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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YOUR SOURCE FOR THE VERY BEST

IN DENVER BRONCO PRE-GAME ANALYSIS

MILEHIGHREPORT.COM

  For all your Kansas City Chiefs News, check out Arrowhead Pride

Denver comes into this feeling like they are on top of the world.  They are already 3-0, and now face a division opponent that is 0-3.  With a win, Denver will have scored at least one win against each AFC West rival.  For the playoff race, this means that Denver can do no worse than tie if a tiebreaker comes down to intra-division records.

Denver may also be licking their lips in anticipation for the game.  While KC is a difficult venue for the Broncos to play in, injuries and uncertainty plauge the Chiefs.  Huard is taking the helm at QB from Thigpen, and LB Edwards is out with an injury.  Surtain (CB) is questionable.  A 4-0 start would be great for the Broncos, but it would be foolish to assume that the game is already over.

Read on...

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The Denver Broncos on Tuesday placed center Tom Nalen on injured reserve with a left knee injury, Head Coach Mike Shanahan announced.

A 15-year veteran, Nalen ranks second in Broncos history in career starts (188) while his 194 career games played in a Denver uniform represent the third-highest total in club annals. He entered the league with the Broncos as a seventh-round selection (218th overall) in the 1994 NFL Draft from Boston College.

Nalen, whose five Pro Bowl selections (1997-2000, '03) are the most by a Broncos offensive lineman in franchise history, was a key member of Denver's back-to-back Super Bowl teams in 1997 and '98. He helped Denver post the most rushing yards (29,131) and individual 100-yard rushing games (93) in the NFL from 1995-2007 in addition to tying for the league lead in individual 1,000-yard rushing seasons (11) during that time.

An honorable mention All-American as a senior at Boston College, Nalen attended Foxboro High School in Foxboro, Mass., and was born on May 13, 1971

The Broncos also announced they signed free-agent safety Vernon Fox and waived safety Hamza Abdullah, Head Coach Mike Shanahan announced.

The club also on Tuesday released wide receiver Travis Wilson from its practice squad.

Fox (5-foot-10, 203 pounds) is in his seventh NFL season and joins the Broncos after spending the previous two years with Washington, which released him on Aug. 25. He also has played for Detroit (2004-05) and San Diego (2002-03) after entering the NFL with the Chargers in 2002 as a college free agent from Fresno State University.

In 86 career games (11 starts), Fox has totaled 90 tackles (69 solo), two interceptions (21 yds.) and eight pass breakups. He also owns 73 tackles on special teams along with one blocked punt for his career.

Last season with Washington, Fox appeared in 14 games (0 starts) and tied for third on the club with 16 special-teams stops while adding two defensive tackles. He started a career-high six games and appeared in all 16 contests for the Redskins in 2006, recording personal bests in defensive tackles (42) and special-teams tackles (26).

Fox saw time in 14 games in each of his two years with the Lions from 2004-05. During his first two professional seasons with the Chargers from 2002-03, he appeared in a total of 28 games (5 starts) and had 45 tackles along with one interception.

A two-time first-team All-Western Athletic Conference selection at Fresno State, Fox attended Cimarron Memorial High School in Las Vegas and was born on Oct. 9, 1979

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

Denver Broncos

Oakland Raiders

CHANGES IN BOLD

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

Denver Broncos

Oakland Raiders

  For thoughts on the game from a Cardinals perspective, visit Revenge of the Birds!!

The final game of the preseason is upon us, and it's the toughest game to prep for MHR's defensive coordinator in residence.  Why?

1. Chalk Talk likes to analyze teams systems, not so much player match-ups.  This is because player match-ups appear all over sports media (both on and off line).  Arizona has performed so badly over the years, that information about their offensive and defensive systems are very difficult to find.
2. Being a preseason game, teams play very vanilla.  For this reason, preseason Chalk Talks are abbreviated, and treat the game as if starters where playing and systems are in effect.  But game four in a preseason is the toughest of all.  Starters may be rested entirely, and no hint of offensive or defensive styles will be showcased.

What's a game prep writer to do?  Serve his fellow Broncos fans.  After all, the preseason is a "preseason" for Chalk Talk too.  Chalk Talk (like the fans and the players) is gearing up, practicing, and shaking off the cob webs too.  The '08 season is days away, as is the hated raiders (sic).  Which reminds me,

A very special WELL DONE to our Cardinal friends in Arizona.  All of us at MHR send you a Mile High Salute for your blow out of the raiders (sic).  When it comes to beating the raiders (sic), we're ALL Americans. 

