Raiders quarterback Derek Carr throws the ball during a game against the Broncos in October. The addition of Russell Wilson to the Broncos would give the AFC West four marquee QBs in Wilson, Carr, Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert. (Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
Keep the Broncos cheerleaders.
They are spectacular at their jobs. How you manage to never stop smiling — not once! — through 60 minutes of a Broncos game is one of the great feats in sports. Shoot, give ‘em a raise!
Almost everyone else can go. After the Raiders showed Mike Shanahan his worst nightmare with a 34-24 beatdown of the Broncos on Mike Shanahan Day, I’m not just talking Vic Fangio.
Now or later, a coaching change is obvious. You can read that hot take elsewhere. Here’s what happens when the Broncos get blown out at home by the Raiders: the coach gets fired. Wade Phillips got fired in 1993 after the Raiders blew out the Broncos 48-16 at old Mile High. Josh McDaniels got fired in 2010 after the Raiders smashed his Broncos 59-14 at new Mile High. Without a permanent coach after Jon Gruden was fired last week, the Raiders whooped Fangio at Empower Field at Mile High.
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr throws the ball during a game against the Broncos in October. The addition of Russell Wilson to the Broncos would give the AFC West four marquee QBs in Wilson, Carr, Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert. (Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
Vic’s a swell guy. Really is. His roster is filled with entitlement, and that’s too bad. But they’re driving a dead-end road, and on Sunday Vance Joseph won more games as an acting head coach than Fangio did as a third-year head coach. Ol’ VJ led the Cardinals over the Browns since Cards coach Kliff Kingsbury was out with a positive COVID test, and the Arizona Republic ran a headline to troll Colorado: “Vance Joseph is ready for a head coaching job after thumping Browns.”
I am amazed at the media industry. The inability to learn from history is simply incredible.
But here’s the truth about the “Fire Fangio” movement: Even if the Broncos do so and name Mike Munchak the interim coach for the rest of this season, a coaching change doesn’t fix thigs.
What’s gone wrong with the Broncos is as much of a players problem as it is a coaching problem.
Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater coughs up the ball while being tackled Raiders safety Dallin Leavitt during the fourth quarter of the game at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021. The Broncos were defeated 34-24. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
The Broncos will beat the Browns on Thursday Night Football. You heard it here first.
“We’ll be kicking it off here in about 96 hours,” Fangio said.
But beating the Browns, who could start Case Keenum at quarterback, won’t fix things, either.
The Broncos players are the bigger issue. When the same players run back the same script from one coach to the next, it’s not only the coach. Plus, only the likes of Von Miller and Brandon McManus have seen winning here, and the rest have only seen losing here. At this point, losing is all the latter knows. They might as well be playing for the Lions or the Jags. They can rinse off all the losing with “that’s the NFL!” without knowing this losing hasn’t been Colorado’s NFL.
And it hasn’t been, not like this.
The Broncos have a history of linemen that includes Gary Zimmerman, Tom Nalen, Ryan Clady. The Raiders manhandled Garett Bolles, Dalton Risner and Co. for 14 hits on quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. The Broncos have a history of safeties that includes Steve Atwater, Dennis Smith, John Lynch. And $61 million safety Justin Simmons has been bad-bad. He’s the captain of the secondary — the NFL’s highest-paid secondary, for what it’s worth — that gave up seven completions of more than 25 yards.
“The things that happened today can be fixed,” Simmons said after.
He added, “I feel like I’ve said that every week.”
For six years, man!
The Broncos didn’t deserve the uniforms they wore in a third-straight loss that dumped them to 3-3 with the real schedule coming up. They wore the uniforms from Super Bowl XXXII — the first one, the Elway helicopter one, the burning-cars-on-16th-Street-Mall one. Those sweet blues, predominantly orange. They wore those uniforms to honor Shanahan for his Ring of Fame induction. Not to overstep my bounds, but put ‘em back. Don’t stain their memory again.
These Broncos deserve no-name jerseys, Notre Dame style. Remove the names, leave the numbers. Nobody hates the Raiders more than Shanahan, and giving away four turnovers to the Raiders is how you honor the man?
“Now let’s go beat the Raiders,” Shanahan told reporters at halftime.
Not with this crew. They’re just cashing checks. The Broncos have played three good teams and rarely were competitive against any of them.
The score was 31-10 in favor of the Raiders when Broncos fans began to leave Mile High. A drunk high school friend with season tickets texted that season tickets were a bad idea.
That’s a first. The season-tickets part, not the drunk part.
Is this a good time to mention again the Raiders fired their coach last week? Gruden should send an email of congrats to interim coach Rich Bisaccia. (Actually, don’t send any more emails, please.) But the Raiders didn’t need a head coach against these Broncos, who were 3-0 and now are 3-3 and barreling toward a sixth straight season home for the playoffs.
“We’ve got four (former) head coaches and all types of talent everywhere,” said Von Miller, whose comments should be ripe fodder for the idea Fangio can be replaced midseason.
