Broncos Briefs: 16 games, 16 games as underdog for Denver – The Denver Post

The Broncos will make semi-history Sunday against Las Vegas … the wrong kind of history.

The Raiders are a 2 1/2-point road favorite despite losing five of their last six games to fall out of playoff contention. If that holds, the Broncos will be an underdog in all 16 games this year.

Translation: The Broncos are a long way from 2013, when they were favored in every game.

Going back 15 years, BetOnline.ag provided several nuggets to The Denver Post:

*Since 2006, the Broncos have been the underdog in 112 of 240 games (46.7%).

*During their current playoff drought (2016-20), the Broncos have been an underdog in 53 of 79 games (67.1%).

*Before this year, the high total for underdog games was 12 apiece in 2010 and last year.

*The Broncos were a road underdog in all 16 of their road games in 2019-20.

*The Broncos have been a home underdog in 35.8% of their home games (43 out of 120) and 57.5% of their road games (69 of 120).

*During this span, the previous high for home underdog games was five apiece in 2009-10.

*In 2006, ’08 and ’13-14, the Broncos were a home favorite in every game.

The Broncos are 8-7 against the spread this year.

Hamler ruled out. Rookie receiver KJ Hamler (concussion) was ruled out for Sunday and five players — outside linebacker Bradley Chubb (ankle), right guard Graham Glasgow (shoulder), outside linebacker Anthony Chickillo (ribs), running back LeVante Bellamy (ankle) and safety Trey Marshall (quad) — are listed as questionable.

Chubb took part in individual drills for the second consecutive day.

“It would be huge to finish on the field, but if I can’t go, I can’t go,” he said before practice. “It’s one of those things where I want to be out there and I want to finish the season off strong (and) start the new year off strong with these guys.”

Glasgow was added to the injury report Thursday and was limited in Friday’s practice. If he can’t play, rookie Netane Muti would get his second start.

McMahon’s future. Embattled special teams coordinator Tom McMahon, who was brought to the Broncos by then-coach Vance Joseph in 2018, said he is focused on Sunday’s game and not his future.

“I go game-to-game,” McMahon said. “I don’t worry about tomorrows. I just worry about todays. Never worry about myself.”

In McMahon’s favor is the Broncos have solid performers at kicker (Brandon McManus), punter (Sam Martin), long snapper (Jacob Bobenmoyer) and returner (Diontae Spencer).

Working against McMahon is a 31st-place ranking in kick coverage (29.9-yard average) and other breakdowns like penalties.

The Chargers took a 3-0 lead last week when McManus’ opening kickoff only reached the 8-yard line and was returned 53 yards.

McMahon said the return was a “bad call” on his part.

“Where we needed to kick the ball and where it ended up going (didn’t match up) and then I ran a twist inside that we shouldn’t have run,” he said. “Bottom line, it’s on me. It’s not something I can put on any of the players.”

Footnotes. Las Vegas will be without starting right tackle Trent Brown (knee); Sam Young will play in his place. … Broncos coach Vic Fangio said cornerback Bryce Callahan (foot injury) will not need surgery and defensive end Shelby Harris (knee) is an “ongoing evaluation process,” to determine if he needs an operation.

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