Broncos 34, Chargers 23: Unbeaten Denver Looks Royal in AFC West Clash

There simply are not enough game balls to go around. 

The Denver Broncos are off to a 6-0 start after going on the road and defeating the San Diego Chargers 34-23 in a prime time matchup on Monday Night Football.

The Broncos made a huge statement with this win, putting on their most complete performance of the season so far in front of a national audience as they increased their lead in the AFC West to an outstanding 3.5 games.

Enough is enough of this “surprising” tag that has been attached to the Broncos; they are absolutely for real and are playing their best ball this decade.

Monday night’s game went as a lot of Bronco fans expected, as the Chargers were forced into a one-dimensional offense and their inability to run the ball really cost them in the end.

 

Game Recap

First Quarter

After a 92 yard San Diego drive resulted in a short Nate Kaeding field goal, Eddie Royal ignited some fireworks at Qualcomm Stadium.  Royal took the ensuing kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown to give the Broncos a 7-3 lead.

That lead would be short lived as Philip Rivers and the Chargers drove the ball right back down the field again, finishing a 74 yard drive with a three yard touchdown pass from Rivers to wide receiver Vincent Jackson, putting the score at 10-7 in favor of the home team.

Second Quarter

After a long 13 play drive ended in a Matt Prater field goal to start the scoring in the third quarter, the Broncos tied the game at 10 points apiece.

Following the field goal, the Broncos forced the Chargers into a three-and-out, and the Mike Scifres punt was taken 71 yards to the house by Eddie Royal, becoming the first player since Devin Hester in 2007 to return both a kickoff and a punt for a touchdown in the same game.

The Broncos, now nourishing a 17-10 lead, were able to stop the Chargers short of a touchdown on their next drive, and San Diego settled for another Nate Kaeding field goal, this one from 44 yards out.

Denver’s following drive was pitiful, and they were forced into a three-and-out.  Bronco punter Brett Kern made the decision to punt the ball to Darren Sproles, which is never a great idea.  Sproles took the punt all the way to the end zone, giving the Chargers huge momentum heading into halftime with a 20-17 lead.

Third Quarter

Another Nate Kaeding field goal gave the Chargers a six point lead, but the Broncos answered right back.

Following the field goal, Kyle Orton hooked up with Tony Scheffler on a beautiful 19 yard touchdown pass that capped off a nine play, 77 yard drive to give the Broncos the lead for good.

Fourth Quarter

Following an Elvis Dumervil forced fumble that was recovered by Vonnie Holliday, the Broncos had probably the shortest 10 play drive in the league so far this year, going 36 yards in ten plays.  That drive was capped off by a Matt Prater field goal to give the Broncos a 27-23 lead.

Late in the fourth, Orton and the Broncos were on their most important drive of the night and set up for their most important third down conversion of the night, a third-and-goal from five yards out. 

Kyle Orton dropped back to pass and hit Brandon Stokley right at the goal line for a touchdown that put the game out of reach for the San Diego Chargers.

 

Random Game Thoughts

In the intro, I said there were not enough game balls to go around, but having given it some thought, the game ball has to go to Eddie Royal.  The Broncos may not have won without Royal’s two return touchdowns, and neither would my little brother in fantasy.

Royal’s special teams performance was absolutely phenomenal, and he set a Denver Broncos record for return yardage in a game with 230.

Now to those who also deserved a game ball.

Tony Scheffler had his best game as a professional in my opinion.  I’m sure the stat line (six catches, 101 yards, TD) are not the most staggering for his career, but he played extremely well and was the Broncos’ biggest difference maker offensively.

The offensive line was outstanding for the Broncos.  The Chargers had one sack on the night, and it came as Larry English was being pancaked by Ryan Clady.  The only suspect area for this unit was in the running game, where the Broncos were slow to get it going at times.

Denver’s third down defense was at its best on Monday night, holding the Chargers to only two conversions on 11 attempts on the night.  The Broncos gave up a few screen passes in the first half, but in the end, their defense did exactly what I thought they would, and they put the heat on Philip Rivers.

Elvis Dumervil led the Denver defense tonight, recording two sacks and a forced fumble of Philip Rivers.  As a unit, the Broncos had five sacks and were seemingly in Philip Rivers’ face the entire second half.

Switching back to the offensive side of the ball, how good has Kyle Orton been for the Broncos so far this season?  After his performance tonight, he has thrown for 1,465 yards, nine touchdowns, one fluke pick, and he has a rating of 100.1.

Orton is truly playing MVP caliber football through six games this season, and is running Josh McDaniels’ offense better than anybody expected.  His efficiency in the red zone and accuracy have been crucial to the Broncos’ success this season. 

Orton improved to 27-12 as a starting quarterback in this league, and many, including myself, feel he has played at a Pro Bowl level so far this season.

Clearly, this Denver Broncos coaching staff has this team in a good place.  They didn’t listen to the nay-sayers prior to this season (so they claim), but they sure are shutting them up so far. 

Mike Nolan has devised excellent defensive game-plans, and this Broncos team has allowed a league-best 10 points in the second half of football games so far this year.  Through six games, that is absolutely outstanding and the main reason the Broncos have been able to start this season unblemished.

Josh McDaniels has done a superb job of preparing his offensive game plan and planning to his player’s biggest strengths. 

The Broncos are a very efficient team, and if they can continue to play ball like this, they are going to be tough to beat.

The main deficiency for the Broncos tonight was the running game, which actually was not as bad as I thought.  They were still able to gain over 100 yards on the ground, but it seemed at times that they could go nowhere. 

