Radio veteran Darren “DMac” McKee has become a staple on the ride home in Denver for over a decade. DMac is never afraid to ask the tough questions, while somehow always finding a way to make you laugh. Meanwhile his partner Tyler Polumbus is the epitome of “local boy does good.” Tyler is a Denver native whose journey took him from Cherry Creek High School, to team captain of the Colorado Buffaloes before finishing with a Super Bowl 50 Championship on the Denver Broncos. Tyler and DMac bring humor, debate and differing perspective to every show. Listen live weekday afternoons from 3p-7p.
Denver's Sports Radio 104.3 The Fan
Listeners of The Drive that love the show mention: big al, denver sports, broncos, best sports show, colorado, dynamic duo, sports fan, tyler, football, every day, radio, opinions, live, great show, love, entertaining, look forward, guys, better, listening.
The Drive podcast is a staple for sports fans in Denver and beyond. Hosted by DMac, Big Al, and their rotating cast of co-hosts, this show offers a unique perspective on Denver sports and beyond. Whether you're a die-hard Broncos fan or just enjoy lively sports discussion, The Drive has something for everyone.
One of the best aspects of The Drive is the chemistry between the hosts. DMac and Big Al have been working together for years and it shows in their banter and camaraderie. They bring a level of entertainment to the show that keeps listeners engaged and entertained throughout each episode. Additionally, their knowledge of sports is impressive, providing insightful analysis and commentary on a wide range of topics.
Another strong point of The Drive is its focus on local sports teams, particularly the Denver Broncos. As a Colorado-based show, they offer in-depth coverage and discussion about the team that can be hard to find elsewhere. This dedication to covering local teams sets them apart from other sports podcasts and makes them a must-listen for any Broncos fan.
While there are many positive aspects to The Drive, one area that could be improved is the diversity of topics discussed. While they do cover various sports and entertainment subjects, there could be more variety in their discussions to appeal to an even wider audience. Additionally, some listeners may find certain personalities on the show to be less engaging or relatable than others.
In conclusion, The Drive podcast is a must-listen for any Denver sports fan or anyone who enjoys entertaining sports talk radio. With its knowledgeable hosts, entertaining banter, and focus on local teams like the Broncos, it's easy to see why this podcast has gained such a loyal following over the years. Whether you're sitting in traffic or just looking for some entertaining sports talk, give The Drive podcast a listen - you won't be disappointed!

In hour 4 of The Drive, Zach and Phil take a deep dive into the Colorado and Georgia Tech season opener in college football tonight. What are our expectations for the Buffaloes as they enter a new season with a mostly new roster and new offensive and defensive coordinators? Zach shares about Brennan Marion's coaching history and how he became the Buffs' offensive coordinator and play caller. We hear from Georgia Tech's head coach on Deion's popularity in Atlanta, Colorado's new offensive and defensive coordinator, and more. Will Deion Sanders' Atlanta jersey be the most popular jersey at Georgia Tech tonight? With the news that Kroenke Sports and Entertainment bought the Los Angeles Angels, we debate who we would rather own the Rockies between the Walton-Penners and KSE. We wrap up the show with DenverSports.com's Aniello Piro joining the show for the guys to share their predictions for Colorado's season opener at Georgia Tech.

In hour 3 of The Drive, Zach and Phil react to Sean Payton officially naming Jarrett Stidham the Broncos' backup quarterback. Is Stidham the better option over Sam Ehlinger? Could Stidham step in and win games for the Broncos if necessary this season? Zach shares a shocking stat about how many drops receivers have with Bo Nix throws over the past two seasons. How much is Bo to blame for all the drops? Does this give Nix an excuse for lower-than-desired passing stats? With Jonathon Cooper's future up in the air, who will start on the opposite side of Nik Bonitto? Are Que Robinson and Jonah Ellis ready to take the next step as pass rushers? Could JK Dobbins take home the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year Award this season if he's able to stay healthy for the entire season? Who would be Dobbins' competition for the award this season?

In hour 2 of The Drive, Zach and Phil take a deep dive into the Colorado and Georgia Tech season opener in college football tonight. How many people will be watching the Buffaloes tonight on ESPN? We hear from Georgia Tech's head coach on Deion's popularity in Atlanta, Colorado's new offensive and defensive coordinator, and more. Will Deion Sanders be the most popular jersey in Tech's stadium tonight? What are the guys' expectations for Brennan Marion in his first game as the Buffs' play caller? Is tonight a huge "swing game" for the Buffs season? Today's "Three Count" includes the most and least affordable NFL teams to go watch this season, the Raiders naming Kirk Cousins as their starting quarterback which breaks a streak of 6 number one overall quarterbacks taken to start Week 1, and the viral video from the Denver Summit in which a player nutmegs 4 people. With the news that Kroenke Sports and Entertainment bought the Los Angeles Angels, we debate who we would rather own the Rockies between the Walton-Penners or KSE.

