Leistikow: Iowa Football's Battle For Playmaking Supremacy Between Cooper Dejean, Xavier Nwankpa

As the Broncos prepare for their first playoff game since the 2015 season, their defensive coordinator has emerged as a candidate for at least one head coach opening over the last week. Such is the price of success in the NFL. Vance Joseph helped turn around a Denver defense that was among the bottom third in the league a year ago, and now other franchises could soon try to pry him away. While Joseph reiterated his desire to be a head coach again when talking to reporters Thursday after practice, he also made sure to emphasize the importance of Sunday’s wild-card matchup at Buffalo. “I hope to have a chance to do it again, but I’m not chasing it,” Joseph said.

The first time Davis Webb experienced the NFL playoffs as a player, he was a member of the Buffalo Bills. In fact, Webb backed up Josh Allen for three seasons from 2019-21 and the Bills were in the playoffs all three of those years. Now Webb, the Broncos quarterbacks coach, is going to the playoffs as a coach for the first time. His first game?

The first time Bill Parcells called Sean Payton was Christmas night, 2002. That conversation remains a gift, one unwrapped by the Broncos this season. In Year 2 of a project that was more of an HGTV rebuild than a heavy lift, Payton guided the Broncos into the playoffs for the first time since 2015. A year after marking his territory, Payton is claiming it — back in the postseason with his swagger and personality on full display. “Welcome new visitors,” he said with a smirk at the three-deep Wednesday news conference to discuss Sunday’s wild-card matchup at Buffalo. Among those least surprised he is in this spot is Parcells, his mentor and father figure.

Broncos (10-7) at Bills (13-4) When: Sunday, 11:00 a.m. MT Where: Highmark Stadium Radio/TV: 850 AM, 94.1 FM/CBS Broncos-Bills series: Denver is 17-22-1 in 40 regular-season games, and 0-1 in the postseason dating back to 1960; the Broncos won 24-22 in the last meeting, on Nov. 13, 2023, in Buffalo, and have lost three of the last four games against Buffalo. In the spotlight: Broncos’ man defense identity to be tested by Bills The identity of Denver’s defense will be tested on Sunday. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has relied heavily on man coverage this season.

The first two road performances in the Big 12 couldn’t have been more disparate for the Colorado men’s basketball team. Different, yet still the same. Related Articles College Sports | Men’s basketball: CU Buffs fumble away chance for road win at UCF College Sports | Women’s basketball: CU Buffs hit road for tough test at No.

Russell Westbrook smelled blood in the water, revealed himself too soon, then still captured his prey anyway. It was the first quarter at Ball Arena, and the Nuggets led the Clippers 19-13 after DeAndre Jordan scored and got fouled. With Jordan famously a horrible free throw shooter — 47.5% in his career, 35% this season — Westbrook went hunting for an offensive rebound. Maybe it helped that Denver was hosting his former team.