After the Horn

With the Broncos riding an 11-game win streak and Super Bowl talk heating up, After the Horn welcomes longtime Denver sports voice Vic Lombardi for a wide-ranging, deeply reflective conversation that goes far beyond the standings. Tom Green, Ron Zappolo, and Woody Paige discuss why this Broncos team feels different, how expectations change when a team truly matters again, and whether Denver is in the midst of a rare, city-wide golden era with the Broncos, Nuggets, and Avalanche all operating at elite levels.

The conversation expands into the chaos surrounding college football, including the College Football Playoff debate, Notre Dame’s place in the sport, NIL, the transfer portal, and Vic’s recent one-on-one time with Deion Sanders. Lombardi offers thoughtful perspective on Prime’s leadership, the challenges of winning at Colorado, and why authenticity — in coaching and in media — ultimately matters more than public opinion.

The episode takes a powerful turn as Vic opens up about his ongoing battle with aggressive prostate cancer, sharing how it has reshaped his outlook on life, fear, honesty, and purpose. It’s an emotional, honest discussion about mortality, legacy, and helping the next generation find their voice — a classic After the Horn episode that blends sports, history, humor, and humanity.

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This week’s Weekend Betting Edition opens with the Army–Navy matchup and a look at how the oddsmakers view the final stretch of the college football season, including major movement in the national championship market. The crew then turns to the NFL, running through a full slate of games with thoughts on Ravens–Bengals, Bills–Patriots, Browns–Bears, Chargers–Chiefs, Lions–Rams, Colts–Seahawks, Dolphins–Steelers, and of course Broncos–Packers, where Denver enters as a surprising home underdog despite a ten-game win streak. The conversation also covers updated Super Bowl odds, MVP contenders, and why some teams remain public favorites regardless of performance. As always, the guys offer sharp insight, big laughs, and plenty of disclaimers about not listening to a single pick they make.

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This week on After the Horn, Ron Zappolo, Tom Green, and Woody Paige open with the bizarre finish to Broncos–Raiders and whether Pete Carroll’s late field goal crossed the line in an NFL now consumed by sports betting. They question the league’s integrity, the role of officiating, and how prop bets and gambling culture have completely changed the fan experience. The conversation expands to other examples across the league, from Baltimore–Pittsburgh’s controversial officiating to Kevin Stefanski’s puzzling decision with Shedeur Sanders in Cleveland. The guys analyze the Broncos’ final four games, debating whether Denver needs to run the table to secure the top seed and how matchups with Green Bay, Jacksonville, Kansas City, and the Chargers could shape the AFC playoff picture. They discuss Bo Nix’s growth, the softness of New England’s schedule, and the sudden surge of the Houston Texans as a potential postseason threat. The show then shifts to college football, where Notre Dame’s bowl decision, chaotic playoff selections, and meaningless conference title games highlight what the panel calls a completely broken system. They argue for playoff expansion, eliminating title games, and even appointing a commissioner—names like Nick Saban and Peyton Manning are floated. In the final stretch, the conversation widens into reflections on Howard Cosell, Muhammad Ali, and stories from early careers in sports journalism before closing with personal memories about family, fathers, and how each of them fell in love with sports. It’s a wide-ranging, nostalgic, and fiery episode heading into the holidays.

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Championship weekend delivers chaos, and the crew breaks down how Oklahoma, Alabama, BYU, Texas Tech, and Georgia shape the final CFP picture. Woody shares classic BYU and ABA stories before the betting show officially gets underway, with picks across Cowboys–Lions, Bengals–Bills, Colts–Jaguars, Steelers–Ravens, Bears–Packers, Broncos–Raiders, Texans–Chiefs, and more. The guys debate the Heisman Trophy race between Fernando Mendoza, Julian Sayin, and Diego Pavia, and how the Indiana–Ohio State matchup could decide everything. They wrap with college championship picks, the biggest value plays on the board, and a few classic Woody tangents to finish the show.

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On this episode of After the Horn, Tom, Ron, and Woody break down another close-call Broncos win and ask the question every fan is thinking: can Denver keep surviving these razor-thin finishes? They look at Bo Nix’s up-and-down performance, the late-game magic, and why the defense suddenly looked vulnerable against a backup quarterback. The discussion expands to whether the Broncos can truly compete with New England for the AFC’s top seed, how both teams match up stylistically, and which remaining games could define the conference race. From there, the show shifts to Colorado State’s surprising and impressive hire of Jim Mora Jr., why it's the most accomplished coach the Rams have landed since Sonny Lubick, and what it means for CSU’s future in a changing conference landscape. The guys also dive into Colorado’s frustrating finish under Deion Sanders, what went wrong in Year 2, and how CU must overhaul its staff and strategy to regain credibility. They wrap with a fiery debate on Lane Kiffin’s decision to jump ship, college football chaos, and the NIL-driven new world everyone is navigating.

