YOU DON’T ROOT FOR LOSSES!

I am so tired of the debate over “Wins v. Draft Picks.”

YOU DON’T ROOT FOR LOSSES.

EVER.

NEVER. EVER.

Rooting for losses just helps breed a losing mentality.

I don’t care that a win could mean picking 16th in the draft versus picking 8th or 10th or whatever number somehow magically makes Broncos that much better next year???

You know what makes the Broncos better next year?

A coach who has the confidence and experience to make the right calls in the game.

A quarterback who can throw an accurate pass that a 10-year vet or a first-game rookie can catch.

A roster not marred by injuries to game-changing starters.

Players who know how to play in adverse situations.

John Elway will certainly be looking for those players:

“I think the big thing is you find out in these situations what kind of workers they are and how hard they play,” Elway said on First and 10 @ 10 on Wednesday. “I don’t think it’s going to wipe anybody off the board. ...But I think for the most part, we find out what we’re made of and what kind of workers we are and what kind of competitors we are, because we’re given a chance to go out to play and obviously our goal is to win the football game and that’s really the only thing that we have to go for. We’re not playing for anything else, unfortunately. So I think that’s part of it but we’d like to find what’s in the heart and what’s in the soul. Bottom line is, they’re still getting paid this week, so we expect them to go out and perform well.”

The odds of beating the Chargers this weekend are low. In fact, I’m surprised the spread isn’t more than 6.5 points - even at home.

But that’s all the more reason I’ll be cheering for a win. Because the players out there deserve it.

Because Bradley Chubb deserves to finish a remarkable rookie campaign with a win going into his first offseason.

Because Courtland Sutton, DaeSean Hamilton and Tim Patrick deserve a win for how they stepped up to make some big-time plays when thrust into starting roles.

Because Phillip Lindsay on the sideline with an injury deserves to watch the team he spilled blood for all season go out and put up a fight in his honor.

Because Von Miller still takes losses personally - as if it is his fault he couldn’t be Superman. He deserves a win for every &#*$#@* hold against him every game.

Because Matt Paradis, Emmanuel Sanders, Chris Harris Jr. have casts on their bodies proving how much they sacrificed for this team to win - and I guarantee eight spots in the draft means jack to them right now.

Because every fan deserves something to cheer for - to go into the offseason on a high note, having our team beat an AFC West rival with the whiniest quarterback in the history of whiny.

Because the players. BECAUSE THE PLAYERS.

And because YOU DON’T ROOT FOR A F@#$%#^ LOSS.

Horse Tracks

Elway’s message to the locker room ahead of Week 17 is absolute
John Elway’s expectations for the Broncos in the season finale remain a Mile High, even with the playoffs out of reach.

'We owe it to him to go out there and give it our all': Broncos RBs prepare for increased roles after Lindsay’s injury
Phillip Lindsay’s season-ending injury was disheartening to his teammates, but they're ready to step up and give their all in his absence.

Bronco notes: Rules against paying Lindsay's Pro Bowl visit; ‘Peyton Factor’ | 9news.com
In the three seasons prior to the arrival of Peyton Manning, the Broncos were a combined 20-28. If the Broncos lose Sunday at home to the Los Angeles Chargers – and that’s the way to bet – the Broncos will be 20-28 in the three seasons since Manning retired. While the overall Broncos roster was usually well-stacked with talent at other positions during the Manning era, there’s little question he deserves more credit than any other player for the team’s success.

Power rankings roundup: Where the Broncos stand before the season finale
Here is where the Broncos sit in numerous national outlets' power rankings with one week left in the season.

2018 NFL playoff picture - Bracket, schedule, Super Bowl matchups through Week 16
If the regular season ended right now, here's how the top six would look in each conference, plus clinching scenarios.

Damien Williams alleviates Chiefs' challenge of replacing Kareem Hunt - Kansas City Chiefs Blog- ESPN
Damien Williams went undrafted and then largely unused with the Dolphins, but has acquitted himself quite well in K.C. in a featured running back role.

Broncos legend 'officially on fire Vance Joseph bandwagon'
Vance Joseph is losing the support of both his current players and former Broncos greats.

Phillip Lindsay of Denver Broncos needs 3-4 months of recovery after wrist surgery
Broncos rookie RB Phillip Lindsay is likely to be placed on injured reserve with a wrist injury that will require surgery and three to four months of recovery time, the team announced.

Broncos fan starts GoFundMe to cover Lindsays Pro Bowl expenses
In some ways, this is ridiculous - Lindsay can afford to send himself. But in other ways, it's a great way for fans to show appreciation to the team's pitbull.

Broncos react to Phillip Lindsay missing Pro Bowl after season-ending surgery
Wide receiver Courtland Sutton scrolled through his phone on Christmas night to discover surprise news: Broncos’ running back Phillip Lindsay suffered a right wrist injury in the Raiders loss that will require surgery.

Denver Broncos' Bradley Roby disputes Jason Witten's 'quit' comment
Broncos cornerback Bradley Roby said he made a mistake when he stopped pursuing Raiders running back Doug Martin late in Monday's game and refuted ESPN analyst Jason Witten, who suggested Roby quit on the play.

Glazer’s Week 16 mailbag: On Josh Gordon, addiction and mental health – The Athletic
Sometimes, we toe the line between mental health, addiction and dependency and often they mesh together.