Matt's Musings

  We’ve reached September. The temps are starting to come down, kids are back in school, the NFL pre-season is over and College Football returns in earnest this weekend. We also have pumpkin spice beverages back, and I’ve already partaken in some—though not as many as Ricky Valero. Still, with Labor Day less than a week away, it’s fair to say Fall is upon us. So, this roundup bids farewell to Summer, but never fear as the Fall Roundups begin next week! If you’re looking for a way to spend the long weekend and wondering what you should check out, let this weekly post be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new shows this Summer. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Wednesday Nights: American Horror Story: Double Feature, Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on FX (Premiered August 25) About: American Horror Story is an anthology series, featuring a new horror tale each season. This is the 10th iteration, this one focusing on vampires and aliens. The two-e...

  The pre-season is over and the Broncos are set to begin the regular season on September 12. Before that happens, the roster will go from 80, where it now sits, to 53. Below is my final prediction for who is on the 53-man roster at the end of tomorrow's cuts. QB (2): * Teddy Bridgewater * Drew Lock About: Carrying three quarterbacks is a luxury, and I don't think the Broncos can afford it. Hopefully Brett Rypien makes it to the Practice Squad. RB (4): * Melvin Gordon * Javonte Williams * Royce Freeman * Mike Boone About: Will one of these guys get traded? Possible, but for now I'm leaning now. And with Mike Boone likely not yet healthy, I think the Broncos keep four. I liked Damarea Crockett and Stevie Scott III, but it feels like they're more likely for the Practice Squad unless Gordon or Freeman moves. WR (6): * Courtland Sutton * Jerry Jeudy * Tim Patrick * K.J. Hamler * Trinity Benson * Diontae Spencer About: The Broncos could keep seven here, and there will be ...

  Pre-Season Week 3 : Broncos 17, Los Angeles Rams 12 Pre-Season Record : 3-0 (1-0 Home) Key Play : In the third quarter, with the Rams leading 12-10, Drew Lock connected with Austin Fort on a seven-yard touchdown strike to re-take the lead. The Broncos never relinquished it. Recap : The big news of the week was the quarterback battle being decided. Vic Fangio went with veteran Teddy Bridgewater, ending months of speculation. The regular season will test whether that was the right assumption, or whether it will be a rocky off-season for the Broncos. The final pre-season game, then, became about getting some game reps for a few veterans returning from injury, seeing who has the right stuff to make the final roster, and staying healthy heading into the regular season. From that standpoint it was a success. Courtland Sutton caught a couple passes, including a touchdown, while Von Miller got some snaps and even Albert Okwuegbunam caught some passes. The Broncos escaped injury, saw some...

  2021 is the year I turn 40. As part of my celebration, I'm looking back at 40 years of movies, picking my favorite film from each year I've been around! To learn more about the criteria for this process, check this introduction. Each post will feature my pick, plus three runner's up. So check back over the next 40 weeks of this journey! 2008: The Dark Knight About: When Christopher Nolan took over bringing Batman to life in 2005 I was excited to see where it would go. We got a glimpse at the end of Batman Begins of what was coming next. But The Dark Knight surpassed all those hopes and expectations. It was an incredible experience. It remains an all time favorite that I've seen nearly 100 times. It was an easy choice to top the list for 2008. Other Considerations: Doubt About: This one is based on the stage play and has an incredible cast led by Meryl Streep, Phillip Seymour-Hoffman and Amy Adams. I love the writing and the plot here. The performances are incredib...

  Last off-season I ticked down my favorite Broncos of All Time. This off-season, to pass the weeks until we get football, I'm going to be sharing my Top 5 at each position, plus an Honorable Mention. Today I conclude with Front Seven Defenders. 1. Von Miller (2011-) Stats: 106 sacks, 26 forced fumbles, 9 fumble recoveries About: I love Miller. He was a great pick, the first made by John Elway, and he's been an anchor on the Broncos' defense for some time. He was the MVP of Super Bowl 50 and has been one of my favorite players to watch the past decade. 2. Karl Mecklenburg (1983-1994) Stats: 79 sacks, 16 forced fumbles, 14 fumble recoveries About: Mecklenburg was the anchor in the middle of the defense for more than a decade during Elway's early years. He was a force on defense and a fun player to watch. I think he's under-rated. 3. Simon Fletcher (1985-1995) Stats: 97.5 sacks, 20 forced fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries About : Fletcher was another defender on those ...

