Denver is winning.
That part is undeniable.
What’s less clear and far more interesting is what kind of winning this actually is.
In the latest episode of the I’m From Denver Podcast, former Denver Bronco Brandon Lloyd joins Andy Zodin and Producer WIGNZ at Guerrilla Sports Studio for a conversation that cuts through standings, hype, and social media noise to ask a harder question:
Is this Broncos team good, or are they just getting through games?
That tension sits at the center of the episode and ripples out into every topic that follows.
When Winning Still Feels Unsettled
At 11–2 and sitting atop the AFC, Denver looks like a finished product on paper. But as Lloyd explains, records don’t tell you how a team wins, and how you win is what shows up in January.
The discussion immediately moves past scorelines and into the details that fans feel but can’t always articulate:
- Why “handling bad teams” is a real benchmark
- How clock control reveals playoff readiness
- Where discipline matters more than creativity
Lloyd’s perspective isn’t theoretical. He’s speaking as someone who knows when locker rooms believe and when they’re just relieved.
Sean Payton, Bo Nix, and the Thin Line Between Control and Overreach
One of the most revealing stretches of the episode centers on Sean Payton’s offense and the balance he’s still trying to strike.
Bo Nix’s mobility sparks the obvious question: should Denver use it more?
Lloyd’s answer is calm, direct, and rooted in experience. There’s a difference between having a weapon and building an identity around it. The wrong choice doesn’t show up in December. It shows up when the margin disappears.
The conversation also drifts into receiver usage, trust, and chemistry. Not as criticism, but as examination. Who gets the ball and why is never just about talent. It’s about stability, leadership, and keeping an offense intact when pressure rises.
College Football, Colorado Style: Two Programs, Two Philosophies
From there, the episode widens its lens.
Colorado State’s hire of Jim Mora Jr. becomes a case study in quiet intent, while CU’s recent path raises unavoidable questions about spending, expectations, and leadership in the NIL era.
Lloyd doesn’t posture or hedge. He frames modern college football the way it now operates:
- NIL functions like a salary cap
- The portal behaves like free agency
- Head coaches are CEOs whether they like it or not
The contrast between CSU and CU isn’t framed as rivalry. It’s framed as approach.
A Detour That Matters: Inside Food Bank of the Rockies
Mid-episode, the conversation pauses for something real.
Brandon Lloyd shares his visit to Food Bank of the Rockies, walking through a massive operation moving tens of millions of pounds of food across Colorado each year. It’s not a charity mention. It’s context.
Food insecurity is rising.
Need doesn’t end with the holidays.
Every dollar still matters.
Listeners are encouraged to learn more or support the work directly at foodbankrockies.org.
Why This Episode Feels Different
By the time the episode circles back to the Nuggets, Avalanche, and Denver’s rare concentration of elite talent, a theme has already emerged.
This city isn’t short on stars.
It’s navigating expectation.
Lloyd’s reflections on Nikola Jokic, leadership, and quiet greatness don’t feel like sports talk. They feel like recognition from someone who’s seen it before.
Listen to the Full Episode
This episode of the I’m From Denver Podcast is presented by Mountain States Toyota, Colorado’s number one Toyota volume dealer.
Visit mountainstatestoyota.com to learn more.
