Broncos report

Jeff Legwold and Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News

Monday, October 1, 2007

Noisy homecoming

Brandon Stokley drank up the boos.

Making his first return to Indianapolis, where he played four seasons, the Broncos receiver got a steady dose of catcalls after both of his catches Sunday.

"It was kind of surprising, but I liked it," he said. "The boos kind of got me going there."

Stokley's two receptions netted 20 yards and included a sliding, diving grab. But it's the play he didn't make in the fourth quarter he'll remember.

A double move left him wide open in the middle of the field.

But quarterback Jay Cutler was pressured and needed to sidestep in the pocket and set his feet for a deep throw. By that time, safety Matt Giordano had time to help deflect the pass.

The boos for Stokley turned to cheers when the RCA Dome big screens displayed a tribute to the receiver inside the two-minute warning with the game already in hand for the Colts. Stokley smiled and waved to the crowd.

"I've moved on," he said of his time in Indianapolis. "I'm a Denver Bronco now and I'm enjoying myself."

Lynch out

A Friday workout did little to convince coach Mike Shanahan of John Lynch's readiness for the wide-open Colts passing attack.

A strained groin kept Lynch out of his first game with the Broncos since 2005.

"I felt all right, but it was still there," Lynch said. "The trainers, Mike and everyone made the decision for me at that point. I went out there (Sunday), but I don't think I had much of a chance."

Lynch hopes to be able to play Sunday against AFC West rival San Diego.

"It feels a lot better," he said.

Blame all around

Early in the third quarter, the Colts turned an eight-point lead into a 15-point lead when Cutler threw an interception deep in Broncos territory.

After the Colts had started the second half with a touchdown drive to go up 21-13 lead, the Broncos faced second-and-7 from their 18-yard line.

Cutler tried to hit Brandon Marshall on a quick slant, but Colts cornerback Marlin Jackson beat Marshall to the inside and snared the pass at the Broncos 24.

The Colts offense went four plays for another touchdown and a 28-13 lead.

Shanahan took some blame "for us putting the play in" and spent a little time after the play talking with Marshall on the sideline. Cutler, too, took some of the blame.

"We've got to work on a different technique with that route. Brandon maybe could have come a little flatter, (or) I could have thrown it away," Cutler said. "You could blame a lot of people on that play."

Broncos debut

In the span of two days, Glenn Martinez went from a practice squad player to the active roster, then a fixture in three-receiver sets because Javon Walker was unable to play because of swelling in his right knee.

"I was ready. I studied the playbook even when I was on the practice squad and I've been waiting for my opportunity. So I took it and, hopefully, I'll get a little more," Martinez said.

The former Saginaw Valley State player is a bit of an unknown. He was hurt for several minicamp practices and training camp workouts since signing a futures contract with the Broncos in January.

He previously played in five games in the 2005 season with the Detroit Lions, with one 11-yard catch and two kickoff returns to his credit.

Martinez didn't have a catch Sunday.

Eye-opening

The Broncos deactivated Amon Gordon and Sam Adams, the starting defensive tackles in the first three games.

"I was as surprised as you and whoever else," Gordon said.

The Broncos opted for four defensive ends up front, which factored into the decision. But it might also have been a message the play up front hasn't been up to snuff, particularly after the Jacksonville Jaguars outmuscled the Broncos in what was expected to be a physical contest Sept. 23.

"I don't think that's the case at all," Gordon said. "It's what the coaches felt we would have a good shot with."

Injury report

• Broncos running back Travis Henry sprained his right ankle, briefly leaving the game in the second half before returning. Henry was taken into the X-ray room after the game but will be evaluated more in Denver today.

• Defensive end John Engelberger also was taken into the X-ray room, but his injury was unknown. One of his shoulders was wrapped heavily.

• Defensive tackle Marcus Thomas left the game because of a sprained right knee but also returned. He, too, will be evaluated today.

• For the Colts, safety Bob Sanders (ribs), running back Joseph Addai (shoulder) and linebacker Rob Morris (knee) left the game. Colts coach Tony Dungy said Addai would have gone back in the game in the fourth quarter if the Broncos had scored again. Morris' injury was the most serious. The Colts said it was a sprain, but he was taken from the field on a cart with his leg in an air cast.

• Kicker Jason Elam got treatment on a leg.

• Broncos running back Mike Bell (concussion), tight end Stephen Alexander (calf), Walker (right knee) and Lynch (groin) were among the game-day inactives.

Etc.

• The Broncos are 2-2, but they have been outscored 95-72.

• Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney got his first sack of the season in the fourth quarter, causing a fumble with his hit on Cutler.

Numbers game

37-yard line was the average starting field position for the Colts on Indianapolis' side of the field thanks mostly to T.J. Rushing on kickoff returns and some short Todd Sauerbrun line-drive kickoffs. One of the game-changing plays came after the Broncos kicked off with a 10-0 lead and were assessed 15 yards on a Karl Paymah hit out of bounds. It set up the Colts in Broncos territory for their first touchdown drive.

He said it

"I think he's always confused at first because he doesn't know how teams are going to attack him. But it's a four-quarter game and he adjusts better than anyone we've seen."

Champ Bailey, Broncos cornerback, on the team's approach with four defensive ends aligned up front and its effect on Colts quarterback Peyton Manning.

He said it II

"During the game? It's been a long time ago. . . . It's always fun to come home and I've got good memories here, but I had a bigger task at hand."

Jay Cutler, Broncos quarterback, after being asked after the game if he thought about leading Heritage Hills High School to a state championship in 2000 in a game played in the RCA Dome.