Hour 1 of The Drive kicks off with Zach and Phil cross-talking with Dover and Cecil. The guys discuss the Colorado and Georgia Tech game and the teams' trends when being underdogs and favorites. After missing out on Kenyon Sadiq, could the Broncos be in line to draft this year's Oregon tight end? Zach and Phil dive into the Broncos, and Zach shares a shocking stat about how many drops receivers have with Bo Nix throws over the past two seasons. Does this give Nix an out for lower-than-desired passing stats? Are Que Robinson and Jonah Ellis ready to take the next step as pass rushers for the Broncos? We hear from Sean Payton on the rotation of rushers outside of Jonathon Cooper and what Payton likes about Robinson. Could JK Dobbins take home the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year Award this season if he's able to stay healthy for the entire season? Who would be Dobbins' competition for the award this season?

In hour 4 of The Drive, Zach and Phil react to the news of the day: the NBA handing down its punishment to the Clippers for their Kawhi Leonard scandal. Is stripping the organization of 5 first-round picks and a $30 million fine too harsh? Is this good news from a Nuggets perspective? Dan Jacobs joins the show live after sitting in on Shilo Sanders' trial today. Dan tells us about Shilo getting "got" a few times in court today by the opposition's lawyer and even his own lawyer. Will the judge in the case believe Shilo over his opponent and a few witnesses? We react to Peyton Watson and Michael Porter Jr.'s comments on Watson's restricted free agency, missing the playoffs with an injury, and more. How do the guys feel about Watson sitting out of games with a potential big payday coming? Is there a trust issue between Nuggets players and their training staff? We wrap up the show with DenverSports.com's Will Petersen joining the show to recap the day in Denver sports.

In hour 3 of The Drive, Zach and Phil react to Sean Payton's comments on the Broncos starting faster this season than the past two seasons and how Bo Nix can shift the narrative about him from a national media sense. Are media members still holding on to their pre-draft evaluations of Nix? We debate if there is value in a Jonah Coleman future for Rookie of the Year at 55-to-1 odds. Would Coleman profile into the starting running back role if JK Dobbins gets injured again this season? We dive into the latest with Shilo Sanders' court case, with the trial taking place today. Will Deion Sanders get roped into this mess? What do the guys make of Bo Nix's lack of throws down the middle of the field last season? We hear from Nix on what the next step is for him to develop. We hear from Sean Payton on Bo Nix being "slighted" by not being named on ESPN's top-100 player list.

In hour 2 of The Drive, Zach and Phil are joined by former Broncos running back Knowshon Moreno. Knowshon shares about his journey to getting offers to play big-time college football and why he chose Georgia. What was it like having Matthew Stafford as a college teammate? What did Knowshon know about Denver before getting drafted to the Broncos in the first round? What does Knowshon remember about the Tim Tebow season with the Broncos? What was it like being Peyton Manning's teammate? Today's "Three Count" features more time with Knowshon Moreno, asking him about what he remembers about Super Bowl 48, crying during the National Anthem, and what he makes of the Broncos' current running back room. What are the realistic expectations for CSU Football in year 1 of Jim Mora, following a 2-10 season? How does Jim Mora feel about kicking off the season against a rival?

Hour 1 of The Drive kicks off with Zach and Phil cross-talking with Dover and Cecil. The guys discuss JK Dobbins and if the Broncos' approach of holding him out of preseason games and having an easy training camp will lead to a healthier season for Dobbins. Zach and Phil debate if there is value in a Jonah Coleman future for Rookie of the Year at 55-to-1 odds. Would Coleman profile into the starting running back role if JK Dobbins gets injured again this season? We react to the breaking news of the NBA coming down with a harsh punishment for the Clippers regarding the Kawhi Leonard scandal. Is stripping the organization of 5 first-round picks and a $30 million fine too harsh? Why was Leonard not punished more than the $700,000 fine? Is this the harshest punishment in professional sports history?

In hour 4 of The Drive, Zach and Phil take a deep dive into the Broncos and Bo Nix, as he was left off ESPN's top 100 players in the NFL list. Is this more disrespect, or do we overrate Nix here in Denver? Why do people continue to hold on to their old takes on Nix and not adjust as he is setting records in his first two seasons in the NFL? We react to Joe Sakic's comments on Cale Makar from his press conference yesterday. Is Makar already a Hall of Famer? What challenges does Sakic face moving forward with Makar, MacKinnon, and Necas taking up so much of the Avs salary cap? We wrap up the show previewing Colorado and Colorado State's first game of the college football season this week and weekend.

In hour 3 of The Drive, Zach and Phil dive into the latest on Jonathon Cooper, as his "case management conference" has been scheduled for September 14th. Do the guys expect this Cooper situation to finish playing out until the end of October? Will this case reach the official trial or settle out of court? We break down Sean Payton as he is on the brink of history this season with the Broncos. Will Payton finish this season in the top-10 for all-time NFL coaching wins? If he coaches throughout his recent contract extension, where could he rank among the best coaches of all time? Would he be a Hall of Famer? We preview the Colorado and Georgia Tech season opener this Thursday. Will CU be able to run the ball this season in a way they haven't been able to under Deion Sanders? Longtime NFL reporter James Palmer joins the show to discuss his new role with Amazon for Thursday Night Football, James' biggest takeaway from the Broncos offseason, and if Sean Payton is on track to be one of the best NFL coaches of all time.

