LEGWOLD: Broncos in giving mood
By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News
Originally published 04:00 p.m., November 25, 2007
Updated 09:53 a.m., November 26, 2007
Photo by Evan Semon
Denver Broncos cornerback Dre Bly is called for illegal contact while defending Chicago Bear's wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad in the fourth quarter. The Bears marched down the field to tie the score at the end of regulation play and then won in overtime.
Photo by Evan Semon
Broncos' tight end Tony Scheffler pulls in a touchdown pass despite pressure from Bears defenders Ricky Manning Jr. (24) and Danieal Manning (38) during the fourth quarter yesterday. Denver lost, 37-34, in overtime.
Photo by Evan Semon
Chicago Bears defensive end Adewale Ogunleye, left, picks up a fumble by Denver Broncos running back Mike Bell in the second quarter.
Photo by Evan Semon
Chicago's kick return specialist, Devin Hester, gets by Todd Sauerbrun on the way to his second return for a touchdown. The Bears got a late-game TD to tie the score, then won in overtime.
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CHICAGO – Make the list and check it twice.
Because the Broncos followed the official Black Friday opening of the holiday shopping season with Dismal Sunday giveaway in Soldier Field.
Oh, once again, let them count the ways in a 37-34 overtime loss to the Chicago Bears.
"The weather sucked, the field sucked, all in all not a pleasurable day all around,'' said Broncos punter Todd Sauerbrun, who found himself at ground zero of another one that got way. "I had 40 people come see me do all that. They saw the trifecta done to me . . . Definitely not the kind of day you want to have all around.''
The Bears' Devin Hester returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown.
Hester returned a kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown.
The Bears blocked a Sauerbrun punt in the fourth quarter, which led to an 18-yard touchdown drive.
The Broncos Dre' Bly was called for illegal contact, a penalty that negated a fourth-down incompletion by Chicago on the Bears' scoring drive that ended up tying the game.
Broncos defensive tackle Alvin McKinley was called for holding on a running play – the third time this season he has been flagged for that – that gave the Bears a first down in overtime, two plays before Chicago kicked for the win.
The Broncos fumbled in the muck three times, losing one. Jay Cutler was intercepted once. The Broncos defense let a Bears offense that had spent much of the day in neutral go 65 yards within the final minutes for the game-tying touchdown.
In short, in three hours and 34 minutes worth of game time the Broncos took their progress of the last two weeks and buried it in the lakefront mud.
"We had the lead,'' Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey said. "We've got to hold on to it, that's been kind of our problem lately.''
So while the decision to loft the ball to Hester on several occasions will be the target of much of the Monday-morning angst in the Broncos falling back to 5-6, a game behind the San Diego Chargers in the AFC West standings, there were plenty of culprits involved.
The Broncos still, despite Hester's other-worldly performance, had a 34-20 lead when they were set to punt the ball away with 7:37 remaining in the game.
They did punt, but Hester did not construct another NFL Films moment and Denver down the ball at the 18. However, they were flagged for an illegal formation so the Broncos had to punt again.
This time the punt was blocked – "I didn't even see the guy coming,'' Sauerbrun said.
The Bears scored a touchdown four plays later to make it 34-27, the Broncos had just one first down on their next possession and the Bears turned that change of possession into a 12-play, 65-yard touchdown drive to tie the score with 28 seconds to play.
After all of that, overtime, with the Bears winning the coin flip, was a formality it seemed.
"We're not going to pin this on special teams, offensively we missed a lot of opportunities, defensively as well,'' Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler said. "There's been times when special teams has bailed us out, we've got to return the favor.''
Why oh why
Hester has repeatedly made teams pay for their bravado. Yet the Broncos made no secret they planned to kick to the uber-returner and let their coverage teams do the work.
Their hope had been to try and pin him to the sideline and then make him come back into the field of play to find room to work where the coverage would be waiting.
Saurberun even went as far as the say it would be chicken-(expletive) to kick the ball away from Hester. The Broncos did make it through the first half unscathed, but Hester scored twice in the second half – his fourth and fifth return for scores this season -- allowing the Bears to win a game when they had just 157 yards of offense through three quarters.
"He's a special player and you've got to realize that,'' Bailey said.
"Special team-wise we just got to get better,'' Bly said. "I feel like single-handedly Devin Hester won that game. We dominated on offense, we dominated on defense, they did a good job on one drive, tied it up at the end. Other than they didn't do nothing, it was Devin Hester, he was everything.''
Asked after the game if he believed Hester may be the one returner in the league no team should kick to, Sauerbrun said:
"Yeah, I hate saying that, but I'm going to probably say 'yeah.' He's excellent, the guy is great . . . Hey, Devin did an awesome job, he won the game for them. It was our fault we let him loose.''
"Obviously you look back and say that wasn't a very good decision,'' Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said.
Difference of opinion
The Broncos had two costly penalties in the game's final minutes, neither of which they agreed with.
Bly was called for putting his hand on Bears wide receiver Mushin Muhammad's shoulder outside the five-yard chuck zone on a fourth-down play that resulted in an incompletion to Muhammad.
