Broncos pack up after half vs. Pack
By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published August 22, 2008 at 10 p.m.
Barry Gutierrez © The Rocky
Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler gets hit by the Packers Aaron Kampman in the first quarter Friday.
Photo by Darin McGregor © The Rocky
Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall makes a juggling 49-yard touchdown reception during the second quarter of Denver's preseason game Friday night vs. the Packers at Invesco Field at Mile High.
What was the most striking aspect of the Broncos’ preseason game against the Packers?
Drew on the NFL
Scores and statistics
- Broncos statistics
- Broncos schedule
- Broncos roster
- Broncos depth chart
- NFL scoreboard
- AFC standings
- NFC standings
Broncos inbox
Ready or not, it will have to do.
That's because the Broncos front- liners put their preseason in the books Friday night with a 27-24 loss against the Green Bay Packers at Invesco Field at Mile High. They are not expected to see the field in the preseason finale in Arizona on Friday night (8 MDT, CBS 4).
"I think things are coming together," safety Marlon McCree said. "Offensively, defensively, we just played teams that both won 13 games last season in the last two weeks and I think the starters did what we needed to do for the most part. We got some things to look at, but if we played the whole game, I think we would have come away fine."
The loss to the Packers pushed the Broncos to 1-2 in August and featured both ends of the power-speed spectrum on offense to go with some spotty play early by the defense that will have to be cleaned up before facing the Raiders on Sept. 8.
Quarterback Jay Cutler, who opened last week's win against Dallas with 12 consecutive completions, started just 1-of-7 against the Packers, with a smattering of uncharacteristic overthrows.
"We were still moving the ball . . . ," Cutler said. "But games are going to go like that."
Cutler rebounded well enough to conclude the preseason without a turnover - he was also not sacked in three outings - and the offense followed suit with two scoring drives in the second quarter.
The first came on their first possession of the quarter - trailing 7-3 - and was a 16-play, 99-yard, old-school marathon that finished with Cutler hitting Nate Jackson with a 7-yard touchdown pass. Cutler was 4-of-7 passing on the drive for 44 yards and the touchdown, but the Broncos also pounded 10 rushing attempts at the Green Bay defense on the drive with Selvin Young, Andre Hall and Michael Pittman each getting carries.
That was the long of it.
The short of it was the Broncos' next possession. Denver took over on its 20-yard line. Cutler, seeing Packers backup cornerback Tramon Williams on Brandon Marshall, quickly pushed the ball up the right sideline toward Marshall.
Williams, trying to recover as Marshall went by him, was called for a 31-yard pass-interference penalty, moving the ball to the Green Bay 49-yard line. So Cutler went after the same matchup, as Marshall again ran by Williams up the same sideline.
Marshall bobbled the ball twice and reeled it in for a 49-yard touchdown that gave the Broncos a 17-10 lead with 1:25 left in the first half. They led 17-13 at halftime.
"He understands coverages kind of like I do," Cutler said. "We knew he was going to be one-on-one. . . . That's what you're going to get, you're going to get some deep balls from us."
The two scores meant the Broncos starters put up five touchdown drives in their limited work in three preseason games.
Cutler, who will not play against the Cardinals, finished his night 6-of-13 for 115 yards against the Packers. He threw three touchdowns and no interceptions in the preseason and in his three games was 30-of-43 passing (69.8 percent) overall for 352 yards.
"The guys up front, they're doing a great job," Cutler said.
"He's playing at such a high level right now," said Cutler's backup, Patrick Ramsey, who threw a touchdown and an interception in the second half.
The biggest offensive question still waiting for an answer is: Where exactly will Cutler go with Marshall out of the lineup for at least two games - possibly three - because of a league-mandated suspension to open the season?
Marshall had two of the starters' three receiving touchdowns in the preseason, and his 10 receptions in three games easily led the team's wide receivers.
Defensively, the Broncos still haven't shown much of the playbook and largely kept things simple against the Packers. However, they did allow the Green Bay regulars to go 80 yards on the opening possession of the game for a 7-0 lead with just 4:37 gone in the quarter.
