Broncos 2-0: Touching Basis on Now and The Long Term

First of all, I have been gone from bleacher report for awhile. I have been able to sit back and enjoy the Broncos first two games as they are 2-0.

I want to touch lightly on the 2-0, because its only the Bengals and Browns right?

Based on what I have seen this year around the NFL don’t count anyone. The Titans are 0-2, Patriots are 1-1, and the Bronocos are 2-0 baby.

But they held a Cincy team who scored 31 on Green Bay to seven points, and a Browns team who scored 20 on Minnesota to only 6 points.

Let’s not forget the Browns with Quinn last year put up 30 points on the Broncos if I’m not mistaken. Cedric Benson also didn’t rush for 100 yards on them like he did on the Packers.

Good coaching, a team with the right attitude, and they just want to win. That’s the Denver Broncos this year.

Oakland will be a huge game for the Broncos especially considering how they played against the Chargers.

I know teams match up differently so I can’t base everything on who played who. With the Chargers losing Jamal Williams for the year and LaDanian Tomlinson sidelined for who knows how long, this division is wide open to me.

If Russell continues to struggle throwing the ball, I don’t see Denver having a huge problem. This is assuming they play at the same level they have the past two weeks.

I’m only going to touch lightly on Kyle Orton. Despite his 55.4 percent accuracy, he has no turnovers. His QB rating is No. 11 at 90.9, he’s eighth in yards per play, not to mention “weak-arm” Orton has nine completions for 20 yards or more.

Remember the Stokley catch in Week One was only one of those so he still has eight more. The best way to look at it is that Orton wins games.

I realize after this week the Broncos’ schedule gets tougher. I also realize all those teams they play in weeks 4-12 look beatable. Denver isn’t the same team as last year. Orton doesn’t force the ball into triple coverage and he will throw it away. We will take three points, and go play defense.

A lot will be told about the Denver Broncos in the next few weeks.

Long term I like the direction Josh McDaniels and Mike Nolan are taking the team. In fact I love it. Anyone who has read my articles can recall I stood behind McDaniels this entire offseason. I’m not going to say I told you so yet. However, if I get the chance to, I will.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Broncos 2-0: Thoughts On The Start and What The Future Holds

First of all, I have been gone from bleacher report for awhile. I have been able to sit back and enjoy the Broncos first two games as they are 2-0.

I want to touch lightly on the 2-0, because its only the Bengals and Browns right?

Based on what I have seen this year around the NFL don’t count anyone out just yet. The Titans are 0-2, Patriots are 1-1, and the Bronocos are 2-0 baby.

But they held a Cincy team who scored 31 on Green Bay to seven points, and a Browns team who scored 20 on Minnesota to only six points.

Let’s not forget the Browns with Quinn last year put up 30 points on the Broncos if I’m not mistaken. Cedric Benson also didn’t rush for 100 yards on them like he did on the Packers.

Good coaching, a team with the right attitude, and they just want to win. That’s the Denver Broncos this year.

Oakland will be a huge game for the Broncos especially considering how well they played against the Chargers.

I know teams match up differently so I can’t base everything on who played who. With the Chargers losing Jamal Williams for the year and LaDanian Tomlinson sidelined for who knows how long, this division is wide open to me.

If Russell continues to struggle throwing the ball, I don’t see Denver having a huge problem. This is assuming they play at the same level they have the past two weeks.

I’m only going to touch lightly on Kyle Orton. Despite his 55.4 percent accuracy, he has no turnovers. His QB rating is No. 11 at 90.9, he’s eighth in yards per play, not to mention “weak-arm” Orton has nine completions for 20 yards or more.

Remember the Stokley catch in Week One was only one of those so he still has eight more. The best way to look at it is that Orton wins games.

I realize after this week the Broncos’ schedule gets tougher. I also realize all those teams they play in weeks 4-12 look beatable. Denver isn’t the same team as last year. Orton doesn’t force the ball into triple coverage and he will throw it away. We will take three points, and go play defense.

A lot will be told about the Denver Broncos in the next few weeks.

Long term, I like the direction Josh McDaniels and Mike Nolan are taking the team. In fact I love it. Anyone who has read my articles can recall I stood behind McDaniels this entire offseason. I’m not going to say “I told you so” just yet. However, if I get the chance to, I will.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

What Should Oakland’s Nickname be? The Raiders, Faders, or Rai”duhs?”

