The Speed Option: Denver Broncos

The Buffalo Bills are heading out west this week for their third straight nationally televised game. They’ll be facing the Denver Broncos; their final AFC West opponent.

2020 Summary

The Broncos are 5-8 on the season and are in third place in the AFC West. They’re technically still in the playoff hunt, but they need a Rocky Mountain-size amount of help to get in.

Head Coach

Vic Fangio is wrapping up his second season as the head coach of the Broncos. He is 12-17 for a 0.414 W-L percentage. Prior to these two seasons at the helm in Denver, Fangio spent 19 seasons as a defensive coordinator with the Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, San Francisco 49ers, and Chicago Bears.

Offensive Coordinator

Fangio fired OC Rich Scangarello at the end of last season and replaced him with outgoing New York Giants head coach Pat Shurmur. Shumur’s offense is ranked 25th in yards per game and 29th in points per game.

Defensive Coordinator

The DC in Mile High is Ed Donatell. Fangio chose Donatell after working with him in Chicago and San Francisco. Donatell has coached in the NFL for 29 of the last 30 years. His Denver defense is ranked 16th in yards per game allowed and 23rd in points per game allowed.

Offensive Starters

• QB: Drew Lock
• RB: Melvin Gordon ^
• WR: Jerry Jeudy *
• WR: Tim Patrick
• TE: Noah Fant
• TE: Nick Vannett ^
• LT: Garrett Bolles
• LG: Dalton Risner
• C: Lloyd Cushenberry III *
• RG: Graham Glasgow ^
• RT: Demar Dotson ^

^ = free agent / trade addition
* = rookie

Defensive Starters

• DE: Shelby Harris
• NT: DeShawn Williams ^
• DE: Dre’Mont Jones
• SLB: Malik Reed
• WLB: Bradley Chubb
• ILB: Alexander Johnson
• ILB: Josey Jewell
• LCB: De’Vante Bausby ^
• RCB: Michael Ojemudia *
• SS: Kareem Jackson
• FS: Justin Simmons

^ = free agent / trade addition
* = rookie