Chuck Pagano's Thoughts on Denver's Altitude

INDIANAPOLIS — The Colts are gearing up for their most significant game of the season as they face off against the Broncos in Denver on Sunday. Currently, the Colts trail the Broncos by two games for the final wild card spot in the AFC. A victory would not only close that gap but also give the Colts a crucial tiebreaker advantage with three games remaining.

Playing at high altitude in Denver is often cited as a potential challenge for visiting teams. However, former Colts head coach Chuck Pagano downplayed its significance.

“Let’s not make it more than it is,” Pagano stated.

Being from Colorado, Pagano believes that acclimatization will happen quickly during the game.

“It takes a little acclimation,” he explained. “One or two series, you’re going to start to get used to that.”

Pagano shared an amusing anecdote about his own preparations for playing at altitude when he was coaching.

“All this other nonsense about these altitude chambers, one time I drank so much beet juice, you don’t even want to know what the outcome was,” he recalled. “I thought I was going to have to check myself in to the emergency room.”

Current Colts head coach Shane Steichen emphasized that their preparation remains consistent regardless of location.

“It might take a little bit to get acclimated, but most of the guys handle it pretty good,” Steichen noted.

The highly anticipated matchup between the Colts and Broncos is set to kick off at 4:25 p.m. from Empower Field at Mile High.