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The Raiders, as many loyal “black holians” on B/R have told me, are the “team of the decades,” as argued by Autumn Wind. Apparently, many of them believe that the Raiders are one of, if not the greatest NFL team to ever grace the gridiron. Sure, Oakland has three Super Bowl victories, 12 division championships, and 19 hall of famers. The problem is, all of that is ancient history.

The Raiders last won the Super Bowl in 1983, that’s over a quarter of a century ago to you Oaklandaniacs. After their last Super Bowl victory and the “fat man” as Tom Jackson called him, John Madden’s retirement, Oakland officially became the Faders, as in they faded in the standings and out of the national eye. Sure, the Faders went to playoffs from 2000-02, and even went to the Super Bowl but they were dominated by Tampa Bay by 27 points.

Since then, they have returned to the spotlight, but only for all the bad reasons and have evolved into the Rai“duhs.”

What warrants such a nickname you may ask? Well, for starters, they have only won 25 games since 2002 including last week’s squeaker against the Chiefs. That’s an average of four a year, and during the span they haven’t won more than five in a year either.

What else does a Rai“duh” do you ask?

For starters, a Rai“duh” is the owner, as in a senile old man that has run his once proud franchise into a literal black hole, and hires Rai“dummies” for coaches. Art Shell was way past his time of the early 90s, Lane Kiffin proved he is better suited for college, and Tom Cable kicked the crap out of his assistant coach. (Norv Turner and Bill Callahan actually turned out to be decent coaches but the Rai“duhs” held them down)

Then there’s the players, as the Rai“duhs” almost always lead the league in penalties and only they could cheer their head coach on in practice after he broke their assistant coaches jaw.

But why write this article? I bleed orange and blue and have since Elway was beating the Browns, not that I am old enough to quite remember. One of the things I learned early on is that if you’re a Broncos fan, you’re also a Raider Hater, which I have been for years and years.

And now that I’ve got you, here’s my prediction for the Broncos game three against the “Rai“duhs” in Oakland this Sunday.

Denver has the No. 1 scoring defense in the NFL and they are leading the AFC West at 2-0 as the division’s only undefeated team. Oakland has a problem scoring this season, averaging only 16.5 points per game, but their defense is somewhat solid, only giving up 17 points per so far.

 

When Denver passes the ball: Advantage Denver

Yes, I know, Jay Cutler is gone, but Kyle Orton is showing he is a decent, if not solid QB. So far he has averaged just over 200 yards and a touchdown a game. What he hasn’t done is turn the ball over in his 36 completions in 2009.

The thing is, even though Orton’s arm isn’t awesome, his receivers are. Between Eddie Royal, Brandon Stokely, and Jabbar Gaffney he has a solid corps, and if Brandon Marshall can learn some more plays he will be back as the No. 1 soon enough. Add in tight ends Tony Scheffler and Daniel Graham, and Orton can pick and chose as he furthers his knowledge of the Broncos offense as well. Not to mention the “Rai“duhs” give up over 235 yards passing per game.

 

When Oakland passes the ball: Advantage Push

The Raiders passed decently against the Chargers, but could only muster 99 yards against the Chiefs last week. JaMarcus Russell though does look like he’s coming on, but he doesn’t have much in the form of receivers, of the five on the team, only Javon Walker has more than two years experience. Tight end Zach Miller is Russell’s favorite target with six catches for 96 yards so far.

The Broncos though, have given up a decent 186 yards per game, but have forced three interceptions in two games. In all, the Broncos turnover differential at plus-4 is second in the NFL. Champ Bailey has shown he is still one of the best CBs in the league, and Brian Dawkins can still hit very hard.

 

When the Broncos run the ball: Advantage Broncos

Denver averages 131 yards per game running, as Correll Buckhalter and Knowshon Moreno provide a nice one-two punch for the Broncos. Denver’s offensive line is solid, and they have been moving opponents with ease so far this year. The Raiders allow 125 yards per, so look for the Broncos to get anywhere from there to 150 and at least one touchdown on the ground.

 

When the Raiders run the ball: Advantage Broncos

Denver gives up a mere 70 yards per game, and has only given up one touchdown overall in the first two weeks. Oakland averages 103 yards and one touchdown per game on the ground. Like the Broncos, the Raiders have a two headed monster at running back in Darren McFadden and Michael Bush. If Denver can play well against the run once again, it might be time to start thinking of them as a legit defense.

 

Special Teams: Advantage Raiders

Sebastian Janikowski is a great kicker, and he always seems to hurt the Broncos. However, as I said in my preseason preview, he will blow a kick at the buzzer and the Broncos will win 21-20.