Correll Buckhalter was back for the first time in two weeks, and it appeared as though Knowshon Moreno was primed for a big game going up against a run defense that ranked 27th in the NFL heading into this matchup.

San Diego was able to bottle Moreno up for most of the game and hold him to just over 40 yards rushing. 

 

Final Thoughts

The Broncos could not have scripted a better way to head into their bye week.

They are 6-0 for the first time since Elway lined up under center, and they have been quite a story thus far. The most impressive part?  They are doing it with defense, something nobody anticipated.

Now, the offense is starting to really click, and the Broncos are looking like a more complete team with every game they play.

Still, this team knows it has a lot to improve upon, and they have a lot of time to prepare for their road matchup with the Baltimore Ravens in Week Eight.

The Ravens, like the Chargers, have an explosive passing offense but an even more dangerous running game with Willis McGahee, Ray Rice, and LeRon McClain. 

Denver is sure to have its hands full, but for now, 6-0 feels great, and this team deserves every bit of it.  Enjoy Broncos fans, your team has joined the NFL’s elite this season, even when nobody thought they could do it.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Broncos-Chargers Preview: Keys To Victory For Denver in Week Six

The Denver Broncos (5-0, First place AFC West) are off to their best start in over a decade as they head West to San Diego to take on their division rival Chargers (2-2, Second place AFC West) in the week six Monday Night Football matchup.

Prior to the season starting, no one outside of die-hard Denver fans would have thought that the San Diego Chargers would be the team in disarray after five weeks of the season, but here we are.

The Chargers recently cut ties with veteran starting safety Clinton Hart, and General Manager A.J. Smith has called out his team for not performing up to their full potential.

One player Smith “hurt” in particular was hybrid linebacker/defensive end Shawne Merriman, who many believe could also be on the chopping block in San Diego as he plays out the final year of his rookie contract.

The Chargers simply have not found their groove so far this season, and are not seemingly close to finding it. 

They have injury issues on both the offensive and defensive lines, and their best player of this decade in LaDainian Tomlinson has also been fending off the injury bug.

Inversely, the Broncos are playing top-notch ball, led by their number one ranked defense who is allowing a league-best 8.6 points per contest. 

This rivalry is one the Chargers have dominated in recent years, but this is the first time they will face a non-Mike Shanahan led Broncos team.  For once, this matchup seems a bit lop-sided in favor of the Broncos rather than the Bolts.

Here are my keys to victory for Denver when they head to San Diego in week six.

 

1.  Take away the screen pass to Darren Sproles

This is one of the Chargers’ biggest offensive weapons.  They absolutely love to hit Darren Sproles with a screen pass on third down situations, and they execute it well.

Sproles has caught only 15 passes this year, but he is averaging over 13 yards per reception.  He is a big weapon for this team and Philip Rivers when they need to be bailed out on third and long situations.

The Broncos can neutralize this by giving the Chargers a lot of different looks on third downs, mainly faking blitzes.  If the Broncos can disguise their blitzing well, they will be able to shut down this particular facet of the Charger offense.

 

2.  Assign a defender to TE Antonio Gates

Gates is having one of his better seasons as a professional so far in 2009.  He has 24 receptions for 349 yards, and he seems to have a knack for getting open.

The Broncos cannot let that happen.

Denver shut down Jason Witten in week four against the Dallas Cowboys, so there is no reason to believe they cannot bottle up Gates.

My guess is that the Broncos will either try and assign a defender like Wesley Woodyard to Gates or maybe somebody like Jack Williams, who could be giving up a lot of size but who has done a phenomenal job so far this season.

 

3.  Dominate the Running Game (Offensively and Defensively)

The running game statistics so blatantly favor the Broncos in this game it is almost unfair. 

Denver is ranked fifth in the NFL in rushing yards per game at 139, and the Chargers are on the complete opposite end of the spectrum.  They average 53.8 rushing yards per game, which ranks 32nd (also known as “Dead Last”).

Defensively, the Broncos allow a mere 81 yards per game on the ground, ranking them sixth in the NFL.  The Chargers are allowing opponents 151 yards rushing per contest, which is sixth worst in the league.

The statistics indicate that Denver will be able to dominate this game on the ground, both offensively and defensively.  The San Diego front seven has been anything but impressive so far this year, and the Broncos have been absolutely stellar. 

Denver is potentially getting a boost from veteran Correll Buckhalter, who missed last week’s game with an ankle sprain.  He was limited in practice on Wednesday, but that is more than he has done in a while.  The Broncos are hoping he can go Monday night to give them their one-two punch of he and Knowshon Moreno, who leads all rookies in rushing yards.

 

4.  Pin your ears back, and get to Philip Rivers

If the Chargers are unable to establish a running game, the Broncos could have a field day in terms of quarterback sacks.

This is a unit that ranks second in the NFL in quarterback take-downs with 16, and they are facing a San Diego offensive line that is battered.

Still, the Charger line has given up a fairly respectable 10 sacks this season, so there are no guarantees.

The Broncos need to make the Chargers one dimensional by shutting down the run, then hit them where it hurts.

Creating pressure on Philip Rivers is not easy, as he is a very smart quarterback who can get the ball out quickly, but the Broncos have proven they can put pressure on most teams.

The only team that has been able to shut Denver down in terms of pass rush has been the New England Patriots, and their offensive line is far superior to San Diego’s. 

The Broncos likely will bring a lot of disguised defensive looks as I stated earlier, and Elvis Dumervil could have another multi-sack game.

