Despite the odds, our ultimate fan feels a bounce-back win in the Mile High air

Game 2 is upon us, ultimate fans, and it’s a doozy! Not only is it the home opener, but Denver Broncos new head coach Vic Fangio is facing his old team in the Chicago Bears, and those Bears have a defense that could just eat this Broncos’ offense alive.

It could.

But it won’t.

And you know why? Because Broncos Country won’t let it. The Mile High crowd and the altitude will be our friends today - and we are going to need it since the Bears are bringing not just a ton of firepower but also a big need to bounce back from almost as depressing a loss last week as the Broncos.

But WesternAZbroncosfan44 - an MHR handle inspired by Floyd “The Franchise” Little - is not going to let us start wallowing in last week’s loss and believing the season is over. It was one game, and today’s another chance to win - as formidable as it may be. But there’s a reason these Arizona fans like Tamales for game-day snacks - they can take the heat!

So BRING IT ON, Bears...today is going to be a win.

Week 2: Bears at Broncos

MHR - So last week I asked about the “overall mood” of this team, given a new regime, etc. Let me ask you...did last week’s performance sour you on the outlook of this team this year?
WesterAzbroncosfan44: I knew that it was going to be a tough game going in … new coaches, new schemes and new players means there is going to be a lot of thinking going on instead of a lot of playing happening. So, no. Besides it’s just one game.

MHR - After the Broncos’ offense got into a rhythm in the second half, things were more promising. But the o-line is still very suspect - especially with Ju’Wuan James out - and the Bears Front 7 is about as a group as you could have. How do you think Flacco and Co. can make anything happen this weekend?
WesterAzbroncosfan44: Lots of prayers :) Flacco is a veteran quarterback, and he has seen lots of different defenses. During the first game you could hear him on the broadcast making audibles, and the offense moved down the field. Even though they are going against a formidable front seven this week, he will need to get the ball out of his hands quickly on passing downs.

MHR - Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman both looked good (eventually) on Monday night. Although their jobs will be tougher against the Bears, how do you feel about the Broncos’ running attack overall? How should Scangarello use them this week to avoid running straight into Khalil Mack or just about any of the Bears?
WesterAzbroncosfan44: He has his work cut out for him. I think he will use a lot of misdirection plays and quick openers - and if that fails, at halftime he will need to ask Harry Potter for a couple of his invisible cloaks - LOL!

MHR - Joe Flacco and Courtland Sutton had some great chemistry against the Raiders and connected a lot over the middle. Linebackers Danny Trevathan and Roquan Smith are not going to be so easy to get by with that. How would you scheme to get Sutton and Emmanuel Sanders involved, knowing that Flacco won’t have much time behind his o-line?
WesterAzbroncosfan44: I would use their speed and assumed knowledge against them...quick-hit passing plays, slants and flats, for example.

MHR - Noah Fant basically had a rough first game with some costly penalties and not making a big impact with catches. How do you get him involved this week to help him bounce back and use him to his strengths (ie, no more jet sweeps with the rookie please!)?
WesterAzbroncosfan44: I would try to give him some early routes to try and build up his confidence. He is a 1st-round pick and there is a lot of pressure on him to perform at a high level, but he is still a rookie and with that there are going to be some growing pains.

MHR - In some parallel universe last week, Von Miller and Bradley Chubb were sacking quarterbacks right and left because they were definitely not doing it on this planet. Not even close. Do you think they’ll be able to get to Mitch Trubisky?
WesterAzbroncosfan44: My biggest concern is that the team we played last week gave all the other copycats, er teams, a blueprint on how to take away two assets from our defense. Trubisky may run but he cannot hide … I hope.

MHR - De’Vante Bausby and Isaac Yiadom looked good in preseason and then Yiadom’s inexperience was clearly exposed last week. Would you consider starting Bausby over him this week if Bryce Callahan still isn’t on the field? Would you do anything different with the scheme?
WesterAzbroncosfan44: I would definitely try to start with Yiadom to show him that you still trust him, but at the first sign of trouble, I would move Jackson over and let Bausby spell him when he needs a rest.

MHR - David Montgomery of Iowa State (go Cyclones!) looks to be a great running back for the Bears. How do you see Josey Jewell (a former Hawkeye) being able to stop him? If Todd Davis is ready to play, how does that change our inside linebacker position against the Bears running game on Sunday?
WesterAzbroncosfan44: Jewell is still learning this defense and needs to learn fast because we are weak at that position this year. I never thought that I would say, “We Need Todd Davis to return NOW!!!” But we really Need Todd Davis to return NOW!!! if we stand a chance to stop the Bears’ run game at all. Jewell looked to be a step late last week, and we can’t have that in this, or any, game!

MHR - The Broncos defense hasn’t been great against the tight end or pass-catching running backs. The Bears tight end Trey Burton hasn’t been much of a force but running back Tarik Cohen had nearly 50 yards receiving against the Packers. Will either of these cause trouble to our defense this week?
WesterAzbroncosfan44: Hate to say this, but when it comes to covering either one of those positions…Denver hasn’t had the answer to that for a while now, and I do not see that changing anytime too soon!

MHR - What, what, what do the Broncos need to do on Special Teams? Why is this so hard for us?
WesterAzbroncosfan44: Well Laurie… it appears that Broncos didn’t block well on special teams last week but they more than made up for it by not staying in their lanes and not tackling well on special teams either - lol!

MHR - Last week I asked how important it was that the Broncos win the first game. That didn’t go as planned. But how important is it to win this one? Chicago is a really tough team to beat but it will be at Mile High, so will fans put up with 0-2?
WesterAzbroncosfan44: If we lose, there will be much weeping and gnashing of teeth on the front page and many asking for the nearest window or cliff to jump off! I hate it when the team loses…I really think this year will be a tough one for us, and last week’s game affirmed that for me!

Predictions

Stats for Joe Flacco? 25/30, 275 yards, 2 TDs

Stats for each Broncos RB? Freeman 15/110 yards, 1 TD; Lindsay 15/125 yards, 1 TD

Number of yards receiving/TDs for each receiver? Sanders 10/110, 1 TD; Sutton 9/90; Winfree/Hamilton and the TEs 6 75.

Longest FG for McManus? 53 yards

Number of sacks to Flacco? 4

Number of sacks to Mitch Trubisky? 6

Broncos player with the most tackles? Jewell

Who gets the most sacks? Chubb / Miller

How many INTs/FF/FR for the Broncos D? 3 int / 2 FF/ 2 FR

How many penalties will the refs get wrong? Many

Final Score? Denver 31 Bears 21

The Favorites

Favorite Broncos game EVER? Super Bowl 32 or 1977 AFCCG

Team(s) you hate to lose to the most? The team we played last week

Team you love to beat? All

Favorite game this season? Super Bowl, with us in it!

Toughest game (left) on the schedule? KC at Arrowhead

Favorite Broncos player on the current roster? Shelby Harris / Chris Harris Jr.

Favorite Broncos player of all time? Floyd Little

Favorite new guy/rookie on the team? Juwann Winfree

Superstitions on game day? We just got a new Labrador and I rub her back when we are losing. She is now bald after the game last Monday…

Least favorite game analyst/commentator? Phil Simms, Dan Fouts , Cris Collingsworth

Favorite game-day snack? Tamales and Rice!!!

How did you become a Broncos fan?

I was born into it. My grandfather used to force me to go to home games at Mile High Stadium! I miss that man a lot! He got me hooked on football at a young age and was in my mind … Denver’s biggest fan!