Former Broncos All-Decade cornerback Chris Harris Jr. and longtime Broncos beat reporter Brandon Krisztal get you set for Denver’s first home playoff game in nearly a decade, previewing the Divisional Round matchup between the Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills. From Josh Allen and James Cook to Bo Nix, home-field advantage, and Denver’s defensive blueprint, this episode delivers a full postseason breakdown with expert insight and film study.
On this Divisional Round edition of Football Fridays, Chris Harris Jr. and Brandon Krisztal dive deep into Broncos vs. Bills with a full postseason lens. The show opens with the atmosphere surrounding Denver’s long-awaited return to playoff football at Empower Field at Mile High before going Behind Enemy Lines with Bills beat and sideline reporter Sal Capaccio, who provides an in-depth look at Josh Allen, Buffalo’s offensive identity, injuries, and how the Bills view the matchup. Chris and BK then break down the chess match between Denver’s defense and Buffalo’s run-pass balance, discuss James Cook’s impact, third-down efficiency, and the importance of limiting Allen’s off-script plays. In the Chris Harris Jr. Film Room, CHJ studies key plays from last year’s playoff meeting and outlines what must change defensively, including edge discipline, tackling in space, and coverage strategy. The episode also explores home-field advantage, Sean Payton’s playoff mindset, and what Denver needs from Bo Nix to advance. A complete playoff-level breakdown as Broncos Country gets ready for a massive postseason showdown.
00:00:03:10 - 00:00:29:13
Brandon Krisztal
Broncos country. The wait is over. It's been a decade since you've hosted a playoff game. And finally, it is upon us. It's playoff hosting game Eve. Not a real thing. Chris Harris and I are going to break it all down as Football Fridays starts now.
00:00:29:15 - 00:00:47:26
Brandon Krisztal
Chris I know it's bittersweet. The idea that the last home playoff game was you winning the AFC championship and going to super Bowl 50. But before we hopped behind enemy lines, how excited do you think everybody is here in Broncos Country? And I know you're going to try to get here. You couldn't maybe for next weekend if they can win.
00:00:47:26 - 00:00:50:00
Brandon Krisztal
But to have a home playoff game tomorrow.
00:00:50:03 - 00:01:09:16
Chris Harris Jr
Man I can feel the buzz all the way down here in Texas. You know, I can tell this. You can feel it man. It's going to be a huge game. A lot of people a lot of people are going to be there. Definitely going to be sold out. And, you know, it's the best quarterback in the league right now that's still alive, going against one of the top defenses in the league.
00:01:09:16 - 00:01:13:09
Chris Harris Jr
So it's going to be a great show. And man I'm I'm excited to watch it.
00:01:13:11 - 00:01:30:17
Brandon Krisztal
All right let's do this. We're changing up our order of things. We're going to go behind enemy lines right now though and find out all we can about Josh Allen and those Buffalo Bills.
00:01:30:19 - 00:01:57:12
Brandon Krisztal
Sal carpaccio is going to join us from WGR at South Sports on X formerly Twitter. The sideline reporter of the Buffalo Bills. It's nice to have two joints before he's about to race to the team plane. So we don't want to be late getting to the plane. Let's start there though I think Sal with the quarterback best quarterback playing, I don't think there's any disputing that of the of the eight quarterbacks left in the playoffs.
00:01:57:14 - 00:02:14:04
Brandon Krisztal
But how how do bills fans feel about Josh and this team coming out here? And how healthy is Josh. Kind of a two parter off the top? Well they always feel good about Josh Allen going to be with you guys. Spring and Chris appreciate you. You know anytime you have number 17 you have a chance to win.
00:02:14:04 - 00:02:35:12
Brandon Krisztal
No matter what happens in a game. It's just as simple as that. He's a game changer. He's a cheat code at times. He's a difference maker. If he's on his game and playing the way that Josh Allen's capable, playing the bills are a very, very tough team to beat. And if he's off, especially this year, because the team around him hasn't been as good as the last several years, that's when the bills, have an opportunity to get beaten.
00:02:35:12 - 00:02:51:24
Brandon Krisztal
So people always feel great about Josh. Now, he did get banged up in that last game. He's been dealing with a foot injury since the Cleveland game about, last month. And then on top of that, last week you saw Jacksonville gets hit at the goal line and the knee, looked like it's some sort of hyperextension he had that evaluated was evaluated for head injury.
00:02:51:27 - 00:03:03:14
Brandon Krisztal
He had knocked his hand on a helmet. I mean, the long list of injuries, I always say Josh Allen's people call him Superman. I call him John Wayne, plus Paul Bunyan, plus Superman.
00:03:03:17 - 00:03:18:21
Chris Harris Jr
That's a good one. That's a good one, man. Going into this game, you know, your defense has been starting to get turnovers right. Had some big turnovers versus the Jags. Very opportunistic defense. What do you think it's going to take for those guys to be able to slow down the Broncos offense this week.
00:03:18:24 - 00:03:35:18
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah I think the bills defense last year was amazing last two years. And taking the ball away the first half of this year, they didn't do that very well last half of the year. They've been taking the ball away a lot more. But one of the reasons they're just playing a lot more sound fundamentally and being in the right spots, you know, early in the season, there was a lot of, maybe discombobulation at safety.
00:03:35:18 - 00:03:47:13
Brandon Krisztal
The Jordan Poyer, believe it or not, at his age, come in and really stabilize that position. But he's out for this game. But that really helped Cole Bishop come along Cole Bishop has been one of the better players on the defensive side. He's helped out. I think Tre'davious White is playing the best football of his career right now.
00:03:47:13 - 00:04:03:02
Brandon Krisztal
Believe it or not. Coming back to Buffalo after leaving for a year of 2017, Sean McDermott's first ever pick when he came to Buffalo. He's well over those, the Achilles and knee injury from a couple of years ago. And I think to slow down the Broncos offense. To me, it's all about keeping Bo Nix in the pocket.
00:04:03:04 - 00:04:22:09
Brandon Krisztal
The Broncos offense is at its best to me when he's outside making plays out of structure, using his legs. And a lot like Josh Allen really early in his career. If you keep him in the pocket, you might have a little more of a chance. Completion percentage isn't great. He can make some throws, but once he gets out and once he's looking down the field and making plays athletically, that's when they're a little tougher to deal with.
00:04:22:12 - 00:04:40:27
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. And then and sell the vulnerability for the bills. Defense appears to be their run defense, especially on the edge. What do you chalk that up to because their personnel kind of kind of the same as last year I realized I guess you sub our pal von you know on a Chris his closest teammates and friends. Von for Joey Bosa.
00:04:41:02 - 00:04:56:00
Brandon Krisztal
But in general, you know especially with Milano back healthy getting that Oliver back. But why have they been susceptible to the run. And how concerned are they. Because the Broncos are dead middle of the pack. They're 16th in rushing the ball. But maybe some of that has been Bo not running in as much as he did as a rookie.
00:04:56:03 - 00:05:14:20
Brandon Krisztal
So the bills the way they're structured is basically to defend the pass in 2025. In this era against Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson and all those teams. But look what happens when they play teams that can run the ball. They're they're they're lighter and more athletic. They're not built to be really stout against the run.
00:05:14:22 - 00:05:30:13
Brandon Krisztal
Now, they would like to be a lot better than against the run than they have been. Don't get me wrong. But they're a team. They're the number one pass defense in the NFL. And the reason is because they're built to stop the passer, not built to stop the run. They have, faster, athletic, lighter players, smaller players on the defensive side.
00:05:30:16 - 00:05:43:05
Brandon Krisztal
Yes. The edge can be a problem at times. And I'll be honest, last week it was a problem because Joey Bosa just didn't do his job. He's got to be better. And he knows that, the bills can also be susceptible up the middle because again they're not the biggest team now at Oliver who is undersized could come back for this game.
00:05:43:05 - 00:05:57:08
Brandon Krisztal
We don't know about that. But that would be a huge boost for the bills. To help out not only in the run game but also penetrating. But the bills linebackers are sideline to sideline. They're, generally good in coverage. Shaq Thompson's actually done a really nice job to help them. Since he's been inserted for an injured rubber now.
00:05:57:10 - 00:06:13:13
Brandon Krisztal
Now they're both healthy. But Shaq Thompson is kind of taking that role in the middle because he helps them against the run. So to answer your question, Brandon, the reason is basically the way that the roster is built is purposely built to be more effective against the pass, but they'd still like to be better against the run.
00:06:13:15 - 00:06:30:15
Chris Harris Jr
And, you know, like you're saying that they're they're really a veteran defense. Really. If you really look at it, they have a lot of vets and they have a couple young guys. But really, if you look at the totality, you know, it's a lot of older guys on this defense. Poyer to Davis both you know Shaq Thompson.
00:06:30:21 - 00:06:32:05
Brandon Krisztal
Matt Milano.
00:06:32:07 - 00:06:54:01
Chris Harris Jr
Yeah I mean it's a really a veteran led defense. But going to this game you know I'm always as a corner I would always look at the receivers I gotta get right. And I play the slot. So secure would be my matchup. Yeah. So we got Jaquan. You know McMillan versus, secure man. How do you think that matchup is going to go.