 

5.  When you get the ball, get in the END ZONE

This has really been the only flaw for the Broncos this year.  In the past two games, Denver has had to overcome a ten point first quarter deficit. 

That simply will not fly with a potent offense like San Diego.

The Broncos have had plenty of opportunities to score early on, but they have been unable to take advantage early.

All the talk about Kyle Orton now being an MVP candidate, Knowshon Moreno as the early favorite for rookie of the year, Brandon Marshall playing the best ball of his career, and having a dominant offensive line means absolutely nothing if you cannot put up points.

The Broncos’ offense, give them credit, has gotten points when it matters most, which is why they are 5-0, but they absolutely have to score touchdowns when they get to the red zone.

They have had virtually no trouble at all moving the ball down the field, ranking sixth in the NFL in total offense, but they rank a dismal 22nd in scoring at just under 20 points per game.

 

Positional Breakdown

Quarterback:  Broncos

Running Back:  Broncos

Wide Receiver:  Broncos

Tight End:  Chargers

Offensive Line:  Broncos

Defensive Line:  Broncos

Linebacker:  Broncos

Defensive Back:  Broncos

Special Teams:  Chargers

Advantage:  Broncos

After looking at the positional breakdown, it is clear who has the advantage in this game.  I do not like to discredit other teams, because the Chargers are certainly capable of putting up “X” amount of points on any given night—but they are just too one dimensional and too battered up front right now.

The biggest factor in the Chargers’ favor is home field advantage, and maybe catching Denver on a high.  The Broncos have yet to suffer a let-down this season, and they appear to be a very well-coached, very disciplined team.

In all, this game will come down to who can win the time of possession battle.  The Broncos have the decided advantage in run offense and run defense, so they should be able to accomplish that.

It should also be noted that the Chargers are allowing opponents a 49 percent conversion rate on third down, which is very good news for the Broncos.

This, like all Chargers-Broncos games should be a great one to watch.  The Chargers have an offense that is capable of exploding at any given time, and the Broncos have a smashmouth defense.

The Chargers are in desperate need of a victory coming off of their bye week, as they could potentially trail Denver by 3.5 games if they lose at home on Monday night.  The Broncos do not want to allow San Diego any hope of pulling off something similar to what they did last year, and they hope to increase their lead in the AFC West heading into a bye week of their own before they face Baltimore.

Is it Monday yet?

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Early Thoughts on Broncos-Chargers NFL Week 6 Matchup

How quickly Denver Broncos fans have forgotten about Jay Cutler and Mike Shanahan. 

Winning heals a lot, apparently.

The Broncos are off to a hot 5-0 start, and fans’ memories of the old days when Shanahan called plays for Cutler have been erased. 

Gone are the days of Brandon Marshall demanding trades and holding out.

Gone are the days of Swiss-cheese defense.

Nobody remembers Kyle Orton getting booed in a scrimmage at Invesco Field earlier this year and nobody cares about his three interceptions in the first half of a preseason game against San Francisco.

Like I said, winning heals a lot.

Kyle Orton has helped lead the Broncos to their first 5-0 start in 11 years, and with his performance against the New England Patriots last Sunday, he has joined the conversation for…league MVP?

After low expectations from many heading into the season, Orton and the Broncos have joined the ranks of the NFL’s elite. The defense has allowed fewer points than any other team in the NFL by far and the offense finally appears to be clicking.

But the season is just getting started.

Monday night, the Broncos will likely be the focal point of their Week 6 matchup against the San Diego Chargers, a struggling team.

Taking a quick look at the Chargers, they have one of the NFL’s top passing units led by Philip Rivers and Vincent Jackson.

Rivers has passed for 1,245 yards and six touchdowns in only four games. Jackson has been on the receiving end of 20 passes for 373 yards and two touchdowns.

The Chargers also boast one of the NFL’s best receiving tight ends in Antonio Gates, who leads the NFL among starters at his position with a 79.6 percent first down rate per reception.

As dangerous as the Chargers can be through the air, they are horrid running the football.

They rank dead last in the NFL with a detestable 53.8 rushing yards per game. Neither Darren Sproles nor LaDainian Tomlinson has reached 100 yards this season.

Defensively, the Chargers have really struggled. A lot of it can be attributed to the injury to All-Pro nose tackle Jamal Williams, who was lost for the season.

San Diego ranks 25th in points allowed at over 25 per contest and they rank 26th in yards allowed with 365.8 a game. Their pass defense has been alright, ranking 12th, but their run defense has been their Achilles heel.

The Chargers rank 27th in run defense and have allowed a total of 604 yards in only four games. Surprisingly, San Diego has not allowed but one 100-yard rusher in any given game so far this year. And they have played three of the league’s top running attacks in Miami, Baltimore and Pittsburgh.

It is not out of the norm for this team to get off to a slow start. Last season, they pulled off some kind of miracle and erased a three-game deficit with only three games to play to win the AFC West before beating the Indianapolis Colts in the playoffs.

The Chargers have absolutely owned the Broncos in recent years. 

Last season, they split the season series, but blew out the Broncos in the last game of the season, 52-21. 

This rivalry has lost quite a bit of luster with the departure of Jay Cutler, but it is still Broncos-Chargers, and it will still be an exciting game.

Denver’s defense has been one of the best comeback stories in the NFL as they lead the league in points allowed and are second in total defense thus far.

Maybe most importantly, the Broncos are fourth in the NFL in takeaways with 11 and they have the fifth-ranked pass defense to neutralize San Diego’s high-powered pass offense.

The Broncos also rank second in the NFL in sacks with 16 on the season. The Chargers have allowed Rivers to be sacked a fairly respectable 10 times.

