Tuesday NFL Hangover: Five Best and Worst Of Week Five

I must admit, I didn’t see this one coming. Not at all. I feel like a drunk guy who talked to a woman and obtained her phone number, only to realize the next day that she looked more like Marion Berry than Halle Berry.

I never thought a guy could have this stat line:

2/17, 23 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT, 15.1 passer rating…

and actually win the game. I felt like somebody was playing some weird trick on me and decided to go all Criss Angel and make things look like other things.

This was actually a football game. With the MLB Playoffs currently going on, I felt like I was watching Manny Ramirez instead of Trent Edwards. Seriously, what is this garbage?

On a Sunday that featured everything a football fan could ask for, and maybe ask not to see, the fan in me wanted to see an entertaining 1 p.m. game after being less than intrigued by a Giants-Chiefs matchup that had little chance of being competitive.

The best part of that game was that Eli Manning was still throwing good, catch-able balls despite an apparent heel injury—like the back of a woman’s stiletto suddenly breaking in two.

I got what I asked for in the Cowboys-Chiefs game, which should’ve been an easy win for Dallas. But what’s easy for them nowadays?

Denver was supposed to be easy for them too, but, well, we know how that one ended.

If the Cowboys had lost to Kansas City, I could see Jerry Jones making the whole team, including Wade Phillips, watch Matt Cassel’s TD pass to Dwayne Bowe late in the fourth quarter on new Texas Stadium’s ridiculous video screen over and over until they keeled over.

Thanks to Miles Austin, the city of Austin and the rest of Texas can wipe the sweat from its foreheads.

What were the five best performances in Week Five? I can assure you that the Titans aren’t one of them.

 

5. Bengals Stun Ravens, 17-14, Improve to 4-1

“Hard Knocks” is finally seeming to validate it’s inclusion on television. Cincinnati is 4-1, and really should be 5-0 after the much heralded luck of the draw for Denver in the form of a Brandon Stokley score.

Carson Palmer is looking like the Carson before knee surgery, Chad Johnson (I refuse to call him that other name) is playing well, and Cedric Benson isn’t a bust after all.

If Palmer can limit his turnovers and the defense continues to play well, the Bengals will be a surprise playoff team.

 

4. Miles Austin Goes for 250 Yards in Cowboys Win Over Chiefs

Dallas up-ending the Chiefs by an overtime touchdown isn’t impressive at all. The guy who caught that TD is.

Austin, who hasn’t been a big factor in Dallas’ offense, decided he wanted to come out and play Sunday.

Everyone has blamed the Cowboys inadequacies on Tony Romo, but he and Austin showed Sunday what they’re capable of. Dallas is far from a good team right now, but Austin isn’t nearly as far from being a really good receiver.

 

3. Jake Delhomme Leads Carolina to First Win This Season

After Steve Smith lambasted Delhomme to his face a few weeks back in a clip played on YouTube has since been removed, Delhomme has had an about-face and has turned it around.

Delhomme has thrown four picks in the last three weeks, compared to nine in two games dating back to the 2008 playoffs.

Carolina finally looked like a team Sunday after defeating the Redskins 20-17. The Redskins are bad too, so that doesn’t tell us much.

Delhomme playing much better and not beating himself does.

 

2. Falcons Blowout Niners, 45-10

That headline speaks for itself. All the talk about Mike Singletary and the job he’s doing was silenced by Matt Ryan and a potent offensive attack.

Roddy White decided to be the Pro-Bowl receiver he was last season, and the rest was history.

The Falcons are a force to be reckoned with, and Singletary’s 49ers are dizzy and still spinning after that whippin’. We’ll see how they respond next week.

 

1. Josh McDaniels and the Broncos Down Former Boss, Patriots 20-17

This was absolutely, hands-down the best game this week and completely lived up to the hype.

If anyone—and I do mean anyone—lies and says they expected this from Denver, they should stop watching sports and cover their growing nose right now.

The Broncos are easily the most polarizing story so far in 2009, and with the way they matched Belichick’s Patriots will-for-will, play-for-play on Sunday, they may be the biggest surprise playoff team in recent memory. 