00:06:54:03 - 00:07:10:02
Brandon Krisztal
It's interesting right. Because let me divert for a second Chris. What's funny is patriots or tans amazing. We all know that. But his super power is shutting down your number one. The bills don't have a number one. So I'm not really sure. Like if it matters necessarily to that they can choose to have Patrick Strachan on somebody. But that could be Carlos Shakira.
00:07:10:02 - 00:07:30:21
Brandon Krisztal
Sometimes he can line up outside, he's in the slot. Let's remember the bills lost two wide receivers, two ACLs last week, Gabe Davis and, Tyrell Shavers. And I'm here to tell you guys that actually gonna hurt them more in the run game. Those guys are very good run blockers. They really rely on them. They're not separators. But what's going to happen is now the bills are going to activate Curtis Samuel off here, who had that touchdown last year in the playoff game.
00:07:30:24 - 00:07:52:03
Brandon Krisztal
And they could very well elevate Mecole Hardman who you know well from the AFC West. He's been on the practice squad. So they're going to have a little infusion of speed as well to try and do a little better than they have been on the outside. They've not been very good in the outside at wide receiver. So it's kind of funny here in Buffalo we're talking about as much great as great as Patrick Stratton is, does it really matter that they have a shut down number one, because the bills don't have anybody to shut down necessarily.
00:07:52:06 - 00:08:07:15
Brandon Krisztal
So that matchup is going to be interesting. I think the bills, the way to attack the Broncos in this game is what they did last year. Running backs out of the backfield, tight ends, slot receivers. Like because the Broncos are very good at rushing the passer. We know that they're very aggressive defense. They're also man to man defense.
00:08:07:15 - 00:08:29:01
Brandon Krisztal
And I think that allows for a little bit of the mesh concepts. The bills like to run some times. And also just maybe getting a guy on that second level, of the defense. But look at they're so good in everything they do. I don't know if there's any one right answer there. Well, and so kind of staying there on that side of the ball, what concerns the bills about this Broncos front or I guess how concerned are they.
00:08:29:01 - 00:08:45:11
Brandon Krisztal
Because I can look at the blueprint the Texans laid out. And you know how it's always funny in sports. Like, oh, they've given the blueprint to the rest of the league. Football, baseball. You have to have the personnel to be able to execute the blueprint. Some of the times the Broncos do have the personnel to knock Josh around a little bit.
00:08:45:11 - 00:09:02:13
Brandon Krisztal
So he was sacked eight times. Two turnovers. How worried are they that the Broncos can can do something similar to what they saw with the Texans? I mean I don't know if they're necessarily worried about it. I know, from a fan perspective, you look at that and say, okay, that's been an issue this year, all year. Josh was only sacked 14 times last year.
00:09:02:13 - 00:09:17:26
Brandon Krisztal
Overall. That's it. Like historically records he's been sacked 40 Jimmy 41 times this year. It's unbelievable. I think 14. But either way, he had a lot of low sacks last year 41 times I think this year. Look I, I think what the Houston Texans do is they just line up and beat you man to man. They say our guy is better than your guy.
00:09:17:26 - 00:09:35:00
Brandon Krisztal
Will Anderson junior is better than you do. Hunter is better than you. The Broncos can do that. But I think they also rely a little bit on Vance Joseph magic. Right. Which is putting our guys in spots and the scheme and all that. And I think one of the things the bills do pretty well is, making sure that they have two very good tackles who can get beaten one on one a little bit, but they're usually good at communicating.
00:09:35:01 - 00:09:50:01
Brandon Krisztal
Of course, the crowd noise is going to have a little bit of, issue with that. They have been susceptible some simulated pressures this year and things like that. So sure, it is absolutely a concern. I think the bills would want to get the ball in Josh Allen's hands early in this game, get the ball out of his hands early.
00:09:50:03 - 00:10:02:07
Brandon Krisztal
And it's got to start with protection. Joe Brady's got to have a game plan that just starts with protection in this game for Josh Allen. That's what the bills have to do. Chris you got anything else for Sal. He's got to get out the door.
00:10:02:10 - 00:10:17:17
Chris Harris Jr
No man thanks man. I just you know I'm scared I'm worried about James Cook. Right I just don't I just hope that we can, the Broncos are able to stop him if they can stop him. You know, I think it should be easy game to beat the bills. But it's hard. It's harder. It's hard to do.
00:10:17:17 - 00:10:34:09
Chris Harris Jr
You know, cooks is not one rusher in the league right now. Right. And then the bills are top. Another key stat. The bills are top five and third down. Yeah right. That's you should be able to have a run game because you keep your team on the field and you're able to continue to get more rushing attempts.
00:10:34:11 - 00:10:39:03
Chris Harris Jr
So that's the only thing I'm worried about man. Third down and cook in that backfield man.
00:10:39:03 - 00:10:54:09
Brandon Krisztal
Well you know the the Broncos Bills play the number one rush defense in the NFL last year. And now they get the number two rush defense in the NFL this week. And the Jags did a good job of slowing down James Cook. He did not have a good game. But what happened was because the game was always within one score, the bills never had to abandon the run game.
00:10:54:09 - 00:11:10:24
Brandon Krisztal
Right Christian? You know, as long as you have that threat that you can still do it and stay two dimensional. That's what really helps an offense. If the bills fall behind in this game, they go one dimensional. That's going to be a problem for Josh Allen against that front. If this game is close and they can still turn the ball, turn around and hand off to James Cook, he doesn't have to have 9100 yards.
00:11:10:24 - 00:11:26:16
Brandon Krisztal
They just have to be able to run the ball and make sure that the Broncos know that they have the threat to run the ball. Great. All right. So we appreciate all the insight. Know you're now rushing to the team plane to catch a flight here. The Mile High City will be great to see you and I will catch you pre-game tomorrow.
00:11:26:16 - 00:11:50:24
Brandon Krisztal
Thanks for joining us. You got it, buddy. First trip since 2014. Couldn't go during the Covid year in 2020, so I'm looking forward to it. It'll be good to good to see you at South Sports on social media. So give him a follow if you want info on all things bills. That was our trip behind enemy lines.
00:11:50:26 - 00:12:09:00
Brandon Krisztal
All right. Chris. No, it's, kind of work backwards. The Broncos have had a lot of time off, and so I was asked this question, earlier today, I went over our friends from Fox 31 and channel two were set up outside of Empower Field at Mile High. And I'll tell you what, a little chilly this morning is in the 20s, sunny, but in the shade.
00:12:09:00 - 00:12:31:16
Brandon Krisztal
My hands were a little cold, but they asked me about the rest versus rest conversation. So I want to ask you because you were the one seed in 2013, which obviously you then got hurt, but you had the the by and again in 2015. How hard is it to balance that? And once the game was finally upon you when you knew it was Chargers.
00:12:31:16 - 00:12:36:03
Brandon Krisztal
No it was the Steelers. How juice do you get.
00:12:36:06 - 00:12:52:06
Chris Harris Jr
It's really just about getting rich, you know? I never had a issue with the bye week. I always loved it. I think the offense kind of started slow sometimes with it. But you know defensively in me, I was always loved it. So I never had a really slow start with the with the bye in the playoffs.
00:12:52:06 - 00:13:13:25
Chris Harris Jr
So us being at Broncos, being at home, you know, I hadn't had a home game in ten years. I expect a fast start. And I expect those guys to be rolling fast, ready to go. So after watching the football games last week, seeing how good they were, you know, they got to be ready to go, from the jump.
00:13:13:27 - 00:13:20:15
Brandon Krisztal
Well, and and going back to James Cook real quick and, and we're going to kind of break down the bills as we go along.
00:13:20:18 - 00:13:21:10
Chris Harris Jr
Yeah.
00:13:21:12 - 00:13:37:23
Brandon Krisztal
Did you see something the Jags did. And is it as simple as with the Broncos. We know that they obviously were susceptible. Last year Dre Greenlaw hadn't played a lot of football for the Broncos. He's played I think in seven games. But you're getting Greenlaw back. You signed if I can adding those two pieces, can that be enough.
00:13:37:23 - 00:13:53:06
Brandon Krisztal
And obviously just an even bigger emphasis on run defense. They've got one of the best run defenses in football. I know you're worried about James Cook, but I guess how good do you feel about the Broncos ability to to slow him down? Unlike last year, where he had 150 yards?
00:13:53:08 - 00:14:10:18
Chris Harris Jr
That's that's the one place where I'm pretty worried, you know, he's he's he's tough to, bring down. He's a dynamic runner. It's hard for him to be stopped two weeks in a row. It's a totally different front. Right. When you play the Jags, they run more of a four, three more of a covered three base, system.
00:14:10:18 - 00:14:28:29
Chris Harris Jr
The Broncos, you know, three, four. So it's a different type of front. So, it's going to be interesting how he, adjusts to that. But, you know, James Cook has been hard to stop. They're going to run the football. That's what they do. They have to be able to make, make Josh Allen's job easier.
