1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,040 Speaker 1: That was the interaction with Sean Payton earlier this week. 2 00:00:02,120 --> 00:00:04,400 Speaker 1: Dave Logan, Ryan Edwards, Rick Lewis Lucas, thank you so 3 00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:05,040 Speaker 1: much for the time. Man. 4 00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:05,480 Speaker 2: How are you? 5 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:11,640 Speaker 3: Ah, Man, I'm uh, I'm doing well. You guys just 6 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 3: just had to had to throw the clip on there. 7 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:16,880 Speaker 3: It's uh, you know, it's been a it's been a 8 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:19,239 Speaker 3: weird last couple of days. That thing really took off. 9 00:00:19,400 --> 00:00:23,040 Speaker 4: I'm gonna nickname you the pinata. 10 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:29,000 Speaker 3: You know how it goes, Yeah, that's how it goes. 11 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:29,600 Speaker 1: No. 12 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:33,680 Speaker 4: Absolutely, so as you look at this game and you've 13 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:36,879 Speaker 4: you've done a great job covering the Broncos this season. 14 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:39,559 Speaker 4: I mean what we're just kind of asking people that 15 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:42,800 Speaker 4: do this and do it on a regular basis, what 16 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 4: couple of things are most important in your mind for 17 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:47,560 Speaker 4: Saturday's game. 18 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:51,760 Speaker 3: I think a couple of things then, I would say 19 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:58,320 Speaker 3: number one is is Buffalo's primary just general kind of 20 00:00:58,360 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 3: weakness as a team, particularly on the defensive side. It's 21 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:05,039 Speaker 3: just you know, offensive that can run the ball. And 22 00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 3: I think for you know, Sean Payton had had just 23 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:11,760 Speaker 3: a really interesting sort of introspective look at himself as 24 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:14,880 Speaker 3: a play caller. You know, after practice today, and was 25 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:19,919 Speaker 3: just saying, you know, a younger, as he's getting older, 26 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:21,959 Speaker 3: he might kind of question you know, some of the 27 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:23,959 Speaker 3: you know, if he's running a reverse at the eight 28 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:28,600 Speaker 3: yard line or whatnot. And I think, you know, he 29 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:31,200 Speaker 3: said it in a way that that was almost you know, 30 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:34,120 Speaker 3: he has to call plays with more conviction and be 31 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 3: more decisive. But to me, I almost wonder, if you're 32 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:40,479 Speaker 3: you're Broncos Country, if you want him to lean into 33 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:42,560 Speaker 3: the conservatism a little bit more and say, you know, 34 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:45,399 Speaker 3: we're going to go into this game and run the 35 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:48,480 Speaker 3: ball thirty to thirty five times, you know, give R. J. 36 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:52,600 Speaker 3: Harvey and Julil McLaughlin their touches and see what happens. 37 00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:55,360 Speaker 3: So I think that, you know, if if Denver can 38 00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:58,559 Speaker 3: establish the ground game, I think that's a huge key. 39 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 3: And then also just you know, it's been a consistent 40 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:04,920 Speaker 3: theme for Vance Joseph's defense all year, even in a 41 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 3: terrific season, is the ability to can they consistently cover 42 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:12,480 Speaker 3: tight ends and running back in the passing game. And 43 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:15,000 Speaker 3: this Bill's tight end room is you know, as good 44 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:18,960 Speaker 3: as it gets. With Kincaid, you know, Dawson Knox and 45 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:23,240 Speaker 3: Jackson Hawks, the rookie they got over there. So you know, 46 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:25,680 Speaker 3: that's an interesting question because you know, what do you 47 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:28,200 Speaker 3: do as a defense you get do you do you 48 00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:30,960 Speaker 3: play bigger to try and stop the run? And James 49 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:33,680 Speaker 3: Cook do you you know, do you play more Jade 50 00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:37,080 Speaker 3: barn who can you know check tight ends at times? 