For all your Tampa Bay Buccaneer News, check out Buc'Em.

The Denver Broncos and Tampa Bay Buccaneers were never really meant to play each other.  They faced off just two times during the first sixteen years of the Buccaneers history.  Since 1993, however, things have started to heat up and the Broncos have taken back the lead in this series after their last match up in 2004 that was won on an overtime field goal by Jason Elam.  The series now stands at 4-2.

Looking back, really only one game stands out above the rest.  It was the third week of the season and the Broncos were playing at home against a young and weak football team in the Buccaneers.  Terrell Davis, coming off an 1100 yard rookie performance in 1995, was about to have his official coming out party.

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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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A few days after figuring out what we already knew - that John Lynch is no longer a factor on the field - the Patriots signed another former Broncos defensive back with limited skills --

The New England Patriots signed two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Deltha O'Neal on Monday, two days after they released exhibition-season starter Fernando Bryant.

O'Neal spent the last four seasons with Cincinnati after playing his first four with Denver. He had 31 interceptions for three touchdowns in 116 games, including 75 starts. He also scored one touchdown on a kickoff return and two on punt returns.

The Bengals released him on Saturday when teams had to reduce their rosters to the regular-season limit of 53 players. Bryant's release had left the Patriots with two rookies among their top four cornerbacks.

They also claimed two players off waivers -- tight end Jason Pociask from the New York Jets and offensive tackle Mark LeVoir from the St. Louis Rams. They released tight end Stephen Spach and signed offensive lineman Jacob Bender and tight end Tyson DeVree to the practice squad.

Perhaps the Patriots are ripe for the picking.  We know all too well of O'Neal's hijinx, and the fact that the Patriots would take a chance on, first Lynch then O'Neal, tells me there are major problems in the defensive secondary. 

Here is a Friday edition of Horse Tracks.  Enjoy!

 Practice got pretty chippy yesterday between the Cowboys and Broncos.  See here and here

 Comparisons are being made between Jay Cutler and Tony Romo.  I do think there are some differences though.  See here

 Ryan Clady has had some big challenges in less than a week.  First was Mario Williams and the next is DeMarcus Ware.  See here

 DJ Williams finally has a home with the defense.  See here

 Former Bronco John Lynch officially signed with New England.  See here

 Mike Klis gave a five point plan for tomorrow night's game.  See here

 Offensive plays will be made by a committee.  See here

 A Dallas paper reported on Jay Cutler's sharp practice.  See here

 In a confusing story, the Rocky Mountain News had some notes on the Cowboys and a good quote from NIko to "Pacman".  See here

 ESPN had an article about some of the former players that played in the CFL and made it in the NFL.  It includes one former Bronco.  See here

NFL News

Are the Buffalo Bills leaving?  Will they be called the Toronto Bills in the future?  See here

That's all I have for now.  Have a great weekend and GO BRONCOS!!!

       @       

  Dallas Cowboys      @          Denver Broncos

August 16th, 2008 - 7:00pm MST
Invesco Field @ Mile High
Denver, CO

   To Follow The Week From The Cowboy's Perpective, Check Out Blogging The Boys! 

Welcome to an exhibition version of MHR Game Prep! How does this work? Simple. I'll be providing the game preps for you this year, but the pre-season will be a little different.

In the pre-season, it is hard to gauge what will happen. Neither team plays for the win, but instead calls in plays and substitutions designed to test out potential starters. Because the game is competitive on an individual level (but not so much at the team level), it is very difficult to provide a match up for the game. There's no telling who will play and for how long, nor what kind of program will be run under coaches wanting to call "vanilla" plays.

So what we will do is provide a game prep based on the concept that the game counts, is a part of the regular season, and that the starters are playing four quarters. Call it a preseason practice for the "game prep" author to get up to speed if you will. By reading the articles in the preseason as if they were regular games, the predictive value is worthless, but the value in gauging the strengths and weaknesses of our players and system should provide some good insight on what to expect this year.

The big treat (I hope) is that students of the reloading season series "MHR University" will be able to recognize the terms and concepts in the game preps, and watch the game of football with a trained and discerning eye. If you missed the series, no worries mate! Just click the links in the story to read up on the terms.

Read on...

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Here's a Thursday edition of Horse Tracks.  Enjoy!

 What's a good way to stay focused while serving a suspension?  Looks like Brandon Marshall is going to live at Jay Cutler's house.  See here

 Sammie Parker is still hoping to win a roster spot.  See here

 Here is a story about Tyrone Poole and some other camp notes.  See here

 Check out some more Pacman-related stories.  See here and here

 Eddie Royal still continues to impress.  See here

 Ryan Torain believes that he can still help this season.  See here

 Here's the Lynch to Pats story.  See here

  Darrell Jackson and Keary Colbert are still on the second string.  See here

 Jarvis Moss is excited to play the team he was a fan of as a kid.  See here

 A Dallas area paper talks about Selvin Young's 2000 yard prediction.  See here

 Another article talks about the Type 1 diabetes that affects Jay Cutler and Wade Wilson.  See here

  The Broncos are completely rebuilding the O-Line

AFC West/NFL News

Here's an article about former Bronco and current conquered fader Javon Walker and some notes from their camp.  See here

Looks like one of the Chef rookies had a tough day.  See here

Guru's favorite player is having some arm soreness.  Is it the Madden curse?  See here

That's all I have.  Enjoy your day!

John Lynch was looking for a different situation.  He may have found it with a team that hasn't lost a regular season game in a year and a half.  Lynch is in New England, visiting with the Patriots about an opening the Patriots at safety --

Many around here think I am the eternal optimist, but that really isn't the case.  If you go back, way back, to last season you'll find my posts were not all cheery and rosy.  However, during the off season I must, as a fan, take on a different persona.  I must cheer on and rah rah my favorite team in the anticipation of the upcoming season.  The off season in my mind ends in two days with our first preseason game, therefore, it is time to get serious.

I have some major concerns about this team that I have really only hinted at over the past few months.  You could call some of them "IFs" or just simple deficiencies.  Whatever you might call them, these are the things that I beleive will be the difference between another 8-8 season and a 13-3 season. 

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We've heard John Lynch's side, now hear from the Coach on John Lynch's request to be released....

I could break it down for you, could give you some quotes and all that, but why not let you decide for yourself!?!

Here is the John Lynch Press Conference, up close and personal --