00:14:28:29 - 00:14:36:29
Chris Harris Jr
And that's the only way to do it, to be able to run the football, convert third downs. And that's been their recipe all season.
00:14:37:01 - 00:14:59:18
Brandon Krisztal
And they've obviously had success at home. You know you talked about the Jags what they were able to do against the bills. The Jags are also the only team to come in here and beat beat the Broncos home field. Sean Payton's touched on this a little bit. Chris home field has been something that you certainly were able to use to your advantage through your first five years of your career, and I think even, in 16 and 17 at times.
00:14:59:21 - 00:15:18:27
Brandon Krisztal
And so Sean says there's about four places in the league. I feel like Buffalo is maybe on that list. Seattle definitely. But Denver, when it's rocking. I think Sean talked about, you know, you kind of alluded to New Orleans and you played there when it's loud in that place. But it may be Arrowhead too. So it's probably 4 or 5 places, like Sean said, where it really does make a difference.
00:15:18:29 - 00:15:33:28
Brandon Krisztal
How much of a difference will it be here at home? And we're going to hear from court in just a second. But just how much more comfortable were you because of the home crowd, not the home environment in your home locker room and all that. Everybody has their own home locker room, but the environment itself, us.
00:15:34:01 - 00:15:53:29
Chris Harris Jr
It's going to be huge. You know, being able to have that crowd there behind you, the energy in the city is going to be there. You know, you're going to see all the old vets, all the old Bronco guys. They're champions there to root for them. It's just going to be a home environment, man. And, and that right there just hypes you up, right?
00:15:53:29 - 00:16:12:12
Chris Harris Jr
When I used to go to the games and see rod right there hyping you up, you know, things like that, that's just going to get those guys going, man. So, you know, I expect the high energy game, you know, I expect some big hits from both sides, you know, a real good game, you know, I, I wish I could definitely make it.
00:16:12:12 - 00:16:24:17
Chris Harris Jr
I mean, I can't make it because it's. I think it's going to be one of these type of games that we'll be talking about for a while, man. And, I don't think it will be like last year's playoff. 31 or 7. I definitely don't see that happening at all.
00:16:24:19 - 00:16:43:26
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. I'm right there with you. And you know something the Broncos have started in recent years is the flag planting with the with the Broncos. Great. And I'm not sure who's coming. But talk about a guy that can get the crowd hyped up. Number 80 for himself Shannon Sharpe will be here planting the flag. You got to think that's going to get the crowd.
00:16:43:26 - 00:16:58:10
Brandon Krisztal
Get the crowd hyped. Speaking to the crowd and and having that home field advantage. Courtland Sutton playing his first playoff game ever is, was asked this week, a couple times about the advantage of and powerful at Mile High.
00:16:58:13 - 00:17:02:17
Chris Harris Jr
Yeah. Man was I'm excited. You know, I've been since, you know, since I got here, too.
00:17:02:18 - 00:17:14:26
Sal Capaccio
You know, we need to get a a home playoff game, you know, back in the city, you know, the way to the way that the fans have been showing up, Broncos country been bumping. You know, I think it was the last home game or.
00:17:14:29 - 00:17:16:27
Brandon Krisztal
Maybe.
00:17:17:00 - 00:17:20:15
Chris Harris Jr
Packers Jaguar I don't know I think my Jaguars.
00:17:20:18 - 00:17:34:15
Sal Capaccio
Shoes it was so loud. The refs up there trying to call when to call a foul or something. And nobody could hear what he was saying because the fans did not do anything. So, you know, I can only imagine what's going to be like first home game and what's in 2015. Correct. And, you know, it's well over doing.
00:17:34:15 - 00:17:35:18
Sal Capaccio
You know, I'm excited to see.
00:17:35:24 - 00:17:41:07
Chris Harris Jr
Broncos Country show up and show up.
00:17:41:10 - 00:18:00:22
Chris Harris Jr
There, man. He's excited. And, it's a good thing to see man calling. Been here from the hard days. And now getting to see his getting to play his first home playoff game. You know, I was spoiled, I guess. Man, I got okay right there. We got the stealing threat out the gate. You know, that was a crazy whole game.
00:18:00:25 - 00:18:19:24
Chris Harris Jr
You know, a walk off touchdown by D team. But, for him to have his game is huge for him legacy wise. Him just being that guy. Been there for so long. So, I know the fans are going to be crazy, man. They've been waiting for this for a long time, and, may I be careful out there tailgating area because I know it's coming.
00:18:19:24 - 00:18:23:01
Chris Harris Jr
It's going to be a blast. It's going to definitely be a party in Denver.
00:18:23:03 - 00:18:44:29
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah, it's it's funny. So, every week I talk to Gary Bell from Bell and Pollock, for one of our injury reports. And. Gary. Gary is 80 years old. I'm not blowing him up. He does a, weekly radio show on KOAT at seven inches the morning. He's taking this week off to get down to get ready for that tailgate.
00:18:45:01 - 00:19:05:16
Brandon Krisztal
And I think we open the gates at 8 or 9. But he's like, I don't even want to be bothered with the radio show. He's headed straight down to hit the tailgate. 230 kickoff. You know that the fans will be wrapped up in a fervor and and so how about this stat that I didn't know? Going back to your mention of the Steelers or fact, I guess it's not really a stat.
00:19:05:19 - 00:19:38:24
Brandon Krisztal
The only quarterback in Broncos history to win a playoff game that was drafted by the franchise, Tim Tebow in 2011, because Craig Martin, of course, started his career in Dallas. John Elway, drafted by the Colts. Jake Plummer, of course, drafted by Arizona. And then we know Peyton Manning, certainly drafted by the Colts as well. So pretty, pretty wild that that Bo has a chance to do something that only Tim Tebow has done.
00:19:38:26 - 00:19:52:21
Chris Harris Jr
They both can get it, man. It looks like Bo will have probably, like, all the records for the quarterback drafted to the Broncos, because John Elway is, like you said, he's excluded. Like he can't be in any any of those records. You know, you.
00:19:52:21 - 00:19:57:26
Brandon Krisztal
Might already have him. I think he's passed Tebow just about everything other than playoff wins. Because.
00:19:57:28 - 00:19:59:03
Chris Harris Jr
Yeah, he had more.
00:19:59:03 - 00:20:21:07
Brandon Krisztal
Yards. He didn't have more rushing touchdowns. Yeah. I guess we got to look and see what Tim's rushing touchdowns were in in 2011. Because Bo has I think you know, 8 or 9 in terms of regular season. But speaking of Bo, actually, before we get to Bo, I want to talk. I want you to hear from Sean because we saw with Mike Tomlin stepping away, and you and I haven't really talked about that, and we don't have a spot built into the show.
00:20:21:07 - 00:20:36:17
Brandon Krisztal
So give me a quick thought about Tomlin. But that kind of set up I think the question to Sean, because we expect that Tomlin is, is going to take a year away. At least he's not jumping back in like John Harbaugh obviously did. What do you think when Mike T decided to walk away?
00:20:36:19 - 00:20:52:24
Chris Harris Jr
It was, you know, you saying you seen a comment and, you know, they're calling for his name during the season and, you know, when you be there 19 years, you know, that's a long time. And he had a great career there. But, you know, the standard is very high in Pittsburgh. And not being able to get a playoff win.
00:20:52:24 - 00:21:09:12
Chris Harris Jr
And, you know, being one and done for the past couple of years, you know, that's not going to cut it up there. So I think it's great that he's going to be able to get it rest, you know, be able to look at the landscape of the NFL, kind of reevaluate himself and, you know, but it's a lot of opportunities out there.
00:21:09:12 - 00:21:27:24
Chris Harris Jr
You know, I, I would be looking at the Lana, that's a great spot. You know, Baltimore, you know, it's hard to not have like, Lamar Jackson and not go look at that. You know, if I'm a mike Thomas. So, it'll be interesting to see if he waits, you know, but if I that Baltimore run, I got to at least take a chance at it.
00:21:27:27 - 00:21:48:15
Brandon Krisztal
Well, I think the reason he's waiting is because he does want to just decompress. You know, I've heard people that seem to be in the know, on the National, the national level saying that they expect him to go to TV, maybe Fox. And I think he's really following Sean's blueprint like he has been. I mean, he's a guy that, you know, from the the Virginia area plays college ball.
00:21:48:15 - 00:22:12:10
Brandon Krisztal
They're coached in Minnesota. Not great weather coach in Pittsburgh, not great weather I think just like Sean White lived in Manhattan Beach or Hermosa Beach or whatever. Maybe he's going to rent Sean's house and go live out there by the beach for a year and just enjoy life away from football. I get it when you've got, a Ferrari sitting there like the Ravens, it's it's at least kicking the tires on.
00:22:12:12 - 00:22:28:16
Brandon Krisztal
But a year from now, the Cowboys could be up. All right. There's some other teams that that also would be in that mix. Maybe if McDermott hangs on. But then in a year they decide, oh, you didn't get as far as you needed. Maybe you've got Josh Allen. Who knows. But so Sean Payton did exactly that.