This game is a must-win for both teams. 

Denver faces a grueling schedule following their bye week, and could take a substantial 3.5-game lead over San Diego if they can come away with the win.

San Diego needs a big win at home if they are going to keep pace in the AFC West.  Unlike last year’s Denver team, this one is winning with a steady offense that rarely makes mistakes, and a dominant defense.

I have actually made the assessment that this year’s San Diego squad reminds me a lot of last year’s Denver team sans a dominant offensive line.

The Charger offense will have to be at its best if they are going to win on Monday night, and so will the Denver defense.

One area where the Broncos have the decided advantage is in the running game. 

As I pointed out, San Diego cannot stop the run. The Broncos currently rank fifth in the NFL in rushing yards per game and are hopeful for the return of Correll Buckhalter, who sprained his ankle two weekends ago.

Buckhalter would join Knowshon Moreno, who leads all NFL rookies with 337 rushing yards.

If that is not an intriguing enough matchup for you, think of big-play receiver Vincent Jackson matching up against All-Pro cornerback Champ Bailey.

Bailey could be on his way to a 10th Pro Bowl this season. He is absolutely shutting down any and every opponent that crosses his path. Here’s what he had to say about being challenged more than usual so far this season.

“I have confidence out this roof at what I can do in a pressure situation. I live for those moments.”

The main thing with the Broncos right now is that they have yet to come even close to dipping into their full potential offensively, and the Chargers should provide an excellent test.

Brandon Marshall has four touchdown grabs in the last three games, Eddie Royal tripled his season total in receptions last week with a 10-catch performance, and Kyle Orton played his best game as a Bronco to date, throwing for 330 yards and two touchdowns in their win over New England.

Charger Week is a fun week and, as always, should generate a lot of good conversation back and forth.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

NFL Power Rankings Week 6: Setting the Records Straight

I have never been a fan of “Power Rankings” and I do not expect to be converted any time soon.

I think ranking NFL teams is just free reign for people to say “You were wrong about this” or “You were wrong about that.”

Still, I think the rankings system that is put in place by the mainstream media is atrocious, so I decided to put my own spin on this topic, which is one of the hottest in the NFL.

I think rankings should be based solely upon the team’s win-loss record, with strength of schedule as a secondary judgment. From there, it is the writer’s opinion, but win percentage is the key here.

For instance, you will notice Cincinnati (4-1) is ranked ahead of all 3-1 teams because they have a better overall win percentage. Teams who have had to play more games have had more chances to lose.

I hope it is clear how these rankings have been developed. Without a shadow of a doubt, I know that these will not stand for an entire week, but for now, this is how it is. Plain and simple.

Begin Slideshow

Broncos 20, Patriots 17 (OT): Denver 5-0 for First Time Since 1998

Prior to yesterday, the Denver Broncos had gone 5-0 four times in team history, and all four times they made it to the Super Bowl.  With their 20-17 overtime win against the New England Patriots, fans have reason to hope this team can accomplish what was thought to be impossible.

The fifth win for the Broncos may have been the most unlikely of them all. 

Tom Brady had started 75 games in which the Patriots led after three quarters, and lost only one.

Brady had never lost an overtime game.

The Patriots had only lost one game in which Brady, Wes Welker, and Randy Moss play.

Still, on the coldest week five game in NFL history, the Denver Broncos proved doubters and haters wrong once again, and for once it was the New England Patriots getting a taste of their own medicine.

 

Game Recap

The first half was all Patriots.  New England controlled the clock, and for the most part, they made the No. 1 defense in the NFL look out of sorts. 

Denver had a decent drive going on their opening possession, but kicker Matt Prater was unable to capitalize on his first field goal attempt of the day, leaving the Patriots with good field position.

Tom Brady made the Broncos pay. 

A big screen pass to Sammy Morris set the Patriots up for a quick strike touchdown from Brady to Wes Welker to get New England a 7-0 lead.

Rookie tailback Knowshon Moreno fumbled on the ensuing drive for the second straight game, and the Patriots took advantage of the turnover with a career-long 53-yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski, increasing their lead to 10-0.

The Broncos started the scoring in the second quarter, capping off a 10 play, 90-yard drive with an 11 yard fade pass from Kyle Orton to none other than Brandon Marshall, who scored for the third straight game.

New England fired back later in the quarter when Brady hit tight end Benjamin Watson on a seven yard pass, capping off a 10 play drive of their own to essentially end the half.

The Broncos had a very impressive 12-play, 66 yard drive going when they were unable to convert on third and short, and they settled for a 24-yard Prater field goal to decrease the margin to 17-10.

In the fourth quarter, the Broncos were pinned on their own two-yard line and Kyle Orton orchestrated the Broncos’ most impressive drive of the season.

Denver went 98 yards in 12 plays, and Brandon Marshall once again capped off the huge drive with an 11-yard touchdown reception, his second of the day, tying the game at 17 apiece.

Now the Broncos had to stop Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, who started their final drive at their own 30-yard line.

The first play of the drive, Sammy Morris scampered 19 yards to the 49, putting the Patriots in an optimum situation to win the game with another 15 yards of offense.

It appeared Brady and New England would do it again.

On the following play, Morris took the ball up the middle and Wesley Woodyard forced the ball out, but the Broncos were unable to capitalize and the Patriots recovered.

The very next play, Tom Brady dropped back to pass, and Denver defensive end Vonnie Holliday came up with the team’s first sack of the game and forced a fumble of Tom Brady.

This time, the Broncos took advantage. 