Kyle Orton is playing the best football of his career. Brandon Marshall is just ridiculous. What a beast. I’m thoroughly impressed.

 

Week Five’s Worst

 

5. Tom Brady’s Mishaps

Yes, I said it. Tom Brady screwed up on Sunday, not once, but twice.

I’m not used to Brady screwing up. I cannot and will not take anything away from Brady, and he is the second best QB of the millennium. I like the guy, and love watching him play.

But he missed Randy Moss and Wes Welker badly. Not on first-down receptions, but TDs. And I do mean sure-fire TD’s. Needless to say, Brady isn’t quite himself.

As Rocky Balboa’s trainer said on Rocky IV about Ivan Drago, “He’s Not A Machine!!! He’s A Man!!!”

So is Tom Brady.

 

4. The Buccaneers Pass Defense

Isn’t this the team that made the “Tampa Two” defense popular? What has happened to these guys?

Age and rebuilding has happened. Tampa Bay has some talented defenders, but they are not a cohesive unit and don’t play well together.

Romo blasted them, Trent Frickin’ Edwards killed them, Eli Manning did them dirty, they lost to the Redskins, and Donovan McNabb came back and played Madden with their defense.

Wow.

 

3. The Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns

I just have to mention this again. If this isn’t the worst football game I’ve ever watched, then Brett Favre isn’t a first ballot hall-of-famer. In other words, there’s no debate there.

Everybody and everything associated with this game was bad. Everything. Jamal Lewis ran well, but that just means the Bills defense couldn’t tackle him.

And the penalties? There were more penalties than points! Combined!

 

2. Jaguars Lose to the Seahawks, 41-0

What a way to follow up a big win: get shut out by six possessions.

Jacksonville didn’t do anything well in this game. Nothing at all. They weren’t even there. Didn’t show up. Left all 53 players at home in Florida.

There is no excuse for losing a game in this fashion as an NFL team. Nothing you could tell the fans to make them understand this. No disrespect to Matt Hasselbeck who’s a good QB, but this wasn’t even Manning-Wayne, Brady-Moss, or Favre-Peterson.

It was Hasselbeck-Burleson. As a teenager would say in a text message, “LMAO!”

 

1. ‘Dre Bly’s Celebration

This was despicable. Mike Singletary has made a name as a disciplinarian after what he did to TE Vernon Davis last season. If there was ever a time he needed to discipline anyone, this is it.

After intercepting Falcons QB Matt Ryan, Bly was heading down the sideline trying to score for his team, which was getting their arses handed to them on a platter.

He inexplicably began to showboat as if he were Neon Deion Sanders, and was stripped of the ball from behind by the trailing Roddy White.

Atlanta recovered the fumble, and went down to score again, making the score 42-10. You celebrate a pick like you’re some great corner. But your dropped pick let Brett Favre and Minnesota beat you two weeks ago, and you’re losing 35-10 this week?

As Singletary once said, “Can’t play with ’em. Can’t win with ’em. Can’t do it.”

Can’t win with a defender making those types of asinine plays. Bly better humble up fast, cause Singletary won’t have that type of behavior, and neither will the 49ers win column if they want to increase it.

Until next week everyone, enjoy the MLB playoffs. That Alex Rodriguez is somethin’, ain’t he?

 

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

The Trade After Five Weeks

After an offseason full of sports pundits roundly criticizing every move the Denver Broncos made, a 5-0 start has finally silenced the critics. Most of the controversy in Denver has been replaced by the sheer joy of winning.

 

The few hardcore Bronco haters out there are reduced to mumbling drivel about luck and making excuses for the teams that should have beaten the Broncos and couldn’t.

 

Only one argument has yet to be settled. Was Cutler for Orton really the trade of a franchise quarterback for a mediocre quarterback?

 

The numbers say some interesting things about the trade.

 

Kyle Orton has quietly moved into a seventh place ranking among quarterbacks in the NFL ahead of such notables as Favre, Rivers, Romo, and Flacco. Meanwhile Jay Cutler’s 25^th place ranking has him keeping company with the likes of Byron Leftwich and Matt Cassel according to Football Outsiders.

