Clayton: For Vic Fangio and the Broncos, it’s all about September

September is a vital month for Vic Fangio and the Broncos.

In the head coach’s first two seasons in Denver, he has gone 0-7 in September. There is no way that should happen this time around.

The Broncos open against the New York Giants, Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets. Those three teams have combined record last year of 9-39.

The September schedule should also play into the hand of Fangio, whose strength is on defense. He faces three young quarterbacks – Daniel Jones, Trevor Lawrence or Gardner Minshew and rookie Zach Wilson. He’s also going against two first-year coaches in Urban Meyer and Robert Saleh, as well as Joe Judge, who is in his second season.

Overall, the Broncos have the fifth-easiest schedule in the league. So much of that is getting the fourth-place schedule and getting the Jaguars and the Jets, who combined for only three wins last year.

Fangio can utilize what is perhaps the league’s best secondary when trying to stop the young quarterbacks. He should also have Von Miller and Bradley Chubb rushing the quarterbacks. Plus, his offense should be very good, particularly going against these three teams.

Seeing the September schedule may explain why Fangio has been so aggressive in the first two preseason games in which the Broncos have outscored Minnesota and Seattle by a combined 63-9. He’s gone for fourth downs. He’s had Drew Lock throw the ball down the field. He’s gotten good play out of Teddy Bridgewater.

This should be a September to remember. It better be.