Coach Mike Shanahan said the team "didn't tackle as well as I would have liked."
"No, we didn't start the way we want to," McCree said. "But we have guys that can adjust and I thought we did that. We'll be better when it's time to go."
However, after the initial drive, the Broncos defenders settled in fairly well, allowing just two Packers field-goal drives the remainder of the first half. They, like the offense, ended their night at halftime.
So now the Broncos have some injury questions on defense that will have to be sorted out as well. Defensive end/tackle Ebenezer Ekuban, who sat out against the Cowboys last week with a back injury, was held out again.
Defensive end Elvis Dumervil, who had two of the five sacks in the preseason from the Broncos defensive starters, left the game with a dislocated/fractured finger and will have surgery this morning.
Both players went for X-rays and will be evaluated more Sunday. Dumervil returned to the Broncos bench, dressed in street clothes, in the second half with a large split on his right hand.
Safety Marquand Manuel left the game with a fractured right thumb and will also have surgery in the morning.
Starting strong-side linebacker Boss Bailey was already out of the lineup because of a sprained ankle he suffered in the preseason opener in Houston. Bailey is still hopeful he will be ready for the regular-season opener against the Raiders.
Backup defensive end Paul Carrington, who had been pushing his way steadily up the depth chart in camp, left the game in the third quarter with a strained left calf.
Post your comment
Registration is required. Click here to create your free user account, or login below.
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.
Featured
-
Legislature Blog
Read live updates from the opening of the 2009 legislative session.
-
Rocky multimedia
The news comes alive in our videos and slide shows. Catch up on what's happening today.
-
Who's next?
Complete coverage of the Broncos' search for a new coach.
-
Rocky year in photos
View an audio slide show of staff selections from 2008.
-
Winter Escapes
Your insider’s guide to the copious joys of the coolest season.
-
Sam Adams' Open Mic
Open Mic: Two-man advantage with Avs
-
Shanahan's career
See photos from Mike Shanahan's career as Broncos coach.
-
12 days of Drew
Look back at the year that has been with Drew Litton.
-
A dream fulfilled
A Rocky Mountain News and MediaStorm production
August 23, 2008
1:12 a.m.
Suggest removal
angryman1n writes:
Cutsoon might not have been sacked, but his uniform sure does look dirty for the preseason. I'm guessing that contributed to the "smattering of uncharacteristic overthrows."
No turnovers in the preseason. Just exactly what is that supposed to mean? He doesn't screw up massively when the game is at 80% speed?
August 23, 2008
1:56 a.m.
Suggest removal
SE7EN writes:
Wow angryman...would you rather have Jake Plummer back?
August 23, 2008
5:06 a.m.
Suggest removal
mt2ri writes:
Angryman, why are you such an angry man? I look at the preseason and see hope for the offense, and a banged up defense. This should be a much better season, if we have anyone left on defense by week 6...
August 23, 2008
6:39 a.m.
Suggest removal
Vector049 writes:
The poor dears.
August 23, 2008
8:41 a.m.
Suggest removal
elev5280 writes:
GO Broncos!!! LOOKING GOOD. Let this be your best season yet! Give it all you've got and PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE guys keep focused. Your fans are counting on you. You've got the world in your hands and so much more. GO Broncos!
August 23, 2008
9:33 a.m.
Suggest removal
broncosfaninphx writes:
"RickyLee writes:
Go Raiders. I hope the donkeys lose every game."
Typical Raiders fan: You can hope all that you want, the FACT is that Denver has won no less than 6 games a whopping 1 time in the past 36 years! Do you have any idea what kind of an accomplishment that is? I bet that you wish the Raiders could say that? Heck the Raiders have lost more than that every year the past 5 years in a row! I find it hillarious that the Raiders and their fans talk about how they are the winningest team in NFL history, that is a downright LIE! As a matter of fact the Raiders should and are pretty much the poster child for modern day NFL futility! So put that in your pipe and smoke it Raider fans. Go Broncos! Down go the Raiders! AGAIN!
