Matt Schubert, Deputy Sports Editor
The Broncos are tied with Kansas City atop the AFC West standings with their first divisional game of the season looming this weekend at Las Vegas. Despite all the ugliness that accompanied Weeks 1-3 — Nathaniel Hackett’s brain freezes, red zone inefficiencies, O-line injuries, etc. — Denver is better positioned than the Chargers (1-2) and Raiders (0-3) as the calendar flips to October. The Chargers’ defense is in shambles, with star DE Joey Bosa already hurt (groin). Raiders QB Derek Carr and new addition Davante Adams may be best buds, but the latter is already “frustrated and angry” after catching only half the passes thrown his way (17 of 34) in three straight losses. And the Broncos defense has been lights out, albeit against QBs Geno Smith, Davis Mills and Jimmy Garoppolo. So what happens once Russ starts cooking with something other than a George Foreman Grill?
Sean Keeler, sports columnist
The guy who green-lit a 64-yard field goal in Seattle. Seriously. This three-game stretch for the Broncos — at Vegas (0-3) on Sunday; home to the Colts (1-1-1) on Thursday; at the Chargers (1-2) a week from Monday — could be the stretch that either elevates them above the pack … or has us all reaching for the AFC tie-breaker rules in a few months. I love me some Justin Herbert, but the Bolts are literally falling apart before our eyes — star tackle Rashawn Slater (torn biceps), edge-rushing ace Bosa and wideout Jalen Guyton (torn ACL) look like long-term dings, and America’s choice for No. 2 in the AFC West could be 1-4 before they host the Broncos on Oct. 17. The Raiders + Josh McDaniels marriage is getting everything it deserves — which is, to say, nothing at all. If the Broncos can steal one in the desert this weekend, and that’s still a big ‘if,’ they’ll kill two birds with one football: consigning Team Autumn Wind to the AFC West basement and giving Patrick Mahomes a reason to look over his shoulder.
Kyle Newman, Broncos reporter
I’m going to pencil the Broncos in for a huge win Sunday — their first in Las Vegas — to drop the Raiders to an 0-4 mark that’s only the start of their spiral. Count the McDaniels Zoo out, but don’t do the same with the Chargers. Yes, Los Angeles has significant injuries, but once Herbert is better healed from a fracture to his rib cartilage, they can hang around. Still, Hackett and the Broncos are somehow best set up to challenge K.C., but I see snapping the Chiefs’ six-year divisional championship streak as a much taller task for Denver than I did three weeks ago. The big concern for K.C. this year was the departure of Tyreek Hill. But with tight end Travis Kelce still an elite threat and Mahomes still an MVP-caliber QB, the Chiefs remain the heavy favorite. Win the AFC West in Russ’ first year? Slight pipe dream. A more realistic goal is to snap K.C.’s 13-game domination over the Broncos when the teams meet on Dec. 11 at Empower Field.
