Welcome to the Gameplan Newsletter, a weekly roundup from Guerilla Sports of all the news, statistics and storylines you need to know about Colorado football and the Denver Broncos heading into the weekend. We’re here to prepare you for an exciting slate of football games ahead — let’s get to it.
Kicking Off
The Buffaloes and Broncos are both looking to rebound this weekend after getting gashed on defense in road losses to the Houston Cougars and Indianapolis Colts, respectively. Colorado surrendered 431 yards of total offense to Houston, including 209 rushing yards, and lost a pair of turnovers in a 36-20 loss, while Denver regressed on defense and lost in heartbreaking fashion. A rare leverage penalty on Spencer Shrader’s 60-yard field goal set up the Colts for the game-winning 45-yard field goal as time expired, dropping Denver to 1-1.
Those setbacks make this weekend’s slate pivotal for both teams.
Colorado returns home to Folsom Field for an interconference matchup against the 2-1 Wyoming Cowboys. Wyoming is coming off a resounding 31-6 loss to another Big 12 team, Utah, and will arrive in Boulder as considerable underdogs. Aside from picking up a victory at home, Colorado will look to establish continuity at quarterback after a roller coaster of a start to the season. According to reports from CBS and ESPN, Kaidon Salter will return under center as the Buffs’ starting quarterback. Salter was the starter before third-string quarterback Ryan Staub supplanted him as QB1 against Houston. Back at home against a non-conference opponent, will head coach Deion Sanders opt to utilize multiple quarterbacks again?
The Broncos continue their road stretch with their first divisional game of the season, a Sunday afternoon bout against the undefeated Los Angeles Chargers. Denver gave up 316 passing yards to Daniel Jones and 165 rushing yards to Jonathan Taylor last week; how will the celebrated unit hold up against Justin Herbert and the Chargers’ high-powered attack? This divisional matchup also carries significant implications on the standings, as the winner will move into first place in the AFC West and, maybe as importantly, will hold a multi-game lead over the Kansas City Chiefs in the division. On offense, running back J.K. Dobbins is preparing for a revenge game against his team from last year and will look to ignite a Broncos run game that has had a quiet start to the season.
Tuning In
Colorado Buffaloes vs Wyoming Cowboys, 8:15 pm MT on Saturday
Watch on ESPN, Listen on KHOW 630 AM
Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers, 2:05 pm MT on Sunday
Watch on CBS and Paramount+, Listen on KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM
Health Check
The Buffaloes did not release a Big 12 Football Player Availability Report, due to their upcoming interconference game this Saturday against the Wyoming Cowboys of the Mountain West.
Two names to watch on the Denver Broncos’ injury report are arguably their two biggest offseason acquisitions, tight end Evan Engram and linebacker Dre Greenlaw. According to their Thursday injury report, Engram is dealing with a back injury, while Greenlaw is still progressing toward his first start as a Denver Bronco as he recovers from a quad injury that has kept him on the sidelines during the offseason and through the first two games. Both players did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday. Three defensive starters, outside linebacker Nik Bonitto (wrist), inside linebacker Alex Singleton (thumb) and safety Talanoa Hufanga (chest) received full practice designations, while inside linebacker Justin Strnad (foot) was still limited on Thursday. Tight end Nate Adkins (ankle) was also a full participant on Wednesday and Thursday.
Game Tape
On Guerilla Sports’ Big Al and CJ Podcast, Alfred Williams agreed with Buffs coach Deion Sanders’ press conference answer that winning is more important than identity and pointed to his own experience in college football and the NFL:
“This is the problem you have with a question like identity. You have to be multi-dimensional when you start to talk about winning a college football game. … You need all the different facets of offense to make your team a complete team.”
Former Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer and former NFL player and coach Phil McGeoghan took their football to the park to break down the Broncos’ biggest defensive lapse against the Colts — Jonathan Taylor’s 68-yard breakaway run through the Denver defense. Plummer breaks down what not only what went wrong, but also the keys for a defense to play like a true shutdown unit:
“Patience is key right there, because it’s the front line, do their job. Linebackers, fill their gaps. Safeties, fill their gaps. If we all do it together as 11 on defense, that’s when we see this Orange Crush come out.”
Score Projections
Colorado Buffaloes 27, Wyoming Cowboys 10 — Kaidon Salter validates Sanders’ faith in him with a multi-touchdown performance and gives the Buffs a boost of confidence heading into a challenging Big 12 slate.
Los Angeles Chargers 20, Denver Broncos 16 — The Broncos defense improves in Week 3, but holding the Chargers to 20 points isn’t enough. Justin Herbert outduels Bo Nix in a battle of former Oregon quarterbacks, allowing the Chargers to take command of the AFC West.
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