Admit it: The Denver Broncos Are For Real

This is a formal apology to Kyle Orton and the Denver Broncos.

Not more than a few days ago, I wrote that the Broncos were nothing more than a lucky, fluke team with an offense that thrives off a few fluke plays here and there. That was me who wrote that Denver sported a defense that hasn’t played anybody worth noting.

Shame on me.

When I’m wrong, I admit it—but I still feel that the Broncos have lady luck on their side this season.

Look at the Kyle Orton pass that should have been intercepted by at least four different New England defenders that fell into the arms of a Bronco receiver. The uncharacteristic Tom Brady throws that sailed off the mark for three easy TD passes to Moss and Welker. The horrible personal foul called against New England for taunting which basically lost them the game.

The list goes on and on, and that’s just from Week Five.

But winning with luck is still winning and the Denver Broncos are certainly winning.

I still stand by what I said—the team’s winning has little to do with Kyle Orton and a lot to do with a little something called “yards after the catch” and the Broncos defense.

Orton has benefited from every tipped, deflected, and batted pass that’s been thrown. But he’s still making quick, smart throws that keep the defense off balance, and with the running game picking up every week, the Broncos offense is starting to look legit.

However, I still believe the Broncos’ offense would falter if asked to win the game on its own. This is an offense clearly built to play with the lead or at least be within one TD at the end of the game.

The Broncos defense on the other hand continues to impress. They rattled Tom Brady, who has looked off most of the season, and didn’t let Randy Moss get much of anything going today.

Overall, the Broncos looked very impressive, and if Kyle Orton read my article last week, I’m sure he’s stroking his neckbeard and laughing tonight while sitting at 5-0.

The Broncos have a bit tougher of a test next week on Monday night against San Diego, who has a much more potent offense than anything Denver has faced this season.

Philip Rivers and Darren Sproles have played incredibly well all season and will test the Broncos defense. But their defense has been lacking lately, and after what Orton and the Broncos offense did today, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Orton have a career day against them.

Overall, the Broncos are good—damn good.

I can’t believe I just said that.

But believe it or not folks, the Denver Broncos are for real.

The head coach who threw away the franchise and the neckbearded noodle-armed QB are 5-0, and look seemingly more unstoppable with every week.

Foot in mouth—enough said for Jimmy Mac.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Broncos-Patriots: It’s David vs. Goliath, But Which is Which?

There comes a time in every NFL head coach’s career that he gets a shot to face off against the man who taught him the ropes. A win against the teacher gives the student the first crown jewel of his head coaching career.

For Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels, that opportunity comes in the fifth game of his head-coaching career, and he faces a considerable challenge in beating his teacher: a three-time Super Bowl winner by the name of Bill Belichick.

When the NFL released its schedule this past spring, the matchup between the Broncos and the Patriots seemed like the ultimate David vs. Goliath game. That phrase could still be used to define the game that is now two days away, but it is highly debatable who is David and who is Goliath.

The Broncos are one of the NFL’s most surprising teams, starting 4-0 after one of the most chaotic offseasons in recent memory. Led by a surprisingly stingy defense that has allowed only 26 points through four games—and with smart and thus far interception-free play by new starting quarterback Kyle Orton—the Broncos enter this game with a much better shot than many thought they had even one month ago.

Still, many people doubt whether or not this Broncos team is a contender or a pretender. Critics point to a soft early schedule and a fluke win over the Bengals as evidence that the Broncos are not ready for prime time and a brutal mid-season schedule will bring them back to reality quickly. That said, even the harshest critics are saying the Broncos are looking better than previously thought.

The Patriots, on the other hand, were expected to come out swinging following the  return of quarterback Tom Brady to their lineup after missing most of the 2008 season with an ACL injury. While Brady has made his presence known—as shown by the Week One comeback victory over the Bills—the Patriots are struggling in other areas. Losing three key defensive starters this past offseason, the normally stout Patriot defense has had trouble getting on its feet.

Even with a struggling defense, teams around the NFL have learned never to count out or overlook the New England Patriots. Just when you think they’re dead and buried, they fire off a long winning streak and blow by the competition. People thought they were through when Brady went down in Week One last year, but the Patriots—with a quarterback that had not started a game since high school—finished 11-5 and lost the AFC East crown on a tiebreaker.

Another thing that has added a level of intrigue to this game is the aforementioned chess match between the sidelines with McDaniels facing off against Belichick. Both men know each other really well, with McDaniels serving on Belichick’s staff from 2001-2008, most recently as offensive coordinator. 

