Unser Chat » DENVER (AP) — In early August

Cheap Dre’Mont Jones Jersey , cornerback Chris Harris Jr. was so impressed by Denver’s revamped offense directed by new quarterback Case Keenum that he declared the Broncos would score more points in 2018 than they had in five years.Thirty a game, 480 total, something the Broncos hadn’t done since 2014 when they tallied 482 on the heels of the Peyton Manning-fueled, record-breaking 606-point season.Harris saw Keenum, who had just guided the Minnesota Vikings to the NFC championship game, developing a quick rapport with Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas. He witnessed great promise in rookie receivers Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton and marveled at tight ends Jake Butt and Jeff Heuerman.So, 30 points a game seemed realistic, especially “because we have Bill Musgrave, a great offensive coordinator,” Harris said in training camp. “We used to hate going against him. We used to call him ‘Mad Scientist’ when he was in Oakland. … So, I don’t see why they can’t average 30.”He couldn’t foretell the Broncos (6-10) losing their top two tight ends or their two veteran receivers, one to injury and another to a trade. Nor could he predict season-ending injuries to three interior O-linemen.He couldn’t predict Keenum reverting to his journeyman ways with just 18 touchdown throws and career highs in interceptions (15) and sacks (34).He didn’t foresee Musgrave doing the exact same this thing that got his predecessor, Mike McCoy, fired last season — stubbornly sticking to three-wide receiver sets in spread formations when the tactic did little to ignite a stagnant offense or force defenses to quick stacking the box.The Broncos punted on their first possession in each of their last nine games.That’s an indictment of Musgrave’s script, which includes the plays that the offense practiced the most during the week and which Keenum felt most comfortable calling on game day.The offensive ineptitude seeped into the second, third and fourth quarters as the rookie receivers had trouble getting defenders’ hands off them in the type of press-man coverage they rarely saw in college.The Broncos averaged just 20.5 points a game, a major reason they posted double-digit losses in consecutive years for the first time since 1966-67, an ignominy that could cost coach Vance Joseph his job when he meets with general manager John Elway on Monday.Case Keenum, Von Miller and Derek Wolfe, among others, all lobbied for Joseph to get a third year following the Broncos’ 23-9 loss to the Chargers on Sunday.“I love Vance. He’s a hard worker, he’s a really good guy,” linebacker Brandon Marshall said afterward. “In the locker room when we huddled up, everybody was saying, ‘We love you, Coach.’ You know, ‘Thank you.’ So, he’s a great coach. I don’t think this is entirely his fault. And I hope everybody else could actually see that.”Elway, who would be searching for his fourth coach in six seasons should he decide to fire Joseph, bears much responsibility for the Broncos’ three-year playoff drought. He hired some of the coaching staff and saddled Joseph with a roster that lacked depth because of poor draft classes before hitting the 2018 mother lode.If cornerback Bradley Roby and linebacker Shane Ray leave in free agency in 2019, as expected, only three of Elway’s first-round picks will remain on the roster: left tackle Garett Bolles, who has a whopping 21 accepted holding calls in two seasons, and outside linebackers Bradley Chubb and Miller.For the third consecutive season, the Broncos’ offensive ineptitude negated their biggest strength — a superb pass rush by Miller, who hasn’t been back to his playoff playground since his MVP performance in Super Bowl 50 three years ago.Had they averaged 30 points a game like Harris predicted, the Broncos would be heading back to a postseason filled with possibilities instead of careening into another offseason packed with uncertainty.Joseph is 11-21 in his two seasons, but when the Broncos score 24 points he’s 7-1.Eight players who started multiple games on offense in 2018 weren’t in uniform for their finale Sunday, including rookie running sensation Phillip Lindsay , whose surgically-repaired wrist will keep him out of the Pro Bowl, too.“You go into the year and you’re counting on D.T. (Thomas) and E. (Sanders), those are your two primary receivers,” said Butt, who tore his left ACL in practice in September. “You’re counting on Jeff and I, your two primary tight ends. You lose all four of those guys, that’s tough. Now, you lost Ron, Matt, Max, those are three of your top four interior O-linemen. That’s tough.