Elvis Dumervil fell on the ball, setting the Broncos up in Patriot territory with over a minute to play.

The Patriots’ defense also came to play, and they shut down any chance the Broncos would have of scoring a game-winning field goal in regulation.

We had overtime.

The Broncos won the coin toss in bonus play, and started with the ball on their own 20-yard line.

After ten plays, kicker Matt Prater took the field to attempt a 41-yard field goal to win the game for Denver.  His kick could not have been more perfect, and the Broncos took the game 20-17 in overtime.

 

Random Game Thoughts

Quarterback Kyle Orton played his best game as a Bronco, completing 35-of-48 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns.  He also threw his first interception of the season, but it came on a “Hail Mary” play at the end of the first half.

Orton was pin-point with his passes, and he got everyone involved. 

Eddie Royal tripled his season total in receptions, catching ten on the game for 90 yards.  Brandon Marshall had 8 receptions for 64 yards and two touchdowns.  Jabar Gaffney caught six passes for 61 yards.

I was actually extremely surprised that Denver did not score more than they did.  They had 424 yards of total offense, and other than the fumble by Knowshon Moreno, they did not turn the ball over.

The Broncos’ defense continued its impressive play, but this time they did not have any sacks until the fourth quarter.  One of my “Keys to Victory” for them was putting heat on Tom Brady, and they did not do that very well.

For the most part, Brady had time to knit a sweater and call home while he waited for a receiver to get open, or that’s what it seemed like at least.

The Broncos got their stops though, and they did not allow the Patriots to score the entire second half.

For the first time this season, the Broncos lost the turnover margin, and the Patriots were 53-of-53 in their previous games when they won the turnover margin.

As high as I am on Knowshon Moreno, the Broncos missed Correll Buckhalter.  They did not incorporate Peyton Hillis like I thought they would, but Moreno did a very nice job.  He ran the ball 21 times for 88 yards, 11 of which came at a crucial point of their overtime drive.

A defensive player who has been hot the last two weeks, other than Champ Bailey, is fellow cornerback Jack Williams who made some great plays.  The Broncos have a very formidable secondary, and Williams is great depth.

One stat that really stood out to me was that Denver had 27 first downs to the Patriots’ 18, which is a substantial difference.

Another one of my “Keys to Victory” was getting off the field on third down defensively, and the Broncos were able to hold the Patriots to a 35 percent conversion rate, which is over 11 percent lower than their season average heading into this game.

Inversely, Denver converted 42 percent of their third down plays, and that was critical in them winning this game.

 

Final Rant

This game was a statement game for the Broncos, although it shouldn’t have been.  Denver has proven they are an elite team thus far, and they did it prior to this game.

The bandwagon is sure to be overflowing after this win, and the Broncos are set up for a prime time matchup with San Diego next Monday night.

This team still has a lot to prove and a lot  to work on, which is encouraging for the fans.  Denver is 5-0 and has a long way to reach its full potential.

A magical win in what so far has been a magical season.  Denver is not just a surprise anymore, they are legitimate AFC contenders.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Broncos-Patriots Preview: Keys to Victory For Denver in Week Five

The Denver Broncos (4-0, First Place AFC West) are set to play host to the Boston Patriots (3-1, Second Place AFC East) in an old-school style AFL matchup. The Broncos will be wearing an odd shade of yellow and brown while the Patriots will be wearing their old uniforms as well.

Denver is coming off of a huge win at home last week against the Dallas Cowboys when wide receiver Brandon Marshall made probably the play of the week and gave the Broncos a 16-10 lead late in the fourth quarter.  Even more impressive was the goal line stand from Denver led by cornerback Champ Bailey, who knocked away passes on third and fourth down to seal the victory for the Broncos.

New England or “Boston” is coming off of an impressive victory against the previously undefeated Baltimore Ravens as well as a victory over the then undefeated Atlanta Falcons.  Even before that, the Patriots played the undefeated New York Jets and the 0-0 Buffalo Bills, so this game could even be considered their fifth straight against an undefeated team.

The Patriots have played a grueling schedule while the Broncos have been criticized for not having the best competition they could on the way to their 4-0 start.

This game is shaping up to be the game of the week, and if the Broncos are going to win, they are going to have to do it without the leading rusher in the AFC West:  Correll Buckhalter.

Likewise, the Patriots are without starting running back and big free agent signee Fred Taylor, who is getting ready to have surgery on his ankle.  His absence will mean the second straight year New England has lost its starting back to injury, and he will be replaced by a combination of Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk, and Laurence Maroney.

This game is being dubbed the “Battle of the Hoodies” for obvious reasons.  Josh McDaniels is the latest branch of the Bill Belichick coaching tree to face his mentor, and both coaches have had great things to say about each other throughout the week.

Still, this game is a business, and all friendships will be thrown out the door for sixty minutes on Sunday afternoon, and the former Patriots assistant coach is sure to have his hands full.

Here are the keys to victory for the Broncos in week five.

 

1.  Get off the field on third down defensively

The Patriots’ offense, led by quarterback Tom Brady, is averaging a stellar 45.8 percent success rate in third down situations, and they get it done in a variety of ways.  Brady has Wes Welker coming out of the slot, Randy Moss and Joey Galloway on the outside, and a variety of good pass-receiving backs who can pick up big yardage on screen plays.

Defensively, the Broncos are holding opponents to a similarly staggering 26.4 percent success rate.  Denver’s defense is fast, athletic, and smart, and they are led by a host of veterans including D.J. Williams, Elvis Dumervil, Champ Bailey, and Brian Dawkins.

