I would like to queue up some Boyz II Men and pour out a bomber of some gross malt liquor over the end of the 2019 season, but you’ll not get that from me.

With 5 preseason games to start the year, this was a season that felt like it was going to go on forever. In my life, I’d never been a part of three consecutive losing seasons and so it was a new experience for me to understand that the losing seasons streak would not be coming to a close this year.

For as terrible as those all those early games were, preseason and otherwise, the Broncos finished the season stronger than I could have imagined they would.

Vic Fangio was not Vance Joseph. He was not afraid to move elements around to make them work. It’s a credit to him that, despite such an awful skid to start the season he never let the game get the better of him, especially down the home stretch. It’s hard to know if Vic will pan out to be great, good, or otherwise, but I saw enough from him this season to know that he doesn’t take losing lightly. He’s not going to roll over and just let the losses come and wash him away.

The last few years, Broncos fans have, against their will, become experts on terrible quarterback play. Errant passes, awful sacks, questionable passes over the middle housed for touchdowns going the other way, we’ve seen it all and more. Drew Lock may be different. He’s unapologetically confident and appears to have the game to back it up. Granted, his sample size is unfortunately small, but it looks like there’s enough there to keep Broncos fans attentive going into next year.

While the league year doesn’t officially transition until next month, for all intents and purposes, the 2020 season has begun. The 2019 hopes for a better next year must now become reality. Next year is now and Denver has all the potential in the world to do great things.

HORSE TRACKS

Sacco Sez: Former Broncos GM had strong KC loyalties ... once
The Broncos general manager who formed the back-to-back Super Bowl champions got his start with the Chiefs, Broncos Team Historian Jim Saccomano writes.

Broncos news: Denver can be forced on 'Hard Knocks' in 2020
The Denver Broncos have been able to dodge appearing on HBO's Hard Knocks the past few years, but that's no longer the case in 2020.

Former NFL receiver Matthew Cherry wins an Oscar – ProFootballTalk
The 92nd Oscars have begun, and a former NFL player has carried away one of the statues. Matthew Cherry, who played receiver for several teams more than a decade ago, won the best animated short prize for Hair Love.

First XFL game draws 3.3 million viewers on ABC – ProFootballTalk
The XFL's debut game drew 3.3 million viewers. ABC announced that number today and added that the viewership peaked at the end of the broadcast, which is a good sign that the game kept fans interested. Last year, the Alliance of American Football drew 2.9 million viewers for its first game.

Battlehawks defeat Renegades; Guardians stifle Vipers - NFL.com
The New York Guardians (1-0) defense caused three turnovers en route to a dominant 23-3 win over the Tampa Bay Vipers (0-1) to start their XFL season on Sunday afternoon.

Defenders, Roughnecks earn first wins of XFL season - NFL.com
D.C. Defenders QB Cardale Jones (291 yards, two TDs) and Houston Roughnecks QB P.J. Walker (272 yards, four TDs) lead their respective teams to victory to kick off the XFL's inaugural season.

Redskins reportedly seek sports betting license in both Maryland and Virginia as they pursue new stadium - CBSSports.com
The Redskins are looking to replace FedEx Field, and securing legalized gambling could sway where it's built

Cardinals' Chandler Jones says Patriots were actually smart for trading him four years ago - CBSSports.com
Jones reflects on his time with Patriots, years after the trade