 

 

Given the criticism of Orton, that he has a weak arm and only throws short passes, one would expect Cutler, well known for his more powerful arm and deep passes, should have a higher yards per attempt. Instead, it is Orton whose yards per attempt stands at 7.49 while Cutler’s is 6.98.

 

Cutler’s 89.3 quarterback rating equally suffers next to Orton’s 97.4 rating. Cutler’s 901 yards through four games compares to Orton’s 906 yards on his first four, but Orton had no interceptions in those games to Cutler’s five and Orton was playing with an injury.

 

One oddity in the numbers is the changes in ratings both quarterbacks are experiencing this year. Kyle Orton’s rating shot up 17.8 points while Cutler’s rating of 89.3 represents an increase of 3.6 over last year.

 

The increase in Kyle Orton’s numbers is part of a pattern. His quarterback rating has risen every year since his rookie year when it was only 59.7. At 97.4, if Orton’s numbers hold up, he would have a quarterback rating better than the career ratings of guys like Drew Brees and Tom Brady.

 

Orton’s play during the New England game was the kind of play that one would normally expect from Tom Brady. Was this just a one game fluke or can Orton continue that all season? The answer to that question may just be that Orton has emerged as a franchise quarterback in his own right.

 

Jay Cutler had a remarkable 88.5 rating as a rookie and has substantially the same rating now.

 

The perception of Jay Cutler as a franchise quarterback was formed early on from the remarkable skill set he showed as a rookie. Cutler’s powerful arm, ability to throw touch passes, accuracy, and pocket presence were all evident from his first start. Cutler has skills that many good quarterbacks never develop.

 

The main thing holding Cutler back, and the main reason Orton is leading him in the rankings, are his interceptions. Last year Cutler was second in the league in interceptions with 18, the year before he threw 15 interceptions.

 

So far this year Cutler has thrown five interceptions, but four of them came in the first game of the season. If that game was a fluke and Cutler throws relatively few interceptions then he becomes the franchise quarterback so many people think he is. Brett Favre has made quite a nice career for himself with a career quarterback rating just under Jay Cutler’s at 85.7 and he overcame similar interception problems.

 

There is no doubt at all that Kyle Orton gained more than Jay Cutler in the trade. Orton moved into an offense that gives him a lot of targets and gives him the freedom to choose which one he thinks is the most open.

 

Jay Cutler went into a situation that gives him fewer targets, but Cutler has managed to play efficiently and get the most out of the targets he has. The result for Cutler has been less yardage, but he still finds ways to keep his team in games with his ability to get the ball to his receivers in key situations.

 

The Broncos stand 5-0 and the Bears at 3-1. Both teams are entering very tough stretches during which we will find out a lot about these players. They just may both prove to be franchise quarterbacks.

 

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

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

Wild Horses Dragged Tom Brady Away

Broncos 20 Patriots 17 OT

From a phone booth in Mile High
I made a promise to my guy
One more overtime win
I haven’t gone my last go ’round

The same promise that I twitty
In Miami and Kansas City
But tonight I saddled up
And let him down

Wild horses keep draggin’ me away
And I’ll lose more than I’m gonna win someday
Wild horses just stay wild
And Belichick’s heart is all I break
Wild horses keep draggin’ me away

He’ll watch me throw around that ball
Gettin’ courage up to call
Me out on one more promise
That I can’t keep

The way I love the rings
I guess I should let him sing
But he’s not a fat lady
Of course I am Tom Brady

Wild horses keep draggin’ me away
And I’ll lose more than I’m gonna win someday
Wild horses just stay wild
And his heart is all I break
Wild horses keep draggin’ me away
Wild horses keep draggin’ me away
And I’ll lose more than I’m gonna win someday
Wild horses just stay wild
And his heart is all I break
Wild horses keep draggin’ me away

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

One-Upped: Kyle Orton “Out-Bradys” Tom Brady

So you say Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton is a “game manager,” eh?

Take a look at these statistics from Sundays 20-17 overtime win over the New England Patriots: 35-of-48, 330 yards and two touchdowns. I don’t hold his one interception against him because it was a desperation heave at the end of the first half.