Also, Denver’s kick coverage is much improved, and so is field position over the past few years, so the advantage is minimal. 

 

So, in all, Denver will stay undefeated and continue leading the AFC West heading into the heart of their schedule and many tough 2008 playoff opponents.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

What Should Oakland’s Nickname be? The Raiders, Faders, or Rai”duhs?”

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The Raiders, as many loyal “black holians” on B/R have told me, are the “team of the decades,” as argued by Autumn Wind. Apparently, many of them believe that the Raiders are one of, if not the greatest NFL team to ever grace the gridiron. Sure, Oakland has three Super Bowl victories, 12 division championships, and 19 hall of famers. The problem is, all of that is ancient history.

The Raiders last won the Super Bowl in 1983, that’s over a quarter of a century ago to you Oaklandaniacs. After their last Super Bowl victory and the “fat man” as Tom Jackson called him, John Madden’s retirement, Oakland officially became the Faders, as in they faded in the standings and out of the national eye. Sure, the Faders went to playoffs from 2000-02, and even went to the Super Bowl but they were dominated by Tampa Bay by 27 points.

Since then, they have returned to the spotlight, but only for all the bad reasons and have evolved into the Rai“duhs.”

What warrants such a nickname you may ask? Well, for starters, they have only won 25 games since 2002 including last week’s squeaker against the Chiefs. That’s an average of four a year, and during the span they haven’t won more than five in a year either.

What else does a Rai“duh” do you ask?

For starters, a Rai“duh” is the owner, as in a senile old man that has run his once proud franchise into a literal black hole, and hires Rai“dummies” for coaches. Art Shell was way past his time of the early 90s, Lane Kiffin proved he is better suited for college, and Tom Cable kicked the crap out of his assistant coach. (Norv Turner and Bill Callahan actually turned out to be decent coaches but the Rai“duhs” held them down)

Then there’s the players, as the Rai“duhs” almost always lead the league in penalties and only they could cheer their head coach on in practice after he broke their assistant coaches jaw.

But why write this article? I bleed orange and blue and have since Elway was beating the Browns, not that I am old enough to quite remember. One of the things I learned early on is that if you’re a Broncos fan, you’re also a Raider Hater, which I have been for years and years.

And now that I’ve got you, here’s my prediction for the Broncos game three against the “Rai“duhs” in Oakland this Sunday.

Denver has the No. 1 scoring defense in the NFL and they are leading the AFC West at 2-0 as the division’s only undefeated team. Oakland has a problem scoring this season, averaging only 16.5 points per game, but their defense is somewhat solid, only giving up 17 points per so far.

 

When Denver passes the ball: Advantage Denver

Yes, I know, Jay Cutler is gone, but Kyle Orton is showing he is a decent, if not solid QB. So far he has averaged just over 200 yards and a touchdown a game. What he hasn’t done is turn the ball over in his 36 completions in 2009.

The thing is, even though Orton’s arm isn’t awesome, his receivers are. Between Eddie Royal, Brandon Stokely, and Jabbar Gaffney he has a solid corps, and if Brandon Marshall can learn some more plays he will be back as the No. 1 soon enough. Add in tight ends Tony Scheffler and Daniel Graham, and Orton can pick and chose as he furthers his knowledge of the Broncos offense as well. Not to mention the “Rai“duhs” give up over 235 yards passing per game.

 

When Oakland passes the ball: Advantage Push

The Raiders passed decently against the Chargers, but could only muster 99 yards against the Chiefs last week. JaMarcus Russell though does look like he’s coming on, but he doesn’t have much in the form of receivers, of the five on the team, only Javon Walker has more than two years experience. Tight end Zach Miller is Russell’s favorite target with six catches for 96 yards so far.

The Broncos though, have given up a decent 186 yards per game, but have forced three interceptions in two games. In all, the Broncos turnover differential at plus-4 is second in the NFL. Champ Bailey has shown he is still one of the best CBs in the league, and Brian Dawkins can still hit very hard.

 

When the Broncos run the ball: Advantage Broncos

Denver averages 131 yards per game running, as Correll Buckhalter and Knowshon Moreno provide a nice one-two punch for the Broncos. Denver’s offensive line is solid, and they have been moving opponents with ease so far this year. The Raiders allow 125 yards per, so look for the Broncos to get anywhere from there to 150 and at least one touchdown on the ground.