51 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:39,079 Speaker 3: It'll be uh, it'll be interesting. Those are the two 52 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 3: things I kind of look at. 53 00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:44,240 Speaker 5: Hey, Lucas Rickles to kind of follow up on Dave's question, 54 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 5: if you could pitch just one of two things that 55 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:50,600 Speaker 5: would give the Broncos the best chance to win, would 56 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:53,959 Speaker 5: it be stopping James Cook in the run game or 57 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:56,440 Speaker 5: the Broncos being able to run effectively? 58 00:02:57,639 --> 00:03:01,280 Speaker 3: I'd say I'd say stopping came Cook. I think the 59 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:04,080 Speaker 3: Broncos are looking at that. You know. Sean Payton pointed 60 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:08,440 Speaker 3: to what Jacksonville did to limit him. I think fifteen carries, 61 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:11,640 Speaker 3: you know, less than than fifty yards and the Jaguars 62 00:03:11,639 --> 00:03:15,799 Speaker 3: really put themselves in a position to win that wildcard 63 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:18,680 Speaker 3: matchup before you know, Josh Allen worked his magic and 64 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:22,519 Speaker 3: they couldn't execute offensively. I think if Denver finds themselves 65 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:26,919 Speaker 3: in a similar spot, you know as to where Jacksonville 66 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:29,600 Speaker 3: was and in that matchup. They feel pretty good about himself. 67 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:32,320 Speaker 2: How would you assess Bonix's play this season? 68 00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 3: Who? Uh man, that's a that's a Rubik's cube of 69 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:45,720 Speaker 3: a question. I would say, overall, you know, I don't 70 00:03:45,760 --> 00:03:47,800 Speaker 3: know if you're grading a season, maybe it's like A. 71 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 3: I think it's like a B plus, you know, B 72 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:53,240 Speaker 3: to a B plus factoring in kind of everything. I 73 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:58,960 Speaker 3: think he and Sean Payton are still almost in this 74 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:01,680 Speaker 3: process of figure bring each other out of you know, 75 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 3: of Sean Payton figuring out how how though Knicks fits 76 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:10,240 Speaker 3: out of his offense and into it. At times, He's 77 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:15,120 Speaker 3: had some obviously fantastic fourth quarter moments, as we know, 78 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:19,720 Speaker 3: but the the numbers and the efficiency when he's under pressure, 79 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:23,360 Speaker 3: when he's he's throwing kind of in the intermediate area 80 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:25,839 Speaker 3: of the field, they aren't where I think you want 81 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:29,599 Speaker 3: them to be yet. And so overall, you know, I 82 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:33,360 Speaker 3: think he's uh he's been one of the most clutch 83 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:38,520 Speaker 3: quarterbacks in the league that counsel for plenty. I would 84 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:41,479 Speaker 3: I would I would give him a solid and not 85 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:45,400 Speaker 3: spectacular grade overall, I would say, when. 86 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:49,279 Speaker 4: You when you look at this Broncos team in throughout 87 00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:52,800 Speaker 4: the season, in in the big picture, Is there a 88 00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 4: spot or two that you think they have improved in 89 00:04:57,000 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 4: the most. 90 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:05,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's a great that's a great question. I would say, 91 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:12,719 Speaker 3: I think this is a very hyper specific thing, but 92 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:16,000 Speaker 3: I think at times early on in the year, you 93 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:20,480 Speaker 3: saw just a real lack of ability to connect kind 94 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:24,279 Speaker 3: of in in the deep passing game, or you know, 95 00:05:24,360 --> 00:05:28,799 Speaker 3: Bonex didn't seem like he had great chemistry with Troy 96 00:05:28,839 --> 00:05:32,080 Speaker 3: Franklin and in those situations or whomever it is. And 97 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:35,839 Speaker 3: I think, you know, I'm going to shelve sort of 98 00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:38,760 Speaker 3: the last two games of the year because those almost 99 00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:43,160 Speaker 3: felt like their own individual, you know, conservative time of 100 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:48,080 Speaker 3: possession game plans. But I do think that that that 101 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 3: Boneck Sean Payton were able to hit on a lot 102 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:54,440 Speaker 3: of those those those looks more consistently. I think Troy 103 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:57,000 Speaker 3: Franklin improved a ton over