Broncos Pick 'Em: Which Bronco has the most riding on the seven games after the bye week?

For the first time since the 2017 season, the 5-5 Denver Broncos don’t have a losing record entering their bye week.

But after Sunday’s 30-13 beatdown by the Philadelphia Eagles, Denver’s week off doesn’t feel as upbeat as that stat would suggest.

As Justin Simmons stated after the game, however, the Broncos’ season is far from over. In fact, the Broncos are only one game out of first place in the AFC West.

As Denver attempts to make a playoff push down the stretch, which Bronco has the most riding on the final seven games of the season?

The DNVR Crew breaks it down in the 11th edition of Broncos Pick ‘Em.

All odds below are courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.

Who has the most riding on the final seven games?

Zac: Teddy Bridgewater — No one wants to hear it after he failed to attempt to tackle Darius Slay on Sunday, but Denver’s starting quarterback is not only having the best year of his career, he’s having the best season for a Broncos QB since Peyton Manning.

Teddy’s on pace to throw 24 touchdowns, 8.5 interceptions and 4,061 yards for a 98.8 passer rating. His 69.1 completion percentage is near the top of the league too.

However, Bridgewater needs to carry over the first half of the season to the final seven games and make a playoff push to solidify himself a fat paycheck in the offseason.

If he does, chances are good he’ll be back in Denver in some form or fashion. He could either be signed to a significant extension and be viewed as the starting quarterback for years to come if all goes great the rest of the season or be a mentor to a young quarterback the Broncos draft. The difference between the two is tens of millions of dollars. No pressure, Teddy.

Regardless of who the head coach is, it’s important to remember George Paton is a big fan of Bridgewater, even dating back to their time together in Minnesota.

In the final seven games, there’s a lot of money on the line for Bridgewater, whether that be in Denver or another city.

Mase: Bridgewater — The Broncos’ starting quarterback must prove that he is a bit more than what he has been. More than just a giveaway manager whose giveaway rate of one every 61 plays (pass attempts, rushing attempts and times sacked) is by far the Broncos’ best since 2016 … and more than just the player who made what has been termed by many onlookers and observers as a “business decision” when he pulled up rather than trying to tackle Eagles defender Darius Slay on what became an 82-yard fumble return in Week 10.

For all the debate over what he is and what he is not, he could be the best potential free-agent quarterback on the market in 2022.

If the Broncos decide to go fishing in the draft for their potential long-term quarterback answer, it might make sense to bring back Bridgewater on what would effectively be a year-to-year basis until their next potential passer is ready.

But he needs to do more to make himself palatable as that sort of choice.

If Bridgewater reverts to the form he had during their four-game losing streak — when he had all six of his giveaways this year — five interceptions and a lost fumble — the Broncos might believe their best bet is to turn the reins over to a passer from the free-agent market. That pool is currently scheduled to include Las Vegas’ Marcus Mariota. Houston’s Tyrod Taylor, Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger, Miami’s Jacoby Brissett, Chicago’s Andy Dalton and a pair of injured quarterbacks — Washington’s Ryan Fitzpatrick and New Orleans’ Jameis Winston — among others. The Broncos wouldn’t pursue any of these choices because they are someone appreciably better, but because they’re someone else … which is not unlike when the Broncos went from Case Keenum to Joe Flacco in 2019.

On balanxe, Bridgewater is the best of the Broncos’ post-Manning quarterbacks, but that says more about the Broncos’ fallow harvest of talent at the most important position since 2016 than it does about their current starting quarterback. Being just good enough to get by isn’t good enough to get another deal — even as a bridge. In the next seven games, No. 5 must show more — or risk being shown the door again.

RK: Vic Fangio — The way I see it, the only path to Vic Fangio keeping his job is by making the playoffs, or at the very least “playing relevant games in December” as George Paton once said. As it stands right now, the Broncos are in last place in the AFC West, and a loss to the Chargers after the Bye Week could be the beginning of a race with the Raiders to hold onto that spot.

Denver still has six games remaining against teams who are either in the playoff picture, or only out of it based on tie breakers. Fangio has the opportunity to either show he’s turning the corner, or prove that he’s not.

The Broncos must get to eight wins for Fangio to have any hope of keeping his job.

Picks Picks Picks

Colts @ Bills (-7)

Zac: Colts

Mase: Bills

RK: Colts

Packers (-2.5) @ Vikings

Zac: Packers

Mase: Packers

RK: Pack

Texans @ Titans (-10)

Zac: Texans

Mase: Titans

RK: Titans

Lions @ Browns (-10)

Zac: Lions

Mase: Browns

RK: Browns

Ravens (-6.5) @ Bears

Zac: Ravens

Mase: Ravens

RK: Ravens

Washington Football Team @ Panthers (-3.5)

Zac: Panthers

Mase: Panthers

RK: WFT

49ers (-6.5) @ Jaguars

Zac: Jaguars

Mase: Jaguars

RK: Niners

Saints @ Eagles (-1.5)

Zac: Eagles

Mase: Eagles

RK: Birds

Dolphins (-3) @ Jets

Zac: Dolphins

Mase: Dolphins

RK: Jets

Bengals (-1) @ Raiders

Zac: Raiders

Mase: Bengals

RK: Bengals

Cowboys @ Chiefs (-2.5)

Zac: Chiefs

Mase: Cowboys

RK: Chiefs

Cardinals (-2.5) @ Seahawks

Zac: Seahawks

Mase: Seahawks

RK: Cards

Steelers @ Chargers (-5)

Zac: Chargers

Mase: Steelers

RK: Steelers

Giants @ Buccaneers (-10.5)

Zac: Buccaneers

Mase: Bucs

RK: Gigantes

Leaderboard

Last week

RK: 10-7

Mase: 8-9

Zac: 6-11

Overall

Zac: 65-81

RK: 64-82

Mase: 61-85