 

When the Raiders run the ball: Advantage Broncos

Denver gives up a mere 70 yards per game, and has only given up one touchdown overall in the first two weeks. Oakland averages 103 yards and one touchdown per game on the ground. Like the Broncos, the Raiders have a two headed monster at running back in Darren McFadden and Michael Bush. If Denver can play well against the run once again, it might be time to start thinking of them as a legit defense.

 

Special Teams: Advantage Raiders

Sebastian Janikowski is a great kicker, and he always seems to hurt the Broncos. However, as I said in my preseason preview, he will blow a kick at the buzzer and the Broncos will win 21-20.

Also, Denver’s kick coverage is much improved, and so is field position over the past few years, so the advantage is minimal. 

 

So, in all, Denver will stay undefeated and continue leading the AFC West heading into the heart of their schedule and many tough 2008 playoff opponents.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Denver Broncos Beat Down of Browns Inaugurates the New Winning Formula

Granted the Denver Broncos did beat the Cincinnati Bengals a week prior to their recent home game against the Cleveland Browns. 

Undoubtedly some key elements that were missing in Cincy suddenly found their way to Invesco Field at Mile High for the Broncos and their fans on Sunday.

While it’s still very early to say if the Broncos 2-0 start is going to propel them on to bigger and better things, it is encouraging nonetheless. With the offseason drama behind, this team needs solid footing to move forward and so far they are gaining traction.

It’s okay if you start shaking your head or wind up pinching yourself, just don’t jump off a cliff. The Broncos are in the top ten on offense and defense after two games on this young season.

Don’t discount the Broncos first game against the Cincinnati Bengals either despite the miracle finish. The orange and black tigers went into Green Bay and promptly feasted on the Packers; not exactly an easy task. 

Moreover the Bengals are probably better than most people think; this week they play division rival and Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh so keep that game on the radar.

 

Offense Ranking

Currently on offense the Denver Broncos rank eighth overall in the NFL. 

Now think about that for a minute.

Number eight after an afternoon in Cincinnati where the offense did not reach the red zone until Brandon Stokley’s miracle catch and run. No. 8 averaging 19.5 points a game.

That’s a full 2.5 points better than the New England Patriots, one win better, and one spot higher on the league stat leaders. Keep in mind the Broncos host New England in three weekends after going to Oakland and then hosting the Dallas Cowboys. 

Sure for the Broncos to be in the top ten after two games is a bit premature to venture, precariously enough it comes with interesting angles and takes as well.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers rank fourth in total offense. They fired their offensive coordinator just prior to the start of the season, and they are 0-2 in the most important stat of wins and losses. 

Dallas is No. 2 on offense and they lost at home on Sunday Night Football to the Giants as they opened their billion dollar plus new stadium. The San Diego Chargers are 1-1 after falling to the Baltimore Ravens at home. 

The Tennessee Titans lost to the Houston Texans and are 1-1 as the number seven team. The Broncos are eight, the 1-1 Patriots nine, and the 1-1 Philadelphia Eagles were decimated by the number one offensive team New Orleans.

So what’s the point exactly?

Currently the Denver Broncos have to be happy at being 2-0 and being able to average 375.5 yards on offense given all their challenges to get to where they currently are at. Consider only four teams are averaging over four hundred yards per game, and the Broncos aren’t that far off the pace.

Wins are wins, and they seem to cover over a number of ills.

The Broncos face the Oakland Raiders next and their 29th

rated offense.  The Raiders are averaging 16.5 points per game, a full three behind Denver.  Statistically speaking while prognosticating at a glimpse, this makes the game between the Raiders and the Broncos a toss-up.

 

Defense! Defense! Defense!

A large part of why Mike Shanahan was eventually let go had nothing to do with the offensive side of the ball. It really had to do with the apathetic attitude on defense and the lackluster special teams. 

Give credit where credit is due. Josh McDaniels and staff pulled the right strings in getting their defensive coaching staff together. In taking a bit of a gamble by moving to a 3-4 defense, the Broncos tried to better facilitate their lack of size and superior speed on the defensive side of the ball. 

So far it’s paying off big dividends as the defense is allowing only 6.5 points through two games. The score is the most important stat, and to protect leads is what this defense appears primed and ready to do.

Surprisingly enough, the Broncos are ranked third in the league in sacks with seven.  Elvis Dumervil has led the way with four against the Cleveland Browns.  This is a plus since the Broncos traditionally are not among league leaders in the sack department.

Against the rush the Broncos are currently ranked 10th in the league allowing 140 yards per game. Certainly there is room for improvement here; however to already be in the top ten in this statistic is a positive to build upon considering the fallout and implosion along the defensive line last season.

