The Denver Broncos will be without their offensive coordinator and play-caller this week as longtime NFL coach Pat Shurmur has been ruled out for Sunday's week ten's cross-conference matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles due to COVID-19 protocols, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

It is not yet revealed if Shurmur tested positive or if he is just deemed as a close contact with someone who did, but being ruled out 48 hours before a game is particularly damning. The Broncos are riding high off of the back of a huge road win over the Dallas Cowboys that gives them two straight victories for the first time since starting off with three straight wins in September to begin the season. The strong showings have also shot them right back into the playoff picture in the wide-open AFC.

If Denver is able to make it through this game without Shurmur, at least they have the prospects of the bye week coming up in week eleven to cheer them up. Shurmur will undoubtedly return by their next game in week 12 (barring a very serious case of COVID-19) and the Broncos could be looking at a seat in the playoff picture by that time as well.

When the team dealt away Von Miller to the Rams at the deadline, they signaled to many that they were not necessarily going to be going “all-in” to get a championship this year…someone should have told the players and the coaches on the team because they have shown up the last two weeks and absolutely balled out. Now they get another chance to keep it up, just without one of their biggest leaders in Shurmur.