1st And Orange Podcast

Denver Post Broncos beat reporters Parker Gabriel and Luca Evans preview Denver's AFC Divisional round playoff game against Buffalo on Saturday afternoon at Empower Field. Sean Payton this week got introspective and talked about how it's natural to get more cautious as you get older and adding, "I can't let that happen." Does that set up an ultra-aggressive gameplan and play-calling posture for the 62-year-old head coach against Buffalo? Is it a headfake? Regardless of exactly how Payton wants to attack, what are the keys for Denver to find its way to the AFC Championship Game next weekend? All of that, game predictions and much more on the latest episode of the 1st & Orange Podcast.

Denver Post Broncos beat reporters Parker Gabriel and Luca Evans break down everything you need to know about Denver's division-shaping showdown against Kansas City on Sunday at Empower Field. Are Bo Nix's recent struggles a bump in the road or something more substantial? Can the Broncos realistically win against the Chiefs playing without CB Pat Surtain II and RB J.K. Dobbins? And what to make of a busy week that started with sobering news from ILB Alex Singleton, who announced he had surgery to remove a cancerous tumor and that he plans to be back on the field soon. All that and more on the latest edition of the 1st & Orange Podcast.

Denver Post Broncos beat reporters Parker Gabriel and Luca Evans try to wrap their heads around perhaps the wildest fourth quarter in franchise history. Sean Payton's team got shut out for more than three quarters, then scored 33 points in 14:02 to beat the New York Giants, 33-32. What went right for Denver down the stretch? What went so wrong early in the game that quarterback Bo Nix was considering how he'd answer questions about a shutout? And what were some under-the-radar happenings in between that set the stage for the madness? All of that, a rugged week upcoming for Denver's players and more on the latest edition of the 1st & Orange Podcast.

Denver Post beat reporters Parker Gabriel and Luca Evans look back at the Broncos' 13-11 win over the New York Jets in London and break down where Sean Payton's team is through six games. The Broncos are tied atop the AFC West and sport a dominant defense, but they've got questions offensively. Where could Denver look for offensive line help? What is the unit's identity and how much of a liability are special teams at the moment? All that and more on the latest edition of the 1st & Orange Podcast.

Denver Post Broncos beat reporters Parker Gabriel and Luca Evans break down Denver's second straight walk-off loss, a 23-20 crusher at the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. What should be made of the way quarterback Bo Nix played? How much does head coach Sean Payton need to think about adjusting offensively? And Denver's pass-rush is back in full gear, but the defense still has its own issues to iron out. Back-to-back last-second losses are obviously tough for players and coaches to swallow, but do they say more about the issues Denver has or more about the possibilities going forward? All that and more on the latest edition of the 1st & Orange Podcast.

Denver Post beat reporters Parker Gabriel and Luca Evans break down everything that went wrong for the Broncos on Sunday night in Indianapolis against the Colts. What is a leverage penalty? And what the heck was Sean Payton's team doing trying to block a 60-yard field goal in the first place? Then, conversation about what progress was seen from the Denver offense and what the concern level should be for Vance Joseph's defense. All that, Troy Franklin's ascendance and Evan Engram's puzzling usage and more on the latest edition of the 1st & Orange Podcast.

Denver Post beat reporters Parker Gabriel and Luca Evans are back to break down the Broncos' 20-12, season-opening win against Tennessee at Empower Field on Sunday. Denver's defense set multiple franchise records in a dominant outing against the Titans. The offense finished with 150 rushing yards but how much of a concern should Bo Nix's three turnovers be? And what's with the pass-happy early part of the game plan from Sean Payton? Answers and analysis on all of that and more in the latest edition of the 1st & Orange Podcast.

Denver Post beat reporters Parker Gabriel and Luca Evans talk through the Broncos' 27-7 preseason win against Arizona. Who had the best night? Troy Franklin with two touchdowns, another efficient outing from Jarrett Stidham or quarterbacks coach Davis Webb, who got to call plays for the first time as an NFL coach? Then the conversation turns to a breakdown of the toughest and most interesting 53-man roster decisions facing Sean Payton, George Paton and company as the league moves to within a week of having to trim rosters down from 90 for the regular season. All that and more on the latest edition of the 1st & Orange Podcast.

Denver Post Broncos beat reporters Parker Gabriel and Luca Evans react to Denver wide receiver Courtland Sutton landing a four-year, $92 million extension on Monday and what it means for Sean Payton's team going forward. They also provide the latest injury updates in the inside linebacker room and talk through some of their early takeaways from Broncos training camp. All that and more in the latest episode of the 1st & Orange Podcast.

Broncos beat reporters Parker Gabriel and Luca Evans preview Denver's first week of OTA practices and break down the most interesting storylines to watch. How will quarterback Bo Nix settle into his second year as a professional? What will the ILB picture look like with Dre Greenlaw and Alex Singleton each still rehabbing injuries? And what newcomers are the guys most interested to get their eyes on? All that and more on the latest edition of the 1st & Orange Podcast.

Denver Post Broncos beat reporters Parker Gabriel and Ryan McFadden are joined by columnist Troy Renck to break down the Broncos' Week 18, playoff-clinching win against Kansas City and look ahead to Sunday's Wild Card game at Buffalo. How did Sean Payton's team exceed expectations? What can we expect to see Sunday from rookie quarterback Bo Nix and company? And once the season is over, how many Denver assistant coaches will be targeted by other teams for potential hire? All that and more on the latest edition of the 1st & Orange Podcast.

Denver Post Broncos beat reporters Parker Gabriel and Ryan McFadden are joined by columnist Troy Renck to set up a critical stretch run for Sean Payton's team. The group is coming off its bye week and begins the final four games with a matchup Sunday against Indianapolis that will swing the team's playoff odds substantailly in either direction. Is Denver ready for the moment? And how has Bo Nix's leadership developed over the course of the season? All that and more from the latest edition of the 1st & Orange Podcast.