In hour 2 of The Drive, Zach and Phil continue their conversation on CSU Football, and Zach shares his pick for who will be the starting quarterback for the Rams this season. We pivot to the Broncos and take a deep dive into Bo Nix, as he was left off ESPN's top 100 players in the NFL list. Is this more disrespect, or do we overrate Nix here in Denver? Are the guys fans of the Broncos starting their season on Monday Night Football, with the whole country watching? What players that got cut and are on the Broncos' practice squad have the biggest chance to make an impact for the Broncos this season? Today's "Three Count" includes who has and has not returned to practice for the Broncos this week, the Rockies getting robbed on a potential walk-off home run in last night's thrilling game, and Kroenke Sports and Entertainment acquiring the Los Angeles Angels. We react to Joe Sakic's comments on Cale Makar's contract extension and balancing the roster moving forward with the salary cap steadily going up.

Hour 1 of The Drive kicks off with Zach and Phil cross-talking with Dover and Cecil. The guys discuss Kroenke Sports and Entertainment purchasing the Los Angeles Angels and why the Nuggets had to shed salary by not paying Peyton Watson, but can afford to buy a baseball team. Zach and Phil break down Sean Payton as he is on the brink of history this season with the Broncos. Will Payton finish this season in the top-10 for all-time NFL coaching wins? If he coaches throughout his recent contract extension, where could he rank among the best coaches of all time? We preview the Colorado and Georgia Tech season opener this Thursday. Will CU be able to run the ball this season in a way they haven't been able to under Deion Sanders? We pivot to CSU as they open up the season hosting Wyoming in the "Border War".

In hour 4 of The Drive, Zach and Phil take a deep dive into the Broncos as they cut down their roster to 53 guys over the weekend. Who was the biggest surprise cut for the guys? What do the guys make of the Broncos cutting Justin Joly? Could Joly have been the Broncos' tight end of the future if he didn't burn bridges in the building? Should Jaleel McLaughlin have made the final roster over Tyler Badie? We react to Marvin Mims getting injured again in Friday's final preseason game, after missing much of training camp with a lower-body injury. Is there an added urgency for the Broncos to go out and win a Super Bowl now, as they are the 4th oldest team in the NFL now? We wrap up the show recapping the day in Denver sports, which includes Jonathon Cooper being placed on the Commissioner's exempt list and more.

In hour 3 of The Drive, Zach and Phil react to Marvin Mims getting injured again, after missing much of training camp with a lower-body injury. Zach shares why he's anxious about Mims as he heads into a contract season in which his offensive role shrunk during the offseason and he might not be available to start the season. We hear from Sean Payton on the Broncos roster after they whittled it down to 53 guys. Is this roster in a better position than it was a year ago? What do the guys make of the Broncos practice squad? Were we surprised that former 3rd-round pick Drew Sanders was cut? We dive into the latest with Jonathon Cooper, as he was placed on the Commissioner's exempt list and has a trial set for November. We hear from George Paton on the situation and the replacements for Cooper while he misses time. Could Cooper cause a distraction for the Broncos this season? We react to Cale Makar's historic NHL contract extension. We hear from Makar on signing an 8-year contract instead of going for a shorter 4-year deal. Does Makar's new deal add pressure for him to be even better moving forward?

In hour 2 of The Drive, Zach and Phil continue their conversation on the Avalanche and failing to meet expectations last postseason. We pivot to the Broncos and break down the cuts they made over the weekend. What do the guys make of the Broncos cutting Justin Joly and Red Murdock? Could Joly have been the Broncos' tight end of the future if he didn't burn bridges in the building? Should Jaleel McLaughlin have made the final roster over Tyler Badie? Today's "Three Count" features Peyton Watson's comments on Michael Porter Jr's podcast following his absence in the playoffs, reacting to Week 0 in college football, and reacting to how empty USC's stadium was when hosting San Jose State. With the Broncos being one of the oldest teams in the NFL, we debate if there is an added level of urgency to win a Super Bowl now.

Hour 1 of The Drive kicks off with Zach and Phil cross-talking with Dover and Cecil. The guys discuss "cut down" day in the NFL, and Phil shares his personal experiences from making the Broncos as an undrafted free agent to getting cut with the Colts as a veteran. Zach and Phil recap the Broncos' three preseason games now that preseason is in the books. What were the guys' biggest takeaways from Friday and all three games? What did the guys make of Justin Joly getting cut after an 88-yard touchdown during Friday's game? We review the latest with Jonathon Cooper, as he was placed on the Commissioner's exempt list. We hear from George Paton on the situation and the replacements for Cooper while he misses time. Will Petersen joins the show live after being down at Cale Makar's press conference following his historic contract extension with the Avalanche.

In hour 4 of The Drive, Zach and Phil continue to break down the Cale Makar contract extension. How will Makar's contract impact how the Avs construct their roster moving forward? Did Joe Sakic's job just get harder with all the money going towards Makar, MacKinnon, and Necas? We pivot to the Broncos and preview their third and final preseason game tonight. What do the guys make of the list of guys that will and won't play tonight? We hear from Vance Joseph on what he's seeing from Que Robinson in year 2. Who needs to play well tonight to make the Broncos' 53-man roster? Could recent draft picks like Red Murdock or Justin Joly be in jeopardy of being cut? We wrap up the show previewing the Week 0 slate in college football and revisiting Cale Makar's record-breaking contract extension with the Avs.