In playing the pass game, the Broncos again rank tenth in the league allowing 183.5 yards per game. Good enough to be ranked number ten on defense again. Considering this is a whole new defensive backfield with some live talent that is gelling week to week, look for this group to get better over time.

Possibly the most telling stat aside from the score is turnovers and the Broncos are winning the turnover battle by intercepting three passes and recovering two fumbles.  This is good enough for a +4 on the young season in the turnover department.

 

The Current Outlook

The formula for winning is simple and the implementation is catching up on the field.

Don’t be deceived. The Broncos still have a very long way to go, however they need to be a top ten team on both sides of the ball to give themselves a chance. So far they have done that. 

They need to score while keeping the other teams off the board. The defense has carried the team into being able to say they are undefeated at 2-0, but it’s still all about team. 

Offensively, the Broncos are using surgical strikes to beat their opponents into submission by spreading the ball around. On the cordial side, they have left the door wide-open for Brandon Marshall to step in and fill the void, but they are sending the message that this is all about having a real team. 

On the special teams side, Matt Prater showed he still has maturing to do as a kicker by letting the wind send two of his kicks wide against Cleveland, he is 4-6 on the year while still ranking sixth in the league with seven other teams.

The outlook is getting brighter, the next few games should tell us what this Broncos team is really made of, so stay tuned.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Early Thoughts on The Broncos-Raiders Week Three Matchup

Well, it is a good thing the Oakland Raiders have one of the NFL’s best punters, because they might be using him a lot on Sunday.

When the first place Denver Broncos (2-0) head to Oakland to take on the Raiders (1-1), they will do so boasting the NFL’s number one defense after allowing a combined 13 points in their first two games against Cincinnati and Cleveland.

The Raiders played well against reigning division champion San Diego on Monday night in week one, but were unable to stop Darren Sproles really at all, and lost a heartbreaker.  In week two, they scratched out a win against lowly Kansas City on the road with a late touchdown by Darren McFadden.

This matchup with the Raiders, aside from being one that is on the road, is very favorable for the Denver Broncos.

Oakland is not a good passing team, and quite honestly, they are just not a good offensive team, ranking 24th in scoring and 29th in total offense.  Denver’s number one defense was tested by Carson Palmer, dominated Brady Quinn, and they should have no troubles keeping JaMarcus Russell in a bottle.

Denver’s biggest asset heading into this week three matchup is their run defense, which has absolutely mystified opposing offenses.  They held Cleveland to only 56 rushing yards last week, and Cincinnati was only able to net 76 yards from Cedric Benson.

While the Broncos’ defensive strength is stopping the run, Oakland’s biggest offensive threat is running the ball with Darren McFadden and Michael Bush.

McFadden has been, to me, their most impressive running threat this season.  He is fast, a good receiver, and he showed me against San Diego that he can lower his shoulder into a defender and pick up extra yards.

Bush is a powerful back inside the tackles who is deceptively fast in the open field.  He does not have a great burst off the line of scrimmage, but if he can get to the second and third levels, he is hard to bring down.

Oakland’s best offensive weapon is Zach Miller, their third year tight end.  Miller always seems to find a way into the open field, and has some of the most sure hands in the NFL.  He is a rising star in this league, and the Broncos will have the chore of defending him this week.

Defensively, Oakland has a much improved defensive line, a rising star at linebacker in Thomas Howard, and one of the NFL’s best cover cornerbacks in Nnamdi Asomugha.

Along the line, the Raiders added defensive ends Richard Seymour (New England) and Greg Ellis (Dallas) to improve their dreadful pass rush, and so far, they have done a serviceable job.

Oakland’s linebackers and secondary are very fast, and also very young.

So how does Denver get to the winner’s circle when they travel to Oakland on Sunday?  Here are some of my early thoughts as to how Denver can win this game:

 

1.  Continue to Stuff the Run

Denver’s run defense has been phenomenal this season, and it started with San Francisco in week one of the preseason.  The Broncos added Ronald Fields, Vonnie Holliday, Ryan McBean, Chris Baker, and Le Kevin Smith to beef up their front line this offseason, and so far, they have done a fantastic job.

Brian Dawkins and Andra Davis have also been critical in Denver’s improved run defense, which ranked among the league’s worst in 2008.  In fact, Dawkins and Davis have respectively led the Broncos in tackles in consecutive weeks.  Dawkins had 11 stops in week one, and Davis led the Broncos with 10 in week two.

