Ultimate Fans, it looks like Broncos Country has been rewarded for its devotion to this team with two — TWO — thrilling comeback victories. I’ve said this many times at MHR all year, but there’s nothing better than a fourth quarter comeback win in the final seconds, especially on a big final play. Hufanga’s interception in the end zone to seal the Broncos’ come-from-behind win over the Rams gave me John Mobley SB32 vibes, and I always want to be reminded of that.
So the question is will we be rewarded again this week? Either way, we are being rewarded today with this UFG. EmpeyFM is not only a new addition to the UFG crowd, he is a young and somewhat green Orange and Blue fan. So give him a welcome to Broncos Country and enjoy this preview that, of course, predicts a win!
Week 4: Broncos at Niners
MHR – For the second week in a row, the Broncos waited until the second half – and most of the fourth quarter – to get hot. How angry were you about watching the first half and how nervous/excited about watching the second half?
EmpeyFM: I was really disappointed watching the first half! That being said…I also thought for sure they would be back! I wasn’t too nervous for most of the second half (until the Rams went down 19 to perform a… idk… ordinary prayer?). I’m so excited to see Hufanga get some picks!! AND a house!
MHR – Davis Webb says Denver needs to run with more “conviction,” and Sean Payton admits the ground game hasn’t been good in the first half of any game this year. Do the Broncos have the personnel on the field and on the sidelines to make this a legit run game?
EmpeyFM: Silly rabbit, running is for the weak! I am young; I think they have the line and the backs to do it, but I think this team will always be pass-first as long as Sean is involved a little bit. I don’t think they can be as good as the top running teams, but certainly effective enough to take safeties down.
MHR – Bo Nix has been the leading hero in rebounding wins, but he has had some costly turnovers. Against the Niners, a team that averages nearly 33 points a game, the Broncos can’t afford the turnover that would give up points and make it too easy for Brock Purdy & Co. in a short field. How confident are you that Nix and the offense can start fast and stay in front of Purdy and his offense? If the Broncos are playing catch-up, can fourth quarter heroics happen for the third week in a row?
EmpeyFM: Unfortunately, I can’t predict with good faith a fast start… but I can predict a jogging start! Maybe not enough to stay in front of the ‘9ers, but at least one point behind them. If they play catch-up like they did against the Rams, they will lose this game. If they play catch-up down a field goal or TD, they can – and WILL – win this game!
MHR – What are your thoughts on the offensive line? In Week 1, Nix seemed to be running for his life most of the game, and while that has improved, the Broncos’ run game has yet to take off this season. With a guy like Fred Warner on the other side, how important is the O-line play this Sunday?
Empey FM: I think the right (and middle…) of the line is the weakest link. i saw wayyy McGlinchey is losing too much, or Powers isn’t going to the right person. However, Nix hasn’t had a very good presence in the pocket at times, so! The play of the O-line is always important, and it will be this week as well. I need BLOCKS! I don’t need GARRETT HOLDS… or MIKE MCFLINCHEY! I think this will be the point where they start to sort things out, as they had very few snaps in the preseason.
MHR – Jaylen Waddle didn’t do many fireworks last week, but he had an elite catch at a key moment to get a crucial two-point conversion. What do you expect from him on Sunday?
Empey FM: I expect him to catch any ball that isn’t thrown at his feet! He’s been disappointing at this point, but man is he a play machine when he’s caught in front of LOS! The flashes are at least there, so I think it should only get better as time wears on. For this particular game, I’m seeing a three-reception, 30 to 50-yard type of game, maybe similar to last week’s statline.
MHR – When the ball doesn’t go to Waddle or Courtland Sutton, Nix has plenty of pass catchers, from Pat Bryant and Troy Franklin to Nate Adkins and Evan Engram, to choose from. How important is spreading the ball around to keep defenses honest? Who gets the most targets, yards and scores on Sunday?
Empey FM: It’s integral! Nix should be throwing anyone tomorrow! I think Sutton and Waddle get the most targets, because that’s been the trend, but I think the other receivers will be more “productive” overall than those two. I’ll go with Sutton and Engram catching a TD this week.
MHR – Brock Purdy has a 133.1 passer rating, nine touchdowns, one interception, and has never been sacked. The Niners are the first team in 12 years to go three games without allowing a sack. The Broncos are still without Jonathon Cooper and haven’t had much success in the first three games. Will this change this Sunday? How important is Nik Bonitto?
