Horse Tracks: Rubber about to meet road in Broncos Country

Does the turnaround begin this week?

As Denver begin what hopefully will not be their 8th consecutive losing season, it feels like it’s been just too damn long since the Broncos were relevant. Remember a time when being broadcast on national television was something fans didn’t have to apologize for? Remember when you’d go to bed on Sunday evenings without grinding your teeth in aggravation? Remember when the fans didn’t have to count down the play-clock for the clueless nincompoop coach?

It’s Monday of Week 1. Everything that happened up to this moment is prologue to the story of the 2023 season. All the swirling storylines, projections, hand-wringing, hopes, and fears are about to crystalize into the cold hard reality of what the 2023 season means to NFL history.

Will the Denver Broncos be an afterthought in that emerging story or will they take the reins and once again become a dominant protagonist? Will the Broncos escape the margins to actually impact the narrative of the 2023 season?

We’ll soon find out. It’s Raiders week.

HEADLINES

Broncos ‘ Nate Adkins learned blocking techniques from dad | Denver Broncos | denvergazette.com
The Broncos undrafted rookie tight end is the son of Greg Adkins, a longtime college offensive line coach.

Raiders set to face improved Broncos, Sean Payton in NFL season opener | Las Vegas Review-Journal
The Broncos believe a new coach will be enough to turn around the fortunes of their star quarterback and end a run of three straight last-place finishes in the AFC West.

Football Fans In Colorado Are Savagely Destroying Broncos QB Russell Wilson After Shedeur Sanders & Travis Hunter’s Monster Performances vs. TCU
Russell Wilson can’t seem to catch a break these days. And the likes of Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter starring for the Colorado Buffaloes against TCU on Saturday earned him lots of criticism, though he had nothing to do with the game. The Denver Broncos gave up a lot to get Russell from the Seattle … The post Football Fans In Colorado Are Savagely Destroying Broncos QB Russell Wilson After Shedeur Sanders & Travis Hunter’s Monster…

3 Denver Broncos To Watch for on Offense

How ‘borderline obsessive’ Broncos coach Sean Payton plans to use a hardwired confidence in himself to win big. Again | National Sports | thebrunswicknews.com
DENVER — Shock rippled through Roy Banks as the oblong ball wobbled on the ground toward infamy. The Who had cleared the Hard Rock Stadium turf in Miami moments before,

Why Wil Lutz fits with Sean Payton as Broncos kicker – Denver Sports
Looking back, it seems as if Sean Payton and the Broncos had Wil Lutz in mind all along. Which they probably did, as they evaluated things.

Darren Drozdov, Former WWE Star and Broncos DL, Dies at Age 54 | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors | Bleacher Report
Former WWE Superstar Darren “Droz” Drozdov, who suffered an in-ring injury in 1999 that left him paralyzed from the neck down, died Friday at the age of 54.…

After stellar Colorado debut, Travis Hunter talks future NFL team – NBC Sports
Colorado receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter had a great debut.

Patrick Mahomes on Chris Jones: At this point, we prepare with the guys in the building – NBC Sports
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes sounds resigned to opening the season without star defensive tackle Chris Jones.

Sources – Cowboys RT Terence Steele gets $86.8M extension – ESPN
The Cowboys and right tackle Terence Steele reached agreement on a five-year, $86.8 million extension that includes $50 million guaranteed, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Cowboys, RT Terence Steele agree to terms on five-year, $86.8 million extension
Cowboys right tackle Terence Steele has agreed to terms on a five-year, $86.8 million extension, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported Sunday, per Steele’s agent. The deal includes $50 million guaranteed, and a max value of $91.8 million, Pelissero a

OC Ben Johnson: Lions could use RB Jahmyr Gibbs in ways that ‘people don’t quite think we might’
Lions rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs was already expected to provide another wrinkle or two to Detroit’s attack. Then offensive coordinator Ben Johnson decided to add another layer of intrigue on Saturday.

Chris Jones landing spots: Chiefs DT on Reserve/Did Not Report list amid holdout, misses practice for Week 1 – CBSSports.com
Here’s the latest on the Chris Jones-Chiefs saga

Chiefs’ Kadarius Toney ‘good to go’ for Week 1 opener against Lions, Andy Reid says – CBSSports.com
Kansas City’s top wideout has the green light for Week 1

If Rams have a rough start, will Aaron Donald be available at the deadline? – NBC Sports
The Rams continue to pay the mortgage on a Super Bowl they won two years ago.

Andy Reid doesn’t close the door on Chris Jones playing on Thursday night – NBC Sports
Sunday came and went without Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones ending his holdout.