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This Thanksgiving Weekend Betting Edition of After the Horn brings Tom, Woody, and Ron together for a full slate of NFL and college football picks. They dig into Lions–Packers, Chiefs–Cowboys, Bears–Eagles, 49ers–Browns, Texans–Colts, Bills–Steelers, and the Broncos taking on Washington. From there, they dive into every major rivalry game of the week, including Ohio State–Michigan, Texas A&M–Texas, Arizona–Arizona State, Georgia–Georgia Tech, and Tennessee–Vanderbilt. The conversation swings from strong opinions to pure comedy, ending with an unforgettable Woody story from a recent urologist visit — a perfect chaotic cap to the holiday edition.

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This week, Tom, Ron and Woody assess all of Denver’s pro teams as the Broncos push for the AFC’s No. 1 seed and the Avalanche continue their dominant run with only one regulation loss. They compare this moment in Denver sports to past eras and discuss whether the Avalanche’s MacKinnon–Makar pairing could ultimately surpass Sakic and Forsberg. The Nuggets remain near the top of the NBA despite injuries, with Nikola Jokić once again playing at an MVP level.

The conversation shifts to league-wide topics, including Shedeur Sanders’ promising Browns debut and how Cleveland handles its quarterback situation, as well as the dysfunction surrounding Pete Carroll’s Raiders and the relentless motor of Maxx Crosby. The group also reacts to the Rockies keeping Warren Schaefer and the franchise’s continued reluctance to embrace outside voices.

For Thanksgiving week, the hosts play a holiday-themed “It’s Your Move,” debating turkey vs. ham, mashed vs. scalloped potatoes, and pumpkin vs. apple pie, pulling directly from the show’s fun closing segment. The episode ends with a sincere moment of thanks as the trio reflects on a challenging year, the value of friendship, and their appreciation for the listeners.

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On this weekend betting edition of After the Horn, Tom Green, Ron Zappolo, and Natasha open with the fallout from last week’s picks — including some regrettable bets and some well-deserved “told you so” moments. The crew dives into a full college football slate, including Missouri–Oklahoma, Georgia–Charlotte, Oregon–USC, and BYU–Cincinnati, with Ron delivering an all-timer “Blue By You” pick inspired by Roy Orbison. The conversation shifts to CU’s ongoing struggles under Deion Sanders, the Buffs' quarterback situation, and whether they can hang with Arizona State. They also break down the massive AFC matchup between the Chiefs and Colts and debate whether Kansas City’s dominance is nearing an end. The group looks at the Broncos’ path to a top playoff seed, the Patriots’ soft remaining schedule, and why the Chargers and Bills look vulnerable. The episode wraps with thoughts on the NFC picture, the Rams’ emergence, and the Panthers vs. 49ers Monday night matchup — plus banter, nostalgia, and some colorful detours involving Moneyball, Mike Epstein, and drinking out of the wrong glass.

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John Elway joins After the Horn for a candid and personal conversation with Tom Green, Woody Paige, and Ron Zappolo. Elway reflects on stepping away from the Broncos and embracing a slower, more family-focused chapter of life, including becoming a grandfather many times over. He discusses climbing new mountains throughout his career — from Arena Football ownership to running NFL front offices — and how those experiences shaped his leadership. Elway opens up about his Netflix documentary, his relationship with his father and twin sister, and the emotional process of revisiting the hardest moments of his life.

The conversation spans his battles with Dan Reeves, the pressure that came with entering the league as a generational prospect, and the early struggles that built his competitive edge. He details the unique dynamics of the Peyton Manning signing, the construction of the Super Bowl 50 defense, and how Mike Shanahan and Gary Kubiak elevated the Broncos through culture, detail, and psychology. Elway also shares stories about the Tebow era, the challenges of developing young quarterbacks, and how the Broncos’ current culture under Sean Payton mirrors the confidence of Denver’s greatest teams. It’s a rare, honest look at Elway’s evolution as a player, executive, teammate, father, and competitor — told around the table with people who’ve known him for more than 40 years.

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Tom Green, Ron Zappolo, and Woody Paige dive into Week 12 with a full board of college football and NFL matchups, starting with Notre Dame–Pitt and rolling into USC–Iowa, Alabama–Oklahoma, and Texas–Georgia. The crew debates inflated lines, defensive mismatches, quarterback storylines, and why some of the biggest names in college football aren’t living up to their reputations this season. In the NFL, they dissect the Bills’ struggles, the Rams’ surge behind Matthew Stafford, and the Seahawks’ surprising rise under Mike Macdonald. The conversation shifts to the biggest matchup of the week as the Chiefs head to Denver for a high-stakes divisional test, where Ron unveils his now-legendary “next month’s pay” guarantee. The group closes with the Lions–Eagles Sunday night showdown, coaching philosophy debates, and a look at how oddsmakers adjust lines for high rollers in Las Vegas. It’s a sharp, fast-moving episode loaded with picks, personality, and classic After the Horn banter.

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