“That’s a lot of shuffling and a lot of pressure on guys that may not have had the playing time,” Butt added. “Case is new to our system, it’s his first year. He’s still trying to figure everything out. It’s a lot of changes. It’s not an excuse. It’s the reality of it. It’s the reality of the game. We’ve got to find ways to win and find ways to have a productive offense. But it certainly doesn’t help to have that many injuries.” Good morning, Broncos Country!What Halloween party, you say? Exactly, says Emmanuel Sanders and Chris Harris Jr.There’s a game to play on Sunday and the two vets know where their minds need to be.On football.Make that on really good football by the visiting team.“I’m done talking about the party,” said Chris Harris Jr. “I’ve been focusing on the Chiefs since Friday...If you [didn’t] study all weekend and get a jump on these boys, then you’re not trying to win.”If Von Miller used his “we’re going to kick their asses” comment to the media last week as a subtle message to his teammates, perhaps Harris Jr. had the same idea in mind with his comments.“I’ve been studying and focusing on them the whole time. This is a big game—this is a season changing game,” he said. “If you’re not focusing on that, all of this other bull-crap that’s going, you’re missing the big point of this game. This is a big game to change our season and get us back rolling.”Sanders and several other teammates took it to heart.“It is,” Sanders said about Sunday being a “season-changing” game. “Think about it - go to Arrowhead, beat these guys—a team that’s at the top of our division right now—coming off a big-time game in Arizona. This is a game where we sit back and say, ‘OK, was Arizona a fluke or are we really good?’ That’s what I’m looking forward to seeing.”Aren’t we all - and that’s going to mean stopping Patrick Mahomes but also scoring a lot of points.On that second point, Sanders is all in.“For sure. ...Offensively, we’ve definitely got to go and put up points,” he said. “That’s the goal.”With the Patriots being the only team to defeat the Chiefs so far - and needing 40 points to do it - the Broncos’ offense knows it can’t waste opportunities.Hopefully Case Keenum doesn’t just understand this but is capable of orchestrating it too.“We have to put up enough. Put up more than they do,” Keenum said Dre’Mont Jones Denver Broncos Jersey , pulling out the oldest clich茅 in the book (besides that one!) “For us offensively, we’re trying to score every time we get the ball. I think if we do that, I think we’re going to come away happy.”But even Sanders and Keenum admit the Broncos defense is going to need to help them out when trying to “put up more points” than the most prolific quarterback in the NFL this season and a likely NFL MVP.“Obviously, they’re a great offense, but I have a lot of trust and a lot of faith in our defense,” Keenum said. “I think they have a great plan and a scheme, great players. They can match up well with those guys.”Sanders added that since head coach Vance Joseph changed the scheme back to focusing on what the defense does well, the defense has played better.“We know what they’re going to do offensively, but that’s not saying that I don’t believe in our defense - especially with how we played last week, going back and being ourselves,” Sanders said, highlighting an earlier comment about adjustments to the defense against Arizona.“I like what Coach Joseph did when he made that adjustment going back and playing our style of football. That’s man-high, let Von Miller rush, let Bradley Chubb go loose, and Chris Harris and Bradley Roby, ‘You guys get up there and press these guys,’” Sanders added. “In doing that, the quarterback’s got to make the perfect throw because if he doesn’t it’s going to be an interception. You saw that in Arizona. Hopefully, we’re able to continue that and continue to make those plays on defense and create turnovers so offensively we can be way more aggressive.”Harris Jr. and his fellow defenders are all for it.“I’m approaching it like a championship game again,” Harris Jr. said. “You’re going to Arrowhead, a hostile environment. Everybody expects - they need - me, ‘25,’ to come out here and make plays, have an all-star game, an All-Pro game.”The cornerback is also planning to be more physically prepared after having to get extra I.V.s during the first contest.“Yeah, I’ll definitely load up on some I.V.s or whatever for the game, as much as I can,” he laughed, adding that he’s already begun extra hydration in preparation for a long, tough game. “Just getting my body ready, knowing that there’s going to be times where we’re going to have to get out and cover for five seconds. It’s going to happen. We’re working on keeping this guy caged in. Make him throw from the pocket, but he’s that good in the pocket to where he can get out and scramble.”No. 25 also isn’t shy about saying the team is relying on him to be on the field the entire time.