  We're up to September, Summer is over and Awards Season is about to kick into high gear. But September is always an interesting time for films, with a few diamonds and plenty of rough. Let's see what's in store for us this September! Thursday, September 2: Afterlife of the Party (Netflix) : A social butterfly (Victoria Justice) dies during the week of her birthday but gets a chance to come back and right some wrongs. This feels like a familiar formula, of people getting a chance to be a better person in the afterlife. Justice has done some interesting projects in the past, we'll see if this works. Friday, September 3: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the 10 Rings (Theaters): This is the latest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The trailer looked interesting and the MCU has a kicking track record, so I'm pumped. A huge release for Labor Day Weekend. Cinderella (Amazon Prime): This one is a new spin on a classic tale with Camilla Cabello in the lead and Billy Por...

  Here's a look at the new movies I saw this week. The Broken Hearts Gallery (Starz) Starring:  Geraldine Viswanathan, Dacre Montgomery, and Molly Gordon Synopsis: This romantic comedy centers on a woman (Viswanathan) going through a break up that crosses paths with a man (Montgomery) trying to get a business up and running. She needs a place for creative expression, and he needs some cheap labor. It's a match, and off they go, falling for one another along the way. This is a sometimes clever and engaging film that's entirely predictable and doesn't do a lot to set itself apart from the crowd. Viswanathan and Montgomery are good in the leads, and it was enjoyable for what it is, but it's hardly compelling. Still, it's a decent streaming date option. Rating:  Rated PG-13 for sexual content throughout and some crude references, strong language and drug references. Verdict : Two stars out of four Misha and the Wolves (Netflix) Synopsis: This documentary follows t...

  We’re closing in on Labor Day, and with it will come the Fall season. But it’s still in the 90s where I live, so Summer continues. With temps that hot, you likely don’t want to be out for too long. Good thing we have some new shows to consider. But which of the shows are worth staying in the air conditioning to watch? Let these weekly posts be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new scripted series this Summer. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Tuesday Nights: Fantasy Island, Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on FOX (Premiered August 10) About: This re-boot of the classic series sets things in the present and finds Roselyn Sanchez in the lead as Elena Roarke. The idea remains the same, people in need come to the island to have their fantasies played out, or rather to gain some perspective. The first episode was OK, but the second episode focused on a couple played by Dave and Odette Annable, and I thought their story was a little more interesting. ...

  The Broncos played their second pre-season game and have to make more cuts this week. As will be the case every week of pre-season, I'll make my fearless predictions for the Final 53-man roster. QB (2): * Teddy Bridgewater * Drew Lock About: I think the Broncos have two solid options in Lock and Bridgewater and will need spots elsewhere, so they'll stick with two. RB (4): * Melvin Gordon * Javonte Williams * Mike Boone * Royce Freeman About: I see the Broncos needing a fourth man here as Boone is ailing. Damarea Crockett had a chance to move up, but Freeman looks solid and should be the clear selection here. WR (6): * Courtland Sutton * Jerry Jeudy * Tim Patrick * K.J. Hamler * Trinity Benson * Diontae Spencer About: This is a tough nut to crack. Sutton, Jeudy, Patrick and Hamler are locks. I think Benson has played well enough to make the team and Spencer likely remains are returner. I don't feel settled with the last two, so I'll be watching Saturday to see if any...

  Pre-Season Week 2 : Broncos 30, Seattle Seahawks 3 Pre-Season Record : 2-0 (0-0 Home) Key Play: In the first quarter, facing a fourth down with the game tied at 0-0, Teddy Bridgewater connected with Jerry Jeudy on a 35-yard pass to set up First and Goal. The Broncos scored and never looked back. Recap : For the second week in a row, the Broncos bludgeoned their opponent, this time recording a 30-3 win in Seattle. The Seahawks also didn't play many of their starters and the Broncos did, so it's a bit misleading. We also didn't get any clear separation in the QB battle. Bridgewater started and looked solid on his touchdown drives. Drew Lock came in behind a backup line that wasn't as in synch and looked OK. The coaches also elected not to go for it on Fourth Down plays and called a much more vanilla scheme, so it's hard to say it was apples to apples. Neither quarterback made a mistake, but Lock didn't have many splash plays. The same with other competitions, a...

  2021 is the year I turn 40. As part of my celebration, I'm looking back at 40 years of movies, picking my favorite film from each year I've been around! To learn more about the criteria for this process, check this introduction. Each post will feature my pick, plus three runner's up. So check back over the next 40 weeks of this journey! 2007: No Country For Old Men About: This was the Best Picture winner in 2007 as well. Based on the novel from Cormac McCarthy, this one was adapted by the Coen Brothers. This was a rich year for films, with a number that I quite enjoy. But it was an easy choice to have this atop my list. I think it's a masterpiece, one that makes me think and really connected with me. The performances are great and the story is engrossing. Other Considerations: Atonement About: This was another of the Best Picture nominees, this one based on a novel as well. It's set during World War II, centering on a doomed love story, a little girl with too bi...