It is going to be crucial for the Broncos to give McFadden and Bush fits so as to force JaMarcus Russell to beat them on Sunday.

 

2.  Keep the Pass Rush Strong

The Broncos have seven sacks in two games, four from converted defensive end Elvis Dumervil who is now lining up at outside linebacker. 

Seven sacks may not seem like a lot to a Steelers or Ravens fan, but for the Broncos, it is a huge step in the right direction for a team that has had absolutely no semblance of a pass rush since the Orange Crush days.

The Raiders have allowed only three sacks this season, but they will be missing their best offensive lineman, Robert Gallery for the next four to six weeks.  For the most part, they were able to shut down the Chargers’ pass rush, and the Chiefs didn’t have much luck either.

The Broncos will be the Raiders’ third divisional opponent to give the Raiders’ offensive line a test this season already.

Dumervil and company need to keep the heat on JaMarcus Russell, who is a very difficult quarterback to bring down due to his massive size.

 

3.  Keep Improving Offensively

The Broncos were dreadful against Cincinnati week one on offense.  They only had 10 first downs, and if not for the 87 yard play by Brandon Stokley would have undoubtedly finished week one with the league’s lowest offensive yardage total.

In week two, Denver was not as hot to start the game offensively, but as the game progressed, so did Kyle Orton and the Bronco offense.

They were able to score 27 points against the Browns while racking up 449 yards of total offense including nearly 190 rushing yards.

Oakland’s defense has been stingy in terms of allowing opponents to score, ranking ninth in that particular category, but they have not been shy at all about giving up yards.

In fact, the Raiders have allowed opponents a total of 44 first downs and as a result are ranked 23rd in total defense.

The Broncos’ offensive line is among the best in the NFL, and when the skill players come around, this unit could be dangerous.  Kyle Orton is not staggering, by any means, but he has yet to make any mistakes, and the running game for the Broncos is finally getting healthy.

Oddly enough, Brandon Stokley and Jabar Gaffney lead this team in receiving in the first two games, which is scary for opposing defenses in a sense that Brandon Marshall has yet to fully come around, and Eddie Royal is receiving double teams more often than LeBron James.

If and when Marshall gets fully acclimated and comfortable in this offense, he will take pressure off of Royal, and this passing game just became even scarier.

Kyle Orton said on Monday that if he and his receivers could be on the same page mentally on every play, and if everybody did their job, this offense would “put up a lot of points.”

 

Keep the Turnover Margin in Your Favor

The Broncos are +4 in the turnover margin for the first two games, so it is no coincidence that they are also 2-0.

Oakland is +1 in the turnover margin, and all three of their interceptions have come from one source:  former first round safety Michael Huff.

JaMarcus Russell has thrown two picks, and has been erratic with his throws.  Over the first two games, his completion percentage is the worst in the NFL at 35.2 percent, and his overall rating is an abysmal 46.6.

I will not say it is going to be easy, but if the Broncos are going to have a field day against any quarterback, it is undoubtedly going to be against the most inaccurate one in the league, or basic logic would indicate so anyway.

While Kyle Orton’s completion percentage of just over 55 is not staggering, he has the 11th best quarterback rating in the NFL at 90.9 and also the 11th most passing yards at 506.

This is going to be a big game for the Broncos.  Many Denver fans felt it absolutely necessary if not mandatory to start the season 3-0 before entering an eight game stretch against seven playoff teams, and they have set themselves up to do just that.

This is a very “winable” game against the Raiders, despite the fact that it is on the road in a relatively hostile environment.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Dumervil Puts “D” Back in Denver

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Broncos Stand 2-0 after Defense-Led Home-Opening Win over Browns

After a 2008 season that started as an inferno, and ended colder than an Antarctic winter, Broncos fans have learned that guarded optimism is a way of life in the post-Mike Shanahan/Jay Cutler era.

Yet after a fairly impressive 27-6 win over Cleveland, there are some reasons to believe the 2009 Broncos may not be the debacle many expected this team to be.

The offense was pretty efficient, amassing almost 450 total yards. Kyle Orton wasn’t good (no surprise: 19-of-37), but was not intercepted and was involved enough to even out a good ground attack.

Knowshon Moreno carried 17 times for 75 yards, and Correll Buckhalter added 76 yards including a 45-yard TD scamper midway through the fourth quarter to seal the game.

Jabar Gaffney and Brandon Stokley turned out to the be the big receiving targets, while last year’s No. 1 and No. 2 receivers, Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal, combined for just six catches and 54 yards.

