Hope replaces stress in Broncos-less AFC Playoffs

Happy Drew Year, Broncos Country!

The AFC Playoffs suck without the Denver Broncos.

Although it doesn’t suck that Tom Brady and the New England Patriots our out, and hopefully, their era is over. As a result, we can all root for the Kansas City Chiefs to lose with, as Andrew Mason said, no “root for the meteor” games in the two weeks to come. But I digress.

My wife said to me recently, “Well, at least you don’t have to stress out.” Since we’re now at four years without the Broncos in the tournament, I want that stress. Denver needs that stress. The franchise wants and needs that stress.

For the first time in four years, a path seems to have emerged to make that happen, and it starts with Drew Lock. That also allows John Elway and the front office to fill in pieces on the roster through NFL free agency due to the gobs of salary cap space, and then the NFL Draft. The Broncos are no longer pigeonholed into finding a quarterback, and that allows Elway to build on the young foundation already in place. It also helps to finally have stability at head coach with Vic Fangio.

The big thing is there’s hope. As Joe Ellis said at his season-ending news conference, hope is no way to run a franchise. But after four years of not being in the playoffs and no path (until now) to get back, Broncos Country needs all the hope it can get.

Here’s, gasp, hoping 2020 ends the drought and we can fret about the stress again.

Horse Tracks

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Flacco has two years left on a deal that carries a whopping $23.65 million salary-cap figure for 2020, when he likely will be the Broncos’ No. 2 QB.

NFL Tracks

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Four teams are currently looking for new coaches to lead the way in 2020 and beyond.

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In his first mailbag of 2020, Geoff Schwartz focuses on Black Monday, including what it feels like when a new coach enters the building.

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One relatively inconsequential play against the 49ers showed how scary the Seahawks’ veteran pass rushing duo can be in January.

Sources -- NFL to discipline Patriots for video violation
The NFL is likely to discipline the Patriots in the next two weeks after their production crew inappropriately filmed the field and Bengals sideline during a Dec. 8 game in Cleveland, sources told ESPN.

Steve Spagnuolo’s defensive overhaul has Chiefs in prime form - NFL.com
Defense used to be Kansas City’s Achilles heel, but suddenly the Chiefs’ OTHER unit is performing at a high level. James Palmer says Steve Spagnuolo’s extreme makeover is bearing serious fruit at just the right time.

Chargers GM on Rivers: Will ‘look at every position’ - NFL.com
Tom Telesco thinks quarterback Philip Rivers can still compete at a high level, but the Los Angeles Chargers GM says every position will be examined for ways to improve after going 5-11.