00:22:28:16 - 00:22:48:07
Brandon Krisztal
He went to LA for a year. And so he was asked about just the the juice of being back, you know, on the sidelines. And Sean is good. You know, yesterday was one of those days where he didn't have to race to TV production meetings. And so because sometimes they'll tell us, hey, he doesn't have a lot of time because we know Sean can give us some stories.
00:22:48:09 - 00:22:59:22
Brandon Krisztal
So yesterday you did 20 something minutes and you ask a question, you know exactly where he's going to go. But this is, this is his reaction when being asked about having the year off and then being back in it.
00:22:59:24 - 00:23:44:29
Sal Capaccio
And I and I it's funny you brought that up yesterday. I shared it with the players and I said, look, that year way, man is a big transition in, you know, you we're all sold on what retirement's going to be, you know, and the lake somewhere with a fishing pole and some companies selling you that. And it's a little overrated that way relative to having a purpose and getting up and and so that year out and very, very little mattered, you know, getting ready for the Sunday, you know, where they're going to throw you a few easy questions and you're going to have a narrative about the game.
00:23:44:29 - 00:24:07:11
Sal Capaccio
And, and then you stay and then go home and then but all the while, like immediately you realize that race track is going, I've said this, you smell the gasoline, the lights are on, and you're like, man, there's nothing like that. Now there's going to be a time where, and I said this to the players. There's going to be a time where all of us have to get off.
00:24:07:11 - 00:24:18:13
Sal Capaccio
But you know what? Not today. Not today. And so there's nothing like it. There's nothing like it.
00:24:18:16 - 00:24:39:08
Chris Harris Jr
Right. It's funny that the coaches go through that same thing that players go through. Right. Missing a game after one year, just that competitive flow, the juices he's missed that. He's like, man, that was overrated. Just chilling by the water with fish in there, not doing anything, not having a purpose on Sunday. Like I just was.
00:24:39:10 - 00:25:02:09
Chris Harris Jr
You know, that was his the way he felt. And, we'll see because Mike Tomlin is very competitive. Right. How long I give him a year, tops. Right. We're tops. I'll be I'm be surprised if he doesn't come back this season. But you know, listen to sound pain if he's taking that advice. Right. You know, you got to miss the competition.
00:25:02:09 - 00:25:21:07
Chris Harris Jr
You're going to miss game planning. You're going to miss you know, being on those sides of the winds blowing is like, what does he do, beat his chest and blow on that kiss? Right. He's going to miss that that that competitive nature. So we'll see what happens. Man. But great career to my Tomlin. And good luck for the rest of the rest of the way.
00:25:21:09 - 00:25:37:28
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. And then as for Sean Payton, clearly, I mean, he he always talks about being a teacher, but, you know, he was a quarterback in college and obviously, you know, lower levels of the pros a little bit, during the strike in the NFL. But this is all he knows for you know, the better part of 40 years.
00:25:37:28 - 00:25:55:03
Brandon Krisztal
He's 62 years old. And so you got to think that Mike teams like that. But it's a conversation that every player has and is probably why. And we know coaching staffs have expanded. But why so many guys maybe of your generation or little older, but guys you played with and against have gotten into coaching, even went head necessarily being about money.
00:25:55:03 - 00:26:14:14
Brandon Krisztal
I think about somebody like Wes Welker. Wes Welker doesn't need to work. He doesn't need to coach. Mike Vrabel doesn't need to coach. We we could go down the list. But when you talk about just, you know, somebody like Mike Adams, who you played with, he's coaching with the Giants or, you know, had been that that they just missed that competition and missed the locker room and that and that environment.
00:26:14:16 - 00:26:40:14
Chris Harris Jr
Yeah, I mean, definitely to to come back into the game, you know guys love the game. They want to be out there and help the next generation. So it's just whatever your calling is, you know, I do it, doing seven on seven and doing and developing these guys, going to the NFL and college. Just because that keeps me in the flow without having to go be a head coach and be gone 30 hours or 50 hours a week, you know?
00:26:40:16 - 00:26:57:21
Chris Harris Jr
So, just being able to find a ways to stay in the game for everybody, whatever, whatever level that is, you know, you're always going to have that competitive nature. It's just kind of managing that. And people like me, high competitive, you know, you got to stay in it. I got to be able to stay in it somehow.
00:26:57:23 - 00:27:15:11
Chris Harris Jr
And I'm pretty sure. Well, yeah, he was like me. He's very competitive. He's still in the game. And, you know, it's just kind of that it's hard transitioning for, for especially those guys are very probably for a lot of all pros that that sleep study and do everything football.
00:27:15:13 - 00:27:38:00
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. Final note on this and we're getting back into the Broncos. I saw where Navarro Bowman who was a linebackers coach with the Chargers. He's now stepping away after a year of it. Because you're right it means 50 hours. That's that's on the low side. You're talking close to 100 in season. And he's got his son is a high level high school basketball player that's going to go play D1 and then maybe make a jump to the pro.
00:27:38:00 - 00:27:58:05
Brandon Krisztal
So he's stepping away from it. We've seen that two plenty where some guys jump in a year or two and they're like this isn't for me. I think Brian Greasy two years quarterback coaching after all those years of TV, two years with Kyle Shanahan and quarterback coaching, and now he's out of the biz. So I think that it's one one of those where it's missed.
00:27:58:12 - 00:28:17:01
Brandon Krisztal
It's not for everybody, but for some guys it's kind of all they know. All right. Bo Nix he's a son of a coach grandson of a coach. And so strategy is a big part of everything in his life and competition. He was asked about the idea of maybe scoring too fast. I think this relates to almost exactly to how the bills ended the game.
00:28:17:03 - 00:28:32:06
Brandon Krisztal
I don't think it was teed up like that. But you know, the bills we're trying do not leave any time on the clock. And then the Jags let him just score. So I want your reaction to this. But this is Bo being asked about the idea of scoring too quickly.
00:28:32:09 - 00:28:49:29
Speaker 4
Not really because we got our defense. So I think it's just, you know, it's tough enough to score at any point in this league. So once you get the opportunity, you want to score. And, you know, hopefully it matched up to where they don't have much time, or you, you get a good enough lead to where it doesn't really matter.
00:28:49:29 - 00:29:10:10
Speaker 4
But we feel good. We our defense has made, stop after stop after, you know, getting the lead and, you know, they've done it once. They're going to do it again. And I think it's just, complementary football, you know, they want to probably be out there on the field and want to seal the game. So it's our job to just give them a lead and let them go out there and do it.
00:29:10:13 - 00:29:29:12
Chris Harris Jr
Yeah. If you're Bo Nix, you should be very confident. Right. Because you have one of the top defenses in the game. His thought process should just be score, right to score. Doesn't matter when we get it or if we have a little time left and we're trying to save it or whatever, it doesn't matter. Just try to go get the ball into the end zone as fast as he can.
00:29:29:14 - 00:29:50:24
Chris Harris Jr
Why? Because he has a great defense. You gotta he has confidence in them. He relies on them. And so I think that was a great answer by him, you know, trusting in those guys across the locker room, them hearing that, you know, that gives when Pat when I hear that from if I showed up and Peyton Manning oh man I trust those guys back there to if I go score they're going to lock it up and win the game.
00:29:50:26 - 00:29:58:20
Chris Harris Jr
That right there helps the team man. I'm pretty sure those guys are going to hear that. And you know that just builds that confidence amongst the teammates.
00:29:58:23 - 00:30:18:08
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah I think we saw it with the way they approached both the Chiefs and Chargers games. Games where you didn't need a lot from the offense. And this is where I. I love Garrett Bowles because nobody spills spills the beans better than than JB earlier in the year when we didn't know who the left guard would be, was it going to be Palco?
00:30:18:10 - 00:30:33:23
Brandon Krisztal
He was asked at his lockers. We, as we chronicled, hey, you're gonna have a new left guard, and he just says, oh, yeah, I can't wait. Pancho is going to do great. When the coaches were doing all, they could not tell us. So then when asked about the game plan being vanilla, kind of some pushback against that.
00:30:33:26 - 00:30:51:20
Brandon Krisztal
And then JB at his locker, this week says, you know, we had a vanilla game play because he's just honest. And so you you appreciate that. But when you have this defense, there's going to be very likely scenario. You said you don't think it's going to be a blowout, neither do I. I'm going to give you two choices because the Broncos have been in so many close games.
00:30:51:20 - 00:31:18:15
Brandon Krisztal
That was kind of a theme Wednesday or Tuesday, I think. I keep thinking of the days practice normally is Tuesday, but I was asked, caught was asked. Pat was asked, you're in all these close games. Why have you, you know, thrived in that? Would you rather if you're a Broncos fan and you're sitting there watching it at home, or you're one of the 76,000 in the stadium, do you want the Broncos to be up 2 or 3 late relying on the defense, or do you want Bo Nix on that offense where they've shown so many times with plenty of time?
00:31:18:17 - 00:31:33:07
Brandon Krisztal
I'm not talking 18 seconds. I'm saying two minute drill, minute and a half. Do you want the offense with the chance to go to take the lead, or do you want that defense out there against Josh Allen? Not against anybody against Josh Allen this week. Which scenario would you prefer?