In hour 3 of The Drive, Zach and Phil preview the Broncos' final preseason game, and we debate what the defensive side of the ball will look like. We speculate why the Broncos are playing Jonathan Cooper but not many of the other starters on defense. Could Cooper start the season on the Commissioner's exempt list? Who are the guys expecting to make the Broncos' final 53-man roster? Zach, Phil, and the guys compete in our weekly trivia competition against the morning show. We review the Morning Show's gripe with one of our questions and try to beat their 2-2 performance from earlier today. We pivot to the Avalanche as Cale Makar signed an NHL record-breaking contract extension for 8 years. Could Makar's huge contract upset the "cap culture" within the Avalanche locker room?

In hour 2 of The Drive, Zach and Phil take a deep dive into the Broncos as they get set for their third and final preseason game tonight. With Bo Nix not playing, what is the biggest storyline heading into the game? With roster cut day around the corner, we project what the Broncos' 53-man roster will look like. Will the Broncos keep all three quarterbacks? Will the Broncos keep a 4th running back as insurance for JK Dobbins' injury history? How many offensive linemen will they keep? Our 9News Broncos insider Mike Klis joins the show to discuss his projections for the 53-man roster, the latest with the Jonathan Cooper legal situation, and much more. Today's "Three Count" features Cale Makar's historic contract extension with the Avalanche, the Avs cap table moving forward, and how Nathan MacKinnon will feel about Makar making so much more money than him. How will Makar's contract impact how the Avs construct their roster moving forward? How have the expectations for Makar changed?

Hour 1 of The Drive kicks off with Zach and Phil live from Murphey Creek Golf Course. The guys discuss the Broncos' upcoming third and final preseason game. Will Sean Payton rest most of his starters tonight? What are the Broncos getting from playing Evan Engram more than most of the other starters? Will JK Dobbins go into the season without a rushing attempt in a preseason game? Zach and Phil debate if Marvin Mims will play tonight as he returned to practice this week. Has Sean Payton treated this team too soft this training camp? With cut day coming, who on the roster is it "now or never" for? What position rooms are too full? We react to the latest with Deion Sanders and him having to testify directly following the Buffs game in Georgia. Will this cause a distraction to the team or coaching staff?

In hour 4 of The Drive, Phil and Aniello take a deep dive into the Broncos and preview the 3rd preseason game. Has the 3rd preseason game become meaningless for many NFL teams? What position battles are still up for grabs? Would it make sense for the Broncos to bring in Bobby Wagner as a depth piece for the linebacking core? Has Evan Engram proved that he can be both a blocking and receiving threat? Should the Broncos look at getting their own next great young tight end like Colston Loveland or Trey McBride? Was the backup quarterback competition ever a real competition? We react to Christian Braun's comments about the Nuggets having everything they need to win a championship. Is this blind optimism, or has the Nuggets offseason given them a chance to compete? We wrap up the show recapping the day in Denver sports, including Cale Makar's looming contract extension.

In hour 3 of The Drive, Phil and Aniello preview Cale Makar's looming contract extension. How soon are we expecting to see news of his extension? Will Makar take the most amount of money possible, or will he settle for an AAV in the teens? Could Makar sign a shorter-term deal so he can leave his option open to sign a bigger deal in 4 years or leave the Avalanche in free agency if the team isn't competitive anymore? Are we seeing teams change their approach on early downs against the Broncos? How can the Broncos defense still put offenses in uncomfortable situations where they pin their ears back and rush the passer? We react to Ben Solak's rankings of the most watchable teams in the NFL. Are the Broncos underrated in the excitement that comes with watching a team that played in so many close games last year?

In hour 2 of The Drive, Phil and Aniello take a deep dive into the Broncos and preview the 3rd preseason game. Has the 3rd preseason game become meaningless for many NFL teams? How important will Friday's game be to depth players and players on the roster bubble? What position battles are still up for grabs? How are the guys feeling about the Broncos tight end room heading into the season? Has Evan Engram proved that he can be both a blocking and receiving threat? Today's "Three Count" includes Connor Hellebuyck officially requesting a trade from the Winnipeg Jets, the Rockies raising their prices on season tickets by as much as 14% for next season, and the Broncos introducing a new 2-foot hot dog. We react to Christian Braun's comments about the Nuggets having everything they need to win a championship. Is this blind optimism, or has the Nuggets' offseason given them a chance to compete?

Hour 1 of The Drive kicks off with Aniello and Phil cross-talking with Dover and Cecil. The guys discuss the Broncos' running back room. Phil makes the case for the Broncos to keep 4 running backs on the active roster as an insurance plan for JK Dobbins. Phil and Aniello preview Cale Makar's looming contract extension. How soon are we expecting to see news of his extension? Will Makar take the most amount of money possible, or will he settle for an AAV in the teens? We react to Sean Payton getting into it on Twitter and calling out a media member for his criticism of Bo Nix and not throwing the ball downfield. Is there a false narrative that Bo Nix doesn't throw the ball downfield or throw it in the middle of the field? We react to Ben Solak's rankings of the most watchable teams in the NFL. Are the Broncos underrated in the excitement that comes with watching a team that played in so many close games last year?

