Mile High Monday: The Broncos have a new personality so far in 2021

The first full Sunday of NFL action came and went this weekend, and it was glorious. The Denver Broncos were on the road to open things up against the New York Giants in Week 1. They ended up winning the game 27-13 that wasn’t as close as the score indicated.

I like watching football on Sunday. It was great to have the game back, and we saw a ton of players stand out in the season debut.

I also like contemplating life and sports when driving around with the top down on my old Jeep TJ! The following is a result of those trips during the week.

Buckle up, let’s take a ride through my thoughts.

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Go For It

I guess the Broncos have no problem going for it on fourth down with Teddy Bridgewater at quarterback. That was evident during the preseason when Bridgewater was on the field, and it was a confidence that some felt would not be there when the regular season rolled around.

That was not the case. In the first half alone, the Broncos went for it on fourth down and Bridgewater converted both to keep the drives alive. Bridgewater showed an improvisational skill that we couldn’t really see in training camp. The ability to keep the play alive with his feet while keeping his eyes downfield helped the Broncos move the chains in crunch time.

One down.#DENvsNYG pic.twitter.com/B0lox5D09q

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) September 12, 2021

It’s clear the team will do whatever it takes to move the ball. In the second half near pay dirt, the Broncos went for it on 4th-and-1. To no surprise, the Broncos converted on the down with a touchdown pass to tight end Albert Okwuegbunam.

Instead of calling him “Teddy Two Gloves” or “Teddy Checkdown” I think Broncos fans should start calling him “Teddy Four Downs.” There is no doubt Broncos head coach Vic Fangio trusts the veteran quarterback on every down.

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Multiplicity

The Broncos have a great group of receiving weapons, and we got to see all of them on Sunday. In the first half, Bridgewater used nine different receivers to target. In one half of football, Bridgewater went 19-of-22 for 171 yards and one touchdown.

Before the start of the season, many wondered who Bridgewater’s favorite target would be. The answer is: The open guy. Bridgewater does not lock onto one receiver from play to play. Instead, he isolates and eliminates where to go with the ball before the snap. Once he understands what the defense wants to do against the offensive look, Bridgewater then quickly reads who is best to throw the ball to.

TOUCHDOWN, TIMMY P‼️#DENvsNYG x @Tpstreets pic.twitter.com/MIFZMffo1L

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) September 12, 2021

It shows how mature Bridgewater is as a passer. The Broncos have great weapons to throw the ball to, and Bridgewater is going to use them all. He finished the game against the Giants going 28-of-36 for 264 yards and two touchdowns. The receivers responded to Bridgewater’s play and fought hard to get open for him. It’s got to be refreshing for his teammates because if you get open, Bridgewater will find you.

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Much-Needed Depth

The NFL season is long and brutal. Teams have depth, like the Broncos do at the wide receiver position, and it will be tested as the season goes on.

That depth at wide receiver is going to be tested early due to an injury to second-year pro Jerry Jeudy. In the second half, Jeudy was going down after a catch and had his leg rolled up on by a defender. After the game, reports indicated Jeudy suffered a high-ankle sprain and could miss around six weeks of action.

#Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy has a high ankle sprain, source said. X-rays negative.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 12, 2021

Good thing the Broncos have a receiver like Tim Patrick to start opposite of Courtland Sutton. Patrick filled in nicely for an injured Sutton in 2020, and now he’ll have to take Jeudy’s spot for a month or so. In the game against the Giants, Patrick finished with four catches for 39 yards and one touchdown.

With Patrick, the Broncos will be able to get by without Jeudy. Add in K.J. Hamler as the No. 3 receiver, and you can see how the Denver offense can still be quite dangerous when it comes to receiving threats. Jeudy had the look of a player who could have a breakout season. Now, Sutton, Patrick and Hamler will compete for targets in this better-than-expected passing game.

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Back to the Matrix

This week, we got to see the first trailer for the upcoming movie “The Matrix Resurrections.” It has been some time since the third Matrix movie came out, with “Matrix Revolutions” debuting back in 2003. That movie wrapped up the Matrix trilogy and it gave us a good (not great) ending to the saga that took hold of pop culture in the early 2000s.

Now, we’re going back to the Matrix. Neo, played by actor Keanu Reeves, is back but he doesn’t know yet why he’s there. In fact, the trailer is a bit confusing – but in a good way – as to why this installment needed to happen.
Many new trailers give away the whole movie in just a couple of minutes. It’s a frustrating process that takes away some of the fun of going to the movies. This trailer is a throwback to earlier trailers where not much is given away, but the audience is immediately hooked with the visuals and the small part of the story that is revealed. I loved the small glimpse we got of this world and cannot wait for “The Matrix Resurrections” to come out at the end of the year on HBO Max and in theaters.

‘The #Matrix Resurrections’ trailer has fans excited for the franchise’s anticipated return.

Internet reactions: https://t.co/FUVZVm8jxV pic.twitter.com/SulfK5GECq

— Complex Pop Culture (@ComplexPop) September 9, 2021

Did you like what you saw from the Matrix trailer? Hit me up on social media and let me know!

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