00:31:33:09 - 00:31:52:00
Chris Harris Jr
I'd rather be up playing defense versus Allen. You know I would trust that a lot more. Just seeing the consistency of seeing how those guys have been able to close games. You know, commander's game, you know, all season, you know, so, you know, I'm around with the defense, man. You know how I do it now.
00:31:52:00 - 00:32:02:05
Chris Harris Jr
You know, we close like a lot of games, you know, in my time. So, I would definitely feel comfortable with Pat and, Bonito. You know, those guys being able to close it out.
00:32:02:07 - 00:32:23:02
Brandon Krisztal
Well, I go back to that, that AFC championship game and Gronk turning into a damn transformer and almost closing the game out himself. And you might have got to way to push off on you a little bit. A couple of those plays down the field. But then the two point conversion, you guys make the play, Roby snatches out of the air and and the rest is history.
00:32:23:04 - 00:32:39:22
Brandon Krisztal
And that was relying on the defense. But y'all had the lead. Now I guess the best way to pose that question may have been scores tied. They can go down and go ahead with even a field goal. Or the offense can go down to get a field goal because yeah, if you have the lead, if he's the head, you want to already have the lead in.
00:32:39:29 - 00:32:58:08
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. In alignment. Yeah. So that's maybe a bit slanted. But with this defense, I get it. All right. Let's, let's hear one more thing from Sean before we jump in the film room, because we've been talking about that run game and bills are 28th against the run. Some of that is they've had the lead in plenty of games and teams have to run against them.
00:32:58:15 - 00:33:12:14
Brandon Krisztal
But he talked about how Joey Bosa isn't setting the edge. And you play the Joey Bosa right. Would you accuse him of being a great run? I mean run defender at that positions in some ways about willingness, right. And setting the edge.
00:33:12:17 - 00:33:32:12
Chris Harris Jr
I would say he he's good. He's not bad. But you know he has to be disciplined and being able to do his role. Can Joey not be this sometimes. Yes. You know he's like Bob right. You know Monday one day he might do eight of them. Right. But then that night when, you know, he might you know you never, never know what he's going to do, right?
00:33:32:12 - 00:33:49:10
Chris Harris Jr
You might kill him. Go inside, jump inside or, you know, some some of those guys are hard to make them do the same thing every time. Right. And you know, Joe, it can be like that. Joey can be like that one. Of course, Myles Garrett, you know, all these guys can be, you know, they might do their own thing sometimes.
00:33:49:11 - 00:34:06:20
Chris Harris Jr
C.J., what? You know, and it might look like they're making plays and doing it the right way, but they're not. You know, they're just doing freakish things. So, you know, with Bosa, you know, with him, he can be up and down. I would run at him. You know I wouldn't fit. And I I do like the matchups.
00:34:06:20 - 00:34:16:04
Chris Harris Jr
I do think balls is very tough over blocking blocking him and McGlinchey. So I don't really feel the bills D-line at all.
00:34:16:06 - 00:34:31:06
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. And they are getting that Oliver back that's got that's gotta help. He made a couple of plays obviously in that playoff game as a reason. He was a top ten pick and I'm pretty sure he's been a Pro Bowler. If not, he certainly that that level level of talent. But so I asked Joe Lombardi about it on Wednesday.
00:34:31:06 - 00:34:58:03
Brandon Krisztal
And again, I want to say Thursday about knowing that they're vulnerable against the run, certainly statistically. And he gave kind of politically correct answer, but said, yeah, we have to establish a run. We want to establish a run in every game. But I think the biggest problem in the run game, honestly, at times has been Sean being his own worst enemy, because I think like Peyton Manning, especially in Peyton Manning, we can get more yards by me throwing it, and Sean's like, I can scheme up all these plays to get the ball downfield.
00:34:58:06 - 00:35:08:14
Brandon Krisztal
But Sean was asked specifically yesterday about staying committed to the run. What will it take to have success in the run game against a team that hasn't been great against the run?
00:35:08:16 - 00:35:35:21
Sal Capaccio
I'll make a note on the sheet, you know, run it. It's important. The thing that I have to continue to that changes as you get older is you still have to be quick like play just ran the next play. I said this when when I was younger. Like, we'd run a reverse on the eight yard line and I think nothing of it.
00:35:35:21 - 00:36:11:01
Sal Capaccio
And as you get older, you think about all the ramifications of it. And so I have to also remove that, you know, it was said as you get older, you know, maybe you don't drive in the rain at night, you begin to I can't let that happen as a play caller. And sometimes I that that's something that I have to mentally make sure it's quick, it's quick and decisive and it's and it's daring at the right time.
00:36:11:03 - 00:36:33:01
Sal Capaccio
Not reckless, but those are those are things that I find that are challenges compared to when I was 33 in New York or, you know, in my whatever. And part of that is being raised by a father who was in casualty claims and insurance, who, you know, we had no trampolines, we had no swimming pools, we couldn't ride motorbikes.
00:36:33:03 - 00:36:52:04
Sal Capaccio
We like we knew where every sharp edge was. And it was like, and so, but anyway, that I think that's the thing that, that I've got to focus on.
00:36:52:06 - 00:37:16:15
Chris Harris Jr
So I'm Peyton. I don't know how y'all do it. Sometimes we make you might be way over. He might be over here. I love you, coach, man. But, hey, sometimes when you can't win, the hearts coaches react to man. But, you know, it's just with him just having that preparation, right? Coming in and doing his thing. I, I seen the stat that he always plays pretty well coming off a bye as a coach.
00:37:16:15 - 00:37:37:09
Chris Harris Jr
He's done pretty well in the playoffs. So you know, kind of when you have success like that you kind of fall back to that. What did I do. At those times to be able to have access and try to bring that over here, that same level of, you know, intensity and paying attention to detail. So, you know, it's our Peyton, man.
00:37:37:12 - 00:37:42:10
Chris Harris Jr
I don't know how you do a book, but, I know he's going to have those boys ready to go.
00:37:42:12 - 00:37:57:00
Brandon Krisztal
Well, the one thing we hear from Sean are we get a few things, but he was asked about Garrett Bowles. And what do you remember from the 2017 draft when he took Graham check? And he, of course, starts with, well, that's when I was about to take Patrick Mahomes. And we know that didn't work out. Then he talks about Marcus Williams.
00:37:57:00 - 00:38:17:25
Brandon Krisztal
That meant we weren't going to get Kamara. Then they get Kamara. They get Trey Hendrickson. All of that to talk about Garrett Bowles. He's like oh. But we liked Bowles. And so then Parker Gabriel came back with okay what about making it in your night. How did you see that. And he talks about calling all the Pro Bowlers and calling all the all pros and then about calling it, you know, so you have to take that journey.
00:38:17:25 - 00:38:36:19
Brandon Krisztal
But we've covered so many different coaches and that's the, you know, but the good and bad thing about the ride the Broncos have been on, especially since since, Gary Kubiak stepped away. But they're all a little different cell approach press conferences differently. And for Sean, who is a storyteller, do we get the same stories over and over from time to time?
00:38:36:25 - 00:38:54:01
Brandon Krisztal
Sure. We've heard over and over his dad. He never want to do what his dad did put a suit on, get on the train in the in the suburbs in Chicago, take the train into the city every day. I didn't know what he did until yesterday. Apparently, he worked in insurance claims. And so that's why you don't want to drive in the rain at night and all and and loss mitigation and all that.
00:38:54:01 - 00:39:12:11
Brandon Krisztal
But I appreciate I don't mind it because I'm like, am I really in a hurry to then go talk to Troy Franklin? His locker, which I did, and I got five questions in a minute and 10s the right versus Sean giving us a four minute answer, two minute answer on how do you run the ball more and you end up with driving in the rain.
00:39:12:13 - 00:39:30:21
Brandon Krisztal
And it's not the level, the way Russell would do it where us is like, hey, what do you think about, Garrett Bolts? Oh, Garrett's great, but so is Ben Power. So it's Quinn Minor, so, you know. So hey, so are my receivers are like, okay, but we asked, so, I don't mind it. With Sean, but going back to what he said, he's going to.
00:39:30:21 - 00:39:37:20
Brandon Krisztal
Right. Run it. We remember seeing that against the Chargers last year on Amazon Prime. Real big. Will he stay committed to running it?
00:39:37:23 - 00:39:54:11
Chris Harris Jr
Well he has to. He has to make the job easier for Bo Nix. You know coming into the playoffs you cannot lean on a young quarterback the whole way. You got to be able to run the football. However he has to get going. McLaughlin has to get going. You know, this is a huge game for the O-line to be able to create creases.
00:39:54:13 - 00:40:13:26
Chris Harris Jr
Keep Josh Allen off the field right. Time of possession to turnover battle right. Bo when we can run the football guys hopefully we don't fumble right. Keep that possession. Do good on third downs. That's the recipe to to beat the bills. You got to keep Josh Allen off the field.