If Orton is a “game manager,” then so is Brett Favre, Drew Brees, John Elway and, oh yeah, Tom Brady.

For one game at least, Orton played Brady-style football better than Brady himself.  Orton led a remarkable 98-yard drive late in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 17 after the Broncos trailed 17-7 at halftime.

New England got the ball back with two minutes remaining in regulation. Many thought it was going to be another Brady comeback because he has become so masterful at bringing his team back late when the game is on the line.

Not this time. 

First, the Broncos defense stopped the Patriots on crucial third downs late in the game. 

Second, and more surprising, Brady was off target. 

Late in the fourth quarter, he bounced what would have been a sure touchdown pass off the hip of receiver Wes Welker. It was the kind of pass Brady never misses.

Today, he did. And Orton didn’t.

After winning the coin toss at the start of overtime, Orton led the Broncos on a steady drive, resulting in Matt Prater’s game-winning 41-yard field goal.

Orton did it. He pulled a “Tom Brady” against the Patriots in a game not many people expected the Broncos to win. This time, Orton was the superstar and Brady looked like the sixth-round draft pick that he was back in 2000.  

I am not saying Orton is better than Brady. Brady has three rings to Orton’s zero and, in the big picture, this game will do little to nothing to tarnish Brady’s image as a master of the fourth quarter comeback. What it does show is that he is beatable if you game-plan properly.

However, it does do a lot for Orton. 

People now see what the man can do with quality receivers and a head coach that believes in him. Josh McDaniels took the leash off Orton and let him run wild, attempting an astonishing 48 passes. 

People have been saying since his arrival that the Broncos would win in spite of Orton, not because of him. Well, Orton proved them wrong and, in turn, has added a whole other dimension to the Broncos’ offense. 

Expected to be a dink-and-dunk team under McDaniels, Orton’s solid play along with the re-emergence of Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal and complementary play of Jabbar Gaffney and Brandon Stokely have made the Broncos a suddenly potent passing squad.

Combine that with a continually impressive defense, a 5-0 start and a head coach that helped gel the most explosive offense in NFL history in 2007, and the Broncos are now one of the teams no one in the NFL wants to face.

Heck, this team has even made the most hardcore McDaniels opponents forget about ol’ “what’s his name,” you know, the dude that was traded to Chicago?

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Boston Patriots vs. Broncos: Throwback Game Ends in OT as Denver Triumphs 20-17

The Glossy Cover to the Story

In what should be remembered as the Mother of all Throwback Games, the Denver Broncos beat their longtime rival the Boston Patriots with both teams wearing their original team garb, which was bound to jog a few memories and shock a few younger ones.

Last Sunday the Broncos hosted the Dallas Cowboys in a game that was ugly and downright sloppy at times. There were a number of penalties against both teams, and neither team seemed to get much going on offense.

As poor as that game was at times, this one delivered on the shortcomings on both sides of the ball.

Yesterday at Mile High against the Boston Patriots, the Denver Broncos prevailed in a very well played and well fought ball game on both sides. It was so good, in fact, that it had to go to overtime to get a final decision on which team was the better of the two for the day.

It was a day of celebration, nostalgia, remembrance, and more celebration. It was a time for the original AFL teams to celebrate their roots as teams in a competitive league with the NFL. The NFL and AFL did eventually merge, and that was worth remembering and celebrating as well.

In the end it was the Denver Broncos and their first season yellow and brown throwback jerseys prevailing over the classier look of the Boston Patriots in their throwbacks. 

Don’t misunderstand this, however, even though the Broncos’ original jerseys look like a generic way of saying jerseys don’t matter; the Broncos made them look incredibly tough to beat. After the Broncos beat down the Boston Patriots, it was cause for more celebration in Denver.

This throwback game was rooted in humble beginnings. Those same roots became embraced by the franchise and the fans on a day that could have easily turned out as ugly as the original uniforms. The Broncos’ original jerseys have caught the eye of the national press and are the subject of pointed jokes once again. 