In hour 4 of The Drive, Zach and Phil continue to break down the Broncos and the AFC West. Where does Bo Nix rank in the division as far as quarterbacks go? How do the guys feel about Sean Payton saying that Bo Nix will likely not play in the Broncos' third preseason game? Are the Broncos doing a disservice to JK Dobbins if he doesn't play at all in preseason? We pivot to the Colorado Buffaloes and react to a report that Juju Lewis was considering transferring to Georgia Tech this offseason, the Buffs' first opponent of the season. Does this explain why Deion Sanders has talked about Lewis the way he has? Is Lewis still a lock to be the Buffs' starting quarterback this season, or could Isaac Wilson take over that role? We wrap up the show recapping what we learned in Denver sports today, including the NFL's Pro Bowl going away.

In hour 3 of The Drive, Zach and Phil debate what Jonathan Cooper's future with the Broncos and NFL will look like. Could Cooper end up on the NFL Commissioner's exempt list to start the season? Which Broncos would be asked to step up if Cooper misses part of the regular season? We hear from Vance Joseph on the lessons learned from what the Packers did on offense against the Broncos' defense. How can the Broncos' defense combat offenses that get the ball out quickly and don't allow the pass rush to get home to the quarterback? We debate if the Broncos have a penalty issue. Are the Broncos an undisciplined team? We analyze who the Broncos' biggest offenders are when it comes to penalties and discuss if running more zone defense will help. Do the Broncos need to win the AFC West to win the Super Bowl this season? Where does the Broncos' run game stack up in the AFC West?

In hour 2 of The Drive, Zach and Phil continue to react to the story that Juju Lewis looked into transferring to Georgia Tech in the offseason. Will we see both Lewis and Isaac Wilson play quarterback for the Buffs this season? We pivot to the Broncos and hear from Sean Payton saying Bo Nix "probably won't play this Friday". Do the guys agree with this approach to preserve Nix? Could this cause the Broncos to have a slow start to the season? Today's "Three Count" features Colorado being one of the top 5 most bet-on teams to hit their season win total, Jamal Murray not making it to the Nuggets workouts in Puerto Rico with JJ Barrea, and the Avalanche being announced to have 16 games this season. We react to a new study that details the link between CTE and former football players who passed away between 2016 and 2021.

Hour 1 of The Drive kicks off with Zach and Phil cross-talking with Dover and Cecil. The guys preview college football as Week 0 kicks off this weekend. Zach shares his Heisman sleeper and the sleeper team he's picking to make the college football playoff. Zach and Phil debate if the Broncos have a penalty issue. Are the Broncos undisciplined? Will an increase in zone coverage help the Broncos avoid defensive holding and pass interference calls? Do the Broncos need to win the AFC West to win the Super Bowl this season? Where does the Broncos' run game stack up in the AFC West? We react to a report that Juju Lewis was considering transferring to Georgia Tech this offseason, the Buffs' first opponent of the season. Is Lewis still a lock to be the Buffs' starting quarterback this season, or could Isaac Wilson take over that role?

In hour 4 of The Drive, Zach and Phil take a deep dive into the Broncos and react to Bill Barnwell's article in which he predicts the Broncos to regress. We look back at Barnwell's impressive history when predicting teams to regress or improve. Will the Broncos be able to mostly avoid the injury bug again for the third straight season? What is the most important game on the schedule for the Broncos to avoid a decline? What do the guys make of future Hall of Famer Bobby Wagner being linked to the Broncos? Would Wagner be accepting of a bench role behind Singleton and Strnad? We hear from our 9News Broncos insider Mike Klis on the Broncos selecting Jahdae Barron in the first round after JaQuan MacMillian struggled, as well as Barron potentially being the nickel corner of the future. We wrap up the show with Justin Adams joining the show to share his thoughts on the Colorado Buffaloes as they enter a massively important season and share his ceiling and floor for the team in 2026.

In hour 3 of The Drive, Zach and Phil continue their conversation on Cale Makar's looming contract extension. Is Nathan MacKinnon rooting for Cale Makar to get the biggest contract possible? We hear from our 9News Broncos insider Mike Klis on the Broncos selecting Jahdae Barron in the first round after JaQuan MacMillian struggled, as well as Barron potentially being the nickel corner of the future. We debate the age-old question of whether the Broncos should play their starters in the final preseason game. The guys explain that they want to see the offense get more continuity together before the regular season and their toughest stretch of the season in the first 6 games. We react to Deion Sanders' press conference from yesterday. We hear about whether his lawsuits will be a distraction to the team, Shilo Sanders' lawsuit, and more.

In hour 2 of The Drive, Zach and Phil continue to break down Deion Sanders' press conference from yesterday. We hear about whether his lawsuits will be a distraction to the team, Shilo Sanders' lawsuit, and the Buffs' offensive line. Is Deion Sanders' seat getting warm in Boulder, especially if they cannot win this season? We pivot to the Broncos and react to Bill Barnwell's article in which he predicts the Broncos to regress. We look back at Barnwell's impressive history when predicting teams to regress or improve. What is the most important game on the schedule for the Broncos to avoid a decline? Today's "Three Count" includes the Nuggets being tied with the Rockets for 4th/5th in an ESPN poll on who will win the Western Conference, the wheels coming off for the Rockies as they lose their 7th straight game, and Dolly Parton passing away. Would it be a "red flag" if Cale Makar doesn't sign an 8-year contract with the Avalanche this offseason? Could Makar signing for the maximum amount of money possible cause a disturbance in the Avs locker room?