00:40:13:28 - 00:40:30:19
Brandon Krisztal
Well and you know we're talking about Joey Bosa on the run I remember always hearing this from Big Al who of course is is with us here at Gorilla Sports. Big Island C.J was in the playoffs. That's when pass rushers turn into much better run defenders fundamentally because they can't make any more money in terms of their contract.
00:40:30:19 - 00:40:54:03
Brandon Krisztal
They're 12 sacks 14 sacks. That's it. So Benito Joey Bosa whoever it is do you see that being the case. And I'm going to flip it with Sean Payton who wants to score a million points during the regular season and get those numbers up versus winning a game 13 to to 1011 11 to 10? That Sean will run the ball because it's about winning the game and not about style points, even more so than it is.
00:40:54:05 - 00:40:55:29
Brandon Krisztal
During the regular season.
00:40:56:02 - 00:41:15:16
Chris Harris Jr
Yeah. And the Broncos have been winning despite style points all season. So, they're good at making the games ugly. You know, but, you know, the key is just being able to ski, stop, cook, make and make this team one dimensional. And then now once you do that now you can go pass rush. Now you can go get after the quarterback.
00:41:15:16 - 00:41:37:14
Chris Harris Jr
Need on those guys. And John Franklin marks the D line is should be ready to go. You know, they should be looking at stops being able to contain this guy and, you know, and being able to make this guy, double turnovers, try to make Josh Allen get back to a turnover team. It's my first thing you can do is by stopping the run, making this team one dimensional.
00:41:37:16 - 00:41:44:12
Brandon Krisztal
All right. As you do every single week. Even though there wasn't a game last week, we still have something for you. Let's jump into the Chris Harris Junior film room.
00:41:44:20 - 00:41:49:18
Chris Harris Jr
Get that tape.
00:41:49:21 - 00:41:58:15
Brandon Krisztal
Okay, before we get into what the bills did, well, let's look at the one Broncos highlight from the playoff game last year in Buffalo.
00:41:58:17 - 00:42:18:25
Chris Harris Jr
Cover four. Run that same right there and right down the middle of Franklin. And that's going to be there again Ryan McDermott. And he runs for three runs cover three runs a man you know that's going to be there all day. So just being able to take advantage of that speed, taking those guys up top. You know Buffalo will be ready for it this week.
00:42:18:25 - 00:42:30:05
Chris Harris Jr
So we're going to have to kind of you might have to kind of disguise it and you know, bring it in later. But, you know, they they're going to be ready for us. Definitely throw it down deep for sure.
00:42:30:07 - 00:42:50:08
Brandon Krisztal
That was that Oliver right there. Welcoming Bo Nix to the playoffs on the throw when that happened, you know, and it was right towards where the press box kind of the corner there at stadium in Buffalo. It was like right at me. I was like, oh, this might be a different outcome, but it wasn't. And now let's get to our our next clip, which is really a number of clips.
00:42:50:08 - 00:43:00:29
Brandon Krisztal
The thing that's bother not bothering you concerning you the most is one of the highest paid running backs who I think led the league in rushing this year. But James Cook was doing this all day, right?
00:43:01:00 - 00:43:18:20
Chris Harris Jr
The edges had to be good versus James Cook. He's a guy that can he can bounce outside. Right. He's going to force our DBS to tackle Riley Moss is going to have to be much improved run tackler, which he has been this season. Last year he used to kill me because the guys just bounced out. But Randy Moss has improved on that.
00:43:18:20 - 00:43:39:01
Chris Harris Jr
So we'll see how he does this week. But they're going to force Pat and Moss to tackle those edges. And cook does a good job of balancing out there. So it's going to be it's he's very tough man. He's not very big as you would think as most powerful running backs. But he's elusive and he has great vision.
00:43:39:03 - 00:44:02:28
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. It's, it's not just running the ball too. They obviously had success and we saw early in the year they were vulnerable on the edges throw into the running back. But they have tightened that up. And so I think in a lot of ways one of the biggest keys is going to be have anger. And will he be disciplined and not just come down to make plays in the run, but will he be where he needs to be?
00:44:03:04 - 00:44:26:03
Brandon Krisztal
And when a guy's an all pro second team All-Pro, he it's hard to to be critical or overly critical, but kind of similar to when you're talking about guys like Mond and Myles and Joey. They can sometimes, you know, freelance a little. And because they're such freak athletes, they make plays. But it can also leave you vulnerable and not only where they get on, you know, on the run game 200 yards rushing.
00:44:26:08 - 00:44:54:03
Brandon Krisztal
Josh Allen at times was able to put on his cape, including this which came after, controversial penalty or a penalty to extend the drive, where the Broncos were going to get off the field. But then Josh Allen makes this play because it's 13 seven Broncos are in it. Three minutes left in the third quarter. And then this is what Josh can do.
00:44:54:05 - 00:45:07:14
Chris Harris Jr
Man that was a hell of a play man. And that's what he's going to do man. He's going to scramble. He's going to be able to get out the pocket. Right. The rush has to be able to continue to get there. D line right there for third one. You would think they'd be coming a little bit more right there.
00:45:07:14 - 00:45:27:27
Chris Harris Jr
So I think I need a little bit more, you know, intensity from the D-line to get to that guy a little bit, way too much time. And if you give him 10s like this, yeah, you're going to get beat, man. He can make every throw and guys have to be able to plasters down there, man. And you know, and you know when you play against this guy you're going to be in some zero coverages, right.
00:45:27:27 - 00:45:39:15
Chris Harris Jr
You got to be able to fight the middle safety. I wish he would have stayed deep right there trying to stay deep, especially if he scrambles. And, don't bite up too fast. I think that was Jones right there.
00:45:39:18 - 00:46:16:27
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. And we're seeing Jones and obviously PJ like no Jones, but PJ and Havana. So PJ will have a chance to redeem himself. Obviously part of it is does Ty Johnson play? I know he was at last check listed as as questionable. And we'll get to the injury report in a little bit. But there's going to be some shot at revenge not just to play to to to Johnson there, but then let's also see as we get to the next play or the final play here, we think Curtis Samuels coming off here as our guy South told us a Bill sideline reporter well, this is not great.
00:46:16:29 - 00:46:34:29
Chris Harris Jr
So that's not the effort. You know, when you take a pass and they know Broncos are going to run, man, because they don't fear those guys. Right. So what do they do. They got their best man beaters for Vijay. Right there. That's just not playoff effort right. When you play in the playoffs is do or die.
00:46:35:02 - 00:46:49:25
Chris Harris Jr
We gotta have much better effort from everybody. If he does catch the ball, let's get him down fast. But you know the level that you got to play with that, the energy that Samuel's playing with is the way that you got to attack it in the playoffs. So hopefully we can. Totally different.
00:46:49:27 - 00:47:06:03
Brandon Krisztal
You're talking about man. And I'm curious man versus zone. Because when you play man at times you don't have your back turn to Josh Allen. Do you want to play a little more zone. The Broncos play a majority of man. Or do you want to be half man half zone? Because, you know, it's kind of pick your poison.
00:47:06:06 - 00:47:22:01
Chris Harris Jr
Yeah. You gotta you gotta mix in both, right? You gotta mix in both, with Josh Allen and give him different looks, you know, bring up some different pressures and, and I think the Broncos can't play, man. So you do. There's going to be times where they're going to have to lock up. Right I think part too.
00:47:22:01 - 00:47:44:21
Chris Harris Jr
So take it easy. Cover this. The guy just ran over over the, you know, over out can pass our tank over that. Yes. That was just a bad effort play right there, you know. So I'm not really worried about them playing man. And then bringing more pressure because that's what we did to Cam Newton. We played some man, hug rush the linebackers and spy with the linebackers and be able to add on rushes to him.
00:47:44:21 - 00:48:03:07
Chris Harris Jr
So do I think they can do the same thing with the Josh Allen? Yeah, you know, definitely. Because, he's a guy that likes to scramble also and can and must make plays, down the field. So, get on a body. Let's add rushers to him and, kind of treat him like a Cam Newton or.
00:48:03:08 - 00:48:06:27
Chris Harris Jr
Oh, Andrew Luck, you know, that's how I would treat them.
00:48:06:29 - 00:48:15:05
Brandon Krisztal
All right. That was our weekly trip inside the Chris Harris Junior film room.
00:48:15:08 - 00:48:26:27
Brandon Krisztal
Okay, we're gonna look at the bills numbers here. Before we do that, I want to thank our friends at Furniture Row for helping revamp remodel our set. Need to get you some more furniture row, furniture down there in Dallas, but.
00:48:27:00 - 00:48:30:28
Chris Harris Jr
Oh, come on, Denver mattress and I need some furniture over here.
00:48:31:04 - 00:48:45:07
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. Get you a new Denver mattress. Go to furniture. Okay. Of course. Stop by a number of their Front Range locations. A one that's not too far from the stadium on the edge of downtown. Maybe on your way to the game. If you don't want to tailgate too hard, you stop by and think, oh, Broncos are going to win.
00:48:45:07 - 00:49:06:26
Brandon Krisztal
I'm going to make my bet on the Broncos. Then I'm going to use that money to go buy a new couch. Furniture. So so thanks to our friends at Furniture Row. You know, when you talk about the bills, you talk about Josh Allen, and as an extension, James Cook. But so BJ was asked specifically about stopping number 17 and and this bills attack.