Somehow, it doesn’t matter; these Denver Broncos are good regardless of the jerseys they wear, which coincidently is at four jerseys in five games, certainly making it some sort of a professional football record that will soon be eclipsed only by themselves. The Broncos are scheduled to wear the road throwback version against the Chargers in San Diego on Monday Night Football, making it five uniforms in six games.

The amazing thing is they haven’t even touched their late ’60s jerseys or their old Orange Crush look from the 1970s.   

From the latest and greatest offensive innovation, to the relentless defense, to Kyle Orton coming into his own, to Eddie Royal and Brandon Marshall coming up with the clutch grabs just when the Broncos had to have them—the Denver Broncos are maturing and jelling as a team, beating one of the best teams in the NFL to go 5-0 and looking like contenders. 

 

The Validation of a New Identity

This team has gone a long way to make fans forget the offseason and the controversial trade of Jay who?

So just as head coach Josh McDaniels let loose of all his emotion following the victory should all the accolades start mounting. For all of Josh’s personal shortcomings and criticism surrounding the trade of Jay Cutler and other offseason dealings, he deserved his moment in the Mile High air to vent frustrations and celebrate something he believed in.

From the moment he interviewed, Josh conveyed a new direction for the Broncos, one they have not seen in quite some time—one that is now causing the Broncos faithful to start thinking about the Orange Crush defense and about being competitive every game out.

When no one thought the Broncos could beat the Bengals on the road, they did. When the Browns or Raiders looked like must games, they were merely speed bumps. Then everyone said Dallas and New England would show if the Broncos are for real or not. Well, forgive Coach McDaniels—he could have danced with a lampshade on his head, and he would have earned the right.

No one should be happier right now than owner Pat Bowlen, because he at times appeared to be at a loss during the offseason in trying to adapt. Much of the fanbase also followed suit in not knowing what to think or how to react to the myriad of moves made by the Broncos.

Shortly after hiring McDaniels for his football mind, it seemed the new coach was acting every bit the immature brat that Cutler had been portrayed as. It had to leave Mr. Bowlen second-guessing and scratching his head, as well as wondering if Josh was the right hire for the Denver Broncos.

Yet through it all the Broncos have maintained their goals as an organization. Nothing changed. Mr. Bowlen was very direct in the offseason saying in jest that a losing football team in Denver just won’t do.

Now owner Pat Bowlen, coach Josh McDaniels, and the players have their validation along with their new identity on who they are and where they are going. 

 

The Mother of All Throwback Games

Wild horses were the theme of the day as the Broncos decided to debut an upgrade to the now highly used wildcat offense. Part of the Broncos enhancement was to line up quarterback Kyle Orton in the slot with the option to read the defense and get under center depending upon the read he made pre-snap.

In much the same manner the Miami Dolphins shocked New England last season with the wildcat, the Broncos put the Patriot defense on its heels early with the wild horses offense.

This was a new, seemingly essential wrinkle the Broncos needed to put into the game plan in order to keep Boston on its heels. Consider the fact that the Broncos offense very much emulates the Patriots offense and their way of executing. After all, this game was about the student and the teacher and how well the pupil could muster up against the master sensei. 

The Broncos were able to effectively move the ball on their opening drive from their own 20 to just inside the Patriot 30. The drive stalled out almost immediately after Pats Coach Bill Belichick called for a timeout. Broncos kicker Matt Prater missed wide right from 47 yards out.

The Patriots then drove the ball the distance to score a touchdown on a Tom Brady to Wes Welker on an outside-in option route for the touchdown from nine yards out.

The Broncos then held the Patriots to a field goal following a Knowshon Moreno fumble.

Ironically enough, this was the same exact score the Broncos fell behind Dallas the week previous.

It was a tough and tight defensive battle much of the day with both teams moving the ball and trading punts.

The Broncos eventually got back into the game with a 90-yard drive that ended with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Orton to last week’s star Brandon Marshall with 4:31 remaining in the first half.

The Boston Patriots immediately responded with a touchdown drive of their own that saw Tom Brady hook up with tight end Ben Watson on a seven-yard cross with five seconds remaining in the half.

The Broncos’ Prater would connect in the third quarter on a 24-yard field goal to narrow the margin to 17-10 in favor of the Patriots.