  Last off-season I ticked down my favorite Broncos of All Time. This off-season, to pass the weeks until we get football, I'm going to be sharing my Top 5 at each position, plus an Honorable Mention. Today I continue with players in the Secondary. 1. Champ Bailey (2004-2013) Stats: 34 INTs, 122 Passes Defensed, 2 Sacks About: Bailey is one of my favorite Broncos of All Time, a Hall of Fame defensive back who anchored the Broncos' secondary for a decade. He was a great leader on and off the field and made some outstanding plays, including picking off Tom Brady in the end zone to hand him his first ever playoff loss. When thinking about secondary players for Denver, Bailey is top of the heap for me. 2. Steve Atwater (1989-1998) Stats: 24 INTs, 68 Passes Defensed, 5 Sacks About: Atwater was a rock on the back end of the Broncos' defense throughout much of my formative years, including the Super Bowl run. He was a tenacious hitter and fierce competitor, and I was thrilled t...

  The Broncos' second pre-season game is Saturday night in Seattle. Below are a couple things that I'm looking forward to seeing play out in Week 2. QB Battle: Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater fared well in Minnesota, but this time Teddy starts and Drew is in second. My hope is we see enough that a final decision is made so that Week 3 of the pre-season, the final game, can really be an audition for the regular season. Running Back Depth: Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams are locked on the roster. Mike Boone is injured and that leaves an opening. Royce Freeman has a great shot, but the Broncos have a young back in Damarea Crockett who is vying for a spot and signed Adrian Killins, Jr., this week. It will be interesting to see who, if anyone, establishes themselves. Wide Receiver Depth : This is another position where the top is set, but it's a question of what comes after. Trinity Benson was huge in Week 1, can he keep it up? I want to see what Tyrie Cleveland, Seth Willi...

  Here's a look at the new movies I saw this week. Aftermath (Netflix) Starring: Ashley Greene and Shawn Ashmore Synopsis : This one centers on a couple (Greene and Ashmore) who are going through a rough patch. She had an affair, he's distant and the solution they settle on is buying a house where a murder took place. As you might guess, it's not smooth sailing. This is a weird premise and a weird film. It also takes a turn at the end that feels like a creepier and more unsettling version of Parasite . That aside, there's not a lot I enjoyed about this film. It can be safely skipped. Rating: TV-MA Verdict: One star out of four All My Life (HBO Max) Starring: Jessica Rothe and Harry Shum, Jr. Synopsis: This one is based on a true story, chronicling the love affair between Jenn Carter (Rothe) and Solomon Chau (Shum, Jr.). They meet and fall in love. He crafts a dynamic proposal and they're set to get married and begin life together when he gets a cancer diagnosis...

  We’ve reached the last stretch of Summer. The films start to get a little less delightful and the stream of new shows begins to wane as we prepare to turn the corner toward Fall, and a new flood of content. But there’s still a few new options to consider, so let this weekly post be your guide as I look at the pilot and second episode of new scripted content this Summer. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Tuesday Nights: Fantasy Island, Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on FOX (Premiered August 10) About: Immediately coming off the Olympics, FOX launched its summer series, a re-boot of the classic Fantasy Island. The original series, airing from 1978 to 1984, starred Ricardo Montalbán as Mr. Roarke, the enigmatic overseer of a mysterious island somewhere in the Pacific Ocean, where people from all walks of life could come and live out their fantasies for a price. In 2020, we got a horror movie version of the concept that was one of the few movies to get a wide release ...

  The Broncos played their first pre-season game and have to make the first round of cuts this week. As will be the case every week of pre-season, I'll make my fearless predictions for the Final 53-man roster. QB (2): * Drew Lock * Teddy Bridgewater About : I think the Broncos roll with just two, ideally Lock starting and Teddy in reserve. RB (4): * Melvin Gordon * Javonte Williams * Mike Boone * Royce Freeman About : Boone got injured this week, meaning I think the Broncos keep four backs (or possibly three if Boone ends up on IR). That gives Freeman a great shot at sticking, though he'd previously been squarely on the roster bubble. WR (6): * Courtland Sutton * Jerry Jeudy * Tim Patrick * K.J. Hamler * Trinity Benson * Diontae Spencer About : I am confident that the team keeps six, it's just a matter of which six. I still think Spencer could be on the bubble, but it's tough to say for sure. Benson had a GREAT first pre-season game, and I think he could well be on the ...

