DENVER BRONCOS HEAD COACH MIKE SHANAHAN

Opening statement

“So I think we had a chance to take control of the football game early after the first drive and the turnover and we didn’t take advantage of it.  Unfortunately we had three turnovers which gave them ten points and that got us behind the eight-ball.  In the second half, give credit to them, they made plays and had a couple long drives and they did what they needed to do to win the football game and we couldn’t respond.”

On injuries at the wide receiver position

“Hopefully we’ll have them back.  [WR Brandon] Stokely had a concussion and we’ll see how serious that is.  Hopefully [WR] Eddie [Royal] can come back next week.  He’s got a bone bruise, and hopefully that will clear up.”

“I thought [WR Glenn] Martinez made plays in there.  For the first time, [WR] Darrell Jackson was back.  We had those guys play a lot of plays in the second half.  We lost a couple guys and a couple guys stepped up and unfortunately we didn’t get it done.”

On the defensive performance

“I think we wore down a little bit.  We got a little tired.  At the end we were trying to strip the ball when they were pushing.  They made the big plays.  They had a big run for a touchdown and a pass.  We responded to one of those but couldn’t take advantage of our opportunities.”

On RB Michael Pittman

“I have a lot of confidence in Mike.  He does a great job.  He better be able to step up because we only have two guys left.”

On the interference call on the Broncos in the fourth quarter

“I didn’t think it was interference.  I was right there, right on the spot.  I’m not sure what it was like on the replay, but I didn’t think it was.  In fact, being right there, I’d better a dollar to doughnuts that it wasn’t [pass interference].  It doesn’t really matter.  We had a lot of opportunities to do things throughout the game.”

On Jacksonville QB David Garrard

“He makes plays.  The one quarterback draw at the end versus a blitz…I give credit to him for showing what type of athlete he is.  He got away from a few sacks and he’s a heck of an athlete.  [He is] very strong.”

On the defense

 “We had a chance to control the football game but we turned [the ball] over three times, and it’s hard to win those kind of games.  But we did get two turnovers on defense and a couple of sacks, but we just couldn’t keep it going.  We had improvement on both sides of the football and special teams.  We just have to keep on working, we know what our record is, and get ready for New England.”

On going for it on fourth down in the second quarter

“It was not a bad choice on my part.  I would have went for it again.  I wish I could have chosen a different play.  You second guess yourself on that, but I take total credit for the mistake.  Sometimes you’re going to make it and sometimes your not.  I thought we could get the fourth-and-one.  I’d probably go for it most of the time, and probably make it some of the time.”

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2008 OFFENSE

2008 DEFENSE

After a 1 week hiatus, THE EDGE returns with a battle between the Broncos(4-1) and the Jacksonville Jaguars(2-3).  These teams met in Denver in Week 3 of last season, with the Jags "man-handling" the Broncos, winning 23-14.   This year's Jags team isn't nearly as physical and is missing some key components, especially on the offensive line.  Can the Broncos take advantage and keep up with their winning ways?

It's Broncos/Jags. Who has "The Edge"?

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It seems like every week the same people say the same thing about the Broncos defense.  We hear how horrible they are, how they can't stop the run, how they can't defend the pass, how they can't put pressure on the quarterback.  Some of that is true, we all know that, but something has become a disturbing trend, something that continues to be overlooked.  Much of the problems with the defense start with the offense and special teams.  No, really, it does. 

Specifically against Kansas City, I'd go so far as to say the defense, for over 3 quarters, played as well as it did against the Raiders Week 1.  Unfortunately, the offense didn't give them much of a chance. What is certain is the Broncos defense is by no means a dominant defense in any facet, run defense, pass defense, pressuring the quarterback, none of it.  The defense as a group is average at best, but with the offense the Broncos put on the field this team should be able to win, unless the offense, the strength of the team, let's it down.  On Sunday, that is exactly what happened.

Take a look at the drive chart for the Chiefs on Sunday --

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It's time to take an honest self evaluation.  There are a lot of good things to take comfort in if you are a Broncos fan.  There are also some things that need to be faced that should keep you awake at night.  I want to look at both.

Coming from a coach's perspective, folks shouldn't panic over one game.  On the other hand, folks shouldn't get too excited over the 3-0 mark we were at before the KC loss.  What we have on our hands is a very, very good team that has some terrible flaws.  Yes, we beat SD and NO, but the games were close enough to be decided by a two point conversion and missed FGs.  We beat Oakland, but that's not much to brag about.  We also lost to KC, and that's a concern.

We'll look at what can be adjusted for and what probably can't, and where this puts the team as it continues The Quest.

Read on...

