The State of the Denver Broncos
by hoosierteacher
on Sep 29, 2008 2:29 PM MDT
in The Quest
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...
85 comments
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Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs - The Edge
by TheSportsGuru
on Sep 27, 2008 6:21 PM MDT
in 2008 Game Previews
For all your Kansas City Chiefs News, check out Arrowhead Pride
2008 OFFENSE
| Category | Broncos | Chiefs |
| Points Scored | 38.0 (1st) | 10.7 (30th) |
| Passing | 301.7 (2nd) | 144.7 (28th) |
| Rushing | 130.3(10th) | 113.7 (16th) |
| Total Offense (yards) | 432.0 (2nd) | 258.3 (28th) |
2008 DEFENSE
| Category | Broncos | Chiefs |
| Points Allowed | 28.0 (28th) | 26.0 (24th) |
| Passing | 315.7 (32nd) | 153.0 (4th) |
| Rushing | 106.5 (15th) | 204.0 (31st) |
| Total Defense (yards) | 421.7 (30th) | 357.0 (25th) |
The numbers seem to indicate the Broncos have the advantage when they travel to Arrowhead to face the Chiefs. Broncos fans know better, however, since we have seen many strange things over time in our travels to the Show Me state. The Broncos are looking to 4-0 and win consecutive regular season games in Kansas City for the first time in nearly 30 years. Can they get it done? Let's find out.
It's Broncos/Chiefs. Who has "The Edge"?
19 comments
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Denver Broncos 34 - New Orleans Saints 32 - Making the Grade
by TheSportsGuru
on Sep 22, 2008 9:58 AM MDT
in 2008 Post Game Notes
Another nail-biter for the Broncos came down to the final seconds, and again the Broncos survived. Let's take one last look at the 34-32 win over the Saints before getting right back to the AFC West and the Kansas City Chiefs. We'll talk much more about that, but it is time for this week's edition of "Making The Grade" where I will grade the Broncos performance from the day before. The most important "grade" is the one on the scoreboard, and for the Broncos this week it was another W. What about the players performance? Let's take a look....
| QUARTERBACK | |
B- |
Jay Cutler -- 21/34 - 264 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT To be so young and so talented. Jay Cutler had another solid football game, yet the Broncos signal caller still left me a bit wanting. Perhaps because Cutler is so good so young I expect too much. I'll except that reasoning and give you that I am the one with the problem. Still, call me spoiled in what I am looking for from Cutler. As was stated in the open threads yesterday, Cutler has the weight of the football team on his shoulder right now, which magnified every mistake he makes. Yesterday it was the interception on the first play after the Saints had scored a touchdown to cut the Broncos lead to 21-10. That is a big drive for the Broncos at that point because the defense had just spent a long time on the field and needed the break. It was a bad decision to throw into double coverage, but I won't blame Cutler for having confidence in both his arm and his receivers. There were also a couple of throws Cutler flat out missed, leaving yards and points on the field. I know, I'm being overly critical, but Cutler plays quarterback in Denver, it comes with the territory. The offense is still scoring at an impressive clip. They scored points on 5/10 possessions yesterday, including 3/5 for Touchdowns. For the season, the Broncos have scored on 18/29 possessions(62%), with 13/18 resulting in 6 points(72%). Those numbers will win you alot of football games.
