Mile High Report
The Denver Broncos have always had one of the best home-field advantages in the NFL.
Going back to the 1970s at old Mile High Stadium, Broncos Country would bring the Rocky Mountain Thunder. Since then, Broncos fans have helped to create one of the loudest stadiums, best environments, and toughest places to play in all of sports. Even in the last 10 years, fans at the current Mile High still brought that energy despite having no earthly reason to do so.
Enter Sean Payton, Bo Nix, and a Broncos team in contention for the No. 1 seed in the AFC Playoffs. A Denver team leading the AFC West. A team with an opportunity to get home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
To accomplish that, the Broncos will host a team with a chance to win the NFC North and is a legitimate contender for the Super Bowl in the Green Bay Packers. A team with a strong offense and an even tougher defense.
Needless to say, today will be a battle. What could put Denver over the top is that raucous home crowd bringing the Rocky Mountain Thunder.
“We know we’re playing a good football team, so that’s something that we have no control over,” Payton said to the media this week. “We have four tough opponents the next four weeks, three of the four of them are at home. We’re counting on our crowd this week, not just at the line of scrimmage, but while they’re in the huddle.
“I go back to a few weeks ago and … That communication that exists from the opponent when they’re in the huddle, you’d be surprised when some teams, stadiums have it figured out, that the quarterback to the group in the huddle, it all gets blurry. You have problems. I thought our last home game with Kansas City was significant. I’m counting on it being at an even higher level. Yes, we’re playing a good team.”
That may sound like a bit of exaggeration, but it’s true. Coupled with the challenges of playing at altitude, Denver is a very tough place to play when the home crowd is at full blast.
Now, you have a Broncos team that has everything in front of it. For the first time in a decade, the fans finally have a reason to raise their voices again, get up and scream, stomp their feet, and help their team to a big victory.
When Nix was asked if he enjoys the atmosphere for a game like this, he said:
“I think the atmosphere is going to be electric. I think our fans are going to be extremely motivated and very hostile. It’s probably going to be similar to the Chiefs’ game a few weeks ago. This will be what seems to be a playoff game, so this will be an intense game on the field. It’ll be an intense environment.
“Anytime you play a home game like this, you...
