DROP THE MIKE

The Joe Flacco era with the Broncos ends with a thud

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Oct 29, 2019, 6:14 AM | Updated: 6:14 am

– It stinks for Joe Flacco that he’s hurt, but this is good for the Broncos. Instead of clinging to some fantasy that this season is salvageable and continuing to play Flacco out of fear of playing Drew Lock, now the Broncos can do what they must do and find out what they have in Lock.

– If this is indeed the last time Flacco suits up for the Broncos then, oh well. I’ve seen enough to know Flacco isn’t the answer. Eight games. Only six touchdown passes. An anemic offense averaging 15.5 points per game. No thanks. Time to move on.

– Flacco didn’t leave without driving the bus over, backing it up, and then driving it again over Rich Scangarello. The quarterback and (presumably) other members of the offense, defense and coaching staff being critical of a first time offensive coordinator whose vast play calling resume includes prior stops at powerhouses like Northern Arizona, Millsaps and Wagner? Wow, who could’ve seen that coming?

– As much as my man “Wrinkles” is catching heat, lets’ not leave Vic Fangio out of this. The rookie head coach is on headsets. He’s aware of what’s being called. He easily could’ve ordered Scangarello to be aggressive and go for the win.

– Never forget, most NFL coaches are ruled by what can go wrong more than what can go right. They’re wired to coach not to lose more than to coach to win. Even more so with defensive coaches. Fangio proved that yet again.

– Ja’Wuan James and Bryce Callahan are two shining examples of the dangers of overpaying in free agency. The Broncos ignored both players’ injury history and in the case of James, whispers that playing in and through pain isn’t one of his strengths.

– Courtland Sutton was uncoverable against the Colts. Why wasn’t he targeted more? I would’ve made sure he had at least a dozen targets.

– Are the Broncos so lacking for pass catchers they decided lining up Royce Freeman wide and having him run a slant was the best call on a crucial third-down play? Freeman has improved as a pass catcher this season, but c’mon, that was asking a lot.

– Hard to be too critical of this defense considering how much of a joke this offense is, but, here goes. As good as the defense has been, it’s shocking how bad they’ve been in closing out games. Whether giving up fourth-and-15 to the Bears to helping give birth to “Minshew Mania” to not wrapping up Jacoby Brissett, the defense just hasn’t been able to close the deal.

– Did that play best sum up Von Miller’s under-achieving season or what?

– Tough spot for Broncos Country. At 2-6, fans need to be okay with the losses piling up. A three- to four-win season is what’s best. Not only for better draft picks, but to also destroy whatever delusional thinking John Elway may have that this team is close. The Broncos are 18-34 in their last 52 games! That’s who they are. Refusing to admit that will only prolong the misery.

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