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DENVER BRONCOS COACH MIKE SHANAHAN

"Defensively, I believe we did a good job stopping the run. We improved from a year ago. We didn't tackle as well as I would have liked us to. We had some penalties, but I thought the effort was there. We have to tackle much better than we did. Special teams overall had a good game. Right now, I'm not really sure about the injuries. Manuel broke his thumb, I know that. Elvis Dumervil dislocated his finger. Right now with Patrick Ramsey I'm not really sure. I'm not really sure on how his shoulder or elbow is right now."

On S Marquand Manuel Possibly Playing With a Broken Thumb --
"We'll have to see if he needs to have surgery."

On Playing His First Unit in the Second Half --
"No, like I said during the press conference, we just want them to play a half. We had a lot of plays playing against Dallas. I felt pretty good about our football team. We're trying to prevent injuries, obviously. Marquand got hurt in the special teams which was a setback."

On Giving WR Brandon Marshall Playing Time, Despite His Regular Season Suspension --
"I'm just going to treat it like he sprained his ankle. Obviously when we have people go down, we need to have people step up and take the opportunity. WR Darrell Jackson did not play today because of a sprained ankle, hopefully he'll be in full speed and ready to go. We want to get some of those other players some playing time."

On the Possibility of WR Brandon Marshall Playing Against the Arizona Cardinals --
"I'm not going to go into playing time, but from looking at the past history, it's going to be pretty obvious what we're going to do."

On C Tom Nalen's Recent Knee Surgery --
"He had a pretty good surgery. They had to get some bodies out of there. They said that the results were very positive. We just have to see how long it takes."

On DT Ebenezer Ekuban's Status --
"I really don't know. I haven't talked to Greek (Head Athletic Trainer Steve Antonopulos) yet. I think I'll find out in the next half hour or so."

On the Play of TE Nate Jackson --
"I'm very pleased with Nate, and [TE] Tony [Scheffler] has stepped up. [TE] Daniel Graham is obviously out today with a hamstring; he'll be full speed and ready to go next week. Like I said we had little bumps and bruises, I'll find out the status of them in the next hour."

On RB Michael Pittman's Play Tonight --
"Michael played a lot in the second half and did a good job. He got tired and we had to put [RB] Andre [Hall] back in. Hopefully we'll stay healthy at that position. I thought [FB] Peyton Hillis did a good job making a big play to give us that first down, when we were backed up. He made a nice run and nice catch. [FB] Cecil Sapp and Peyton alternated during the first half. Overall I'm very pleased. I'm very pleased with the offense thus far."

On P Brett Kern's Taking Lead in Punting Position --
"Very close, very close."

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To Follow The Week From The Packers Perspective, Check Out AcmePackingCompany!

There just can't be enough corny catch-phrases on one site, so here's another one.  Five Point Stance will be my list of 5 things I'll be focused on each game.  Plus, it sounds better than "5 Things I'll Be Focused On Against The Packers".  

This new feature gets welcomed to the site as the Packers come to town for Pre-Season Game #3.  We all know the starters will play most of the first 45 minutes so this is going to be our best chance yet to see where the Broncos stack up on both sides of the ball.   Here's my 5 Point Stance for tonight's game --

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Hey everyone, I'm back for another Horse Tracks.  I'm not as skilled as the venerable mdierk or the all-knowing Guru, but I did my best!  Hopefully, you all will find these stories as interesting as I did.

  Clear and the Denver Broncos to bring fast pass to the fans this year.

  A betting website gives their take on the 2008 Denver Broncos. By popular demand, this link is just too horrible to be allowed to stay on Horse Tracks.

 Craig, Colorado named by the Denver Broncos as being one of the football team's biggest fans. 

Selvin Young knows history and does not want to become the next discarded running back to have formerly played for the Denver Broncos.

All of Denver's running backs are ready to carry the load in 2008.

More on Tom Nalen's injury troubles here and here.

The Cornerbacks for the Broncos and Packers have one thing in common -- age

I've always preferred using a QB as the holder for the kicker, but I don't recall John Elway ever holding for a kicker...

Ryan Clady and Ryan Harris getting some love from Jim Armstrong.

That's all I got for today.  Have a Great Day!

  The Broncos may shift gears when it comes to the offensive play-calling in 2008

  Rod Smith is enjoying retirement, and helping Brandon Marshall stay on the straight and narrow.

  Aaron Rodgers and Jay Cutler have a relationship that goes deeper than two opposing quarterbacks Friday Night

  Despite returning to practice, chances are Tom Nalen will be on the sidelines against the Packers.

  Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder are making progress heading into Year 2.

  Sam Adams wonders if Shaun Alexander would be a good fit as a Bronco

  A former-Packer, current Bronco, knows all too well what Aaron Rodgers is going through.

  There's no link since a subscription is needed, but BuckeyeSports has ranked former Bronco LB Randy Gradishar #11 on the list of Greatest Buckeyes Ever.