Doubt it happens, but the Broncos can fire Fangio in the middle of the season and things won’t get worse. The Raiders fired Gruden in the middle of the season and broke a two-game losing streak by crushing the Broncos six days later. Pro coaches are overrated. Not always, but mostly. Pro sports are about the players. Bill Belichick loses Tom Brady, Brady wins a Super Bowl and Belichick misses the playoffs (and drafts a quarterback). Kingsbury misses the Cardinals game Sunday, the Cardinals win. Raiders fire their coach, steamroll the Broncos and their third-year coach. Fangio’s making $5 million this year, Simmons $15 million next.
Fun idea, but not with these players. Fire Fangio now or later, they’re just not good enough.
Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater flies over Raiders linebackers Denzel Perryman and Cory Littleton for a first down in the third quarter of a game at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021. The Broncos were defeated 34-24. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton scores a touchdown during the fourth quarter at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021. The Broncos were defeated 34-24. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton drops the ball while being defended by Raiders safety Tre’von Moehring during the third quarter of a game against the Raiders at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021. The Broncos were defeated 34-24. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton watches the ball bounce after the throw slips out of his hands during the second quarter of a game against the Raiders at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021. The Broncos were defeated 34-24. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)Broncos wide receiver Kendall Hinton hauls in a catch while being defended by Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs during the fourth quarter at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021. The Broncos were defeated 34-24. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater flies over Raiders linebackers Denzel Perryman and Cory Littleton for a first down in the third quarter of a game at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021. The Broncos were defeated 34-24. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater flies for a first down in the second quarter of a game at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021. The Broncos were defeated 34-24. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)Broncos running back Melvin Gordon III gets a kick from Raiders safety Johnathan Abram as he twists for extra yards during the second quarter of a game at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021. The Broncos were defeated 34-24. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)Broncos safety Caden Sterns and linebacker Alexander Johnson watch as Raiders running back Kenyan Drake catches a touchdown pass during the second quarter of a game at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021. The Broncos were defeated 34-24. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain defends Raiders tight end Darren Waller at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021. The Broncos were defeated 34-24. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)Many Broncos greats were on hand for the ceremony of Coach Mike Shanahan. The Broncos lost to the Raiders 34-24 on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021 at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)Broncos great Steve Atwater stands next at his bust for the NFL Hall of Fame at a pregame ceremony. The Broncos lost to the Raiders 34-24 on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021 at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)Broncos running back Melvin Gordon III carries the ball. The Broncos lost to the Raiders 34-24 on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021 at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)The Broncos lost to the Raiders 34-24 on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021 at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)Denver Broncos wide receiver Tim Patrick celebrates getting a touchdown. The Broncos lost to the Raiders 34-24 on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021 at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)Broncos linebacker A.J. Johnson gives direction to other members of the defense. The Broncos lost to the Raiders 34-24 on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021 at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)Broncos linebacker Andre Mintze tries to stop Raiders Hunter Renfrow. The Broncos lost to the Raiders 34-24 on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021 at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton argues with an official about a offensive pass interferance call. The Broncos lost to the Raiders 34-24 on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021 at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)Denver Broncos free safety Justin Simmons leaves the field after an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey) (Jack Dempsey)Broncos great Steve Atwater talks to Broncos fans about his induction into the NFL Hall of Fame before a game against the Raiders. The Broncos lost to the Raiders 34-24 on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021 at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)The Broncos lost to the Raiders 34-24 on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021 at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater hands the ball off to Broncos running back Melvin Gordon III. The Broncos lost to the Raiders 34-24 on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021 at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)Broncos safety Justin Simmons and safety Caden Sterns try to stop Raiders wide receiver Hunter Renfrow. The Broncos lost to the Raiders 34-24 on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021 at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)Broncos tackle Garrett Boles gets ready for the game against the Raiders. The Broncos lost to the Raiders 34-24 on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021 at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)Broncos linebacker Justin Strnad defends Raiders running back Josh Jacobs. The Broncos lost to the Raiders 34-24 on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021 at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)Broncos wide receiver Diontae Spencer carries the ball past some Raiders. The Broncos lost to the Raiders 34-24 on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021 at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)Broncos wide receiver Diontae Spencer carries the ball against the Raiders. The Broncos lost to the Raiders 34-24 on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021 at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater flies for a first down in the second quarter of a game at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021. The Broncos were defeated 34-24. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)Many Broncos greats were in the house for Sunday’s game against the Raiders. Former Broncos Head Coach Mike Shanahan was added to the Ring of Fame. Shanahan signs a poster for Bronco fan before a ceremony at halftime on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021. Shanahan was the winningest coach in Bronco history and took them to two winning Superbowls. The Broncos were defeated 34-24. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)Mike Shanahan and his wife, Peggy Shanahan, look up to see his name in the Ring of Fame during a halftime ceremony. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)Former Broncos Head Coach Mike Shanahan stop to chat with Ed McClure, who has worked on the sidelines for nearly fifty years, at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021.Shanahan is the winningest coach in Bronco historians and had his name added to the Ring of Fame during a halftime ceremony. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)Yep, it’s today. Happy Raider Hater Day for Broncos fans. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)Broncos Head Coach Vic Fangio gets a little fingernail biting done during warmups before the game against the Raiders. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