the course of the year 104 00:05:57,120 --> 00:06:01,520 Speaker 3: in that regard. I think they got smarter about when 105 00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:04,640 Speaker 3: to find Courtland Sutton sort of you know, matched up 106 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:07,840 Speaker 3: one on one, when to just look directly at him. 107 00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 3: And so I think that's I mean, that's going to 108 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:16,120 Speaker 3: be a huge aspects going into this game, just with Frankly, 109 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:19,359 Speaker 3: the Bill's safety room dinged up pretty bad, and you know, 110 00:06:19,400 --> 00:06:23,440 Speaker 3: how do you beat shell coverage? So yeah, I think 111 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:24,080 Speaker 3: that'll be big. 112 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:27,000 Speaker 2: Luca, you got a tough. 113 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:32,040 Speaker 5: Job beat you know, beat writer, beat reporter for the 114 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:35,320 Speaker 5: Denver Broncos. Does it My question for you before I 115 00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 5: let you go? This is my last question. So when 116 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 5: a coach, future Hall of Fame coach like that Bristol's 117 00:06:41,279 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 5: ad a question, are you able to just brush that 118 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:47,320 Speaker 5: off like no big deal? Or does that actually bother 119 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:49,080 Speaker 5: you a little bit? Does that stay with you a 120 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:49,520 Speaker 5: little bit? 121 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:54,320 Speaker 3: I think for the most part you're able to brush 122 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:57,240 Speaker 3: it off pretty easily because I think you you know, 123 00:06:57,360 --> 00:07:01,240 Speaker 3: to me, it's it's and maybe I'm wrong, maybe I'm 124 00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:04,000 Speaker 3: I'm off base here, but to me, it's an understanding 125 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:07,640 Speaker 3: of who Sean Payton is. Like players all the time 126 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:13,200 Speaker 3: talk about how he will respect you in a sense 127 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:15,120 Speaker 3: if you're able to go back and forth with him 128 00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:19,400 Speaker 3: a little bit and able to have thick skin and 129 00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:23,800 Speaker 3: all those concepts, And I think it's really the same 130 00:07:23,880 --> 00:07:26,320 Speaker 3: in a lot of ways if you're going about covering 131 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:29,120 Speaker 3: him and figuring out how to do that. So I 132 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:33,080 Speaker 3: just you know, uh, I understand you know this this 133 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:38,680 Speaker 3: the Uh, the thing Tuesday or whatever it was, I 134 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:42,400 Speaker 3: really thought was just him poking fun and he said 135 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:46,000 Speaker 3: as much today, And you know, I just I think 136 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:48,760 Speaker 3: that's that's how it goes sometimes as a reporter, and 137 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 3: you gotta you gotta take whatever licks come your way 138 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:56,400 Speaker 3: and just you know, head out there the next time. 139 00:07:56,440 --> 00:08:00,480 Speaker 3: And so yeah, don't I definitely don't take it personally. 140 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:02,480 Speaker 3: It's just it's just it's just the game. 141 00:08:03,320 --> 00:08:05,119 Speaker 1: Yeah, you do a great job with it. Luca Evans 142 00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:08,040 Speaker 1: joining us last one for me as well here. So yeah, 143 00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:09,680 Speaker 1: I mean you're around the team all the time. You 144 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:12,280 Speaker 1: obviously travel, you're in the locker room every single day, 145 00:08:12,320 --> 00:08:15,320 Speaker 1: you do the uh the press, press conferences. What's what's 146 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:17,240 Speaker 1: the vibe for you? How do you How confident do 147 00:08:17,280 --> 00:08:20,080 Speaker 1: you think this team is going to this game versus 148 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:23,640 Speaker 1: what they were last year? And and I guess how 149 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:25,760 Speaker 1: confident are you that the Broncos are going to be 150 00:08:25,760 --> 00:08:27,200 Speaker 1: able to go toe to toe with the Bills coming 151 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 1: up on Saturday. 