Belichick will know the Broncos’ offense and McDaniels will know the Patriots’ defense.  The wild card will be the Broncos defense, as defensive coordinator Mike Nolan could be the difference maker in this game.

When the final whistle blows on Sunday, either the student or the teacher will be victorious (unless the ever-so-rare tie occurs), and David will once again have slayed Goliath.

Unless you are a fan of the team that loses.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

A Plea To Raider Nation

Dear Black & Silver Faithful,

 

I remember a time, as a Broncos fan, when I used to get energized to play the Raiders. It used to be an event, an entire week of increasing anticipation and smack talk, culminating in an epic battle waged on the field between two bitter division rivals.

 

It never used to matter how good either team was. The action on the field would inevitably play out like two equally matched foes battling blow for blow, until one momentous play would decide who would emerge victorious.

 

I certainly can’t speak for you, but I boldly state on behalf of all true Broncos fans, that there was truly no team, no entity in existence, that I hated more than the Raiders.

 

I hated Al Davis more than any figure in sports. I hated Howie Long and his flat top terrorizing our offensive line. I hated Tim Brown just for being Tim Brown. I hated John Gruden and his sour patch face.  

 

I even hated Bo Jackson so much that I still baselessly can’t stand the Kansas City Royals. And don’t get me started on how much I hate Tecmo Bowl for making him the most lethal athlete in video game history.

 

The point I’m trying to make is that the Raiders used to invoke a passionate reaction in me that was unmatched by any team, in any sport.

 

And while they still may own the edge in the all time series (54-40-2), since 1995 the Broncos have won 21 of the last 27 matchups, leaving me to wonder where the competition in this rivalry has gone.

 

You will certainly at this point try to cite to me the 31-10 score from last year’s matchup in Denver, where your almighty Raiders beat up on a bad Broncos team on the verge of a free fall from glory.

 

Ok. I’ll give you that, but I’ll also be so daring as to say that was a complete fluke.

 

Now that it is becoming obvious that the Broncos are a well-prepared team week after week, who won’t suffer from the same kind of lapses they didn’t under Shanahan, I am nervous about the future of this rivalry.

 

My hatred towards the Raiders is just being replaced by pity. No fan base should have to suffer like you are suffering.

 

Al Davis has been masquerading his last three first round draft picks as the future of this franchise, but it is becoming painfully obvious that his personnel expertise has been lost along with his coherence.

 

JaMarcus Russell is clearly overmatched on this level, and only if his work ethic were half as large as his appetite would there be hope for any improvement. His passer rating, although an inherently flawed statistic, is only 42.4 after four games. This is by far the lowest of any other starting quarterback in the league.

 

Sure he can throw a ball through the side of a brick barn, but the jury is out on how often he can actually hit the side of said barn.

 

Darren McFadden has undeniable ability, but his tendency to fumble the rock (once every fifteen carries), has him on the sidelines more often lately than his talent would suggest.  

 

Darrius Heyward-Bey can run in a straight line. Very, very fast.

 

These are the players on which Davis has mortgaged the future of the franchise and it’s apparent that neither they, nor he are the answer for this once proud franchise.

 

So here is my plea to Raider Nation. Stand up, revolt, stage a rebellion, instigate a mutiny towards ownership. Don’t accept the second rate players you are being given. Put on your masks and metal spikes, and knock down the executive doors at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Drag Al Davis into the Black Hole and don’t let him out until he relinquishes ownership of your beloved Raiders.

 

You need a change, and for the love of God, every Broncos fan needs the change too.

 

As we begin the approach towards December 20^th, and the next Broncos/Raiders showdown, I can’t help but wonder how bad the Raiders will be by then, and how easily the Broncos will hand them a loss.

 

Don’t let it get any worse Raider Nation. Bring back the glory days. Bring back the competition. Rise up now!

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

Week 5: NFL Picks & Predictions

Last season, I finished the year right below 80% on my picks. My picks were solid all year, and earned me mention on some the biggest sports bettors in the world websites, including Brandon Lang and J.R. Miller among others.

Now, I don’t pick against the spread, I pick the straight up winners. So, keep that in mind as you look at all of these.

This has been a topsy-turvy season thus far, and I’m slowly coming out of that wicked bad early season slump caused by Week 2’s picks, and hope to get to 12 wins this week, same as last week.

