It’s revenge week on SB Nation, so when that theme came to my desk I could think of exactly two non-division rival games last season that I needed to write about. Both of them needed to be losses if we were to see the Vance Joseph era come to an end in Denver, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.
In the Something Something Broncos podcast, I noted both the Houston Texans game in Week 9 and the Cleveland Browns game in Week 15 as the two revenge games I felt Vic Fangio could flip to wins in 2019.
Against the Texans last season, the Denver Broncos were clearly the better team on the football field. However, they were coached right into the defeat. It all started late in the first half when the Broncos were down 13-10. Instead of punting the ball with 22 seconds left, Joseph opted for a 62 yard field goal that Brandon McManus would miss.
Much to the glee of Texans head coach Bill O’Brien.
It appears that cameras caught Bill O'Brien yelling, “Good job Vance. You dumb f*ck” as he ran off the field.
— Mostly Football (@MostlyFBShow) November 5, 2018
(via @TeenWolf69) pic.twitter.com/amzLuk90jY
The Texans would kick a field goal of their own to go up 16-10.
Then with the score 19-17 late in the game, Joseph once again made a questionable decision that would then cost the Broncos the game. With 13 seconds left in the game, the Broncos chose to hand the ball off to Phillip Lindsay up the gut for a one-yard loss to setup a 51-yard field goal that McManus pushed wide right.
As frustrating as that loss was, it got even worse against the Browns in Week 15.
Down by four in the fourth quarter in a game that Case Keenum wasn’t having his best day and Lindsay averaged just 1.7 yards per carry, the Joseph finally saw his offense put together an impressive drive.
On fourth and 1 from the Cleveland six yard line, the Broncos lined up for the field goal. After a delay of game penalty, the field goal was good to make the score 17-16. That’s the score the game would finish with.
These two games were maddening for me as a fan, so that’s why I’ve got them both down as my top two non-division rival revenge games on the Broncos 2019 regular season schedule.
They’ll face the Browns at home in Week 9 and the Texans on the road in Week 14. Make us proud, Vic.