Oct 13, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) during a play action set in the third quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos defeated the Jaguars 35-19. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The Denver Broncos are set to play host to Mike Shanahan and the Washington Redskins on Sunday. Obviously the biggest story here is Shanahan returning to Denver for the first time since he was fired back in 2009 when Josh McDaniels was hired as the head coach of the team, and so much has transpired in Denver between then and now.
McDaniels successfully uplifted and deflated the Broncos franchise, getting fired before the end of his second season with the team. Shanahan helped the Redskins get into the playoffs last year after he made a huge move to trade up in the draft for Robert Griffin III of Baylor.
The Heisman Trophy winner hurt his knee last year multiple times before having surgery in the offseason, and now he’s back and slowly returning to form.
This will be an emotional return for Shanahan, who left Denver on pretty good terms. His termination was certainly not his preferred scenario, but the Broncos needed to do something after three sub-par seasons.
Shanahan–to my knowledge–does not hold the kind of animosity towards Denver as he did the Raiders back in the day.
The Broncos and Redskins game will be aired on FOX in the late-game slot unless you are in most of Arizona or parts of the South. Here’s everything you need to know about this Broncos gameday, as well as some other reading materials for the day.
— TV Schedule, Matchup History
— Injury Report: Bailey OUT, Kuper/Franklin QST
— Broncos Five Keys to Victory
— Broncos Rookie Update: Williams, Ball, Anderson set for more action