Record from Previous Week (4): 12-2

Record coming into Week (5): 43-19 (69.35%)

Overall record: 43-19

Let’s get it on!

Begin Slideshow

Spread ‘Em: NFL Week Five Picks

I was back on track last week, going 9-5 in the games played. It would be nice to have back-to-back strong showings to build on my 37-25 record on the season.

As always, I base my picks on flawed logic, personal opinion, age-old gambling trends, and matchups. If you’re looking for high-end analysis…I do what I can with what I’ve been blessed with.

Here now are the week five picks, with the home team in bold. Picks are for entertainment purposes only, of course.

Minnesota (-10) over St. Louis

A small part of me wanted to pick the Rams in this one. There will be a natural letdown from Brett Favre and his teammates because they won’t be pitted against the Green Bay Packers this week. Additionally, the Vikings played their last game on Monday Night Football at home, giving them a short week to prepare and travel.

Upon further review though, the Rams have scored 24 points on the season, and have been outscored through the first four weeks by a combined 84 points. They’ve been shutout twice already and, given the quality of their opponent this week, could be in for another blowout loss.

Vikings, 31-6

Dallas (-8.5) over Kansas City

After getting outmuscled and outplayed in Denver last week, the Cowboys move on to Arrowhead Stadium, another tough venue for a visiting team to play in. However, the Chiefs are not talented enough to challenge the Cowboys. Dallas will likely have Marion Barber closer to full strength in this game, which should allow the Cowboys to grind out a large chunk of yards on the ground, putting Tony Romo in more favorable passing situations.

I would not be stunned to see the Chiefs keep this game close; there is talent on Kansas City that is developing and improving. The Cowboys should come into this game looking to atone for last week though, and they may put this one away early.

Cowboys, 27-13

Carolina (-3.5) over Washington

I was torn in making a pick for this game. The Redskins were recently placed on my “Do Not Bet On” list, based on their poor performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in week four. Carolina, thanks to their turnover-prone QB Jake Delhomme, has not proven to be a safe pick this year either.

Ultimately, I am taking Carolina because the Panthers have two things working in their favor:

1) They come off the bye week, which means they had extra time to prepare.

2) They are playing the Worst 2-2 Team In NFL History, the 2009 Redskins.

When I write that I rely on age-old gambling trends, I don’t joke: teams that host games following their bye week usually cover the spread. Hello Carolina!

Panthers, 24-14

Philadelphia (-15) over Tampa Bay

This game feels like a high school homecoming game. Remember the homecoming game? The home team almost always scheduled a doormat for homecoming so that they could have a guaranteed win on the schedule for all the alumni to enjoy.

There’s more to this pick than the whole “homecoming game” vibe. The Eagles will benefit from coming off the bye week and hosting this game. They will be well-rested. Donovan McNabb will play, and Brian Westbrook will be the healthiest he’s been all year.

Picking a team that’s favored by 15 points though, whether they are home or away, means the bettor has absolutely no faith in the ability of the underdog to cover the spread. That’s exactly how I feel about the Buccaneers, who have yet to show they can stop the run, stop the pass, or move the ball effectively to build sustained drives on offense.

Eagles, 34-9

NY Giants (-15.5) over Oakland

The over/under on men doing yard work during the early games on the NFL schedule this week is 45 million. I’m taking the over. Man, there are some ugly games on the docket.

I digress…

My only fear about picking the Giants is that I do so without knowing that Eli Manning will play. I wouldn’t be shocked if the Giants held Manning out of this one and used David Carr as the quarterback, knowing that they can win regardless of who’s under center. Of course, for the sake of the spread, and my pick, I’m rooting for Eli to play. Otherwise, this may be a wasted pick. It’s a risk I’m willing to take though.

Giants, 31-10

Cleveland (+6) over Buffalo

The Browns nearly pulled off an upset over the Cincinnati Bengals last week, and may pull off the feat this week in Buffalo, thanks in large part to the Braylon Edwards deal.

Oh, don’t get me wrong: Edwards was the Browns’ most talented offensive player. However, I found it odd last week when he didn’t catch a single ball last week from Derek Anderson, a quarterback that had developed a strong rapport with on the field. Then, Edwards wound up on the police blotter and, about 24 hours later, he wound up in a Jets uniform via trade. It’s enough to make one wonder if the Browns’ front office should apply for a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records in the category of “Fastest Disassociation with Soon-to-Be Suspended Receiver in NFL History.”

