Historic ass-kicking wakes up Denver's mile-high ensemble
The air is getting thinner again for opponents in the NFL's highest stadium. After years of mediocrity, the Denver Broncos are on the upswing again. This is down to new coach Sean Payton and the generous owners.
In terms of views, the Mile High Stadium in Denver is one of the treasures among NFL arenas. A few kilometers away are the massive Rocky Mountains, whose peaks are covered in snow even in summer. Some scoffers claim that this fantastic view is the only thing that has warmed the hearts of Broncos fans in recent years - or was even the main reason for going to a home game in the first place. Because in sporting terms, there was nothing encouraging.
Since the 24:10 victory in Super Bowl 50 on February 7, 2016 against the Carolina Panthers, things have gone downhill for the wild horses from Colorado. That game was not only the last of quarterback Peyton Manning's career, but also the club's last playoff appearance. What followed was seven years, 114 games, 44 wins, 70 defeats. Not since the early seventies has Denver experienced such a period of suffering.
Finally back in the playoffs in the eighth year after winning the title?
But that period of suffering could end this season, the eighth since the last championship title. With new coach Sean Payton, not everything in Denver is as impressive as the view of the Rockies, but at least the downward trend of recent years has been halted. And Denver could possibly even make the playoffs. Subjunctive is very important here. After winning just one of their first six games, the Broncos have actually won all of their last five games, giving them a current record of 6-5. However, they have had home field advantage in four of these five games - which brings us back to Mile High Stadium.
As the name suggests, the arena is exactly one mile (1609.34 meters) above sea level - making it the highest situated NFL stadium. Up there, the air can get a little thin for visiting teams. Denver has just won against the champion Kansas City Chiefs (24:9), the Minnesota Vikings (21:20) and the Cleveland Browns (29:12), among others. There was also a notable 24-22 triumph over the Buffalo Bills. These were all teams with a positive season record against the Broncos.
So, just home field advantage or a real upswing? They will know more in Denver in the middle of the month. Until then, they have three crucial games - all three away from home. On Sunday at the Houston Texans (6-5 win), then at the Los Angeles Chargers (4-7) and finally, probably the biggest test, at the Detroit Lions (8-3).
Landmark game in Houston
The game in Houston is a crucial match. It is the clash between the first two teams outside the play-off places in the AFC. According to the online portal "The Athletic", "anything is possible" if the defense continues to perform as outstandingly as it has in the past four games, when it forced the opponents into 15 turnovers - and Denver thus gained possession of the ball each time.
Sean Payton is definitely satisfied when he looks at what he has built up over the past few months. Payton coached the New Orleans Saints from 2006 to 2021 - and led the "Saints" from the US state of Louisiana to the championship title in 2010. He then declared his career over at the start of 2022, but received so many requests this year that it was not difficult for him to return to the sidelines - in Denver.
A new challenge with team owners who were happy to spend money and had had enough of all the below-average performances of recent years. The group of Broncos owners around Rob Walton, who came into a lot of money through the Walmart retail group and is currently ranked 16th in the list of the richest people in the world with a fortune of 69.2 billion dollars, opened their well-filled private accounts.
Denver spent 259.5 million dollars on free agents such as defensive end Zach Allen (three years/45.75 million dollars) and offensive linemen Mike McGlinchey (five years/87.5 million dollars) and Ben Powers (four years/51.5 million dollars) during the off-season - more than any other NFL club.
Quarterback Wilson finally has a favorite target
Samaje Perine, an experienced running back from the Cincinnati Bengals, was added in the summer. He has now become Russell Wilson's favorite receiver. The quarterback is playing his twelfth season - and is finally enjoying his job again. With the Seattle Seahawks, Wilson was one of the best the NFL had to offer for many years. Super Bowl winner in 2013 and almost Super Bowl winner in 2014.
When Wilson came to Denver in the spring of 2022, he was considered the club's next great quarterback after John Elway and Peyton Manning. But his first year was one to forget. Now, however, he has reliable bodyguards in Mike McGlinchey and Ben Powers, as well as left tackle Garett Bolles. They give him the time to finally play in Denver the way he did for many years in Seattle.
Wilson had become known as someone who is precision personified, especially in the fourth quarter. He finds the smallest gaps in the opposing defense at crunch time, i.e. when the game is in the decisive phase, and then serves his teammates through precisely these gaps. In recent weeks, he has found Samaje Perine more and more often.
On Denver's game-winning drive in the 21-20 win over Minnesota, Perine touched the ball five times for a 47-yard gain. The week before, when Denver won at Buffalo, 24-22, it had been three passes caught and 35 yards on two plays by the Broncos in the final quarter that led to nine points. "I'll be where I need to be. Wilson knows that, that's why he gives me the ball," Perine emphasized.
Historic ass-kicking in Miami
Russell Wilson still has a strong arm, of course, but he's taking fewer risks now. That becomes clear when you look at his stats. He ranks fifth with 20 touchdowns and his four interceptions are tops in the league. It is important to Payton not to lose the ball on offense. If the Broncos have to punt, it is not an inadequately executed offensive play for the coach, but an acceptable result. After all, he knows how strong his defence is and how much it has specialized in forcing the opponent into turnovers in recent weeks.
Now, of course, this article would be incomplete without mentioning September 25. The day Denver suffered a debacle. The day Denver got its ass kicked in a historic 20-70 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Never before had a Broncos team lost by 50 points. Of course, that ignominy has not been forgotten. But it has helped the Broncos become the team that now has serious playoff aspirations.
"There have been a lot of changes. I know people want to see results, but it takes time," says Zach Allen. "Fortunately," adds the defenseman, "everything has come together." And that's why it's fun to go to Mile High Stadium in Denver again. The sporting prospects are interesting and appealing - and the view of the Rockies, that's what it is anyway.
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The Broncos' impressive victories against NFL champions like the Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikins have recently boosted their confidence at Mile High Stadium. With their current 6-5 record, Denver is aiming to secure a playoff spot, a feat they last achieved after winning the Super Bowl in 2016.
Sean Payton's arrival as head coach and the team's significant financial investments in new players have revitalized the Denver Broncos, displaying potential for continued success in the NFL.
Source: www.ntv.de
