Sixteen things as the Broncos enter their 16th and final game of the season Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers:
1. on life as the Broncos’ No. 1 receiver since injured his Achilles before the Week 14 trip to San Francisco (13 catches, 111 yards in three games): “I love it. I get everybody’s best guy and I get the safety over the top, too, which is nice because they see something in my game. Nobody can look at my numbers (41 catches, 679 yards, four TDs this year) and say, ‘Oh, he was going against third or fourth corners.’ People know I’ve been going against first and second corners and I’m glad I’m able to do it because I look forward to getting everybody’s best guy for years to come.”
2. Sutton on the difference between Week 1 and now: “I go out there, line up, I know what I’m supposed to be doing and feel like nobody can stop me. I’m getting comfortable and thatap a dangerous thing for guys I’ll go against.”
3. Coach Vance Joseph on Sutton: “He’s been fine. He’s obviously a young player so he’s not perfect, but he wants to be the guy and thatap half the battle.”
4. A hat tip to receiver , who started the regular season No. 5 on the depth chart, had three catches in the first 12 games, but 16 in the last three. He can make yards after the catch on shallow crosses and is good for back-shoulder throws.
5. Last note on the receivers. If the Broncos make a coaching change, the new big whistle should consider retaining first-year receivers coach Zach Azzanni, who has taken a young group and made them productive following the trade and Sanders’ injury.
6. But a fact of life in the NFL is a new head coach hires a coordinator he’s familiar with and they in turn hire position coaches they’re familiar with. As one NFL defensive assistant told me recently, if he became a coordinator, he would hire position coaches who knew exactly what he wanted to run, scheme-wise, and exactly how he wanted it to be taught to the players.
7. Roster math, Part 1: From the opening-day roster, 39 of the 53 players remain on the active roster.
8. Roster math, Part 2: Only 13 players on the original 53-man roster did not miss a regular-season practice or were listed as being limited — Patrick, K Brandon McManus, QB Kevin Hogan, RB Devontae Booker, S Justin Simmons, LB Kieshawn Bierria, LS Casey Kreiter, LB Joseph Jones, LB Josey Jewell, LB Bradley Chubb, DE DeMarcus Walker, C Connor McGovern and G Elijah Wilkinson.
9. Roster math, Part 3: Five members of the original 10-man practice squad were elevated to the active roster at one point — WR River Cracraft, CB Brendan Langley, S Trey Marshall, LB Jeff Holland and TE Brian Parker.
10. Geeze, Broncos fans should wish the team rallied together during their October swoon (four consecutive losses) like they have in defense of cornerback . He was criticized for a lack of effort by ESPN’s late in Monday nightap loss. At least Witten had an opinion.
11. Offensive coordinator on losing Sanders, and multiple tight ends and lineman this year: “Thatap life in the big city. Thatap this sport.”
12. The Broncos are in position to finish among the 10 most-penalized teams for the third consecutive year, which coincides with their playoff drought. They were sixth in 2016 (119), 10th last year (113) and tied for second (114) this year.
13. Before the season, we thought the Broncos couldn’t get worse on their opening drive after only 16 points last year (tied for 26th). Well, they’re only slightly improved with one game remaining … one point better. The Broncos’ 17 points are tied for second-fewest. Their 12 opening-drive punts are tied for most in the NFL.
14. Still, the Broncos are outscoring opponents 75-65 in the first quarter, an advantage made possible by leading Arizona 21-3 in Week 7. The second quarter has been a debacle, they’ve been outscored 129-75. That minus-54 differential is fourth-worst in the league.
15. The Broncos need to overhaul their return game. They are last in punt-return average (4.6) and 25th in kick-return average (20.1).
16. Plan for an early start of training camp. If owner is elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the Broncos will likely want to play in the Canton, Ohio, game Aug. 1, which means a mid-July reporting date.