  Pre-Season Week 1 : Denver Broncos 33, Minnesota Vikings 6 Pre-Season Record : 1-0 (0-0 Home) Key Play: In the first quarter, with the Broncos leading 2-0, Drew Lock connected with K.J. Hamler on an 80-yard touchdown strike to make it 9-0. The Broncos never looked back. Recap : Broncos' football is back! It's a great feeling, and I was excited to see the team out on the field tossing the ball around again. The biggest question coming in was the quarterback competition between Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater. Lock got the start, and looked like a different, more confident player. He has a skill set that gives him an edge over Bridgewater, as long as he can be controlled and make good decisions. That was the case Saturday, and hopefully that trend will continue. Bridgewater was fine when he entered the game as well. If nothing else, he'd be a solid backup option. The Broncos looked good on both sides of the ball, but it also seemed like the Vikings withheld most of their g...

  2021 is the year I turn 40. As part of my celebration, I'm looking back at 40 years of movies, picking my favorite film from each year I've been around! To learn more about the criteria for this process, check this introduction. Each post will feature my pick, plus three runner's up. So check back over the next 40 weeks of this journey! 2006: Children of Men About: Sometimes movies just grab you and don't let go. Alfonso Cuaron's Children of Men is a film like that for me. It's a bit of dystopian future, where women can't get pregnant. The world is in turmoil, and society is going extinct. In that is a man who has lost his way that finds it again, and a purpose larger than himself, when he is tasked with escorting a pregnant woman. It's a beautiful story, and I love the performances from Clive Owen, Juliane Moore and Michael Caine. Other Considerations: Thank You For Smoking About: This one comes from writer/director Jason Reitman, and announced his ...

  Last off-season I ticked down my favorite Broncos of All Time. This off-season, to pass the weeks until we get football, I'm going to be sharing my Top 5 at each position, plus an Honorable Mention. Today I continue with kickers. 1. Jason Elam (1993-2007) Stats: 395 Field Goals Made, 601 Extra Points Made, 63-yard long About : Elam was the Broncos' kicker for most of my formative years, including the Super Bowl. He nailed a 63-yard kick that was a thrill to watch. He made field goals at better than an 80 percent clip and was a lot of fun to watch. 2. Matt Prater (2007-2013) Stats: 141 Field Goals Made, 249 Extra Points Made, 64-yard long About: Prater followed Elam and did him one better on the longest field goal. He had a great run and has continued to be a solid kicker since leaving Denver. He was one of my favorites to watch. 3. Rich Karlis (1982-988) Stats: 137 Field Goals Made, 244 Extra Points Made, 51-yard long About: Karlis was the Broncos' kicker during some ...

  The Broncos' first pre-season game is on Saturday in Minnesota. It's the first time in a few months we'll get to see the team play and get to see how some of these competitions are shaking out. Today, I thought I'd look at a couple of the roster questions that I'd like to see play out in Week 1. Quarterback Battle : This is THE story of Training Camp. Will it be Drew Lock or Teddy Bridgewater? Daily camp reports have been a mixed bag, but it's the games that will be a deciding factor. Drew starts Saturday in Minnesota, Teddy gets the start in game two. Let's see how they play on the field and who can step up and seize this job. Royce Freeman : Freeman was once a Third Round pick that was set to be the future for the Broncos. Now, he's supposedly the fourth man on the RB depth chart and squarely on the roster bubble. These few weeks of pre-season games will likely prove vital to him making his case for Denver, or another squad. So, I'm interested to...

  Here's a look at the new movies I saw this week. 1st Year Checking (On Demand, Vimeo) Synopsis : This documentary wades into the topic of checking in Youth Hockey. Michael Messner, a hockey fan and coach, decided to chronicle his 12-year-old son's first year of youth hockey where checking is allowed. It's a difficult exploration at times, and also fascinating as we see what happens to these young hockey fans and get interviews with experts. The idea of head trauma in contact sports has been hotly debated for some time, often with us focusing on football. While football is a threat, hockey is no slouch. This one gives you plenty of food-for-thought about what the nature of these sports is, what it should be and what it might mean for our kids. Rating : NA Verdict : Two Stars CODA (Opens August 13 on Apple TV+) Starring: Emilia Jones, Marlee Matlin, Daniel Durant, Troy Kotsur, and Eugenio Derbez Synopsis: This new feature was first released during the Sundance Film Festiva...