The offensive efficiency, and the defense’s outstanding effort, helped cover up the fact that kicker Matt Prater again was abominable, missing a pair of field goals from inside 40 yards while the game was still close.

The real story of the day was Denver’s defense. Yes. You read that correctly. The revamped squad, under the 3-4 scheme, seems to have turned the corner.

Of course, after last season, anything outside of falling off a cliff with lead boots, would have been an improvement, but there are signs that the Denver defense could be at the very least, respectable, if not more.

With Andra Davis (10 tackles vs. Cleveland) and converted lineman Elvis Dumervil (4 sacks, all in the 2nd half) providing a formidable linebacker tandem, along with Brian Dawkins and Champ Bailey holding watch over the opposing passing game, there could be a quality defense in the making.

The jury is still out though, on what this squad can do against a high-quality offensive team. Neither the Bengals nor Browns are reminiscent of a 400-point offense, to put it mildly. Last year, however, even 200-point offenses found ways to put up points with regularity against the Broncos, so some optimism is warranted.

With a trip to Oakland coming this weekend, the possibility of a 3-0 start for Denver is not unreasonable. The schedule gets much, much harder thereafter (consecutive games against: Dallas, New England, San Diego, Baltimore, & Pittsburgh).

The Broncos will need that 3-0 start, and at least 2-3 wins in that following five-game span, to prove to naysayers that this is a different kind of Denver team than the 2008 disaster was.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Smile High: The Wonderful Weekend That Was for Colorado Sports

Sometimes the planets align, or an eclipse happens, or a beautiful comet streaks by and we get a quick look see. This weekend was like that for Colorado sports fans, as many of their teams took the field and won.

 

Colorado Rockies win two, widen wild card lead

This weekend, the Rockies played the Arizona Diamondbacks, and Colorado clobbered Arizona in Phoenix. During Saturday’s contest, the Rockies got a solid pitching performance from Jason Hammel (9-8) as he went seven innings with three runs given up off of four hits while punching out five.

But the performer of the game was Jason Giambi, as he hit his first home run with the Rockies during a five-run ninth inning that put Colorado up 10-4.

Following the game Manager Jim Tracy said, “With the way things have been going offensively, as frequently as it has of late, you ask yourself the question, ‘Is this going to come back to haunt us?’ Tonight, we followed it up with a terrific ninth inning and did put it away.”

Sunday, the game was much dependent upon the pitching side of the game, as Ubaldo Jimenez whiffed eight batters over seven innings and only gave up one run. Jimenez was his usual hittable self early on, but domineering as he got into the flow of the game.

“That’s what I’ve learned about me; probably in the first two innings, I’m never as sharp as the game gets going,” said Jimenez. But as he got into the heat of a game with playoff implications on the line, Ubaldo sat down an amazing 12 straight batters at one point in the game.

With the wins coupled with a San Francisco loss Sunday, the Rockies lock on the wild card lead is about as solid as the Rocky Mountains themselves at four-and-a-half games over the Giants.

 

Broncos improve to 2-and-Ohio by beating the Browns

After McJaygate, Brandon Marshall’s tirade, and the team being basically overhauled, many Broncos fans were wary to say the least about how the team would fare this season. Well, things have begun well, as Denver’s NFL team is undefeated through two weeks.

In all, the offense looked improved over the first week, but not exactly proficient. Given that, the Broncos gained almost 450 yards on offense, and Kyle Orton played relatively well with 263 yards and threw a touchdown as well.

The Broncos pulled out the win 27-6 and looked solid if not somewhat impressive.

Following the game, Josh McDaniels said, “I think we have had confidence since really we started training camp. I think when you win on the road in this league it is tough, and that certainly can help your confidence level.

“We are not an overconfident football team, and we know we have got a long way to go and a lot of improvements to make.”

 

Colorado State Rams improve to 3-0, Air Force wins and is 2-1, and even CU got a victory

The Colorado State Rams (3-0) won in impressive fashion over the Nevada Wolf Pack (0-2) 35-20 in their second home game of 2009. They reached 3-0 for the first time since 1994 and have received votes in each national poll for the third straight week now.

Against Nevada, CSU moved the ball effectively up and down the field while creating turnovers as well, as they started up 14-0 and led 20-6 at one point.

Next up for the Rams is a tough in-conference opponent in No. 19 BYU in Provo, Utah, on Saturday.

The Air Force Falcons (2-1) won 37-13 versus New Mexico Lobos (0-3) in Colorado Springs on Saturday behind four forced turnovers. Air Force was up as much as 17-0 before New Mexico scored its first offensive touchdown of the season, one that broke a 15 quarter drought.

