What I Want for a Broncos Christmas on Monday Night

A John Fox risk

Nov 30, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Denver Broncos head coach John Fox on the sidelines against the Kansas City Chiefs in the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. Denver won the game 29-16. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

This comes hand-in-hand with the red zone offense. We all know John Fox is your prototypical defensive head coach. He likes to run the ball and play everything safe (except when it comes to challenges, for some reason [he’s won 2 of 12 challenges the last two years]). Last week he had an opportunity to take a rare risk and he declined.

With the Broncos holding a 6-0 lead at the end of the first half, they had a 1st and goal at the Chargers’ one. Thankfully, Gase trusted his stable of running backs and ran it three straight plays, once with Juwan Thompson and twice with Anderson. It appeared Anderson got in the end zone on third down, but replay overturned it. Then confusion ensued.

Manning, of all people, sprung a block to get C.J. into the end zone (or so we thought at the time). After the supposed touchdown, he went back in the locker room, for what we all thought were IV’s since he went through the week suffering from flulike symptoms. Later we found out he went in to get treatment on a thigh injury suffered earlier in the drive. Nonetheless, Manning was nowhere to be found. Regardless, no question I would have gone for it in this situation.

The Broncos defense had been holding the Chargers offense in check to the tune of zero points, thanks to a blocked 46-yard field goal by Derek Wolfe. At worst, if the Broncos couldn’t get in, the Chargers would have to travel 99 yards in less than two minutes for a touchdown to take the lead. Surely Osweieler is good enough to hand the ball off one time. But no, Fox trots out Barth for the second time with the ball on the opponent’s one. Things like this are what get my blood boiling about Fox. I get his record will show that he’s won a bunch of games/division titles with the Broncos, but over the past couple years it just feels like he’s been holding this team back. For once I’d like him to put trust in his offense and defense; and not just because his kicker sucks. Next time the Broncos are in a similar situation, maybe even this week, Fox has to go for it.