While the Denver Broncos new ownership had absolutely nothing to do with the hiring of a new general manager, new head coach and staff, they were thrust into the spotlight after the team fell well short of expectations early in the season.
Part owner and CEO Greg Penner decided he’d seen enough when the Broncos were blown-out by the L.A. Rams on Christmas Day when Denver lost 51-14. It was at this time that Penner fired head coach Nathaniel Hackett and filled the position with veteran special teams coach/clock management Jerry Rosberg.
Despite Denver’s lackluster season, the Broncos had a well-rounded two end-of-season games on the road in Kansas City and at home to host the Chargers. Last week when the Broncos faced the Kansas City Chiefs on the road in a game the Broncos kept close where the defense picked off Chiefs quarterback (QB) Patrick Mahomes three times.
Denver fans weren’t happy about the officiating during the game especially when Denver QB Russell Wilson connected with Courtland Sutton in the third quarter, which was called back on a controversial call of offensive pass interference. The Broncos were leading Kansas City 17-14 at the time and the play would have put the Broncos in scoring position at the Chiefs 40-yard line.
This past Sunday the Broncos hosted the L.A. Chargers at home in a game that didn’t mean much to L.A. who had previous to the game, clinched the number 5 seed in the AFC.
To the surprise of Chargers fans, head coach Brandon Staley kept his starters in for Sunday’s matchup against the Broncos. The Broncos won the coin toss and deferred possession giving the Chargers first crack at moving the ball, and moving the ball is just what they did, scoring on a 14-yard pass from Chargers QB Justin Herbert to L.A. receiver Keenan Allen.
The Broncos responded less than eight minutes later with Broncos running back Latavius Murray trotted in from two yards out. The volley continued through the first half with both teams knotted up at 17 apiece at halftime. In the second half the Broncos scored another touchdown with a different running back in Tyler Badie who swung to the out- side for a pass and block that allowed him to diver and reach for his first NFL touchdown. The Broncos defense stiffened up holding L.A. to only three points in the third and added another touchdown in the fourth to hold on to the lead and win for their final game of the season (Denver 31 – L.A. 28).
In other sports the Denver Nuggets are rolling over teams and latest to suffer was an injured L.A. Lakers team who kept it close until the end. The Nuggets have won 8 of their last ten games with losses to the Sacramento Kings back on December 28th and the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 2nd.
The Nuggets have been hot and as a result of their streak and the NBA has them at the top of the power rankings. The reasons for Denver’s success of course is because of the leagues MVP Nikola Jokic who became the first player in NBA history to record 10+ points, 10+ rebounds and 15+ assists in a game while shooting 100 percent from the field. This type of play from the MVP has him in the lead for KIA’s MVP Ladder race for his third MVP.
The Nuggets will host a struggling Phoenix Suns team who has lost 9 of their last ten games including one to the Nuggets back on Christmas Day.