If the Broncos are going to create opportunities for their offense, they are going to need to get off the field on third down.  The Denver defense has allowed a mere two touchdowns so far this season, and only 26 points overall.  It remains to be seen if this unit is of the “bend, don’t break” variety or the “elite” variety. 

Based on the numbers, we are forced to believe they are elite.  Despite playing two of the worst teams in the NFL in consecutive weeks, the Broncos allowed opponents into the red zone a total of six times in four weeks, twice because of fumbles inside the 25 yard line.

The Broncos struggled in the first quarter against Dallas against the screen pass, and they are going to need to get ahead on New England early.  Limiting screen passes and underneath routes will be crucial to victory.

 

2.  Keep the Heat on Tom Brady

The Broncos lead the NFL in sacks this season, and they are led in that category by fourth year player Elvis Dumervil who is in just his first season as an outside linebacker in the NFL.

Dumervil is tied for the NFL lead with eight individual sacks, and his production on Sunday will be big for the Broncos. 

This revamped front seven will be going up against a very solid offensive line and a quarterback who excels at making quick decisions.  Any pressure they choose to apply will have to come early, often, and with help on the short passes.

Denver certainly has the cornerbacks to keep up with New England’s wide receivers, and the return of Alphonso Smith to the lineup really helps the Broncos.  Smith played very well at the start of this season as the nickel cornerback, and he could be a name called a lot on Sunday.

The Broncos will have to disguise their pressure, and defensive coordinator Mike Nolan has done a superb job of that so far this season. 

 

3.  Kyle Orton and Knowshon Moreno

These two players are going to be absolutely critical for the Denver Broncos on Sunday. 

On one hand, Orton is going to need to play his very best against a defense that ranks in the top ten in many major categories.  The Patriot defense, though battered right now, is one that is athletic and aggressive.  The Broncos will have to use a variety of short passes, screens, and halfback delays to offset that aggressiveness.

Orton needs to be precise with his passes.  He has a great arsenal at his disposal, and now that his finger appears to be fully healed (first week without glove on throwing hand) we assume his throws will be at the very least more comfortable.

Eddie Royal, the rookie phenom from 2008, has been getting blanketed by opposing defenses but with the recent emergence of Brandon Marshall on the outside and the potential return of Brandon Stokley, teams will no longer be able to key in directly on Royal.

This will help Orton with his short passing game, and another player who will help the Broncos with the aggressive style of New England is rookie running back Knowshon Moreno, who was recently named Diet Pepsi Rookie of the Week for his performance against Dallas.

Moreno has come along, slowly to be sure, but he is getting there.  He is an extremely talented back who runs with a purpose, and who is extremely versatile.  The Broncos are going to need a big game from the rookie on Sunday as they attempt to control the clock with their fourth ranked running game.

 

Team Advantages

Quarterback:  Patriots

Running Back:  Push (due to injury to Buckhalter)

Wide Receiver:  Push

Tight End:  Broncos

Offensive Line:  Broncos

Defensive Line:  Patriots

Linebacker:  Broncos

Cornerback:  Broncos

Safety:  Broncos

Special Teams:  Patriots

Advantage:  Broncos

 

This is an intriguing matchup to me.  The Broncos have a lot of advantages at the skill positions, but you can never count the Patriots out with Tom Brady under center and Bill Belichick in his headset. 

Denver is an upstart team who is riding an emotional victory, and New England is in a similar situation after a close encounter with the Baltimore Ravens.  The Broncos have the advantage of their home turf in this contest, which is a lot more significant when you are a mile above sea level compared to other venues. 

The Patriots are a very talented team, but Denver’s defense may be too much, and I think the offense is poised for a breakout.

It will be a fun game to watch, to be sure.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Early Thoughts on the Broncos-Patriots Week Five Matchup

The first quarter of the Denver Broncos’ season has been nothing short of magical.

A team that was expected to struggle mightily by many has vaulted itself into the NFL’s elite in only a short four weeks.

They won on the longest game-winning play in NFL history against the now 3-1 Cincinnati Bengals on the road in week one.  They continued their storied dominance over the Cleveland Browns in week two with a crushing 27-6 win.  In week three, they went on the road to Oakland and came away with a 23-3 win over their bitter rivals. 

With doubt in full form, they erased a 10-point deficit at home to the Dallas Cowboys and won 17-10 in dramatic fashion.

All of that being said, can anyone explain why Denver continues to get a raw deal from the main stream media?

Mike Florio’s popular blog at Pro Football Talk has the Broncos rated as the 15th best team in his latest, yes latest power rankings.  ESPN.com has the Broncos rated outside of the top five as well, ranking Denver eighth in their latest list.

And really, these writers and so called “analysts” have no reason to put Denver outside of the top five.  The Broncos are one of five remaining teams in the NFL who are unbeaten along with Indianapolis, New York Giants, New Orleans, and Minnesota. 

They also boast the NFL’s top defense, allowing only 6.5 points per game, yet they continue to garner no respect.

Some say that the media is “angry” that Denver is undefeated.  The Broncos were not supposed to be this good.  They were not supposed to start 4-0, and now that they have, the analysts and “experts” are questioning their competition.

While this is quite pathetic and unfair, the Broncos and their fans should continue to not care.  Winning is the cure-all for lack of respect, and the Broncos have proven through the first quarter of this season that they are, in fact, for real.

Heading into week five, the Broncos will host their rookie head coaches former team in the New England Patriots, who appear after four games to also be among the NFL’s elite.

New England, though not staggering on offense or defense, is an extremely well-coached team.  They have a ton of weapons on offense, and though their defense is missing a lot of key pieces, they rank in the top ten in three of the four major categories.

