rugby game, how long would he last?
j-mac31: One tackle. Gone.

MHR - If the following were a drinking game, which "rule" would be the most intoxicating by game's end: Offense turns the ball over; Siemian takes an unnecessary sack after holding the ball too long; Holding call on the o-line; Jets start a drive in Denver territory; Broncos ST allows a long return or coughs up the ball; Three-and-out?
j-mac31: Uhh... all of them? I guess if McKenzie doesn’t play we shouldn’t turn the ball over on special (or otherwise) teams, but we’re still likely to give up a big play.

MHR – So...how are you going to approach watching this game - drinking heavily or optimistically ready for a miracle?
j-mac31: Would it really count as a miracle to beat the Jets? I’m always up for drinking heavily, but I think we’ve got a chance this week.

MHR - OK, let’s get serious. The Jets are 5-7 - THE JETS!!! - facing a 3-9 Broncos team that is now an underdog at Mile High. In 100 words or less...how did we get here?
j-mac31: Well 15 billion years ago, the big bang created… oh, the Broncos. I have no idea. This team hasn’t changed significantly since last year when they at least were competitive most weeks and still had a shot at the playoffs until very late. This year is probably a combination of having mediocre at best (to put it nicely) quarterbacks, a not good offensive line and poor coaching.

MHR - These same 5-7 Jets are also one of the NFL’s worst road teams (but not as bad as the Broncos this year since the Jets have won ONE away game) but they still come in with the odds in their favor according to Vegas. How can the Broncos and Mile High make sure the Jets continue this losing road streak?
j-mac31: Score. On offense. More than once. FFS I’ll take 4 or 5 field goals from them at this stage and that might be enough to win. If the offense can put together some long drives and keep the scoreboard ticking over - even slowly - the defense should be able to get on top.

MHR - Trevor Siemian is ranked 27/32 among NFL quarterbacks, with guys like rookie Deshone Kizer and perennial backup Tom Savage behind him. Do you think it was the right move to start him, and how will he do this week?
j-mac31: I do not think it was the right move to start Siemian. But I also don’t think it’s good if Brent is starting. And Lynch…who knows.

Ugh, what a mess. Dilly dilly.

I think Siemian has to do better this week than last. It would be hard to be worse, but this one’s at home and he’s had a full game and two weeks practice with the starters to get back into it. Come on, Trevor.

MHR - The Broncos D will have Aqib Talib back but no Derek Wolfe and possibly no Domata Peko again. What makes you confident (or not) this defense will be ready to go on Sunday against the Jets?
j-mac31: I’m not confident of anything with this team this year anymore. However there is plenty of talent on this D still, even without Wolfe and Peko. I hope Talib comes back determined to show he can still play well and not just fight. I hope Roby and Simmons continue their excellent backfield play. I hope guys like Zach Kerr and Shelby Harris keep playing hard to make the most of their opportunities. I hope Von remembers that he’s the best defensive player in the league (and I hope the coaches realize Shane Ray is not an every-down linebacker, while Shaquil Barrett is.)

MHR - WHY can’t this offense use the weapons it has in the run game...like, ever?
j-mac31: The quarterbacks aren’t good enough to get the ball to other players in the right spots often enough. The O-line isn’t good and the play calls have been dull, but ultimately it comes down to the quarterbacks.

MHR - Which player matchup intrigues you the most this weekend on both offense and defense?
j-mac31: Bear with me while I look up who actually plays for the Jets… I’ll go with Jermaine Kearse and Robby Anderson versus the backfield formerly known as the No Fly Zone. Kearse and Anderson had over 500 receiving yards between them over the past two games and the Broncos’ backfield has a habit of giving up long pass plays and/or touchdowns that they weren’t the previous two years.

MHR - The Jets’ pass rush isn’t too hot, so will our O-line finally have a team it can semi-handle?
j-mac31: I’m not great at noticing O-line play, except for when they do really badly, but the run game was alright so it wasn’t horrible. I hope that Ron Leary can go though and the coaches can stick with Connor McGovern opposite him the rest of the season.