“I’ve got to have my mind ready, be in shape,” he said. “We need me on the field this whole game, I can’t come out like I did last time.”One of the big takeaways Harris Jr. pulled from film study this week is how most teams “play scared” against Mahomes.He doesn’t plan on the Broncos’ defense adding to the list as one of those teams this weekend.“Mahomes, he can make all of the throws. I think with him you just try to pick and choose whether you can make your plays,” he said. “Everybody else playing these guys are [playing] scared. They’re not challenging them. No. 10 (Tyreek Hill) is just running around free. That’s not how we play. When we play them, we get up, we challenge them, put hands on them and that’s how we come to play. We’re not coming to be scared and let guys run for free all day.”Fellow defensive back Justin Simmons feels exactly the same way.“If anyone can beat the Chiefs and do it in a defensive fashion, it’s us,” said the safety. “No one else is built defensively like we are to be able to beat the Chiefs, especially at home at their place. ...It’s a tall task, but one that this defense is looking forward to, especially coming off a big win like we had last week. We’re just going to use that momentum to ride into Kansas City and come out with a win. Whatever it takes.”Harris Jr. has one more piece of advice for his teammates:“Everybody is going to have to have a great level of mental toughness, championship mindset and don’t be scared. Like I said last time before we played them, ‘If you’re scared, go to church.’ You’ve got to be able to challenge these boys.”Horse Tracks - docllv’s picks of the day‘I believe I can be a great player when it’s all said and done’: Broncos CB Bradley Roby opens up about roller-coaster start to 2018 – The AthleticBradley Roby said he made adjustments after his season-worst showing against the Jets in Week 5, and it showed in the Broncos' win over the Cardinals. The key? "It's all mental," he said.The 19 Boringest Athletes Of All Time | DeadspinSo yes, let’s salute the athletes who were able to achieve immortality by demonstrating a technical proficiency so consistent and so routine that watching them made me beg for the sweet release of a sledgehammer to the temporal lobe. You will see a lot of obvious names on this list. That is because, like these athletes, I lack imagination.Horse TracksBroncos' focus on Kansas City as trip to Arrowhead awaits“If you didn’t study all weekend and get a jump on these boys, then you ain’t trying to win,” Chris Harris said Wednesday. “I’ve been studying and focusing on them the whole time. This is a big game."Demaryius Thomas wants to stay with Denver BroncosI would like that too, DT.Kansas City Chiefs high on Dorian O’Daniel at nickel LB position - Arrowhead PrideSo is our own analyst, Shawn Barber, who played the position for 10 yearsThe Chiefs show improvement in most defensive areas against the Bengals - Arrowhead PrideThe Chiefs defense had an impressive week against the Bengals, but where did they perform best?Looking ahead at the Denver Broncos quarterback situationWith the release of Chad Kelly, the Denver Broncos could face a setback with quarterback development. I look ahead to the future at quarterback for Denver.Broncos tracker: Practice updates from Chiefs weekThe deadline for NFL players to be traded is fast-approaching on Tuesday and the Broncos are rumored to be open for business.After releasing Chad Kelly, the Broncos’ future at the QB position becomes murkier – The AthleticSince John Elway joined the Broncos' front office in 2011, he's drafted five quarters. With the release of Chad Kelly on Wednesday, none of them are still on the roster.NFL sets game time for Broncos' Week 15 game vs. ClevelandThe Broncos' matchup with the Browns will take the evening slot on Saturday, Dec. 15.Oakland Raiders tight end Lee Smith defends quarterback Derek CarrRaiders tight end Lee Smith defended QB Derek Carr, saying the criticism of Carr "is a joke."Patrick Peterson hints at long-term commitment to Arizona CardinalsAmid trade speculation, veteran cornerback Patrick Peterson on Wednesday said he's "100 percent focused on being part of the solution" for the Cardinals.These 5 NFL quarterbacks have earned the highest marks so far this season - The Washington PostThere's a mix of young and veteran QBs on the list of the top performers in 2018.The NFL Broke Former Players Like Me. Here's One Way To Fix Us.Roger Goodell is a benevolent man. Last season, while negotiating his own new salary, he demanded lifetime health insurance for himself and his family—with a wink.