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Two teams heading in two very different directions in 2020. The Denver Broncos at 5-8 are headed for the offseason in three weeks, while the Buffalo Bills at 10-3 are looking to make some waves in the playoffs next month.
Game Preview
While the Broncos defense will have their work cut out for them trying to stop Josh Allen and that high-powered Bills offense, this game will likely come down to how well Drew Lock and the Broncos offense plays to keep pace.
Lock is coming off the best statistical game of his career and while many think he has officially arrived, Lock himself cautioned that he and the offense remain focused on getting a little better each week.
“I think we just keep getting a little better every week,” Lock said on Wednesday. “I wouldn’t necessarily say we grew up, we’ve arrived, and we’ve came to. We played a great game. We made the plays when they came to us, but our focus is just keep getting a little better every single week. Fixing the things that we did wrong weeks before and that’s kind of what we went out there and did in that last one. [We] made the plays when last week they would have been mistakes and corrected a lot of things that we thought we needed to get done to be able to be a good football team and go up there and win. We just put together a good game.”
That is exactly the right mindset he should have. The final three games may have little to no bearing on extending the Broncos season beyond the regular season, but they will be huge indicators for the front office on what direction they should take throughout the next offseason and into the 2021 regular season.
Here’s how to watch.
TV Schedule
When: Saturday, December 19, 2020 at 2:30 p.m. Mile High time
Where: Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado
Channel: NFL Network
Announcers: Adam Amin (play-by-play), Mark Schlereth (analyst), and Lindsay Czarniak (sideline).
Radio: Nationally on Westwood One | KOA - 850 AM | 94.1 FM & The Fox - 103.5 FM | Spanish Radio KNVR 1150 AM
Online Streaming
NFL Game Pass (After the game)
Broncos injury report
Player | Pos. | Injury | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Game Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Pos. | Injury | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Game Status |
Garett Bolles | T | Illness | DNP* | FULL* | FULL | |
Duke Dawson | CB | Knee | DNP* | DNP* | INJ. RESERVE | |
Noah Fant | TE | Illness | DNP* | FULL* | FULL | |
Melvin Gordon | RB | Shoulder | DNP* | LIMITED* | LIMITED | QUESTIONABLE |
Kevin Toliver | CB | Knee | DNP* | DNP* | INJ. RESERVE | |
Bradley Chubb | OLB | Neck | LIMITED* | FULL* | FULL | |
Graham Glasgow | G | Foot | LIMITED* | LIMITED* | LIMITED | QUESTIONABLE |
Shelby Harris | DE | Elbow | LIMITED* | LIMITED* | FULL | |
Jerry Jeudy | WR | Ankle | LIMITED* | FULL* | FULL | |
Phillip Lindsay | RB | Hip | LIMITED* | LIMITED* | LIMITED | QUESTIONABLE |
Trey Marshall | S | Shin | LIMITED* | LIMITED* | LIMITED | QUESTIONABLE |
Demar Dotson | T | Hand | FULL* | FULL* | FULL | |
Malik Reed | OLB | Ankle | FULL* | FULL* | FULL | |
Derrek Tuszka | OLB | Hand | FULL* | FULL* | FULL |
Bills injury report
Player | Pos. | Injury | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Game Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Pos. | Injury | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Game Status |
Jaquan Johnson | S | Ankle | DNP* | DNP | DNP | OUT |
Tremaine Edmunds | LB | Foot | LIMITED* | LIMITED | FULL | |
Jake Fromm | QB | NIR | LIMITED* | LIMITED | LIMITED | |
Taron Johnson | CB | Concussion | LIMITED* | LIMITED | FULL | |
Lee Smith | TE | Knee | LIMITED* | LIMITED | LIMITED | QUESTIONABLE |
Josh Allen | QB | Knee / Ankle | FULL* | FULL | FULL |
Broncos Betting Odds
According to SportsBetting.com, the Broncos are six-point home underdog to the Bills this week. That’s nothing new for these 2020 Broncos who have been underdogs almost all season long. They have also mostly covered, so this could be a closer game than the line suggests.