00:49:06:28 - 00:49:30:04
Sal Capaccio
He's a special player, obviously. You know, it's it's certain guys in this league that can take over games. And he's one of those guys you know. But we knew to win the championship here it was going to go through Patrick and Lamar and and Josh you know and Joe Burrow you know I mean that's the that's the AFC side unfortunately you know that's where we live you know so we knew we going to face one of those guys eventually.
00:49:30:07 - 00:49:47:06
Sal Capaccio
You know so watching watching Pittsburgh and Baltimore last week I was cheer for Pittsburgh because I knew that Lamar can wreck your dreams and so can Josh, you know. So that's part of it. You know, if you're gonna win the AFC side it's going through those four guys and it's our turn.
00:49:47:08 - 00:50:12:19
Chris Harris Jr
Yeah he's right. How about it being off of Pittsburgh too. You know yeah I definitely want to go against Aaron Rodgers in 42. You know compared to you know the the younger faster quarterbacks that can make plays all over. So Josh Allen is just a no returning MVP. Having that playoff experience. You know, nobody wants to play him.
00:50:12:19 - 00:50:31:04
Chris Harris Jr
And so, you know, that just adds the greatest challenge to VE day, which I'm pretty sure he's ready for it. The defense, you know, they should be going back and watching that game from last year. They should be sick. So they should be very highly motivated to you know I have a great showing this weekend.
00:50:31:06 - 00:50:54:07
Brandon Krisztal
You know, Josh Allen's playoff record he's only got is I think his first road win or maybe the second road win was the other day, in Jacksonville. But his playoff numbers are bonkers. He's 66% passing over 3000 yards, 35 total touchdowns, four turnovers, four interceptions, no fumbles. Yeah. So when they've lost and they obviously a lot of times it's been to the Chiefs.
00:50:54:09 - 00:51:11:03
Brandon Krisztal
It hasn't been Josh Allen's vault. Josh Allen has not folded in the playoffs. It's not caved in the in the playoffs. So the Broncos will have their their hands full. But let's let's look at some of the numbers real quick on what the bills do. Well against what the Broncos do. Well and I appreciate that. David has broken it down.
00:51:11:05 - 00:51:29:10
Brandon Krisztal
You know turnover margin the the bills obviously there's ends up a little bit better than the Broncos. Just slightly better. But they're not taking the ball away. Maybe at the rate they were because, you know they didn't turn it over very much. And then the time possession the bills are best in the league. But the Broncos are right up there too.
00:51:29:11 - 00:51:35:10
Brandon Krisztal
They can have these long sustained drives. So that feels like a wash to me. Do you see any advantage there?
00:51:35:12 - 00:51:57:12
Chris Harris Jr
Yeah, I say it's a wash. You know, both pretty. You know, I haven't been able to turn the ball over all season. Right. You know, not too many turnovers by Bo. Same thing with Josh Allen. He's been very smart with the football this season, but the time of possession is is very crucial. That's because they're great on third down and they run the football.
00:51:57:12 - 00:52:03:06
Chris Harris Jr
So those are the two main things they got. Marcus got to win those battles to be able to win this game.
00:52:03:09 - 00:52:21:22
Brandon Krisztal
All right. Let's look at their offenses. So we know green is top ten in the league and Red is bottom ten. So the Broncos offense I think people don't realize. And I know that some games can skew it a little. Green Bay Dallas whatever. But they're still middle of the pack or better they're not bad at anything. And I think that's encouraging.
00:52:21:22 - 00:52:31:08
Brandon Krisztal
But then we know, like you said, Bill's one of the best third down teams, one of the best red zone teams. And I think Josh Allen is in those tight ends too, especially when you talk about passing in the red zone.
00:52:31:10 - 00:52:49:04
Chris Harris Jr
Right. And that right here I'm looking at the points per game. Right 28. You know so you can say around 30 points. Yeah. The Broncos are going to have to score this game. We're not going to be able to win a game this week with a low scoring game. I think, you know Broncos win is going to be like a 34 to 28.
00:52:49:04 - 00:53:05:03
Chris Harris Jr
It's going to have to be a tie game or a scoring game. You have to put up points this week. So that's one thing, that jumps out for me. Also the of course the red zone. They're third in the red zone. Broncos defense is thinking number one, right. Yeah.
00:53:05:05 - 00:53:11:22
Brandon Krisztal
They dropped the second, but they're but they're for oh sorry. First and red zone second on third down.
00:53:11:24 - 00:53:32:12
Chris Harris Jr
Right. So you know those are going to class two. Top five. Top five offense with the bills and the red zone. And on third down and the Broncos top five and red zone on third down defense. So that's something that's going to clash. Whoever wins that battle. Right. That could swing the game. And that's that's another key point that I'm looking at.
00:53:32:14 - 00:53:45:07
Brandon Krisztal
Would you like to see if they're in man down in the red zone? Maybe not on the two yard line. Do you want to see Pat on a tight end, maybe on King Kane on Knox as opposed to on all those receivers, especially if you're in some kind of sub package?
00:53:45:09 - 00:54:04:12
Chris Harris Jr
He will be you know, they force they when you play the bills, you're going to guard everybody. That's when they may move those guys all the way around. Ken Casement banged up this season so I wouldn't want to waste a pat on him. You know, I think some, linebackers and safety should be able to cover him, but, you know, they're going to be in zero when you play against, Josh Allen and Cam Newton.
00:54:04:12 - 00:54:19:16
Chris Harris Jr
These quarterbacks that can run the football. Jalen Hurts. You're going to be in a lot of times in zero coverage in the red zone. And you got to just lock your man up anyway. So I definitely expect a lot of all out blitzing and playing a lot of zero coverage in rhythm.
00:54:19:18 - 00:54:41:24
Brandon Krisztal
Okay. Let's look at those defensive numbers again. Because again the Broncos all green. The bills yards per game though obviously where they're they're at their best in passing yards. That's actually pretty impressive because they have when you score that many points they've had plenty of leads in their 11 wins. And maybe even in some of their losses to still be first against the pass, especially when they're only 20th in sacks.
00:54:41:27 - 00:54:59:27
Brandon Krisztal
That that says that that they're just solid pass defense because teams have had to pass and try to catch up, which is also interesting. You know, when you look how bad they are in terms of rushing fans, can you figure teams aren't running the ball anyway because they're down? But, these numbers are a little almost kind of misleading.
00:55:00:00 - 00:55:05:23
Brandon Krisztal
And on third down, the Broncos can stay on the field, at times because the bills let you extend drives.
00:55:05:25 - 00:55:25:23
Chris Harris Jr
Right. The bills are one thing. They're trying to get something to run. Broncos got to take advantage of that. They got to be able to, you know, rely on that and stay committed to it. Right. You know something can sometimes get out of it, the game plan and stay committed to it. You know, their pass defense, I believe, is not because of their secondary.
00:55:25:23 - 00:55:43:21
Chris Harris Jr
It's not like they're not on the same level as Houston or anything. I think it's just because, you know, teams are able to run the football. Right. You don't really have to talk too much on them when you can run the ball every time. So, you know, so I wouldn't place that. I think that that is kind of, you know, bogus that them being the top secondary.
00:55:43:21 - 00:55:47:12
Chris Harris Jr
I don't believe so. What do you say?
00:55:47:13 - 00:55:50:25
Brandon Krisztal
Sorry. No. Finish your thought. I'm sorry.
00:55:50:28 - 00:56:13:14
Chris Harris Jr
It it was showing the takeaways and the mediocre and the takeaways. Having a poor rush defense so I wouldn't give their secondary that high praise. And then third down shows also. So Broncos get they got to take advantage of this defense. Run the football. Keep Bo on the field. Do good on third down right. And they got it.
00:56:13:14 - 00:56:19:08
Chris Harris Jr
They got to exploit these guys because this is not the same bills defense as last year. They're not. Yeah.
00:56:19:10 - 00:56:30:25
Brandon Krisztal
It feels like if you were looking for a prop bet to make those rushing yards because you know that usually said that number in the mid 20s. I feel like Bo is going to have north of 40 yards rushing. It just something in my gut tells me that we don't spend a lot of time looking at special teams.
00:56:31:00 - 00:56:58:14
Brandon Krisztal
But when I asked Aaron Rizzi about what scares you, he talked about their return yards. In terms of their kickoff return yards and Ray Davis being such a weapon there. Let me ask you just philosophically, because with the kickoff rules changing, if you've got a lead late and you know that they're really good returning the ball and you've been okay in your kick coverage, but they also if you kick it to the end zone, what you can easily do here in Denver, give Josh Allen the ball in 35.
00:56:58:15 - 00:57:09:28
Brandon Krisztal
If they just need to get a field goal, are you taking your chances against the the kick returner or taking your chances? A Josh Allen from the 35? What would you do late in the game if you're the Broncos?