The play would have given the ball back to the Broncos at the Bears' 35-yard line, but the illegal contact penalty gave the Bears an automatic first down and they scored the game-tying touchdown nine plays later.
"It's bogus,'' Bly said. "He said it was illegal contact. I felt like Mushin ran into me, but them guys there were calls they missed all game. There was a play when (Tony) Scheffler had on (Bears safety Adam) Archuleta and he caught the pass and Archuleta had a handful of his jersey in the back. And I asked the referee why you didn't call it and he said he didn't grab it long enough . . . It's a judgment call.''
Defensive tackle Alvin McKinley was called for a holding penalty on a running play in overtime that moved the Bears five yards closer for what became the game-winning field goal.
McKinley said he was just trying to get his hands back inside of the blocker's and "I don't know how you can call that.''
Players and coaches can be fined for criticizing the officiating so it's clear the league will be taking at look at what was said this week.
Getting thin
Depending how things go in the training room Monday, the Broncos might be on the lookout for a running back this week.
Already thin because Travis Henry (left knee) hasn't practiced in more than two weeks and Selvin Young (right knee) was held out of Sunday's game, Andre Hall sprained his ankle on his first play from scrimmage – a run for no gain.
Hall then played most of the remainder of the game on the injury – he finished with 98 yards on 23 carries – but could not finish. Cecil Sapp, who has played at fullback this season, finished out at running back.
"(Hall) couldn't go any further,'' Shanahan said. " . . . he could hardly walk on the sideline so that gives you an idea of his toughness.''
Fullback Kyle Johnson, who was just signed this past week to add depth at the position, was also getting treatment after the game for what appeared to be a left calf injury. Fullback Paul Smith was held out of the game because of a calf injury.
The Broncos last worked out running backs on Nov. 12 when among the four backs they worked out was former Texans player Wali Lundy. Lundy started eight games for the Texans last season and rushed for 476 yards.
The Broncos will evaluate their injuries further Monday and there is a chance they would send Hall for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam if they are concerned about the injury.
But Sapp and Mike Bell, who fumbled on his only carry Sunday, are the only completely healthy running backs on the roster.
Number that counts
8 games Bears cornerback Nathan Vasher, one of their best players in coverage, has now missed this season with a groin injury.
In his absence most teams have gone after Charles Tillman, which the Broncos did as well at times, but the Broncos still couldn't turn Jay Cutler's 302 yards passing into a victory Sunday.
Comments
Posted by vvsignin on November 25, 2007 at 4:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Will someone please fire Rick Dennison and have him take Glen Martinez with him? How many times do the special teams have to kill the Broncos before they make a change?
Posted by homeradam on November 25, 2007 at 5:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
God DAMN%$! !> FIRE SHANAHAN. He must have alzheimers by the way he calls plays!
Posted by george_zip on November 25, 2007 at 6:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with vvsignin. Special teams lost the game for us today. The offense (albeit 3rd down deficient for some reason) scored plenty of points to win, the defense (until the end) did more than enough to win the game. 21 points given up by special teams. What an embarrasment.
Posted by vvsignin on November 25, 2007 at 6:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How can it be Shanahan's fault when the special teams allow two touchdowns and a blocked punt? Summarily fire all of the special teams assistant coaches, pluck Martinez from the team, pluck a couple of the scrubs who block on the punt team and cover on the kickoffs and the punts. All of these clowns should be on the street tomorrow. But what does it matter anyway? The Broncos weren't going to challenge SD for the division. With a defense that shuts down at critical points in games, who needs to get their hopes up?
Posted by homeradam on November 25, 2007 at 6:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
we should have never been to the point where the special teams lost it for us. Why doesn't Loserhan let Cutler open it up......no, all we do is throw it 5-6 yards at a time.
Posted by mfrailing on November 25, 2007 at 6:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Bottom line is - Special teams sucked and have sucked for some time. The new special teams coach, tabbed a "guru" in the offseason, is a joke. Special teams have been weak all season. Glen Martinez, speaking of jokes, should not be handling punts or kick offs.
Posted by Pigskin on November 25, 2007 at 6:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Special teams, coaching, offensive line .... gee, it sure seemed like a winnable game.
(vvsignin - if you're asking that Dennison be gone because of special teams, get current. He doesn't coach special teams. He does "coach" the O-line, though, which is a debacle unto itself.)
I'm sure questioning this loss just shows my ignorance.
Let the whitewashing begin. There has to be a reasonable explanation, right Shanahan?
Posted by DenverD on November 25, 2007 at 6:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Welcome to the middle of the league. Open comment to the Broncos. If you want to continue to receive the large amount of money I send you every year FIX IT! A team that allows the Chicago Bears to score two td's in five minutes and three first downs at will on the final drive is, put simply, a bad team. You are going to lose games it happens, but when you lose after having a two touchdown lead in the fourth quarter it is obvious that nobody on the field cares about anything other than collecting their checks. Put it together.
Posted by vvsignin on November 25, 2007 at 6:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Is this 4 special teams touchdowns given up this year? Or is it more?
Posted by kr on November 25, 2007 at 7:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Blew it. Blew it. Blew it.