Coming off of a serious knee injury, quarterback Tom Brady has helped his team to two straight victories over undefeated teams, though he has not been his usual dominant self.  Through the first four games, Brady has thrown for 1,129 yards, four touchdowns, two picks, and a QB rating of 83.7.

His main weapons on offense are leading receiver Randy Moss, slot machine Wes Welker, tight end Ben Watson, and veteran running back Fred Taylor.

If the Broncos are going to win this game, they will likely have to do it without the help of running back Correll Buckhalter, who leads the NFL among starting running backs with 7.2 yards per carry.  His absence likely means rookie Knowshon Moreno, who has steadily improved over the last three games will get the bulk of the work on Sunday.

It could also mean that Peyton Hillis, who has been virtually absent this season could see some time as well.  Either way, it will be interesting to see how Denver attacks this versatile defense.

Moreno is averaging only 15 attempts rushing per game, and this team could rely on him to touch the ball a total of 25-35 times on Sunday against the Patriots.  The Broncos could look to off-set New England’s fast, aggressive defense with a series of screen passes.

When the Broncos take the field on Sunday, they will be wearing their yellow and brown 50th anniversary uniforms for the first time this season.  They look to improve to 5-0 on the season and head into their battle with division rival San Diego on a high note.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Broncos 17, Cowboys 10: Denver Defense, Marshall Lead Way to 4-0

No one could script a more exciting way to prove wrong a world full of doubt.

For the first time since 2003, the Broncos have gone through the first four games of the season unblemished as they defeated the Dallas Cowboys 17-10 at Invesco Field at Mile High.

After trailing for most of the game, Denver was able to come back in the fourth quarter in dramatic fashion to defeat the Cowboys thanks to the strong play of their defense, coupled with some timely offense.

Game Recap

A disastrous start to the game saw the Cowboys get out to a quick 10-0 first-quarter lead, courtesy of a 49-yard field goal by Nick Folk and a one-yard touchdown run by Marion Barber.

The Broncos’ defense played well in the first half, but the offense was unable to keep them off the field, and the Cowboys took advantage by getting big chunks of yardage on short passes and tough running.

Quite honestly, the Broncos seemed overmatched in the first half, but thanks to a sack/forced fumble combination by safety Renaldo Hill, Denver was able to get on the board in the second quarter. Quarterback Kyle Orton threw an out route to Knowshon Moreno who flew into the end zone for his first career receiving touchdown.

The third quarter was a defensive battle, as neither team was able to score any points, though the Cowboys came extremely close.

On the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter, Moreno fumbled the ball and it was recovered by Dallas deep in Denver territory. The Broncos got a huge play from their defense when Champ Bailey picked off a Tony Romo pass that seemed to be badly overthrown.

In the fourth quarter, the Broncos’ offense seemed to get a boost, and they were able to tie the game roughly halfway through the quarter on a Matt Prater field goal from 28 yards out.

With a little over three minutes remaining in the game, the Broncos started a drive from their own 27-yard line. An eight-yard pass from Orton to Brandon Marshall got it started, and Knowshon Moreno bolted 14 yards to the Denver 49-yard line before the two minute warning.

On the next play, Marshall made a good move on Cowboys’ cornerback Terrance Newman, and Orton threw the ball up in the air so Marshall could go get it, and he did just that. After one of the most impressive runs after a catch this season, Marshall and the Broncos went 51 yards to the end zone to take a 17-10 lead.

On the ensuing Dallas drive, Denver forced the Cowboys into a 4th-and-3 situation.  Tony Romo dropped back to pass and was nearly sacked, but he avoided the pressure and lobbed a pass to Sam Hurd who sprinted all the way to the Denver 21-yard line.

The Cowboys got it to the Denver three, and Romo made two mistakes on third and fourth down with goal to go: He threw at Champ Bailey.

On 3rd-and-goal, Bailey knocked away a quick slant pass from Romo to Sam Hurd, and on fourth down, he had a little help from his safety and the incomplete pass resulted in the Broncos lining up in the victory formation.

Random Thoughts and Stats

While the Denver defensive unit continues to stand out, outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil has been the group’s shining star. Against the Cowboys he had two sacks, increasing his season total to eight. He is currently on pace to have 32 for the season, which rarely even happens in Madden video games.

Denver also had sacks from Hill, linebacker D.J. Williams, and defensive end Vonnie Holliday. Their five sacks increased their season total to 15, which leads the NFL.

This unit has been outstanding, and they proved they are for real today when they held the league’s top rushing attack to 75 total yards; about 120 fewer than they have averaged this season.

Inversely, the Broncos were shooting themselves in the foot on offense, finishing the game with a pathetic 10 penalties for a total of 81 yards. The Broncos’ offensive numbers are skewed quite a bit because penalties negated a couple of big plays, and forced the Broncos into near impossible 3rd-and-long situations.

The offense appears to have a long way to go, but like it seems to be the case each week, they show flashes of brilliance at times, and the Brandon Marshall catch-and-run was certainly an instance of brilliance.

Kyle Orton had his best game as a Bronco statistically, completing 20-of-29 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns—and no interceptions. Along with Aaron Rodgers, who has yet to play his fourth game, Orton is the only starting quarterback in the NFL with no interceptions.

The Broncos’ offensive line allowed Orton to be sacked three times, and as was stated earlier, committed an array of costly penalties throughout the course of the game.  Again, this is a problem that will be fixed as players continue to grow acclimated to each other and the offensive scheme overall.