And finally, even the lowly CU Buffs (1-2) got a victory 24-0 over the Wyoming Cowboys (1-2) this weekend.

CU had been demoralized in their first two games of the season, and this win was much needed for them to at least gain some confidence coming into their Big 12 schedule.

The Buffaloes won behind a strong 127 running yards and two touchdowns behind Rodney Stewart. The Colorado defense only allowed Wyoming three first downs on the day.

 

So, as this wild and wonderful weekend comes to a close, there is nothing like the feeling you get when all your teams have won.

It’s like the planets all aligned for Colorado sports for the past few days, let’s all hope this great play lasts longer than a cosmic anomaly the teams can continue their winning ways.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Broncos-Browns: Denver Goes 2-0 in Commanding Victory over Cleveland

The Denver Broncos had their home opener Sunday, as they drew the Cleveland Browns in the second contest in a row against an Ohio football team, defeating them 27-6.

Mike Nolan’s 3-4 defense seems to be adapting quite well as they all but shut down the Bengals’ potent offense in Week One and much was the same Sunday as Denver basically shut down Cleveland’s offense as well.

But the Browns’ offense is more dilapidated than domineering, as they have been ranked 32nd in the NFL in almost every important offensive category since November of 2008.

The Broncos defense was stellar, but it could just be a house of cards built upon sorry opposition. Sure, Denver only allowed 200 total yards of offense by the Browns (after allowing only 307 to the Bengals), but that was behind an old and fat Jamal Lewis (38 yards) and holding a young and inexperienced Brady Quinn to a paltry 161 yards, picking him off once.

Easily the star of the defense was Elvis Dumervil. The converted lineman to linebacker had a career-high four sacks versus Cleveland and seems to be enjoying it so far.

“Yeah, I guess I’m a linebacker now,” he said. “It’s fun, though. I get to play linebacker and I still get to do what I love—rush the passer. I’ve found my niche. It makes me a complete player.”

The fact of the matter remains that the ’09 Broncos defense is like the new Cowboys’ stadium fire escapes—untested. What will the Broncos do against some of the better offenses in New England, Pittsburgh, or Philly? What is encouraging though is that Denver’s D is ranked fourth in yards per game and second overall in points given up per game as they have only allowed one touchdown.

The offense on the other hand, was anemic at best in Week One, but rather fruitful on Sunday at home. The ground game was good as Correll Buckhalter had 76 yards on nine carries, the biggest an explosive 45-yard touchdown romp in the third quarter.

Josh McDaniels’ play-calling was dynamic with 449 total yards, including 263 passing by Kyle Orton. Denver also racked up 25 first downs compared to Cleveland’s 11, and went 8-15 on third downs. The young coach couldn’t really be happier, but you couldn’t tell from some post-game quotes.

“I think that our guys understand that there are a lot of things that we want to fix and a lot of things we want to improve on, which, I think, is really where most teams in the league are right now. You are never at your peak after Week One. Our players saw that on the film on Monday, and we have got to get better.”

And including his great play-calling, the young coach has a deep desire to improve on a week-to-week basis, which is very promising indeed. The Broncos are (shh!) rebuilding, the word with a million negative connotations in sports. The best ideology to have with a team in the situation is to attempt to cultivate a team-first mentality, and to progress in any and all areas possible.

Really though, in the big picture of things, the Broncos are 2-0 now after winning 27-6 over Cleveland. Also, Denver is leading the AFC West heading into Oakland.

The Raiders have looked surprisingly decent so far in 2009, taking the Chargers down to the wire, and winning a grind-it-out battle against the Chiefs today. So, any writers that predicted Denver would easily sweep the Raiders this year would find himself terribly mistaken.

Well, I know there is a reason this is a rivalry, both teams play each other as hard as possible no matter what the records of either team are. The point is, the Broncos find a difficult opponent in Oakland next week and are likely already preparing for them. Denver plays the Raiders on Sunday the 27th at 2:15 p.m. MDT.

 

Notes

Broncos great Shannon Sharpe was inducted into the Ring of Fame at Invesco Field at Mile High during halftime of today’s game, that was after he parachuted in before kickoff. He is currently a finalist for becoming an NFL Hall-of-Famer with his own bronze bust in Canton, Ohio in 2010…McDaniels beat Eric Mangini today, another Bill Belichick disciple…Knowshon Moreno looked healthy rushing for 75 yards on 17 carries and also caught two passes for 22 yards as well.

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