Free of the burden of Braylon Edwards now, perhaps the Browns march into Orchard Park, NY, and surprise the Bills. Addition by subtraction? When one is making a pick between two teams in tailspins, one looks for any edge they can think of. So, I’ll go with the “Better Without Braylon” angle.

Browns, 17-14

Cincinnati (+8.5) over Baltimore

When I made my decision on which team to pick in this game, I used the following logic: is it easier to make a case for a Bengals upset, or a Ravens blowout win?

The Ravens could come into this game with something to prove; several members of the team believe they should have beaten the Patriots last week. A fired-up Ravens’ defense could spell doom for the Bengals.

While I fully expect the Ravens to win this game, I think the Bengals’ defense is better than in years past and, quite possibly, it can limit what the Ravens can do offensively. Additionally, the Ravens can be scored upon, and the Bengals have a quality offense.

Looks like the case for a close, competitive game wins.

Ravens, 24-20

Pittsburgh (-10.5) over Detroit

The emergence of Rashard Mendenhall against the San Diego Chargers last week revitalized the Steelers’ running game. Now, with Mendenall the lead back, the Steelers have a full complement of offensive weapons. They should have little trouble scoring points this week.

The Lions are a work in progress. They are a better football team compared to last season, but remain young, inexperienced, and lacking in talent in some key areas. They may make a few plays in this one, but I don’t expect a close contest.

Steelers, 31-14

Atlanta (+2.5) over San Francisco

The Falcons come into this game fresh off the bye week. Their running game, which was their bread-and-butter last season, has struggled thus far. I’m sure a good portion of the last two weeks was spent figuring out ways to create holes for RB Michael Turner. As good as the 49ers are against the run, I believe he’ll have his best day of the young 2009 season.

Atlanta’s defense, which has given up nearly 400 yards per game, should benefit from missing 49ers star RB Frank Gore, who is out with an ankle injury. Glenn Coffee is a solid backup to Gore, but the Falcons will likely make QB Shaun Hill beat them by passing the ball.

I expect a close game; the 49ers have a playoff-caliber defense themselves. However, I think the 49ers’ lack of playmakers on offense will cost them.

Falcons, 24-21

Denver (+3) over New England

Both the Broncos and Patriots come into this game with something to prove.

For the Patriots, they need to prove that their revamped defense (4^th in yards allowed per game) is playoff-caliber. Tom Brady, four games into his comeback from missing the 2008 season, needs to prove that he can make plays in the face of a high-quality defense, something he wasn’t able to do against the Jets in week two.

The Denver Broncos need to prove they can withstand the rigors of their upcoming schedule. The defense needs to show it can slow down Brady and a talented offense. Ultimately, the Broncos need to win this game to not only prove the remaining naysayers they are for real, but to build on their current 3-0 record within the AFC.

Denver won’t go 16-0. However the combination of being at home, playing great defense, and remaining mistake-free on offense will be too much for the Patriots to overcome.

Broncos, 21-17

Arizona (-5.5) over Houston

The Cardinals are another team coming off a bye week and hosting a game. I find it difficult to bet against teams in this situation, no matter how they’ve played thus far in the season.

Both these teams have struggled at various times and are, in many ways, similar. Neither of these team have done well running the ball; both teams are pass-oriented on offense. Neither team can stop the opposition from effectively moving the ball through the air. This has all the makings of being a shootout.

One key difference though is in run defense, where the Cardinals have limited opponents to a shade under 80 yards per game, while the Texans give up an average of 165 yards per game. With two weeks off to game-plan for the Texans, this could be a breakout game for the Cardinals’ running backs.

Cardinals, 27-20

Jacksonville (+1) over Seattle

Just two weeks ago, I was of the belief the Jaguars were reeling. Two weeks later, the Jags have won two in a row and, looking ahead, could conceivably be 6-2 heading into their matchup with the NY Jets in week 10. My, how things have changed.

The Seahawks are vulnerable in this game because they struggle at stopping the run, and the Jaguars boast the dynamic running back, Maurice Jones-Drew. While Matt Hasselbeck returns to start at QB for Seattle, he isn’t bringing a star running back or a dynamic passing game with him.

Jaguars, 28-21

Indianapolis (-3.5) over Tennessee

I was surprised to see the spread was so low for this game. It’s as if Las Vegas is still setting the lines based on last year still (see Broncos vs. Patriots as another example).

