Mile High Monday: The Broncos can learn from the Divisional Round

The Denver Broncos weren’t close the playoffs, but they may be a “sleeping giant” according to new general manager George Paton. With the right moves, perhaps the Broncos could get back to the no-expanded postseason after the 2021 season. For now, Broncos Country just has to sit back and wonder “what might have been” when watching some of these playoff quarterbacks.

I like what we’re seeing in the NFL playoffs. It was another exciting weekend of action in the NFL with plenty of twists and turns along the way. Now, we’re just one week from knowing who will be playing in Super Bowl LV.

I also like contemplating life and sports when driving around with the top down on my old Jeep TJ! The following is a result of those trips during the week.

Buckle up, let’s take a ride through my thoughts.

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Battle of the Generations

It’s interesting to see how the playoffs are shaking out in terms of quarterbacks. On the NFC side, you have long-time veterans Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers vying to get to the Super Bowl. On the AFC side, you have two young quarterbacks from back-to-back drafts in Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes.

That means no matter the outcomes next Sunday, we are going to have a young quarterback from the AFC facing off against an older quarterback in the NFC. The styles are almost contradicting as well. Even though Rodgers is athletic, he can make plays from the pocket with ease. That’s where Brady relies on making plays from and has for years.

The two quarterbacks from the AFC are more of the new-generation quarterback as they can be dangerous with their legs. The league has changed and a mobile quarterback is what every team is looking for. That’s why in this year’s draft a pocket passer like Mac Jones (Alabama) is likely to go much later (second round?) than more mobile quarterbacks like Trevor Lawrence (Clemson), Justin Field (Ohio State), Zach Wilson (BYU) and Trey Lance (North Dakota State).

I’ve enjoyed watching Brady and Rodgers for years, but I know their time in the league is almost done. I hope I’m watching Allen and Mahomes for a similar amount of time. No matter who we get in the Super Bowl, fans should enjoy it.

QBs remaining (and their age):

NFC:
-Aaron Rodgers (37)
-Tom Brady (43)
-Drew Brees (42)

AFC:
-Patrick Mahomes (25)
-Baker Mayfield (25)
-Josh Allen (24)

NFC: AFC: pic.twitter.com/Lj5LWJHdPw

— Giants Fans with Giant Johnsons (@ScottBrownNYG) January 17, 2021

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Gotta Have It

The AFC is the toughest conference in football, and things are only going to get tougher in the future. A team like the Broncos or the Steelers is going to fall way behind the other teams in the AFC if they don’t figure out their quarterback situation.

The Broncos are going to replace or bring in competition for Drew Lock. The Steelers have Ben Roethlisberger for one more year, but he looked washed up in the Wild Card Playoff and they don’t have a plan for the future behind him.

Four quarterbacks from the AFC were left in the Divisional Round entering the weekend. Allen, Mahomes, Baker Mayfield and Lamar Jackson are four of the top-10 quarterbacks in the NFL. If you don’t have one of “those guys,” then you’re not going to be able to compete at a high level.

Sure, a team can build a quality defense, but that takes more players, more luck in terms of keeping players healthy and more time. It’s much easier to do like the Colts did back in the day with Peyton Manning – find a real franchise quarterback, compete quickly and build around him as the years go by.

What a great weekend of football! I enjoyed all four games through their ups and downs. These playoffs further highlight what having a franchise QB can do for your team. If you don't have one, do everything you can to get one. #NFL #NFLPlayoffs

— Cecil Lammey (@CecilLammey) January 18, 2021

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Let Me Tell You About My Best Friend

The Buffalo Bills are headed to the AFC Championship for the first time in what feels like forever and a day. They have made it this far for many reasons, but perhaps the biggest reason they’re having such great success this year was the decision to trade for veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs.

That was a bold decision and a big price to pay (including a 2020 first-round pick), but you have to risk big to win big. The Bills have hit it out of the park with Diggs, mainly because of his skill set but also because of the relationship he’s been able to form with Allen.

The two seem like best friends on and off the field. Allen has no problem finding Diggs in tough situations and the veteran does not want to let his young quarterback down. That type of chemistry and trust is tough to find. It takes of lot of work to have the kind of connection that Allen and Diggs have.

When looking at Lock’s relationship with Jerry Jeudy – or really any of the Broncos wide receivers – you don’t see the same connection. If you want better success out of Lock, if he’s not outright replaced as the starter, then find a player he can connect with the way Allen connects with Diggs.

Get you someone who looks at you the way Josh Allen looks at Stefon Diggs 😊 pic.twitter.com/DzID71IYnD

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 17, 2021

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Not Weird Enough

I was super excited to see the debut of the new Disney+ show “WandaVision” on Friday. The first two episodes were put out for public consumption, and they were interesting, to say the least.

I understand what they’re trying to do in this series. As a huge comic book nerd, I understand the power that Wanda, aka the Scarlett Witch, possesses.

She is one of the most powerful characters in the Marvel cinematic universe. When she realizes her full power, Wanda can change reality – or create her own reality. That’s obviously what she’s doing in this show, but in the first two episodes, they didn’t give us much to go on.

They began the show as a “fantasy sitcom” in the same realm of the show “Bewitched” back in the 60s and 70s. There was a twist of some “Twilight Zone” in this new show, but I felt they could’ve played that side up some more in “WandaVision.”

I watched 1st 2 episodes of #WandaVison on #DisneyPlus – I understand what's setting up, I just wanted more 'Twilight Zone' feels to it. I am a huge comic book nerd so of course will be watching and enjoying the entire series. I hope these 2 episodes didn't turn away casual fans pic.twitter.com/DXDb0nNCmo

— Cecil Lammey (@CecilLammey) January 18, 2021

What did you think of the debut of “WandaVision?” Hit me up on social media and let me know!

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