Rookie running back Knowshon Moreno continues to have a solid season, rushing for 65 yards on only 14 carries while catching his first touchdown pass of the season. He is a big weapon for the Broncos, and they have to be thrilled with what he brings to the table.

Correll Buckhalter, the lightning to Moreno’s thunder, was having an outstanding individual performance before leaving the game with an ankle injury. Thankfully, Buckhalter did not aggravate any of his previous knee injuries, and he could be back for the Broncos’ matchup next week.

Next Week

The Broncos will stay at home this week and get ready to host their head coach’s former squad when Tom Brady and the New England Patriots come to town. 

Denver looks to improve to 5-0 while the Patriots are hoping to beat their second straight undefeated opponent after coming up with a solid 27-21 victory over the previously unbeaten Baltimore Ravens.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Broncos-Cowboys Preview: Keys to Victory For Denver In Week Four

For the first time in 2009, the new-look “Orange Crush” will be on display when the 3-0 Denver Broncos host the 2-1 Dallas Cowboys wearing their popular alternate orange uniforms.

The Broncos are looking to start 4-0 for the first time since 2003, and the Cowboys are trying to keep pace with the New York Giants who also face an AFC West opponent in the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

Denver’s potential 4-0 start will not come easy, as Dallas boasts one of the league’s top offensive units.  This is significant because, so far in 2009, the Broncos have faced the 24th, 31st, and 32nd ranked offenses in the NFL, and the skeptics maintain that their defensive statistics are “overhyped.”

The Broncos have most certainly been up to the tasks at hand, handling the offensive units of Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Oakland with relative ease.  Denver’s defense has been so dominant in their first three games that they have allowed their opponents into the red zone a total of three times.

Here are the keys to victory for the Broncos as they host the Cowboys on Sunday.

 

1.  Stop The Run

The Cowboys have the number one rushing offense in the NFL and are getting a boost from their Pro Bowl tailback Marion Barber, who is returning from an injury.  Barber is undoubtedly the biggest name at running back the Broncos have faced so far, and the Cowboy offensive line is the biggest. 

Denver needs to stop Barber, Tashard Choice, and the Dallas running game if they are going to win this game.  The Cowboys are averaging nearly 200 rushing yards per game, and they can control the clock and wear down Denver’s defense if the Broncos are unable to get off the field.

Ronald Fields, Kenny Peterson, Ryan McBean, Vonnie Holliday, and Le Kevin Smith have done an outstanding job at stopping the run so far this season, and linebacker Andra Davis has been a great acquisition as well.  This group of players, though not the most decorated is a very solid unit.  They are big, but they are also quick. 

The Cowboys will be without speedster Felix Jones, who was averaging over 10 yards per carry before going down for two weeks with an injury.  His absence could be key.

2.  Exploit Dallas’ Weak Pass Defense

Dallas is currently ranked 27th in pass defense, and they have not exactly played the most dominant passing offenses in the NFL so far.  Denver is getting back a full arsenal of weapons offensively now with Brandon Stokley back in the mix, and they would be wise to utilize a lot of short passes to neutralize Dallas’ blitzing.

The Cowboys have a solid group in the secondary with Terrance Newman, Ken Hamlin, and Mike Jenkins, but the Broncos counter with a very solid group of skill players.

Kyle Orton is going to not only need to keep up his consistent, mistake-free play, but he may need to throw more than one touchdown in this game because Dallas’ weakness is clearly on the back end of their defense.

3.  Pressure Tony Romo

The Broncos have been one of the top teams in the NFL this year statistically in getting to the quarterback, led by Elvis Dumervil who has six sacks.

Denver is going to need to continue that success on Sunday if they want to slow down the Cowboys’ offense.  Tony Romo is probably the most athletic quarterback they have faced thus far, and he does a good job evading pressure and making something out of nothing.

If the Broncos can stop the run, then getting to the quarterback should be no problem. 

 

The Broncos have done an excellent job so far this season at playing “small ball” and winning games with the stellar play of their defense.  The Cowboys are Denver’s biggest test yet physically and are far and away the best offense the Broncos have faced so far.

Here is a positional comparison for each team.

 

Quarterback:  Cowboys

Running Back:  Broncos

Wide Receiver:  Broncos

Tight End:  Cowboys

Offensive Line:  Broncos

Defensive Line:  Cowboys

Linebacker:  Push

Defensive Backs:  Broncos

Special Teams:  Broncos

Coaching:  Broncos

Advantage:  Broncos

 

 

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Matt Prater to be Honored as AFC Special Teams Player of the Month

On Wednesday, the Denver Broncos announced that kicker Matt Prater will be named the AFC special teams player of the month after his fantastic start to the 2009 season.

Broncos fans remember the Prater from early last season who seemed well on his way to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl only to self-destruct as the season wore on.

Prater has arguably the strongest leg I have ever seen, one that has earned him this special honor after he made seven of his nine field goal attempts, including three from 40 yards or beyond.  He also leads the AFC in touchbacks, with seven, touchback percentage (46.7 percent) and 13 kickoffs that have reached the end zone. 

He has also helped the Broncos lead the AFC in opponents’ starting field position, with an average spot on the 20.6 yard line.

In their 3-0 start, the Broncos’ special teams play has been an area that often gets overlooked, mainly because their defense is overshadowing everything else right now, but the defense might not be what it is today if not for the play of Prater and the Broncos’ special teams unit, coached by Mike Priefer.

Prater was a player many Bronco fans thought to be on the bubble after his finish to last season, but this award is an excellent confidence booster for Prater and Denver’s fan base.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

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