Good morning, Broncos Country!
The Bucs are coming to town, and no matter how much more we’d like to whine about the injuries to so many Broncos, there’s just no time.
Because as Steve Atwater said earlier this week, Tom Brady & Co. will not be feeling sorry for the Broncos.
And that means a lot of young, inexperienced and frankly over-matched players will need to have the games of their lives to pull out a win over a team whose quarterback has been playing in the NFL for as long as some of the Broncos’ starters have been alive.
Fun fact - Brady’s 21 years of NFL experience alone are just a few less than the Broncos’ entire starting offense.
I am laughing so hard at this completely unintentional dig from @Kj_hamler to @TomBrady:
— Doctor of Words (and tights) (@docllv) September 25, 2020
"It’s different because you’re playing against the people that you’ve always been watching growing up. Like playing against Tom Brady this week, he got in the league when I was born."
So perhaps there is a window of opportunity, hoping that a 43-year-old Brady will move just a little slower, throw a couple extra short passes and generally play like Week 1 Brady and not Six-Super-Bowl-Ring Brady so that the Broncos can compete.
“He’s still operating the same, still can make every throw,” Kareem Jackson said Thursday. “It’s a big task for us—a lot of weapons on offense, on wide receiver, two running backs—so we have to be up for the task on defense.”
Being up to the task for Brady, Mike Evans and Leonard Fournette when the Broncos are down Von Miller and A.J. Bouyé is no small feat, but Jackson emphasized the responsibility to play better doesn’t fall on one player. It’s the whole defense.
“I don’t think it just has to be on me to do that. ...We feel like all 11 guys have to do more. Me personally, I definitely want to do more in anyway I can,” Jackson added. “It has to start this Sunday. I’m definitely—if it takes that type of game, I’m definitely willing and capable of going out and doing just that.”
A lot of attention this week has been on rookie Michael Ojemudia after he gave up an 84-yard touchdown to Pittsburgh’s Chase Claypool last week. Like every corner in the league has had to do, Ojemudia will have to have a short memory because there’s little doubt Brady will try to take advantage of the young DB.
But Bryce Callahan is hoping to take a little pressure off Ojemudia as he’ll line up on the 6-foot-5, 235-pound Mike Evans.
“As a corner, you’re going to give up plays. It’s just the name of the game. There’s a saying to have a short memory, knock that out, keep your confidence and go out there and do what you know you can do,” Callahan said. “Mike Evans, he’s a great receiver. He moves around, so obviously I’ll be lined up against him. I feel like we’ve got a good game plan for the Buccaneers.”
Focused on the task at hand.#BeatTheBucs 's » https://t.co/OXMRtys1gF pic.twitter.com/eS4imyUn43
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) September 25, 2020
It will take an excellent game plan from the Broncos’ offense to get past former Broncos’ outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett, who led the league in sacks last year for the Bucs.
Driskel will certainly keep an eye on him.
“They’re a great front. They have really good guys off the edge, but they’re also really big and strong and powerful inside. It’s going to be a challenge,” Driskel said, noting the importance of getting the ball out quickly. “I’m going to have to be dialed in with my eyes to be able to get the ball out quickly because we know that’s a challenge up front. We also know we have the guys that can block them. We’re aware of the situation. We’re aware of their talent level, but we’re excited about the challenge.”
But if Barrett is contained, there is also Ndamukong Suh and Devin White to worry about. And given the Bucs’ stout run defense, more responsibility will likely fall on Noah Fant and rookie receivers Jerry Jeudy and K.J. Hamler. The young guys are up for the challenge.
“We prepare a lot, so I think that everybody is ready to step up,” Hamler said. “I think you saw that last week that everybody has to be prepared at their position and do what they have to do. Our receiver room is very versatile and we can play every position on the field, so I think that brings value to us as well.”
Jeudy, a former member of the national champion Crimson Tide, isn’t used to starting seasons at 0-2, and he’d like to do his part to change that.
“We have a good team here; we just need to finish.,” he said. “I feel like the first game was on me. I felt like the second game I could have done a lot better than I played. Me personally, I feel like I haven’t been playing my best football. I’m just working week by week to improve that and get better each and every day.”
Melvin Gordon, one of the most senior members of the offense, believes individual accountability will be the first step for the Broncos turning around the losing streak.
“At some point, each player at each position and every guy has to put their foot down and tell themselves, ‘We’re going to make a difference, we’re going to make a change. We’re going to find a way,’” he said. “It’s not looking for other guys to make a play and slowly build momentum. You have to come out there knowing that this is what you want to do, this is what we need to do as a team and I’m going to be the guy to start this out. You want to be the guy. You don’t want to look around for the guy to make plays, you want to be the guy.”
And when every player has that mentality, Gordon believes the wins will come - no matter the odds.
“Once you put your foot down and make it up in your mind that we’re going to start winning these close games as unit—not just one, two, three four or five players that you expect to think like that,” Gordon said. “The guys that aren’t talked about need that mindset and that confidence that they’re going to make a difference. That’s when change happens.”
Broncos/NFL News
How Leonard Fournette’s career day in Denver triggered change for the Broncos – The Athletic
Fournette ran for 225 yards against the Broncos last season.
Who is new Broncos' starting quarterback Jeff Driskel? - Denver Broncos- ESPN
Driskel, a former top prep prospect before heading to the University of Florida, has bounced around the NFL since getting drafted in 2016.
How Leonard Fournette’s career day in Denver triggered change for the Broncos – The Athletic
Fournette ran for 225 yards against the Broncos last season.
Dave Logan recounts calling the Broncos' first Super Bowl victory in new book excerpt
In a new book, Broncos radio play-by-play broadcaster Dave Logan looks back on his historic career as the longtime voice of the team.
Sixth-round QBs Jeff Driskel, Tom Brady to decide Broncos’ matchup with Buccaneers
While Jeff Driskel and Tom Brady won’t be on the field together on Sunday, they are the two players who will most define the game.
‘He’s just exceptional in every way’: Bucs QB Tom Brady will miss playing against Von Miller during Week 3 matchup in Denver
Brady and Miller have matched up nine times during their careers. On Sunday, Miller will be sidelined with an ankle injury.
Hot start, Fitzpatrick lead Dolphins past Jags for first win
A big Thursday night for Ryan Fitzpatrick led the way as the Miami Dolphins collected their first win of the season and sent the Jacksonville Jaguars to their second straight loss.
Colts WR T.Y. Hilton says talk with grandma helped him refocus: 'I'm back to being me. I'm good'
T.Y. Hilton admitted Thursday that he hasn't been playing up to his usual standards. But, heading into Week 3's game against the Jets, the multi-time Pro Bowler said he's in better spirits after having a conversation on Monday night with a supporter who's