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75 comments
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New Orleans Saints @ Denver Broncos - The Edge
by TheSportsGuru
on Sep 19, 2008 2:20 PM MDT
in 2008 Game Previews
For the view from the Saints side of things, check out CanalStreetChronicles.com 
2008 OFFENSE
| Category | Broncos | Saints |
| Points Scored | 40.0 (1st) | 24.0 (9th) |
| Passing | 320.5 (2nd) | 266.0 (7th) |
| Rushing | 143.0(10th) | 78.0 (25th) |
| Total Offense (yards) | 463.5 (1st) | 344.0 (10th) |
2008 DEFENSE
| Category | Broncos | Saints |
| Points Scored | 26.0 (26th) | 24.5 (23rd) |
| Passing | 266.5 (29th) | 256.0 (28th) |
| Rushing | 115.0 (21st) | 147.5 (26th) |
| Total Defense (yards) | 381.5 (27th) | 403.5 (29th) |
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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Denver Broncos 39 - San Diego Chargers 38 - Making The Grade
by TheSportsGuru
on Sep 15, 2008 12:40 PM MDT
in 2008 Post Game Notes
One last look at the Chargers game before moving full throttle to Week 3's Home matchup with the Saints. We'll talk much more about that, but it is time for this week's edition of "Making The Grade" where I will grade the Broncos performance from the day before. The most important "grade" is the one on the scoreboard, and for the Broncos this week it was another W. What about the players performance? Let's take a look....
| QUARTERBACK | |
B |
Jay Cutler -- 36/50 - 350 yds, 4 TD, 1 INT It was another monster performance for Cutler. He was on target all day long, and to throw 50 passes and complete 72% of them is simply amazing. I can't, however, give Cutler anything better than a B because of the Red Zone pick. That play could have easily cost the Broncos the game, had things turned out differently. These things are going to happen with a young quarterback, however, and it is his effort at making a play every time he takes a snap that enables him to make 25 good plays before he makes 1 bad one. The hope is he learns from it and doesn't repeat it. Cutler knows this, and I am confident that we won;t see many more plays like this going forward. As an offense, the Broncos are still rolling, and through two games the team has scored points on 13/19(68%) possessions, with 10/13(77%)scoring possessions resulting in touchdowns. |
182 comments
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No Guts, No Glory -- More On Shanahan's Decision To Go For Two
by TheSportsGuru
on Sep 15, 2008 5:38 AM MDT
in 2008 Post Game Notes
Ok, so I gave you my opinion on why it was a great thing that the Broncos went for 2 and the win yesterday against the Chargers. If you didn't read it, or hear it on MHR Radio Post Game last night, I'll summarize. It was better decision for the morale of the football team to lose it by missing a 2-point conversion than by losing a coin toss, something out of your control, and letting the Chargers drive the field. Remember, the Broncos hadn't stopped the Chargers from getting to field goal range the entire 2nd half.
Here are what some of the players had to say about the move --
Champ Bailey -
I was shocked. I didn't see it coming. You expect a team that's 1-6 and is on the road to call that play. But we have a chance to do something here and to get that type of play, could really get us rolling. I love it.
Tony Scheffler -
Jay gave us the plan in the huddle. We all looked at each other and thought it was a great idea. You don't want to lose a game like this on a coin toss .... Our coach is going for it this year.
Nate Jackson -
There were some guys on our sidelines who were confused that we were going for it. But this team has had our number. Now we have all the momentum.
Jay Cutler -
I was telling the guys that if we had to score again we had to go for two. It’s one of those calls. We didn’t want to go into overtime and I like the call. We haven’t really been stopped, we kind-of stopped ourselves with the pick. So I liked it.
Eddie Royal -
It means a lot that the coaches have that much confidence in us to let us go for it.
Selvin Young -
I was thinking two points before we even touched the field. I had it in my head that we were going to go for two and walk out of here with a win, and we did. Tomorrow we will go over film, get back to work and get the job done. I think people saw that we had some fire today. We all wanted to let people know that we were here today to play for four quarters. Jay showed poise and we fought together and stayed together. The fans were great today, they came out and supported us throughout the game, they made some noise and were a big help to our win.