Late in the third period the Broncos’ fortunes started to change as Boston kicker Stephen Gostkowski missed on a 40-yard field goal attempt that hit the outside of the left post.

The Broncos nearly gave the Patriots the game during a subsequent drive when they committed two special teams errors on fourth down. This gave the Patriots two first downs and extended their last drive of the third quarter into the fourth quarter.

The MO-JO connection hooked up again late in the fourth with Orton hitting Marshall from 11 yards out on a stop route that saw an old school maneuver with a dive for the goal line and the tying score.

The two teams traded punts and two possessions each prior to overtime.

The Broncos won the toss in overtime and marched the ball to the 23-yard line of the Pats. Prater then connected on a 41-yard field goal to send Mile High Stadium into an elated state of excitement.

Players, fans, and coaches alike all celebrated, but no one celebrated quite like Bronco head coach Josh McDaniels. Pointing to his family and the crowd with multiple fist pumps filled with emotion, the Broncos won, and the student had beaten his teacher.

 

Contact Chaz at sportsmanagement@gmail.com.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Unleash the Wild Horses: A Homer’s Tale

So what happened Sunday?

The Patriot way officially gave way to Wild Horses.

The Master learned a lesson from the Student.

The Wizard fell to the talented initiate.

I am not sure if I should be singing “Wrapped Around My Finger” by the Police or looking up ironic connections between Raistlin Majere and Josh McDaniels.

Dragonlance reference! NERD ALERT!

Ahem…my apologies.

What I do know is that the Denver Broncos are 5-0, with a 2.5 game lead in the AFC West and a 4-0 record in the AFC. A few more just like that one and I may risk offending the football gods by proclaiming that the road to the Super Bowl goes through Invesco Field at Mile High JR.

EGADS! Did he REALLY just say that?

“He did. He did. Poor fool. Brilliant once, but now lonely and confused. It may have been a blow to the head, but we think it was the hideous uniforms his footy team sported in yesterday’s NFL match.”

Yeah, that might be true.

But think about it. This team has improved each week. Yesterday, we saw the offense click for the first time, and the result was astounding. Kyle Orton…KYLE ORTON!…one more time…KYLE ORTON! stepped up and showed that he is capable of being more than a mere game manager. He carried the Denver Broncos on his back, engineering two drives over 90 yards, both ending in TDs.

Orton finished the day 35-of-48 for 330 yards, two TDs and a garbage INT. He outplayed Tom Brady.

KYLE ORTON! Did you hear that? KYLE ORTON!

If you are anything like me, you really did not think he had it in him. If you are anything like me, you have enjoyed this undefeated start, but up until yesterday, you never really believed we had a shot to play past December with KYLE ORTON! under center.

But yesterday the glove came off—literally—and he showed that he is capable of being THAT kind of QB when the rest of the team is cooperating.

The defense, in case you are not paying attention, has also shown that not only is it tough as nails and well coached going into a game, but they are also amazingly good at making adjustments during the game. Two weeks in a row they have fallen behind in the first half, only to stiffen and take the game away.

If the team continues to improve each week, we have as good a shot at not only making the playoffs as any team in the AFC, we may even play one at home.

ZOUNDS! He is losing it again! Someone get him a Cream stout in a frosted mug, STAT!

Yes, I know it’s against some kind of sports law or religious edict to step up and proclaim faith in guys like KYLE OTRON! and the Denver Broncos…and I think one of the promises Obama and the Dem congress have kept was in making it a federal crime to say Tom Brady was anything but brilliant, if a bit shakey, even in a loss.

Saying KYLE ORTON! outplayed him and our defense confused and bothered him, even if it’s true, may actually get me the chair.

But there it is. Kyle Orton can run this offense, and he can step up and lead this team when he is challenged to do so. The defense is making offenses look anemic and slow. The Broncos are becoming a balanced, dangerous team.

CALL THE GUARDS!!

Another strict law that could get me strapped onto a table with a bunch of syringes is allowing my perception to change. But guess what? It has changed. I am no longer a tentative Broncos fan striving to be objective and cautiously optimistic.