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HEAD COACH MIKE SHANAHAN

On today’s game: “We talked about the keys to the game. Obviously the first one is you can’t turn the football over. Kansas City has an unbelievable home record when they win the turnover battle, and they won it by three today. Credit that to them. They ran the football exceptionally well. You’ve got to be able to stop the run and you’ve got to be able to run the football. Kansas City made a couple plays on special teams right there in the clutch; a big kickoff return to give them field position. Now we go back, obviously a tough loss. We had our opportunities during the game, credit to Kansas City for fighting like they did and finding a way to win. We’re obviously disappointed, but now we go back and get ready for the next game.”

On the status of WR Clifford Russell: “I really don’t know. I don’t know how he is. I know he was numb on his right side. Had feeling in his toes, and that was it. We’re keeping our fingers crossed.”

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 For the view from the Saints side of things, check out CanalStreetChronicles.com

2008 OFFENSE

2008 DEFENSE

The Broncos are an impressive 2-0, with both wins coming against Divisional opponents.   Despite some challenges on defense, the Broncos control their own destiny.  In the past, a game like this, against a team from the NFC, a team the Broncos should beat, has been a trap game.  Can the Broncos maintain their focus as well as their winning ways?

It's Broncos/Saints. Who has "The Edge"?

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YOUR SOURCE FOR THE VERY BEST

IN DENVER BRONCO PRE-GAME ANALYSIS

MILEHIGHREPORT.COM

  For all your San Diego Chargers News, check out Bolts From The Blue

So you thought week one was important?  Well, it was.  After all, Denver was playing a division rival (ok, ok, the division rival), it was a Monday Night Football game, and the first game of the 2008 season.  Still, this week's game goes well beyond all of that.

1. Denver leads the AFC West.  With a win against SD, Denver takes a commanding lead over the team many "experts" pick to represent the AFC West in the playoffs.
2. Along with NE, this is supposed to be one of the toughest games on a weak schedule.  Did I say NE?  They of "Bradyless" fame?
3. More than any other game this season, this game should indicate the readiness of Denver to get back to the playoffs.  SD is a better team than Oakland.

While many Denver fans waited for the season to start on Monday against the hated Raiders, this is perhaps the game fans have really waited for.  Monday was the game we wanted emotionaly.  Monday's game was a test.  Now the season really starts.  This is the game where Denver answers the question, "Are we for real?"  This is the game where the quest really takes off.

Let's take a look at both teams; the systems, the players, the Xs and Os, the match-ups.  The last game was nice, but against a basement team.  This game is against the current AFC West Champions, and we need to know what's in store for the game.

Read on...

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One last look at the Raiders game before moving full throttle to Week 2's Home Opener against the Chargers. We'll talk much more about that, but another new feature here at MHR is "Making The Grade" where I will grade the Broncos performance from the night before. I will also provide the numbers for the team leader in that particular category.  While it should be a lot of fun to look back, I will turn a critical eye on the Broncos performance, because the Broncos are going to have to beat teams that are alot better than the Oakland Raiders if they are really going to take that next step.

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 For a look at the game from the Raiders view, check out SilverandBlackPride 

2007 OFFENSE

2007 DEFENSE

Welcome to a Week 1 edition of The Edge, MileHighReport's in-depth look at this week's Broncos game. Each week I'll take a look at the rosters and give my thoughts on which team had the advantage in each area. I'll then give my official prediction. As always, I look forward to your feedback.

Enough talk, it's Broncos/Raiders. Who has "The Edge"?

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For a look at the game from the Raiders view, check out SilverandBlackPride

For the first time in seven years, the Denver Broncos will open their season on Monday Night Football when they face the Oakland Raiders this week at McAfee Coliseum. Kickoff is set for 7:15 p.m. PDT, and the game will be televised nationally on ESPN as well as locally on KDVR-TV FOX 31.

The Broncos, whose 17-year streak of appearing on Monday Night Football represents the longest such streak in the NFL, look to begin the campaign with a win in their first AFC West contest of the year for the ninth consecutive season. The first part of the season is a key stretch for Denver with the club facing divisional opponents in three of the first four weeks. The Broncos play their first two games (at Oak., vs. S.D.) of the year against divisional foes for the first time in 11 seasons (1997) and only the sixth time in club history.

Denver, which finished the 2007 season with a 7-9 record before posting a 2-2 mark this preseason, faces a Raiders squad that was 4-12 last year and 1-3 in the preseason. The two clubs split the 2007 series, but the Broncos have had recent success against Oakland, posting an 8-2 record against the franchise since 2003.

In the preseason, the Broncos' offense averaged 76.9 yards on its eight touchdown drives while ranking fifth in the league in both yards per play (5.4) and points per game (22.8). Quarterback Jay Cutler led Denver to points in six of the 10 drives (5 TDs, 1 FG) he started and finished the preseason with the third-highest passer
rating (117.6) and fourth-best completion percentage (69.8) in the league (min. 40 att.). Defensively, Denver ranked seventh in the league in yards per rush allowed (3.4).

Broncos Head Coach Mike Shanahan owns an 11-4 career record in season openers, marking a .733 winning percentage that is the best among active NFL coaches (min. 5 openers).