Hour 1 of The Drive kicks off with Zach and Phil cross-talking with Dover and Cecil. We debate if Jaleel McLaughlin has a chance to make the Broncos' 53-man roster. Will the Broncos keep more than 3 running backs? Will JK Dobbins' injury history force the Broncos to keep an extra running back? Zach and Phil debate the age-old question of whether the Broncos should play their starters in the final preseason game. The guys explain that they want to see the offense get more continuity together before the regular season and see the starters play the first quarter. Are there any players the guys don't need to see play any more preseason snaps? What do the guys make of future Hall of Famer Bobby Wagner being linked to the Broncos? Would Wagner be accepting of a bench role behind Singleton and Strnad? We react to Deion Sanders' press conference from yesterday. The guys speculate what has led to Sanders' change in tone. Has new AD Fernando Lovo gotten through to Sanders that he is now shouting out former Buffs?

In hour 4 of The Drive, Zach and Phil take a deep dive into the Broncos after their second preseason game on Friday. How will Riley Moss's apparent injury impact KAD and Jahdae Barron? What do the guys make of Pat Bryant and Evan Engram's quiet performances on Friday? Are we seeing more trends towards Engram not having a bounce-back season? Phil shares what he saw or didn't see in the Broncos' run game on Friday. Do the Broncos still have a problem with not featuring the run game enough? Should JK Dobbins have played after also missing the first preseason game? Did we get confirmation that Peyton Watson purposely sat out of the playoffs to preserve a high payday coming in restricted free agency? Do the guys blame Watson for prioritizing his free agency over his team's championship hopes? We wrap up the show recapping the day in Denver sports.

In hour 3 of The Drive, Zach and Phil react to Patrick Surtain coming in at number 10 on the NFL's top 100 list. We play the NFL's montage in which we hear from his peers and opposing head coaches on Surtain's greatness. We break down the Broncos' second preseason game in which they lost 33-13. Although they got beat in the final score, the guys look at the positives from the game, which include Bo Nix's performance. What did the guys make of Nix's connection with Jaylen Waddle? Are we seeing a more poised Nix as he enters his third season? Is there cause for concern for the Broncos' defensive struggles? Are Que Robinson and Tyler Onyedim proving they are ready to contribute? Will the Broncos' poor defensive performance be good for the team in the long run? Did the Broncos' defense need to be humbled after all the success they've had the past few seasons? We hear from Sean Payton on the number of penalties against the Broncos and cleaning up those issues moving forward.

In hour 2 of The Drive, Zach and Phil take a deep dive into the Broncos' second preseason game in which they were beat 33-13. Did this result cause the guys to question how great the Broncos' depth is? What positives did the guys take away from Bo Nix's performance? Is Zach ready to admit that Jaylen Waddle will be the Broncos' number one wide receiver after his connection with Nix? With Riley Moss going down with an injury, the guys speculate who will step into his role if needed between KAD and Jahdae Barron. We hear from Sean Payton after the loss and getting played in every phase by the Packers. Today's "Three Count" features Deion Sanders' lawsuit over the "Prime" logo, Joe Sakic saying he's "not really worried" about Cale Makar's contract extension, and he's confident it will get done, and Nikola Jokic losing to Victor Wembanyama in a Serbia vs France Friendly. We react to the viral press conference from Deshaun Watson after getting booed by Cleveland fans.

Hour 1 of The Drive kicks off with Zach and Phil cross-talking with Dover and Cecil. The guys react to the Broncos getting humbled on Friday night in a 33-13 loss to the Packers. Was this loss good for the Broncos and will reinvigorate the defense for the regular season? Zach and Phil continue to break down the Broncos' second preseason game. We analyze the positives, including Bo Nix being back and looking great in his 2026 debut. What did the guys make of Nix hitting Jaylen Waddle on a big pickup on third down? Are we seeing a more poised Nix as he enters his third season? Is there cause for concern for the Broncos' defensive struggles? How long will Riley Moss be sidelined with the injury he suffered during the game? Phil chalks up the poor performance to all the zone defense the Broncos ran. Are Que Robinson and Tyler Onyedim proving they are ready to contribute? Did we get confirmation that Peyton Watson purposely sat out of the playoffs to preserve a high payday coming in restricted free agency?

In hour 4 of The Drive, Zach and Phil preview the Broncos' second preseason game tonight as they host the Packers. Will the Broncos offense come out hot with Bo Nix at the helm for the first time since the AFC Divisional game against the Bills? Should we give Nix grace if he isn't sharp early? Will Nix operate from the pocket more than we saw during the season last year? What are the guys looking for from Evan Engram? In honor of the one-year anniversary, we listen back to Zach and Cecil's blowout over the Broncos trading Devaughn Vele. We wrap up the show with our predictions for tonight's game. Who will come in as the backup quarterback directly after Bo Nix? Who will lead the Broncos in receiving yards? Will JK Dobbins play? How will Bo play? What will the final score be?