There used to be a curse…Greek, I think…or maybe Chinese. It was a very potent curse.

“May you live in interesting times.”

It has been an interesting season.

I have hope now. Not only that, I am starting to develop expectations. A dangerous thing in the end.

I know I risk being ostracized and getting beaten about the head and shoulders with small vials of vitriol for daring be impressed by a team the national sports church has deemed anathema, especially at the expense of the canonized demi-gods of cult of the media darling. But it’s too late.

I am full-blown Homerist again.

What I Now Know

I know that the Patriot way, essentially little more than a well-disciplined West coast offense, has now taken a distinctly Rocky Mountain flavor. Josh McDaniels, the Unacoach, the boy king, has broken the Patriot way and remolded it into something new.

We can call it the Denver Design, or the Rocky Mountain Manner, or even the Dove Valley Process. Granted, those would not sound as cool as “Patriot Way” for a street name, but it would serve notice that the Denver Broncos are more than just Patriots West.

I know that as much as McD wants to present himself as a stoic, humorless dictator in a hoodie, he simply can not pull it off. He is too open, too young, and too friendly.

His celebration after the win yesterday more than likely sent some of the stoics and lobotomized into apoplectic fits of traditionalitis, but I thoroughly enjoyed seeing it. His approach is, by his young nature, more open and invites everyone to join in the celebration.

And I know that that  separates him from the Pope of New England in profound ways. McDaniels may have brought the core system with him, but the difference in this team is like the difference between an open, honest mid-west town and a cold, jaded, east coast city.

I also know that Wild Horses sounds cooler than Wildcat, but it’s still the same damned thing and I don’t like it.

And I know that the 1960 throwback uniforms grew on me like a plague.

Slowly. Painfully. Totally. Maybe terminally.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

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

Come To Think Of It: Denver Broncos Remain Perfect Despite Butt Ugly Uniforms

They call it “throw back” night, but they could have just as easily called it “throw up” night, because those uniforms that the Denver Broncos wore in their improbable victory over the New England Patriots on Sunday made me want to puke.

Decked out in their best 1970s-era, Dave Winfield-led San Diego Padres colors, the Broncos seemed doomed in the first half, with Josh McDaniels’ idiotic decision to use his final challenge to save three yards capping an underwhelming performance.

 

Yep, their first half performance was one for the ages all right. The stone ages.

What can brown pants do for you? Well, apparently enough to score yet another come-from-behind win. The surprising Denver Broncos improved to 5-0 on the season.

Imagine what the Orange Crush uniforms could have accomplished. Why, the Patriots wouldn’t have had a chance.

McDaniels joins the Colts’ Jim Caldwell as one of only five rookie coaches in NFL history to start a season undefeated after five games. 

Kyle Orton, obtained in the Jay Cutler trade, actually outplayed Patriots QB Tom Brady, completing 35 of 48 passes for 330 yards and two TDs. This was only the second 300-yard passing game of his career.

Meanwhile, Tom Brady is now 1-5 as a starter against the Broncos for his career. Denver is the only team he does not have a winning record against.

“The guys in this locker room believe, the coaches believe, guys believe in each other and are fighting,” defensive lineman Vonnie Holliday said. As well they should.

“The electricity in the stadium was so great that we had to have it,” Orton said. “When we got to overtime, we just had to win.”

The Denver defense continued its miraculous comeback from a lousy season last year, as they held Brady to just 63 yards in the second half.

Despite an Orton interception, his first of the season, the Broncos proved to the football world that they are for real. Even if their uniforms were lacking, come to think of it.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

« Previous Page — Next Page »

Sponsored Links

Buy Denver Broncos Tickets, NFL Tickets, Football Tickets and Sports Tickets at StubPass.com.

BroncosZone Latest

• The Denver Broncos Must Face Their New Reality
• Denver Broncos: The Beginning of a New Era, Or The Beginning of the End?
• Hey Denver, Where’s the Love for Josh McDaniels?
• Josh McDaniels Is the Poster Boy for “Too Much, Too Soon”
• Denver Wide Receiver Brandon Marshall: “I Love Being a Bronco”