EmpeyFM: Sacks are a fact of life, and I don’t think the ‘9ers faced the greatest of d-linemen or pass rushers, but it’s clearly impressive and worth considering. I think that could completely change. I don’t think they’ll tally more than 3, but I have to think they’ll get him once, even if it’s in the final moments of the game. Nik Bonitto is important no doubt, but the group as a whole is a more important factor. If Nik is the only one under pressure I will be worried. As long as they can pressure and tackle whoever has the ball, I think things will be OK.
MHR – Which Niners offensive player – Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey or Geoge Kittle – scares you the most for our defense?
EmpeyFM: They are all the same, so far as they are all effective guys to lean on. Especially if McCaffrey gets involved in the pass game… oh god! Singleton will still turn around when he gets to the endzone! They are all very effective, so I hope VJ has a killer gameplan for whatever situations are thrown at them. That’s pretty much how he works…
MHR – Who ONE player on offense and defense needs to be Sunday’s MVP to finish this game with a check in the W column?
EmpeyFM: Nix and Allen! Nix is the guy who gets the ball to its destination, so if he’s not good at that sort of thing…then things are going to go south. Allen is a force, and when he doesn’t get tackled, he gets to the QB. If those two are effective, there’s no reason why they can’t beat the 49ers.
MHR – What is one word to describe the weather at the moment? For for this team for the rest of the season?
EmpeyFM: So far…“ugh.” For the rest of the season? Hopefully, “Yay!”
Stats for BO NIX? 18/25 completions, 287 yards, 2 TDs
Stats for every Broncos RB? Dobbins: 8 carries, 36 yards; Harvey: 9 carries, 73 yards, 4 receptions, 25 yards, 1 TD; Badie: 2 carries, 3 yards, 1 reception, 4 yards
Number of receiving yards/TD for receivers? Sutton: 52 yards and a TD; Engram: 45 yards and one TD; Waddle: 68 yards; Franklin: 32 yards; Mims: 43 yards
Longest FG from Lutz this week? 43 yards… for the GAME WINNER!
Number of sacks on Brock Purdy? 2
Broncos player with most tackles? Hijab!
Who will get the first sack of the game for the Broncos? DJ Jones! REVENGE! Or something…
Who gets the most sacks? Jones and Allen, one at a time.
How many INTs/FF/FR for the Niners D? 0 int/1 ff/0 fr
How many INTs/FF/FR for the Broncos D? 1 int/0 ff/0 fr
How many penalties for the Broncos? 6
How many stupid penalties for the Broncos? At least 2
Final Score? 24-21 BRONCOS!!
Favorite Broncos win? Bills Divisional last year!
Peyton Manning’s favorite win? Super Bowl 50
John Elway favorite to win? Steelers AFC Championship (This is the only one I watched… I wasn’t around when he was playing… Sorry, haha)
Any Broncos QB’s favorite win? Russell Wilson vs the Bills!
Team you most want to beat in the AFC West? The Chiefs! (The raiders are not too far away)
NFL coach you despise the most? Jim Harbaugh
The team you most hate to lose to in the rest of the AFC (outside of the AFC West)? The Steelers
NFC team you can cheer for in the Super Bowl? Lions, Bucs, or Vikings.
NFC team you want to face more than any other in the Super Bowl? The Seahawks… they got revenge last year
Toughest game left on the schedule? I hate to say this… but the Jets… they don’t give us an easy time.. Ugh… let me brush my teeth real quick!
Favorite Broncos player on the current roster? PS2!
Favorite Broncos player of all time not named John Elway? By Miller!
Favorite new guy/rookie on the team? Jonah Coleman!
Food/Snacks you need to eat on game day? My dad usually cooks breakfast!
Favorite game analyst/commentator? Ian Eagle and Mike Tirico!
Who’s on your Broncos Mt. Rushmore? TD, Von, DT, and Elway!
Give me one word/phrase/cliche to describe your hopes for this season? “Lombardi is coming back to Denver!”
How did you become a Broncos fan?
I have been a Broncos fan by inheritance – my father has been a fan since he was a child. He’s watched every SB loss…outside of one in ’78… because he wasn’t born. Talk about dedication, I barely made it through the Hack season! It was also my first real season… so I’m definitely a greenhorn (*editor’s note: trust us guys your dad’s age, early Super Bowl losses are depressing, but NOTHING beats how horrible Hack Season was!!)
I have vague memories of “watching” a Tebow game or two when I was 5-ish, and the first snap of SB48 (I ended up with a Manning jersey with the SB patch outline from my uncle lol). I also “watched” SB 50. Football has only recently been added to my life, but it has been pretty consistent…so the bug must have bitten at some point I’spose!