The Colts are 4-0; the Titans are 0-4. Peyton Manning is off to one of the best starts of his career, while Kerry Collins looks like a journeyman QB hanging on by a thread to his starting job. The Colts’ offense is gaining over 400 yards per game. The Titans’ defense is among the league’s worst to this point.

I suppose if Tennessee won their next 12 games, they have a shot at the playoffs. Don’t look for that to happen though, because their schedule is brutal.

Colts, 27-18

Miami (+2) over NY Jets

The Dolphins thumped the Buffalo Bills last week. The Jets held their own against the Saints but, ultimately, came up short.

So far this season, the Dolphins have been significantly better at home this year. In addition to their rout of Buffalo, they nearly knocked off the Colts in a well-played week two loss. Miami will look to run the ball, control the time of possession, and try not to make any turnovers.

 As well as the Jets have played in the early going, this will be an important game for this team. Like the Baltimore Ravens teams of a few years ago, the defense will carry the Jets as far as they will go. The Jets need to be challenged and face some adversity. Miami will happily provide the Jets what they need, and more.

Dolphins, 20-13

 

For more insight on the NFL and the MLB playoffs: http://masterprocrastinator.wordpress.com/

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Kyle Orton, Broncos’ Luck Will Run Out Against Pats

QUARTERLY REPORT: DENVER BRONCOS

After firing Mike Shanahan, trading Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler, and nearly losing their grip on star wide receiver Brandon Marshall, the Broncos had disaster written all over this season.

But wait—the Broncos are…undefeated? 4-0?

Yes, you read that correctly—the Denver Broncos are undefeated after a total offseason meltdown.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves here and look at things for what they really are. A fluke, tipped pass that miraculously fell into Brandon Stokley’s arms for the game-winning TD with only seconds left in the fourth quarter saved the Broncos from starting 0-1 against the Bengals, which they should have.

Then the Browns and Raiders? Two teams that couldn’t win if they both took the field at the same time against an average NFL team? Then yet another last minute, fluke TD pass against an underachieving Cowboys team that has a bottom 10 defense and an offense that looks lost without Terrell Owens.

But we’ll still give credit where credit is due: It is all thanks to the Broncos defense. Only 26 points given up through four weeks? That’s the third best since the merger. While these defensive efforts haven’t come against anyone notable, save the frazzled Dallas Cowboys, it is still an impressive feat for a defense that has ranked at the bottom of the league the last two seasons.

The Broncos offense, on the other hand, hasn’t been awful, but it hasn’t been spectacular either. It’s been…Orton-ish. It looks much like the offense that Chicago left behind when they traded Kyle Orton away for the Pro Bowl QB Cutler—an offense that won’t singlehandedly lose the game for you, but does close to nothing to help you win.

Take Sunday’s Broncos-Cowboys game. The Broncos defense destroyed Dallas’ offense all game. The Broncos had great field position most of the day and were given several opportunities to put the game away while Tony Romo was constantly being shut down.

Yet Orton and the offense failed to capitalize on several drives and once again got lucky with a last second touchdown pass. Orton underthrew an ill-advised pass to Brandon Marshall, who made an amazing play and snatched an interception from the claws of the Cowboys’ defense.

He had also thrown an ill-advised pass earlier that went right through a defender’s hands in the red zone and luckily turned into a Broncos touchdown. Even Orton later admitted that he “got lucky on that one, thought it was going to be picked off.”

Orton’s NFL career seems to have lady luck on its side. In 2005, when Orton stepped in for an injured Rex Grossman in Chicago, he was the worst-ranked passer in the league that year, yet went 11-5 thanks to a No. 1 defense, a solid run game, and special teams play.

In 2008, he was yet again a bottom-ranked passer and managed to stay afloat thanks to rookie RB Matt Forte, who burst onto the scene, and once again the No. 1 special teams in football.

Now he finds himself on a Broncos team that has seemingly pulled a No. 1 defense out of a hat, and it has saved him on more than one occasion.

Let’s put Orton on the Broncos last season with the same defense—do they still go 8-8? Not a chance. The 2008 Broncos defense gave up 33 points per game, and Orton averages one TD per game. The Broncos’ 2009 offense overall averages 18 points a game, which currently ranks 19th in the league (as opposed to the Bears, who rank sixth in the league with Cutler at QB, scoring nearly 30 points per game).

Orton’s game management skills have been amplified and overrated, and he has become the quarterback that is commonly defended with the absurd statement, “All he does is win.”

