ENGLEWOOD — Von Miller stood behind a podium in a small room tucked behind the visitor’s locker room at Lucas Oil Stadium with a grin and an energy that, for about five minutes, made it seem as if he didn’t want to be anywhere else.
It was a smile and a childlike wonder that, for eight weeks prior, had been missing from his postgame addresses as he unjustifiably shouldered the blame for the Broncos’ losing streak and felt the sharp pangs of defeat that for much of his career had been foreign.
So on this Thursday night, his body undoubtedly sore and battered from playing two games in five days, he soaked it up. Until the questioning resorted to the what ifs.
Ever wonder what could have been, Von, had your team played as well it has the last two weeks for the entire season?
“Man, you just know how to kill the vibe, don’t you?” Miller said, shaking his head.
The polite and fair tone couldn’t mask the real question that so many fans and spectators are asking from afar. And Miller knows it: Why are you guys suddenly playing better now? Why couldn’t you do it before? At this point, what’s even left to play for?
“I hate when we get asked the question, ‘What are you guys playing for?’ This is our job,” Miller said. “This is our dream, and we worked hard to get to this point. Forget the score, forget the record. To have an opportunity to go out there and play in front of the lights, in front of the fans — you can get up for that anytime. It doesn’t matter what your record is.”
The Broncos aren’t done, though their record will mean another playoff-less winter.
Denver may be on the outside looking in, but their impending offseason of change and roster retooling has turned their final two games into a showcase.
But ask around and the players will tell you there’s much more to play for, even for those who could be deemed safer than others from the inevitable changes.
“Right now, we feel like we are back at building blocks, reconstructing the team,” outside linebacker Shane Ray said. “There’s nothing we can do about this season at this point. We know that. But what we can do is start to build on next year with each team that we play.”
If the Broncos’ last two wins were building blocks, then they might have a sturdy foundation for 2018. Against the Jets in Denver, the Broncos’ defense held New York to only 100 net yards, including 41 passing, and zero points. Afterward, cornerback Aqib Talib declared that the No-Fly Zone was not dead.
“Show me another defense and secondary that’s done that,” he said before walking out of the locker room.
Defense tops in NFL
With the win, Denver’s defense reclaimed its spot atop the league with total yards allowed (280.5 per game) and moved back into second against the pass (191.1 yards) and tied for third against the run (89.5).
Against the Colts four days later, the Broncos snapped their year-long road losing streak in a defiant come-from-behind victory fueled by quarterback Brock Osweiler and running back C.J. Anderson. The oft-criticized offensive line played “lights out,” Miller said. The run game was more alive that it has been in years. Osweiler, playing for an injured Trevor Siemian, turned in one of the finest performances of his career. The defense held Indy to 228 yards and special teams, though not perfect, held their own.
For three quarters, Denver played what coach Vance Joseph would call “a clean brand of football,” with no turnovers, a balanced attack and a commitment from all three phases.
“I truly think how (interim offensive coordinator) Billy (Musgrave) has called the game for the quarterback has minimized mistakes and has minimized the ball being batted around,” Joseph said. “Miami didn’t speak to that, but last weekend and Thursday did. I think he’s done a good job.
“Defensively, if it’s an even game or if we’re ahead, this defense can be dominant. Again, it’s bittersweet because our formula was to run the ball, not turn the ball over and play dominant defense. It’s happened the last two weeks. I think it’s simple, not giving the ball away and playing to our strengths as a football team. That’s what’s happened the last two weeks.”
Winning trumps higher draft pick
The Broncos recent but late success has left fans conflicted. While winning has restored some faith in the team and the talent on the field, many have already shifted focus to 2018, when the Broncos could have a high pick in the first round of the draft. But the more they lose, the higher the pick.
To the players, to the coaches, too, the notion is blasphemous.
“Wait a minute now. Just two weeks ago, everybody was like, ‘Come on. We need to win a game,’ ” Miller said before the Broncos’ win in Indianapolis. “Now we win a game and they’re like, ‘No you need to lose out.’ I don’t know. The object of the game is to win and that’s what we’re trying to do each and every week. I really don’t play into the draft positioning. (John) Elway’s going to do a great job with that like he does every single year. I would stick to sacking quarterbacks and not picking quarterbacks or draft picks. That’s just not me. I’ll let Elway do that. I just do my job and here we are.”
Added Talib following Thursday’s victory: “How do you tank? We don’t even know how to tank.”
And Ray: “It’s all about playing for pride and playing for the guys next to you and your families. My mama didn’t raise no quitter.”
At 5-9 with two games left on the Broncos’ 2017 slate, the Broncos have narrowed their focus to crossing the finish line on a high note. With the last two victories, Joseph likely ensured a second season at the helm to try to get the Broncos back on track.
But most at Dove Valley are aware nothing is guaranteed for next year.
Their jobs did not end with the team’s playoff eligibility. Nor did their goals.
“When guys say, ‘What are you playing for?’ you’re really playing for the same exact thing that you’re playing for at the beginning of the season,” Miller said. “Two wins or undefeated — it’s the exact same thing. Every week, every year you want to go out there and take advantage of the opportunity and go out there and play at a high level, and you want you to go out there and try to achieve some of your individual goals. That, in turn, will lead to team success.”