152 00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 3: I think they understand the stakes, certainly. I think that's 153 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:37,760 Speaker 3: I don't think, you know, the concept of a bye 154 00:08:37,800 --> 00:08:39,680 Speaker 3: is maybe there's a little bit of rest. I don't 155 00:08:39,679 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 3: think we see that uh at all, you know, heading 156 00:08:42,800 --> 00:08:46,640 Speaker 3: into this one, I think I just I can't imagine 157 00:08:46,640 --> 00:08:49,920 Speaker 3: that as Sean Payton coach, team would would would come 158 00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:53,200 Speaker 3: out slow or one with kind of the characters and 159 00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:58,280 Speaker 3: the personalities that this defense has. And so I do 160 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:03,040 Speaker 3: think that overall there is I wouldn't say I wouldn't 161 00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:06,920 Speaker 3: say there's this massive sort of underdog mentality or you know, 162 00:09:08,160 --> 00:09:10,400 Speaker 3: I know people have made a big deal about whatever 163 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:14,280 Speaker 3: the betting line is. I wouldn't say either that there's 164 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:17,439 Speaker 3: this whole revenge team. But you know, I was talking 165 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:21,800 Speaker 3: to tell An Oafunga, you know, and and a couple 166 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:24,240 Speaker 3: of days ago and him saying, just he's a chip 167 00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:28,360 Speaker 3: on his shoulder for the kind of the guys last 168 00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:32,240 Speaker 3: year and the loss. And so I think there is 169 00:09:32,280 --> 00:09:34,559 Speaker 3: a little bit of that. And I think the veterans 170 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:38,560 Speaker 3: the guys have experienced, you know, the Hafunga, the Green Laws, 171 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:42,240 Speaker 3: who have been in this situation before, well we'll get 172 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:46,720 Speaker 3: them up. I don't think there's there's any worry with that. 173 00:09:46,840 --> 00:09:50,280 Speaker 3: And I know the man it's gonna be, it's gonna 174 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:53,079 Speaker 3: be really uh something to see what the city of 175 00:09:53,160 --> 00:09:56,800 Speaker 3: Denver just brings on on Saturday because I know that 176 00:09:57,880 --> 00:10:00,640 Speaker 3: Sean Payton has coached up the FA and plenty of 177 00:10:00,679 --> 00:10:01,760 Speaker 3: times this year, so. 178 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:03,800 Speaker 2: It'll be something, no doubt. 179 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:06,640 Speaker 1: Hey man, keep crushing it. We we love the way 180 00:10:06,679 --> 00:10:10,200 Speaker 1: you cover this team. Always ask fantastic questions. And yeah, 181 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:12,920 Speaker 1: I mean I thought the way that sort of exploded 182 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:17,199 Speaker 1: to your point that interaction with Sean, people didn't really 183 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:20,800 Speaker 1: understand the dynamic of how he is with you and 184 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 1: Chris Thomasin and mar Kisla, and there's I mean again, 185 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:27,120 Speaker 1: I think on its surface, people will read into that 186 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:28,480 Speaker 1: and say, well, Sean's just being mean. 187 00:10:29,080 --> 00:10:31,040 Speaker 2: But there's a little bit of a back and forth. 188 00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:31,440 Speaker 4: You had. 189 00:10:31,840 --> 00:10:33,520 Speaker 2: What was the thing earlier where you did the Evan 190 00:10:33,640 --> 00:10:34,720 Speaker 2: Evan Evan thing. 191 00:10:36,559 --> 00:10:39,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, that was you know, that was well in that regard, 192 00:10:39,960 --> 00:10:42,560 Speaker 3: it's like you gotta you gotta, you gotta poke back 193 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:44,760 Speaker 3: a little bit. Yeah, you know, I'm not just gonna 194 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:48,880 Speaker 3: I'm not just gonna sit there and and uh and uh, 195 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:53,559 Speaker 3: you know, I have the have someone call me the 196 00:10:53,960 --> 00:10:57,240 Speaker 3: you know, my last name or whatnot and and the 197 00:10:58,520 --> 00:11:01,720 Speaker 3: it's not and it's not it's not to you know, 198 00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:06,280 Speaker 3: I don't think it don't I certainly don't think Sean 199 00:11:06,320 --> 00:11:09,320 Speaker 3: Payte is spending much time thinking about me or the 200 00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:11,440 Speaker 3: interactions with me, or this or that. But it's just, 201 00:11:11,480 --> 00:11:17,400 Speaker 3: you know, in those settings, it's a I think, you know, 202 00:11:17,440 --> 00:11:22,839 Speaker 3: you got to have a mutual respect and things don't 203 00:11:22,880 --> 00:11:27,560 Speaker 3: really stick, so uh, you know, And it's not like, uh, 204 00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:31,360 Speaker 3: there's been anything just absolutely massive. It's just, you know, 205 00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:33,600 Speaker 3: it's a little it's a little back and forth always 206 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:36,640 Speaker 3: and I think that's that's how it always. 207 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:38,440 Speaker 2: Is, no doubt. Well, keep up the good work man. 208 00:11:38,480 --> 00:11:40,199 Speaker 2: We really appreciate you giving us a few minutes here. 209 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:43,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, of course, anytime. Thank you guys. 210 00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:47,319 Speaker 2: All right, Luca Evans not Evan, what do you 211 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:49,320 Speaker 4: Know about attacking downhill in the rung game.