MHR - Broncos defense is 5th overall facing a 17th overall Jets offense. The Broncos’ 27th overall offense is facing a 23rd overall Jets defense. Which unit tips the scales for which team to win it?
j-mac31: Our defense should get this. There’s still plenty of talent there as the rankings suggest. If the offense can be mildly competent, we should win.

MHR - Where do you like to put most of the blame for this season - bad coaching of the units (offense, defense, ST); bad head coaching; bad execution from players; or even bad “team assembly” from John Elway and Co. - or “Whorfin”?
j-mac31: Whorfin. It really is everything. Elway hasn’t gotten us a quarterback and/or good enough offensive line (and a good MLB), the players aren’t making plays, the coaches aren’t calling good plays and the head coach doesn’t seem to have anyone prepared anywhere near close enough.

MHR - Are you in the “embracing the tank” or in the “win as many as possible” category as a fan?
j-mac31: Definitely not embracing the tank. I get that we want the best draft pick possible, but I just can’t watch a game hoping my team loses.

MHR - If you were one of the Broncos players, would you still be motivated to play well if you knew the fan base had given up? Would you be embracing the tank and not caring too or fighting to play well for your future? How do you *think* the players are handling it?
j-mac31: I’ve only ever played low-level sports, so I can’t really know how pros feel in times like these, but I do think that I’d still be giving my best effort. Particularly with potentially millions of dollars on the line. I doubt players - even ones who will still be there for several years - would tank for draft picks given that they could be cut if they play badly. I also suspect at least some of the current Broncos are not playing their best knowing that the season is done.

Predictions

Stats for Trevor Siemian? 17/36, 200 yards, 1TD, 1INT

Stats for each Broncos RB? C.J. Anderson, 12 for 50 yards; Devontae Booker 15 for 75 yards and 1TD; Jamaal Charles, 4 for 25 yards.

Number of yards receiving for each Broncos receiver? God, who knows. I just hope Demaryius Thomas catches the ball when it’s thrown his way.

Longest FG? 47 yards

Number of sacks to Siemian? 4

Number of sacks to Josh McCown? 3

Broncos player with the most tackles? Justin Simmons

Broncos player with the most penalties? Garett Bolles

How many holding penalties that cost a first down? Just one

How many INTs/FF/FR for the Broncos D? 1/1/1

How many muffed punts for the Broncos? 0 because Isaiah McKenzie isn’t playing. I hope.

Final Score? Broncos 20, Jets 13

The Favorites

Favorite Broncos game EVER? SB50. AFCCG that year is a pretty close second.

Team you hate to lose to the most? Patriots

Team you love to beat? Ravens (my brother’s team)

Favorite game this season? Cowboys

When will the Broncos end the losing streak? This week!

Favorite Broncos player on the current roster? Von Miler, although Simmons is moving up quickly

Favorite Broncos player of all time? Tim Tebow (Elway as well, but I didn’t get to see him play)

Favorite new guy/rookie on the team? Big Peko

Superstitions on game day? None, although I try to avoid finding out the score

Least favorite game analyst/commentator? Marlowe and Hastings

Favorite sports cliche? We had a good week of practice.

Favorite sports movie? Mighty Ducks or Blades of Glory

Least favorite overused Aussie saying that Americans like to use, mate? “Throw a shrimp on the barbie.” We eat prawns, not shrimps, thank you very much. I do say ‘mate’ a lot, particularly to people I don’t know.

How did you become a Broncos fan?

My brother and I started following the NBA in LeBron James’ rookie season, and right before the season started, there was an article about James and his ridiculous shoe deal (he hadn’t even played a college game, let alone professional!) and my brother decided to jump on the Cavs bandwagon. I decided that I should go with a “rival” for LeBron so picked Carmelo Anthony and the Nuggets.

When they started showing the NFL over here (Australia BTW if I haven’t pointed that out) on free-to-air TV each week (they already showed the Super Bowl) I was going to watch it but decided to also follow the league properly, which meant picking a team. Sticking with Denver seemed sensible, so here we are. Good call, I’d say. (If I’d picked Wade and Miami as a LeBron “rival,” I would have had LeBron for several years and two championships there, but also the Dolphins.)