FINAL GAME NOTES

WIN NO. 150 FOR SHANAHAN

* - With the win, Broncos Head Coach Mike Shanahan earned his 150^th overall career victory (150-96-0, .610) and became the 17th coach in NFL history to reach that win total. His overall record with the Broncos improves to 142-84-0 (.628).

SIXTH IN A ROW AT HOME

* - The Broncos extended their home winning streak to six games with their victory against Tampa Bay. It is their longest such streak since posting 13 consecutive home wins in the regular season from Dec. 12, 2004, through Oct. 15, 2006.

CUTLER MILESTONES

* - Broncos QB Jay Cutler completed 23-of-34 passes for 227 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions for a 96.1 passer rating.

* - His 10-yard touchdown pass to WR Brandon Stokley in the third quarter moved him ahead of QB Steve Tensi for sole possession of seventh in Broncos history in career touchdown passes (39). 

* - Cutler also became the eighth player in Broncos history to reach 6,000 career passing yards, finishing the game with an even 6,000 for his career.

* - The victory improved Cutler’s career record as a starting quarterback to 13-13.

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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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The Broncos fell flat, there is no other way to describe it.  Before closing the book on Week 4 and looking forward, with nervous anticipation, to a visit by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, let's take one last look at the (lack of)performance by the Broncos in yesterday's loss to the Chiefs, in something I like to call, "Making The Grade"  As always, the most important "grade" is the one on the scoreboard, and for that, the Broncos earned a big, fat F.  What about the players performance?  Let's take a look....

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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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FINAL STATS

It's only one game, against a team that we should beat, that we had to beat. There is a long way to go, and the Broncos still have a lot of questions. That's all well and good, and I'll think about it tomorrow, tonight I am going to take some time to enjoy the re-birth of the Denver Broncos offense.

Not the offense that Jake Plummer used to win a lot of regular season games from 2003-2006. No, the REAL Broncos offense. The one that is relentless. The one that keeps coming and keeps coming for 60 minutes. The offense that frustrates defenses into stupid penalties. That offense, behind Jay Cutler and a cast of young, talented linemen and skill position players, is back and with it the sky's the limit.

The Broncos started fast, taking the opening kickoff and going the distance, scoring a TD on a beautiful touchdown pass from Jay Cutler to Eddie Royal. Yes, Eddie Royal. Let's take a moment to talk about the Offensive Rookie of the Year. My concern the entire pre-season was where Jay Cutler was going to go with the football with Brandon Marshall out. The answer came early and went all night long - 9 Catches, 146 yards, TD - the best performance for a receiver this weekend.

On defense, the Broncos were alot more active, swarming the football and keeping the Raiders off the scoreboard fro 3 1/2 quarters.  Playing defense with a big lead is hard to do, and to be sure the final game stats are going to be a bit skewed because of it.  I'll get deeper into the defense tomorrow, but in short I like how the front four played, especially Elvis Dumervil, and I thought the linebackers, after some early over-aggressiveness, played very well.  Jamie Winborn started and went the distance for Boss Bailey, and was flying around the football.  Nate Webster was very solid, and remember I am a Niko guy, and the helmet count stands at one.

Not much more to say than what we witnessed tonight was a dominating performace by the Broncos, on both sides of the ball.  The bigger game is coming up, but for a few minutes savor what we watched and enjoy what looks like will be an exciting 2008.

Here's a Monday game day edition of Horse Tracks.  Enjoy!

 Tonight we will get to see how to rookies do when the games count.  This could be a special group.  See here

 Sam Adams explains why the Broncos will defeat the conquered fader nation.  See here

 Dave Kreiger's article seems to give a more negative outlook of the Broncos.  See here

 Run defense is first priority.  See here

 Woody Paige gives us a history of the rivalry.  See here

 The Rocky Mountain News gave their "skinny" on tonight's game.  See here

 We may get to see a great CB battle tonight as well.  See here

 Denver has a shot to take the lead in the AFC West.  See here

 There are signs that Elvis Dumervil will have a big year.  See here

 Ryan Clady will have a huge job tonight.  See here

 Kenny Peterson is very happy with playing in Denver.  See here

 Former Bronco and current conquered fader Javon Walker says his "demise is greatly exaggerated".  See here

AFC West

Phyllis and his merry men aren't too merry today after what the Panthers did to them yesterday.  Sunday's game in Denver is CRITICAL for both teams.  Let's hope Denver can get them to 0-2.  See here

The Missouri Indians lost yesterday, but they took out Tom Brady for the season.  Peter King is still weeping as we speak.  This season just got even more interesting.  See here and here

That is all I have for today.  The quest is on and the season is ripe for the picking if they want it enough.  GO BRONCOS!!!

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

Denver Broncos

Oakland Raiders

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YOUR SOURCE FOR THE VERY BEST

IN DENVER BRONCO PRE-GAME ANALYSIS

 FROM MILEHIGHREPORT.COM

How important is this game to the Broncos?  After all, this isn't a game against the Chargers for the title of AFC West best.  However, it is an important game in many, many ways.

1. The winner is undefeated, the loser has to win two games in a row for a winning season.
2. The game is a divisional pairing; crucial for playoff tie breaks.
3. This is Monday Night Football; the big stage.  The confidence boost (or lag) could be a major factor going into the early season.

For Denver fans, it doesn't get any better than this.  Denver playing in the opening MNF game against the hated Raiders.  Let's break down the Xs and Os, and take a look at how these teams match up.

Read on...

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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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