In hour 3 of The Drive, Zach, Phil, and the guys compete in our weekly trivia competition against the morning show. We review the Morning Show's controversy with the curveball question from earlier today. Will we top our 3-1 performance from last week? We pivot back to the Broncos as they get set for their second preseason game tonight. How will the Broncos handle the share of carries between their running backs? Have the Broncos seen enough from JK Dobbins to sit him out completely from preseason? What Broncos players does tonight's game matter the most for? Will Jahdae Barron build on his impressive first preseason game? When will the Broncos give Riley Moss and JaQuan McMillian contract extensions? Have they earned it already, or do the guys want them to go out and prove it during the season again?

In hour 2 of The Drive, Zach and Phil take a deep dive into the Broncos as they get set to play in their second preseason game tonight. Will the Broncos offense come out hot with Bo Nix at the helm for the first time since the AFC Divisional game against the Bills? Should we give Nix grace if he isn't sharp early? What differences will Jaylen Waddle experience between his former quarterback Tua and his current quarterback Bo Nix? Our 9News Broncos insider Mike Klis joins the show to discuss the excitement surrounding tonight's game, what he is looking for in preseason game 2, and how the Broncos will approach potential contract extensions this season. Today's "Three Count" features multiple players returning to college football from NFL training camps after a ruling will allow them a 5th year of eligibility, DeMar DeRozen signing with the Nuggets as a free agent, and debating if DeRozen has a Hall of Fame case. What under-the-radar Broncos players are the guys looking for in tonight's preseason game?

Hour 1 of The Drive kicks off with Zach and Phil cross-talking with Dover and Cecil. The guys revisit Zach and Cecil's blowout last year over the Broncos trading Devaughn Vele after one successful season in Denver. We question if Marvin Mims could be the next example of the Broncos trading a wide receiver to recoup draft assets in a full wide receiver room. Zach and Phil preview the Broncos' second preseason game tonight. What is their excitement level for the game? How will the Broncos handle the share of running back carries? What Broncos player does tonight's game matter the most for? We react to the breaking news that the Nuggets are signing DeMar DeRozen. What does DeRozen bring to the Nuggets, and what is the roster still lacking?

In hour 4 of The Drive, Zach and Phil take a deep dive into the Nuggets after a massive domino fell last night with Peyton Watson getting signed and traded. Was this decision to trade Watson purely financial? What do the guys make of the narrative that Watson only played well for 15 games and the Nuggets shouldn't have paid him a big contract? The Action Network's Matt Moore joins the show to further break down the Nuggets' current situation. What does the Nuggets' depth look like without Watson in the rotation? What are the subsequent moves for the Nuggets this offseason? Who will they add? Could they shed more salary? Are the Nuggets ruining Jokic's legacy? Is it possible for Jokic to be a top-10 player of all time with only one championship? We wrap up the show with DenverSports.com's Aniello Piro joining the show to share his thoughts on Peyton Watson's departure from the Nuggets.

In hour 3 of The Drive, Zach and Phil preview the Broncos' second preseason game tomorrow night. Besides Bo Nix, what is the biggest storyline heading into the game? How will the young linebackers of Red Murdock and Taurean York look? We react to the Broncos bringing in former Bills safety Taylor Rapp. We look back at his collegiate career, Bills career, and debate what he could be for the Broncos. Could he find success in a new home? We react to Deion Sanders and former CU Buff Chad Brown being at odds, which led to Sanders allegedly blocking Brown on Twitter. Phil shares about accidentally ordering chicken wings to work last night instead of ordering them to his house. We debate how real of a quarterback competition the Broncos are having for the backup position. Which quarterback between Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger will come in directly after Bo Nix on Friday?

In hour 2 of The Drive, Zach and Phil take a deep dive into the Nuggets after a massive domino fell last night with Peyton Watson getting signed and traded. We react to Nikola Jokic's comments on the situation. Will the Nuggets continue to shed salary this offseason and into the regular season? Will this be a "gap year" for the Nuggets competitively before they take a big swing for 2027? Could the Nuggets be on track to be in the play-in tournament or miss the playoffs altogether next season? Did Peyton Watson want to stay with the Nuggets? The guys explain what Watson brought to the Nuggets outside of the great 15-game stretch from last year. Today's "Three Count" includes our excitement level for tomorrow night's Broncos preseason game, Spencer Jones' story from flying Frontier Airlines, and reacting to Altitude's new Nuggets broadcast. Are we seeing the end of Drew Sanders as a Bronco, after he suffered another injury?

Hour 1 of The Drive kicks off with Zach and Phil cross-talking with Dover and Cecil. The guys discuss the Peyton Watson sign-and-trade to Cleveland. Did Watson purposely sit out of playoff games last year after a hamstring injury sidelined him? Did the Nuggets cheap out by not wanting to pay Watson a moderate starter's salary? Are Ben Tenzer and Jon Walalce to blame for this situation? Zach and Phil continue to break down the Nuggets' sign-and-trade of Peyton Watson. What do the guys make of the narrative that Watson only played well for 15 games and the Nuggets shouldn't have paid him a big contract? Was this decision to move to trade Watson purely financial? Have the Nuggets had any positives this offseason? Was Watson the best athlete on the team?