I have said it before and I will keep saying it,
FIRE the entire coaching staff!
Posted by firemanhess on November 25, 2007 at 7:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OH YA!!! I love it. The broncos SUCK!!!! Shanahan is over rated big time! He has complete control of this team he keeps signing all these players who dont produce anything. What has he done sense Elway left?
Posted by rjbrown30 on November 25, 2007 at 7:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Being a Bronco fan is never easy as was the case tonight. Sitting in front of the TV in total disbelief again wondering how we lost this one. Playing a team that has one of the best if not best kick returners in the league, why would you kick to him? Knowing that your special teams are not even league average why would you kick to David Hester again after the punt return for a touchdown. Is the coaching staff even aware of David Hester's ability? Is the competition committee calling Mike telling him he has to kick to Sir David Hester? Just once I would like to see Pat Bowen publicly challenge his coaching staff and the players to go 5-0 in their remaining games and anything less would be unacceptable. Maybe Mr. Bowen should model his team after the Patriots, great offence, great defense, great special teams and a coaching staff that cheats. OK maybe that was uncalled for but 3 out of 4 would be nice.
Posted by topshelf on November 25, 2007 at 7:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Did Shanahan's after game press conference go anything like this:
Reporter: "Why did you kick to Hester?"
Shanahan: "The Bears are who we thought they were!"
Reporter: "Why was your defense incapable of keeping a two touchdown lead late in the game?"
Shanahan: "The Bears are who we thought they were! And we let 'em off the hook! Crown their a$$!"
Reporter: Have you made you golf plans yet?
Shanahan storms out, glaring along the way.
Posted by mikesucks on November 25, 2007 at 10:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Shanahan's 'genius' status - especiay with this latest QB is laughabe. Jay may be young, but Shanahan will be long gone if he ever succeeds in Denver. Jake was no Elway, but last I checked the team still won and got into the playoffs. If, no, WHEN - Cutler turns out to fail as a Bronco, and these 'But he's still young' excuses wear thin, Shanahan's label of a coaching "genius" will forever be gone, but he will be out of the city long before anyway. I've always thought it was laughabe, it was John and Terrell Davis, Not the coach! Jake was no Elway but we wee winning and at one point one win a way from the SB again. It's a shame no one has the balls to call Shanahan on any of this. It's just like he thinks he can use ANY RB - he's been VERY lucky, now it's run out.
Posted by gwats on November 26, 2007 at 3:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The Bears who were they thought they were.....A struggling team who made a Super Bowl run last year with an awful Quarterback and a suspect defense. The Broncs were
leading 34-20 with 7:37 left. AND THEY LET THEM OFF THE HOOK! Can you say deja vu?
Denver can pack this season in too! The Chargers have awakened and now have a terrible resolve an the Broncos are the deer in the headlights. Stinks to be them!
Posted by madcoman on November 26, 2007 at 4:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
yup, Shanahan is responsible for a LOSER by the name of Saurbrun, HE SUCKS, check out the highlights and you will notice him getting run over on all 3 touchdowns. what a jerk this, "kicker" is!
Posted by madcoman on November 26, 2007 at 4:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
oh yeah, i forgot about the blocked punt as well, by the way who was the "punter" SaurBUM! It pisses me off that i cannot even stand watching the Broncos this year, don't call me a fair weather fan either! i like watching football teams that play football as a fan i hate to say that the only competition that the Broncos are capable of facing are the AZ Cardinals. Now that is SAD!
Posted by flatlander on November 26, 2007 at 4:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I just had to talk to you Bronco fans....
Thank you so much for the last few minutes of the game...
It was a long heartattack!!!! I couldn't look- I'll bet u couldn't either! That was sweet!!! But too hard on the system.
Posted by mike on November 26, 2007 at 9:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sauerbrun and Shanahan = "stupid is-stupid does" and Bowlen is just as stupid to keep Shanahan. Maybe Shanahan should apply for the CSU job. There might be a few High schools that would take Shanahan. Shanahan can't control his so called "look at me" players. They need a coach that can get the players to play for the name stitched on the front of their jerseys(Broncos) and not the their name stitched on the back.
Posted by misterbigge on November 26, 2007 at 10:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mike Shanahan, Todd Sauerbrun and Mr. Reality were talking last week.
Mr. R: Many people have picked up rattlesnakes and got bit and died. Don't you guys go picking up any rattlesnakes.
Todd S: We respect rattlesnakes.
Mike S: If we respect rattlesnakes it's ok to pick them up.
Mr. R: You guys are wrong, respect won't save your lives if you pick them up!!
Mike and Todd: We know better than you so shut up. We really have a lot of respect for rattles so it will be ok for us to pick them up . . .
Posted by Dan2 on November 26, 2007 at 12:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Donkeys loose to the Bears. Big deal. The Donkeys are as pathetic as their relocated fans are. When 70% of the population is from somewhere else, why should the expectation of a true fan be implied here in Denver?
Blame the coaches, blame the players, oh so very sad. No running game, one good player on the entire defense (Bailey), and a terrible special teams all around. The Donkey's will be the arses of the league for many years to come. Welcome to mediocrity.
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