00:57:10:00 - 00:57:25:12
Chris Harris Jr
Yeah, I would try to like tell let's see if he can like kind of Scott kick it. You know kind of get our guys down there. Trying to put him in the corner so I would kick it to him, you know, the Broncos, you know, we got an all pro at on special teams, right?
00:57:25:15 - 00:57:27:23
Chris Harris Jr
Yeah. So make a play.
00:57:27:26 - 00:57:32:01
Brandon Krisztal
In terms of yards against because of a couple big runs, including against the Chiefs a couple weeks ago.
00:57:32:04 - 00:57:49:24
Chris Harris Jr
Yeah. You know we struggled a little bit on the kickoff. And they definitely need to tighten it up. But you know I think it's something that you when you play like they're 17th the Broncos are 26 and it's a one yard difference. You know what I mean. Like is it really that big of a deal on that.
00:57:49:24 - 00:58:01:18
Chris Harris Jr
You see what I'm saying. So I would go with this kick to kick it to the guy. Right. And, you know, you got to be able to cover in this in the playoffs, right? The intensity has to be up.
00:58:01:20 - 00:58:16:27
Brandon Krisztal
Well, even if you're playing just your average, you say, okay, I'd rather give the ball to 27 or 28 yard line versus the 35. And it's going to take a couple seconds off the clock if if time is an element, then penalties too. But we know the Broncos have been better in in terms of penalties. All right.
00:58:16:27 - 00:58:31:14
Brandon Krisztal
Before we get to our predictions as we do every week too. And this is something certainly in the Broncos favor. Let's take a quick peek at the injury report.
00:58:31:16 - 00:58:51:10
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah you're Belen Pollock injury report. And I should hear I'm going to send this to David as we're talking. But your Belen Pollack injury report for the Broncos, it's almost all good. You're not you're not seeing Lucas Krall. You're not seeing Drew Sanders yet as he's been off air. Jake Dobbins, is not opened his window yet, but he was on the side field running or doing a workout.
00:58:51:10 - 00:59:10:01
Brandon Krisztal
So that's a good thing to see Jake Dobbins out there. Garrett Bulls didn't even make the injury report with his ankle all week. P.J. Locke with his leg. And then Jay was with his hip was full. Go all week. And it's all about Dre Greenlaw who was full the final day of practice on on Thursday. You got to feel good about the Broncos health.
00:59:10:03 - 00:59:33:11
Chris Harris Jr
Broncos got great health coming to this game. They should feel very, happy. Dobbins, I wish he could play because this time is perfect for Dobbins. Right. Playoff time. Veteran. This is when we need him. So, hopefully he's able to come back the next game. I don't know if he's going to be able to return this week, but, Greenlaw being able to have him he's huge for the run stopping ability.
00:59:33:11 - 00:59:54:20
Chris Harris Jr
And then you know they love the use of tight ends in the running backs. In the passing game. So Greenlaw coming back is huge. Everybody being healthy for the Broncos going into the playoffs is amazing. So I'm excited man. I just can't wait to get, you know, dolphins back because unless we get back, you know, once he gets back, he just turns up the offense a little bit more.
00:59:54:22 - 01:00:24:14
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. And then on the other side of it, we'll look real quick if see how fast David's hands are. Because the bills. It is a laundry list I mean 14 get there. Basically there's more guys on it than than off it. They obviously put their receivers. They obviously put their receivers out there. On air with Palmer last week and then now Davis an entire Terrelle Shavers 14 guys including Harrison out young corner out of Kentucky is good player players out and a bunch of guys questionable.
01:00:24:14 - 01:00:37:27
Brandon Krisztal
But at Oliver we think is back. Samuel's back. Hamlin but look at that list real good. We're not going to dwell on a much longer. That is bonkers to see how many guys are on there.
01:00:37:29 - 01:00:39:28
Chris Harris Jr
But yeah.
01:00:40:00 - 01:01:00:04
Brandon Krisztal
Good news there if you're the Broncos. But, you know, the one thing we know is that injuries pop up out of nowhere and you always got to be prepared. Nobody I trust more than my friends at Bell and Pollock call today. 303795 5900 or champions of the PEOPLE.com.
01:01:00:07 - 01:01:19:14
Brandon Krisztal
All right. And as we end the show real quick, Chris, over the predictions, maybe working even a little bit backwards, let's jump to the college football national championship. Where at last check the Hoosiers. I think our a 7.77 half point favorite, despite it being in Miami, where tickets are still north of 1500. I saw your boy Kayvon had a couple tickets.
01:01:19:18 - 01:01:34:00
Brandon Krisztal
Sold those for about 1500 a pizza, I heard. So who wins the game even though it's in the Orange Bowl, or rather in hard Rock Stadium? Does does Miami pull off the upset or is it Indiana? Team of destiny?
01:01:34:02 - 01:01:39:07
Chris Harris Jr
I gotta make some fast picks, but I'm gonna go with Indiana right here. We're going to Indiana.
01:01:39:10 - 01:01:40:09
Brandon Krisztal
All right, I'm going to.
01:01:40:09 - 01:01:41:07
Chris Harris Jr
I'm going to go against.
01:01:41:10 - 01:02:02:27
Brandon Krisztal
The Raiders cap off the miracle season. And if they can do it like in our Jayhawks. But all right, we're both on the Hoosiers. Let's, jump to the NFC first. Saturday Niners Seahawks. Sam Darnold got got an oblique thing. Drew lock your old teammate taking first team reps I can't see Darnold not starting. If Drew Lock has to play can the Seahawks still pull it out.
01:02:03:00 - 01:02:15:04
Chris Harris Jr
Dang mama change my pick off of that of the Andrew man. But I'm almost actually I'm still right with Seattle. The 12 the hard the home crowd and the defense. All right with Seattle still.
01:02:15:07 - 01:02:40:08
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. And does Fred Warner make a miraculous return to. That's a possibility. Like it's crazy. Yeah. The other NFC game on Sunday bears hosting the Rams going to be cold. Cold gold I think minus -10 to -15 degrees wind chill that that's the later of the two games on on Sunday late evening or depends on time is on 430 here in Denver.
01:02:40:10 - 01:02:47:20
Brandon Krisztal
Did the bears hold on at home or if they've been living on the edge like they did last last weekend, even though it's cold Rams go in and take that win.
01:02:47:22 - 01:02:54:27
Chris Harris Jr
Yeah I got the Rams going to win. The bears that have been sent home last week. So I'm a rock with the Rams.
01:02:54:29 - 01:03:10:13
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. Rams are four and a half point favorites. Then we go Sunday early first AFC game but second in order Texans traveling up to Foxboro where there's not going to be that bad. It's gonna be in the 30s for the second straight week weather not a factor in Foxborough.
01:03:10:16 - 01:03:25:02
Chris Harris Jr
Definitely gotta go with the Texans defense. Right. Defense. What championship? Their defense is playing tight. The secondary is tough. They're going to get to Drake Bay. They've just got to stop Henderson in that run game. And it's going to be a problem for the Patriots.
01:03:25:05 - 01:03:44:20
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah I guess I haven't actually given my picks. But I'm taking the Seahawks with you I'm staying with you on on the Rams as well I'm going opposite here mostly because I want the Patriots fans as much. I don't see them in the AFC title game. I want to see them come here and have the Broncos, kick their teeth in a little bit and show them that that they're not exactly where Tom Brady and the Patriots were just yet.
01:03:44:24 - 01:03:58:07
Brandon Krisztal
But you're in the AFC title game going to be feeling better. Their two and a half point favorites I say the Patriots win won't be surprised at all. But if the Texans play offense like they did for three quarters, they will not win that game. If they do what they did in Pittsburgh, because that's pretty gross. C.J. Stroud was trying to lose it.
01:03:58:12 - 01:04:09:16
Brandon Krisztal
And then of course, final game. I think both of us are on the Broncos, where the Broncos have gone from being an underdog to now being a 1 to 1 and a half point favorite. You said if they win, it's 3428. Is that what you're sticking with?
01:04:09:19 - 01:04:21:16
Chris Harris Jr
Yeah, yeah they got to put up 30 versus Josh Allen. I think last year in the playoffs the bills put up 30 on it. So I think it's going to take it's going to take one of those type of games to be able to knock these guys out.
01:04:21:19 - 01:04:38:16
Brandon Krisztal
I think it's lower. And I think this game for as big as it is for Josh Allen and Sean McDermott, could be huge for your old head coach Vance Joseph to remind everyone, even though all these other interviews are going on, if they can shut Josh Allen down and lock up that that run defense that he's got, that'll be the best interview he could have.
01:04:38:16 - 01:04:56:06
Brandon Krisztal
Like Sean Payton said about Aaron Glenn last year, I think they win it 2320, 2017. I think it's lower scoring than you think. But we're both on the Broncos, which means they will be hopefully hosting the AFC title game a week from Sunday. Chris, this has been a blast, as it always is. I know you got to run and we've got a game to watch tomorrow.
01:04:56:06 - 01:05:05:04
Brandon Krisztal
We'll have you covered all day long pregame through the game and of course post game right here with Chad and Kristen Brown and myself. Chris, it's been a pleasure. We will catch you next week on football Fridays.