Broncos fans have quickly become the mirror image of Bear fans in 2008 when Orton was about the best we could do at the quarterback position. We overlooked his flaws, his inability to make the big play and win the game for you, and we pulled the truth over our eyes.

Denver is about to get a big eye opener on what they really have, not only in Kyle Orton, but in their defense as well.

These are the defenses that Orton and the Broncos offense have faced in their first four weeks of the season:

* Week One: Bengals—Ranked 17th overall in defense

* Week Two: Browns—Ranked 32nd overall (last) in defense

* Week Three: Raiders—Ranked 19th overall in defense

* Week Four: Cowboys—Ranked 26th overall in defense

Not a top 10 or even a top 15 defense in sight.

Likewise, the Broncos defense, which has seemingly stepped up out of nowhere, hasn’t exactly faced top-tier competition. These are the offenses that the Broncos have faced thus far:

* Week One: Bengals—Ranked 21st overall in offense

* Week Two: Browns—Ranked 29th overall in offense

* Week Three: Raiders—Ranked 32nd (last) overall in offense

* Week Four: Cowboys—Ranked fourth overall in offense

So in four weeks of play, the Denver Broncos have faced one top 10 offense and have pretty much had the bottom of the barrel otherwise. Is it really that hard to see why they’re a top 10 defense?

The Bengals seemingly have turned it around but are in no way a major competitor in the league (not yet anyway), the Browns are in ruins and just scored their first offensive TD since last November last week, the Raiders are giving Al Davis his money’s worth, and the Cowboys have fallen apart after a seemingly strong start with Romo looking to be on the hot seat.

Not taking anything away from a victory—a win is still a win—but let’s take a look at who the Broncos face in the coming weeks:

* Week Five: New England—Ranked eighth on offense / seventh on defense

* Week Six (and 10): San Diego—Ranked 12th on offense / 24th on defense

* Week Seven: Baltimore—Ranked third on offense / eighth on defense

* Week Eight: Pittsburgh—Ranked sixth on offense / fifth on defense

* Week 11: New York Giants—Ranked fourth on offense / first on defense

Need I go on? Are we getting the picture? This isn’t even mentioning all their opponents. The Broncos will go from facing bottom feeders to some of the absolute best in the league.

Now while I can see the Broncos defense still faring decently against some of these teams, the Broncos offense is in for a big wake-up call.

Kyle Orton will need more than a dumb luck TD pass at the last second (weeks one and four) in order to beat the heavyweights in the AFC. Don’t be surprised in the coming weeks if you see the Broncos suddenly bottom up and fall into .500 territory. Then we’ll see if the fan support for Orton and Josh McDaniels stays afloat.

2009 Broncos Prediction: 7-9 (miss playoffs)

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Mile High Forgettables

Right around this time last year, I plopped down on Steve’s couch with a Chipotle Burrito on a Sunday afternoon and said, “Mike Shanahan won’t be around for too much longer.” 

Whether or not I really believed it at the time, I felt like I should argue for the validity of the statement just on principle; Steve, a lifelong Chargers fan, simply dropped his jaw and finally mustered up the courage to speak, “You actually believe that?”

The funny thing was that I did in fact actually believe that, and I pointed out that my reasoning was the loss of the “Shanahan Mile-High Magic.”  Mike had gone from the clutch, superstar commander of John Elway, Terrell Davis, Eddy Mac, and Hot Rod to the type of used car salesman who can’t even convince his customers to follow him inside for some coffee to discuss a “good deal.”  He had ceased to be a finisher. 

The team knew it and so did the fans, and honestly, excitement had dissipated in Denver.

Shanahan’s boy-toy disciple was the only player receiving press coverage on the roster, and it was mostly on account of negative behavior in the spotlight.  In true Robber Baron fashion, just like the founder of his sub-Ivy University, Jay was bouncing around claiming that his arm was stronger than Elway’s, that Philip Rivers was mean, and that his chin was inexplicably incognito; all the while, I continued to wonder if he might lift his helmet up a little bit so that it wasn’t blocking his eyes what the result would be on his permanently escalating interception tally. 

And then he stole a win from the Chargers, and Broncos fans rejoiced, because the Chargers were far superior to the Ponies as everyone knew, and the only way we could hang with them was a little bit of luck.

That was a year ago.  And 4-0 is now.

