HOUSTON — Winter break ended in Denver as soon as the party began in Houston.
This past week, new Broncos coach Vance Joseph and his staff returned to Englewood to begin draft preparation, roster evaluations and a plan for the off-season. About 1,000 miles south, the streets of downtown Houston were converted into an NFL playground.
The Broncos’ run as reigning Super Bowl champions was nearing an end. Talk of their historically great defense in 2015 was supplanted by talk of two quarterbacks: Tom Brady, who is one win from earning his fifth Super Bowl ring, and Matt Ryan, the Falcons’ veteran on the cusp of his first bit of bling.