Odds Heavily Against Vance Joseph Coaching Broncos in 2019

• 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.

Vance Joseph has led the #Broncos to:

– Longest losing streak (8 games) in 50 years
– 1st shutout loss in 25 yrs
– 1st L at home to #Bengals since '75
– 1st L to #Browns since '90
– 1st L to CLE in Denver in 46 yrs
– Consecutive losing seasons for 1st time since '72 (possibly)

— Zack Kelberman (@KelbermanNFL) December 16, 2018

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.

#Broncos players swear devotion to HC Vance Joseph. Consecutive defeats to the Niners, Browns and Raiders says more.

— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) December 25, 2018

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

*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.

https://twitter.com/PirateLifeFF/status/1072902771077193729

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

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.

Peppers sacks Keenum to seal the Browns win pic.twitter.com/Bvu1k9O35S

— Heart of NFL (@HeartofNFL) December 16, 2018

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

Many Broncos players were frustrated with Vance Joseph's decision to kick a field goal instead of going for it on fourth-and-one against the Browns on Saturday night, emphasizing the mounting setbacks in Denver (by @RobertKlemko) https://t.co/y5qiaQYpJy

— The MMQB (@theMMQB) December 17, 2018

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.

Brutal year with injuries for the Broncos …

Emmanuel Sanders – Achilles
Chris Harris Jr. – leg fracture
Phillip Lindsay – wrist
Jeff Heuerman -ribs
Jake Butt -ACL
Matt Paradis – leg fracture
Ron Leary – Achilles
Max Garcia – ACL

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) December 26, 2018

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.

https://twitter.com/HoodieSutton/status/1077952842546049024

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.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6T4moZBKa40

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.

Paxton Lynch, Trevor Siemian, Brock Osweiler and Case Keenum. I have nothing personal against these men, but the notion that Vance Joseph was given adequate talent at the "most important position in football" is laughable. Especially when you consider that his GM is John Elway

— Chris James (@cjflorida9) December 25, 2018

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.