The defense has emerged as the best in the NFL under the direction of Mike Nolan (a brilliant pick up by the much maligned Josh McDaniels).  I can actually name all the guys on the team because everyone is making plays.  And what was lost by getting rid of Shanahan?  Lets do a side by side player analysis of gains and losses from the cut.

With Shanahan, Cutler stays.

With McDaniels, Marshall (who Shanahan had planned to cut in the offseason, big ESPN story awhile back), Brian Dawkins, Knowshon Moreno, Correll Buckhalter, Robert Ayers, and Mike Nolan appear.

Also ,the addition of Orton, who has yet to toss a pick, is turning out to not be half bad.  All the doomsday press coverage out the window.  Let the doubters doubt, this team is doing things we never saw coming.

And when you watch the Broncos now, a little bit of excitement creeps up from behind you right when you least expect it.  It’s unexpected because we aren’t used to closing the games with winning drives and epic defensive stands. 

What we have now is teamwork and preparation, along with the possibility of finally getting back above .500 on a season.  A defense worthy of the name “Orange Crush” paired with one of the best offensive lines in the NFL (Ryan Clady still has NEVER allowed a sack) is the perfect foundation.

So, in the offseason we got rid of a coaching legend and a chinless crybaby.  We replaced it with young talent that is exciting to watch and that old feeling that just maybe this is a unit we can be proud of.  Was it all worth it?

I’ll let you decide for yourself, but for the record, the Broncos Country message boards show that I was behind McDaniels all along.  I said 10-6 before the season.

God made the sunsets orange for a reason, and I’d say it’s because we finally have our finishers.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

These Aren’t Your Grandparents Denver Broncos; Or Are They?

The background music begins

Doodadodo- Dodadodo- Dodadodo- Dodadodo~ and on as the narrator begins to speak.

 

The Narrator

Imagine if you will, a football team, caught somewhere in time; with one foot stuck in 1960 and the other in 2009. This yellow, mellow custard jersey laced football team- looking as it did before- or as it is now. Perhaps, in its upcoming game, it will be like it was before in it’s inaugural game in its inaugural season. Only as they play the Boston Patriots, they will not be the away team, but the home team. Only where such oddities occur could you wind up in…the Twilight Zone.

 

The Actual Scoop on Those Twilight Zone Throwback Uniforms

So perhaps, you want the truth about those old duds before you see them on the field, or perhaps you’d like to humorously indulge the mother of all throwback jerseys head to toe.

In 1960, the first year of the American Football League (AFL), the Denver Broncos franchise had one of their more interesting starts. Undoubtedly, the poorest of all the start-up AFL teams, the Broncos began to play in the old Bears Stadium, which later became known as Mile High Stadium.

The stadium saw a number of upgrades along the way- the most notable of which was a state of the art design which slid the east side stands in and out- depending on whether it was time for football or baseball.

In the very first game for the Denver Broncos, they traveled east to take on the Boston Patriots, and won the game 13-10. The Broncos were the weakest franchise financially, and on the field, which really led to their humble beginnings in the Mile High city. 

The Broncos originally practiced in Golden, Colorado at the Colorado School of Mines football field. The Broncos were so strapped for cash back in those days that they purchased their original set of jerseys from the old Copper Bowl All-Star game, and purchased vertically striped socks at a clearance sale to match.

So for two seasons, these used uniforms became the teams’ original identity to the Rocky Mountain region. The Broncos were not a competitive team for quite some time. Yet, they were entertaining and started to draw fans.

Perhaps only Red Miller, who was an assistant back in the early days, is the only person to save one of the original pairs of vertical striped socks. The old socks and uniforms were destroyed in a pre-game ceremony, per the orders of then head coach and GM Jack Faulkner.

This weekend, the Broncos are celebrating their origins into the AFL and eventually, the NFL merger with the retro throwback jerseys that will certainly take every fan back to their humble roots.

The Denver Broncos will be taking on the Boston (New England) Patriots this weekend, full well knowing these two teams have a rich history with one another. Both in the AFL, and NFL.

So if things don’t look quite the same as they normally do, just know that it’s a weekend of nostalgia and remembering the importance of taking a risk against all odds.

When you see those wild and crazy jerseys that the Broncos are wearing this weekend, at least you’ll have the scoop on the Broncos original starting place as an original AFL team struggling to survive. You’ll have the scoop on a team that somehow- continually built upon what it had to eventually reach the pinnacle in 1997 and 1998.

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

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