Matchup History
The Broncos and Bills have a very long history due to their time in the AFL together in the 1960s. Back then, Denver was 5-11-1 against Buffalo during that decade. Since the, however, Denver has had the upper hand until recently. Since 1970, the Broncos and Bills are an even 11-11, but Buffalo has won four of their last five meetings.
Hot Reads
Fan Sentiment
With a win last week, Broncos Country is growing even more confident in Drew Lock and the Broncos. 61% of our respondents gave the franchise a vote of confidence heading into this week. That’s the highest mark since their two game winning streak back in Week 7.
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Broncos Podcasts
On MHR Radio this week, Ian St. Clair and Adam Malnati wonder if the Broncos can circle the wagons and finish the season strong around Drew Lock as their quarterback.
Cover 2 Broncos with Jeff Essary and Joe Rowles are joined by a guest to discuss if the Broncos can keep the magic going for another week against a very talented and playoff-bound Bills squad.
On this week’s episode of the SSB Podcast, Laurie Lattimore-Volkmann, Jess Place, and myself met with quarterback guru Tim Jenkins to break down Drew Lock’s performance and where things might be headed for him in the final three games.
You can subscribe to our podcast feed on ApplePodcasts, GooglePlay, iHeartRadio, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn and anywhere else you get your podcasts.
Social Media Information
MHR Facebook Page: Mile High Report: A Denver Broncos Blog
MHR Twitter: Follow @MileHighReport
MHR Instagram: Follow @MileHighReport
Denver Broncos Fan Group: Denver Broncos Football
MHR Live on Twitch: Follow @ MHR_Live
Broncos 2020 schedule
Wk | Date | Opponent | Time (MT) | TV | Score | Record |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wk | Date | Opponent | Time (MT) | TV | Score | Record |
1 | 9/14/2020 | vs. Tennessee Titans (MNF) | 8:10 PM | ESPN | 14-16 | 0-1 |
2 | 9/20/2020 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | 11:00 AM | CBS | 21-26 | 0-2 |
3 | 9/27/2020 | vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 2:25 PM | FOX | 10-28 | 0-3 |
4 | 10/1/2020 | at New York Jets (TNF) | 6:20 PM | FOX | 37-28 | 1-3 |
5 | 10/11/2020 | BYE | ||||
6 | 10/18/2020 | at New England Patriots | 11:00 AM | CBS | 18-12 | 2-3 |
7 | 10/25/2020 | vs. Kansas City Chiefs | 2:25 PM | CBS | 16-43 | 2-4 |
8 | 11/1/2020 | vs. Los Angeles Chargers | 2:05 PM | CBS | 31-30 | 3-4 |
9 | 11/8/2020 | at Atlanta Falcons | 11:00 AM | CBS | 27-34 | 3-5 |
10 | 11/15/2020 | at Las Vegas Raiders | 2:25 PM | CBS | 12-37 | 3-6 |
11 | 11/22/2020 | vs. Miami Dolphins | 2:05 PM | CBS | 20-13 | 4-6 |
12 | 11/29/2020 | vs. New Orleans Saints | 2:05 PM | CBS | 3-31 | 4-7 |
13 | 12/6/2020 | at Kansas City Chiefs (SNF) | 6:20 PM | NBC | 16-22 | 4-8 |
14 | 12/13/2020 | at Carolina Panthers | 11:00 AM | CBS | 32-27 | 5-8 |
15 | 12/19/2020 | vs. Buffalo Bills | 2:30 PM | NFLN | 19-48 | 5-9 |
16 | 12/27/2020 | at Los Angeles Chargers | 2:05 PM | CBS | 16-19 | 5-10 |
17 | 1/3/2021 | vs. Las Vegas Raiders | 2:25 PM | CBS |