Winning Feels Like Losing Sometimes: Broncos, Bengals, Chiefs & the Business of Being a Fan

Far End of the Bench Podcast – Episode 248 Companion Blog

What Happens When There Isn’t a “No. 1” to Erase?

The Colts didn’t roll out a true alpha receiver—and it scrambled Denver’s defensive wiring. Patrick Surtain II is used to locking onto a single top target and living in the film room. Indy forced him to play whack-a-mole across Michael Pittman Jr., Tyler Warren, Jonathan Taylor, and friends. That stress plus rookie growing pains and shaky linebacker play exposed the rules of Vance Joseph’s scheme. One rough afternoon doesn’t change who PS2 is, but it proves this: Denver got out-schemed.

Sean Payton didn’t help. He called the game he wanted instead of the one that was working. Denver built a run game and then chased Indy’s tempo through the air, pulling Bo Nix out of rhythm. This version of Bo thrives with a Baker-Mayfield approach more than a “Year-15 Drew Brees” impersonation: take the easy yards, lean on play-action and boots, use his legs to stay on schedule.

Bottom line: the Broncos had every chance and kept stepping on rakes. In an AFC West that won’t wait for anybody, you can’t give away the winnable ones.

Cincinnati: Don’t Waste a Year of Trey Hendrickson

The Bengals’ offensive line played its worst first half since the ACL nightmare season, and now Joe Burrow’s turf toe is the headline. Left foot, drive foot—if it’s a Grade 2 or worse, you lose push-off and red-zone precision. If it’s surgical, the calendar gets ugly fast.

We’re not punting 2024. Jake Browning has earned respect, but the room needs real competition if results wobble. Names worth exploring:

• Jameis Winston if you can pry him loose—high variance, big arm, maybe the best short-term upside.

• Shedeur Sanders if the price makes sense and the timeline demands it.

Either way, the true culprit is familiar: offensive line protection. Fix it or we’ll have the same conversation in December.

Did Jacksonville “Know the Calls”?

Probably. That’s football. Defenses hunt keys—stance weight, cadence words like “Roger/Lucky,” split depth—every week. If the Jaguars recognized Cincinnati’s protections, it’s because they self-scouted better, not because they ran a spy novel.

Chiefs at 0-2: Kings Don’t Get Crowned in September

Kansas City’s offense looks out of rhythm, and the vibes aren’t great—tone-deaf pregame shirts and sideline chirping while the other team kneeled it out. The stat that matters: no team has started 0-2 and reached the Super Bowl. If the Chiefs don’t win this week, the climb to a top-two AFC seed gets Everest-steep.

Denver’s New Stadium & Entertainment District

Preferred Site: Downtown Denver, west side of the Platte.

• Retractable Roof Debate: A roof trades a little Mile High mystique for Final Fours, Super Bowls, WrestleMania, and an NFL Draft. You can still keep the mountain sunsets and the Bronco silhouette if you design it right—open corners, big windows, and an option to play with the sky open in October.

• Fan Cost Reality: Expect personal seat licenses—figure a few grand just to hold your seats—plus higher season prices. The trade-off is no longer traveling out of state for the biggest events.

• Funding & Land Shuffle: Ownership promises zero taxpayer dollars. Utilities and rail lines will move, and the current stadium land returns to the city for redevelopment.

• City-Building Win: Ball Arena, Coors Field, and the new Broncos stadium will create a LoDo-style fan plaza. Think double-header days where you can walk from a Broncos game to a Nuggets or Avs nightcap.

• Timeline: Target 2031. Five more seasons at Mile High. Please open it with a football game, not a turf-killing concert.

NBA’s New TV Money vs. the Fan Wallet

The league cashed a monster media deal; fans got a nightmare bundle. To watch every game you now need Prime Video, Max, Peacock/NBC, ESPN/ABC, and League Pass—easily $1,000 per season. Owners get guaranteed checks from broadcasters and merch sales; whether you can watch your team for free barely registers.

Weekly Honors – Far End of the Bench Style

• Jimmy’s Player of the Week: Diego Pavia – pure dual-threat electricity.

• Niko’s Player of the Week: Nicco Marchiol – poise, timing, and grown-up QB play.

• Benchwarmer of the Week (Jimmy): DJ Lagway – talent obvious, production missing.

• Benchwarmer of the Week (Niko): Nico Iamaleava – arm talent still waiting to meet timing.

Quick Hits

• Bo Nix should be encouraged to scramble when the picture muddies.

• Trey Hendrickson deserves every Bengals fan’s jersey wall.

• Chiefs urgency meter: pegged. A third loss would make a top-two seed a pipe dream.

Final Word

Whether it’s the Broncos’ defensive lapses, the Bengals’ turf-toe panic, or the NBA’s streaming squeeze, this week reminds us: winning in sports—and as a sports fan—sometimes feels a lot like losing.