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Odds Heavily Against Vance Joseph Coaching Broncos in 2019

Eric Rosales

by Eric Rosales in NFL Football

Updated Apr 3, 2020 · 3:39 PM PDT

Case Keenum
It's been a rough year for Case Keenum and the Broncos, and it will likely cost head coach Vance Joseph his job. Photo by Keith Allison (Flickr) [CC License]
  • Vance Joseph likely out after two seasons as Broncos head coach
  • Lack of quality QB play has marred Joseph’s tenure
  • Broncos enter Week 17 ‘playing for coach’

To say the Vance Joseph era in Denver has been disappointing would be a major understatement.

After battling their way to a 6-6 record with one of the most favorable slates in the NFL, they’ve dropped three straight games and are out of the playoff picture as they wrap up against the Chargers in Week 17.

It’s expected that GM John Elway is going to end Joseph’s tenure at season’s end, which is reflected in sportsbooks’ odds. Let’s see if there’s any chance Joseph makes it to a third year at the helm.

Odds Vance Joseph is Head Coach of Broncos in 2019

Will Vance Joseph Be Broncos Head Coach to Start 2019 Season? Odds
Yes +500
No -900

*Odds taken 12/27

The Play Call that (Likely) Sealed Joseph’s Fate

The Broncos will look back at this season and catch missed opportunity after missed opportunity. This is a team that has suffered losses to the Jets, 49ers, Browns, and Raiders, four teams that have combined for 40 losses on the season.

But the calls for Joseph’s ousting came loudest in Week 15 in a must-win against the Browns.

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With about four minutes to go in the game, trailing 17-13 and facing a 4th-and-1 from the Browns’ 6-yard line, the Broncos opted for the field goal and not to go for it.

While they did get the ball back with a chance to win, the football gods were not impressed. Neither were the players.

Injuries, QB Play Out of Joseph’s Hands

The Broncos weren’t the deepest roster, but had good talent at key positions. Once their star players started going down, however, so did the level of play.

This was a team that got massive production from a fantastic draft class, led by Bradley Chubb and Phillip Lindsay, giving the Broncos an above-average defense and stellar run game, which should have been enough to compete.

But with the absence of strong quarterbacking, the Broncos just didn’t have enough to make up for the losses and to plain steal a game here or there.

YouTube video

Over the last two years, the Broncos have worked through Trevor Siemian, Paxton Lynch, and Brock Osweiler before settling on Case Keenum this year.

He’s by far the best QB Joseph has had to work with, and he’s thrown for just under 3,600 yards with 17 TDs and 14 INTs on the year. It wasn’t the production necessary to pull out games the Broncos needed to win.

Is There Any Way Joseph Remains Head Coach?

Even if the Broncos pull together for their coach and put forward the best performance of the year against the Chargers, the only wager to make here is Joseph not being back next season.

There’s not much of a return on your dollars, but there’s no way Elway brings back the only head coach in franchise history that’s compiled back-to-back losing seasons.

Perhaps a new perspective can maximize Keenum’s talents, and, with another strong draft class, place the Broncos back into the winner’s circle, competing for playoff spots and championships.

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