Oh, and for those of you keeping score at home, this is the 6th time a team has gone for 2, down by one, inside the final 2 minutes. The results? 3-3 --
Sept. 14, 2008 Broncos vs. San Diego 0:24 Scored, won 39-38
Nov. 13, 2005 Tampa Bay vs. Washington 0:58 Scored, won 36-35
Dec. 19, 2004 Detroit vs. Minnesota 0:08 Failed, lost 28-27
Dec. 15, 2002 Minnesota at New Orleans 0:05 Scored, won 32-31
Oct. 12, 1997 Chicago vs. Green Bay 1:54 Failed, lost 24-23
Nov. 19, 1995 Jacksonville at Tampa Bay 0:37 Failed, lost 17-16
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Denver Broncos 39 - San Diego Chargers 38 - Post Game Notes
by TheSportsGuru
on Sep 14, 2008 9:37 PM MDT
in 2008 Post Game Notes
Brandon Marshall
* - Broncos WR Brandon Marshall finished with a franchise-record 18 receptions for 166 yards (9.2 avg., 1 TD). His 18 catches tied for the second most in NFL history. The previous Broncos record was 14 by WR Rod Smith (at Arizona, 9/23/01).
Most Receptions in NFL Single Game
|
No. |
Player |
Game |
Date |
|
20 |
Terrell Owens |
San Francisco vs. Chicago |
12/17/2000 |
|
18 |
Brandon Marshall |
Denver vs. San Diego |
9/14/2008 |
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18 |
Tom Fears |
Los Angeles vs. Green Bay |
12/3/1950 |
|
17 |
Clark Gaines |
N.Y. Jets vs. San Francisco |
9/21/1980 |
* - Marshall's 166 receiving yards mark the fifth 100-yard game of his career.
Jay Cutler
* - Broncos QB Jay Cutler finished the game completing 36-of-50 passes for 350 yards and four touchdowns. His 36 completions tie for the most in Broncos history and are the most in the NFL since QB Carson Palmer of the Cincinnati Bengals had 37 against Arizona on 11/13/07.
* - His 350 passing yards are tied for ninth most in Broncos history and also marks his third 300-yard passing game (third most in Broncos history).
* - His four touchdown passes ties a career high (4 vs. K.C., 12/9/07).
Cutler at Home
* - With his second quarter touchdown pass, Broncos QB Jay Cutler has thrown a scoring pass in 11 of his 12 career starts at INVESCO Field at Mile High. His three touchdown passes in the first half are the most he has thrown in a half in his career. He finished the first half completing 22-of-30 passes for 236 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions (129.3 rtg.). Cutler's 236 passing yards in the first half were the most by a Bronco in a half since Jake Plummer totaled 304 yards in the second half vs. Atlanta (10/31/04).
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MHR Chalk Talk -- Week 2 - San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos
by hoosierteacher
on Sep 11, 2008 9:00 AM MDT
in 2008 Game Previews
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.
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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.
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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?
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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...
126 comments
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Denver Broncos 41 - Oakland Raiders 14 - Post Game Notes
by TheSportsGuru
on Sep 9, 2008 5:47 AM MDT
in 2008 Post Game Notes
OPENING THOUGHTS
* - With the win, the Broncos improve to 31-17-1 in season openers for a .633 winning percentage, third-best in NFL history.
* - Broncos Head Coach Mike Shanahan improves to 12-4 in season openers in his career, second-best all-time among coaches who began their careers in the Super Bowl era (min. 14 games).
Highest Winning Percentage in Opening Day Games
Mike Ditka 11-3 (.786)
Mike Shanahan 12-4 (.750)
Bud Grant 12-6 (.667)
A ROYAL INTRODUCTION
* - Broncos rookie WR Eddie Royal finished with the most receiving yards (146) and the fourth-most receptions (9) of any NFL player in Week 1. Royal added two rushes for 9 yards, two punt returns for 19 yards and a kickoff return for 11 yards, bringing his all-purpose yards total to 185.
* - Royal’s 146 receiving yards marked the sixth most by a player in his NFL debut in league history with those records dating back to 1960. He posted the first 100-yard receiving game by a player in his debut since Anquan Boldin had an NFL-record 217 receiving yards in his first game with the Cardinals (9/7/03). His 146 receiving yards also were the second most by a Broncos rookie in his first game with that record held by WR Rick Upchurch (153 on three receptions with 1 TD) vs. K.C. (9/21/75).
* - Royal’s nine receptions were the most by a Broncos rookie in his NFL debut.
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