The Bye Week blues

Despite having their best record 10 games into a season in years, there is no escaping the Denver Broncos Bye Week blues.

If you have spent any amount of time on social media since the Denver Broncos 30-13 home loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, then you are feeling what I am feeling. Just the Bye Week blues. Fans fighting over whether or not Teddy Bridgewater is a manly man and how Drew Lock would have made that tackle. Fire this coach or that coach. You know, the same ole shit just in a differently packaged week of football.

I have to keep reminding myself that the last time the Denver Broncos were .500 or better by Week 11 was back in 2016 when they were 7-3 and crashed their way to a 9-7 finish. Case Keenum briefly helped the Broncos to 6-6 in 2018 before losing the rest of the way out as well, so I would be remiss not to include that brief ascension.

In a way, 2021 is just a slightly better version of the Broncos story post-Manning. And yet here we are still arguing over nuances that don’t really matter. Does anyone actually think Denver is winning more games with Drew Lock under center? His peaks are higher than Teddy Bridgewater’s, but so are his valleys. And in 2020, the valleys lasted for 2-3 games before another peak would arrive.

We’re just back to where we were in March of . The Denver Broncos need a long-term answer at quarterback. It’s not the only thing they need to get back on track, but it is the most important.

As for the rest of this season, I’m a Teddy guy. I had seen enough of Drew Lock by the end of last season. Teddy isn’t likely the long-term answer for me as a Broncos’ fan either, but he’s certainly the best option for the here and now.

Do you disagree? Like everyone else on social media, let me know in the comments section below how and why I am wrong. Ha!

Horse Tracks

Teddy Bridgewater takes ‘full ownership’ for ‘unacceptable’ effort on Eagles’ defensive touchdown
Head Coach Vic Fangio said the entire team’s pursuit could have been better and reiterated that Bridgewater remains the Broncos’ starting quarterback.

Tom McMahon? Still here. Teddy Bridgewater? Still Vic Fangio’s QB. The Broncos have turned into the Rockies. Profits over pride.
Vic Fangio has Tom McMahon’s back. The Broncos have Vic Fangio’s back. Everyone has Pat Shurmur’s back, for reasons that would drive sanity to tears. Sticking with what everyone can see isn’t working doesn’t make you loyal. Or noble. It makes you the Rockies.

Teddy Bridgewater called out in team meeting for lack of effort
Denver Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater bravely confessed Monday to a job poorly done in the Eagles game.

Vic Fangio on Teddy Bridgewater-Darius Slay sequence: ‘I would like to see Teddy at least make a play’
Teddy Bridgewater’s Week 10 business decision has drawn the ire of Broncos fans and media pundits alike. On Monday, Vic Fangio expressed his opinion on the QB’s actions.

George Paton scouts QBs Kenny Pickett, Sam Howell
Broncos GM George Paton scouted QBs Kenny Pickett and Sam Howell at the Pitt-UNC game last week.