In hour 4 of The Drive, Zach and Phil continue to take a deep dive into the Broncos and share about everything they saw out at practice today. The guys break down Jaylen Waddle and Bo Nix making the play of training camp with a bomb of a touchdown caught on Patrick Surtain. We hear from Surtain on Waddle's speed and how going up against Waddle at practice will only make him better. We revisit our time with former Bronco running back Montee Ball on the show and discuss his journey with alcoholism throughout his college and professional football career. Is Ball at peace with being a Broncos alum and not having the identity as a football player? We wrap up the show with DenverSports.com's Will Petersen joining the show to share his thoughts on Montee Ball's time on the show, Jaylen Waddle beating Pat Surtain for a huge touchdown, and how the Broncos will handle Friday's second preseason game.

In hour 3 of The Drive, Zach and Phil pivot back to Broncos' training camp after an emotional hour with Montee Ball. We debate if Courtland Sutton still has a chance to be wide receiver one for the Broncos. What have the guys seen from Marvin Mims on the side field while he's been unable to participate in teams drills? We dive into the wacky story with Deion Sanders and the Boulder Sheriff trying to subpoena him at a Colorado football practice. We continue to recap our time out at Broncos training camp today. After a strong practice today, are we seeing signs that Evan Engram will be more impactful this season with Davis Webb as the play caller than he was last year? We hear from Engram on his time with Davis Webb as a quarterback, what it's been like having Webb as an offensive coordinator, and what he learned from last year's disappointing season.

In hour 2 of The Drive, Zach and Phil are joined by former Broncos running back Montee Ball. The guys discuss his impressive collegiate career and how he should have won the Heisman in 2011. We go through his draft process of getting a call from John Elway and becoming a Bronco. What was his rookie season like, coming into the league and playing with Peyton Manning on one of the best NFL offenses of all time? Montee opens up about his journey with alcoholism through his college and professional career. What was the turning point for Montee? What makes Montee happy these days? Montee finishes up his time with us with a message to Colorado and Broncos Country. We recap our time with Montee and read through the hundreds of texts, appreciating Montee's openness about alcoholism and relating to his journey and coming out the other side.

Hour 1 of The Drive kicks off with Zach and Phil cross-talking with Dover and Cecil. The guys discuss their time out at Broncos training camp today. Zach and Phil share how surprised they were with how tough of a practice we saw today after all the fights and physicality we saw yesterday. Was today the tightest competition, with the offense and defense going back and forth? We are joined by Denver City Councilwoman Jamie Torres to discuss the latest with the proposed new Broncos stadium at Burnham Yard. Just how complex has the process been to this point, and how much more is left to be done? Could the Broncos move out of the city of Denver if their 2031 deadline is not met? What details is the city looking to ask for from the Broncos in exchange for building at Burnham Yard? We react to our time with Councilwoman Torres and question if the Denver Mayor will get involved in this process. We pivot back to what we saw at practice today, which included the play of training camp: a Bo Nix to Jaylen Waddle bomb for a touchdown on none other than Patrick Surtain.

In hour 4 of The Drive, Zach and Phil take a deep dive into the Broncos and recap their time out at training camp today. We break down the story of the day in all the chippiness we saw at practice. We hear from Bo Nix and Vance Joseph on Nix getting hit at practice, which led to a fight. Will the Broncos be in pads again tomorrow after all the physicality we saw today? We evaluate Bo Nix's performance and debate if it is the worst practice we've seen from Bo Nix this camp. Although the defense is the strength of the team, we debate if the Broncos are lacking depth at inside linebacker. We hear from Vance Joseph on what he's seen from rookie Red Murdock so far and getting multiple guys experience at linebacker in practice. We wrap up the show hearing from Bo Nix on previewing his first preseason game this season, having Davis Webb in his ears for the first time during a game, and much more.

In hour 3 of The Drive, Zach and Phil recap their day out at Broncos training camp today. We break down the chippiness we saw out at practice, which heavily involved Nik Bonitto, Mike McGlinchy, and Bo Nix. We hear from Nix and Davis Webb on Nix getting knocked down during practice. We go down memory lane, and Phil shares about his history witnessing multiple fights during Broncos' training camp. The guys give us all the behind-the-scenes info on the Bradley Chubb vs Garrett Bolles fight, the Courtland Sutton vs Emmanuel Sanders fight, as well as Pacman Jones' time with the Broncos.

In hour 2 of The Drive, Zach and Phil take a deep dive into the Broncos and recap our time out at training camp today. We debate how big of a weapon the back shoulder throw to Courtland Sutton will be this season. Who had the catch of the day? Will an undrafted rookie make the Broncos' 53-man roster this season? Today's "Three Count" includes the guys questioning if Lucas Krull should be punting the ball after scoring a touchdown at practice, Roger Goodell saying there is "no doubt" the NFL will have teams outside of the US, and the Rockies breaking some losing streaks in San Francisco and Arizona. We debate if the Broncos are lacking depth at inside linebacker. We hear from Vance Joseph on multiple players getting opportunities at inside linebacker and what he's seen from rookie Red Murdock so far.