August 23, 2008
9:34 a.m.
Suggest removal
RG2008 writes:
I love my Broncos But ..... I think we are in for a rough year.
There was no precision to that offense. Yes they have the big play ability that will get them some scores but they didn't dominate anything.
And the defense, argggg. Poor Tackling, no pass rush, and they can't cover the quick outlet pass. The top teams inthe AFC will slice and dice our defense.
Be ready for a 5 and 11 season. They should beat KC twice, split with the Raiders, and make enough big plays to win two other games. That's it folks! Keep an eye on the college game for that stud running back in the draft next season. We aren't going anywhere for another year!
August 23, 2008
9:40 a.m.
Suggest removal
Anhydrous writes:
RickyLee.....
That is the kind of stupid of remark I would expect from most Faider fans.I do however understand your hostility considering the way the Broncos have owned your ridiculous franchise since the firing of Shanahan by Alice"Dumb Decision" Davis, and thankfully you Raider fans will forever be doomed as long as you have that lamer for an owner making the key decisions for your talent-less football squad. Kiffen is a fine coach and hopefully soon he will be able to run your franchise somewhere besides the grave.You should be taking your hostility to the Raiders front office,not to the teams in your division that have been making Raiders look like pop warner players for many years.Keep hating,it gives us all the more pleasure when you lose.
August 23, 2008
9:51 a.m.
Suggest removal
mccaffreyfan writes:
They didn't dominate anything? What? They dominated the run game. Selvin and Andre looked good out there. The defense was not that bad (gave up 1 touchdown in the first half) and will be better when we have all the starters in. I have a feeling the D will put in plenty of blitzes this year too. I hope that they don't become a "passing" offense and rely on the run. The D needs time on the bench to rest. Overall, good things are in store this year
August 23, 2008
10:04 a.m.
Suggest removal
myerda00 writes:
Whoa guys, for a minute I thought this was the Oakland Press instead of the Rocky Mountain News... WHEW !!
Bronco fans have to realize that Raider fans are people (?) that really hate when someone else is getting ahead. They are like the people that use their car keys to scratch the side of a very nice car. These kind of people are negative jerks like angryman and rickylee.
BTW rg2008 and mccaffreyman (please do not use a quality name like this for yourself) are GHE negative jerks also. Guys there are PLENTY of positive issues with this team this year. Do you realize that all 12 draft choices and CFA's are in position to make this team. YEA!
IMO 9+ wins with health.
August 23, 2008
10:40 a.m.
Suggest removal
dilligaf writes:
DforDavid
Get a crip. Just in. There is nuts in this world. A nut starved a little boy to death so I guess all parents are bad. GO GET A LIFE!!!!!!!!!!
August 23, 2008
10:46 a.m.
Suggest removal
OregonBroncFan writes:
What's with all the negativity? First off Cutler was a little flat last night but the previous games looked good. Are we fans or bandwagoners? I have seen several good things this pre-season and yes some not so good, Cutler however has been a bright spot. He is and will be a very good QB. As for the Raider fans coming here to talk trash I can understand how it would get old talking trash about your own poor team on their papers websites. Which reminds me when was the last time the Raiders won a Superbowl? Honestly guys we don't play for the team so let's be real fans and support our Broncos, emphasis on the good down play the bad. GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 23, 2008
11:35 a.m.
Suggest removal
zdcoombs writes:
They looked good. I think it will be a fun year!!!!
August 23, 2008
12:32 p.m.
Suggest removal
cdmdenver writes:
I'M NOT IMPRESSED!
THE BRONCOS DID'NT LOOK THAT GOOD
VS. THE PACKERS.
I HOPE WE DON'T HAVE TO START
MAKING EXCUSES FOR THE BRONCOS
AGAIN THIS YEAR.
LET THE HATERS BE YOUR MOTIVATORS, BRONCOS
August 23, 2008
2:11 p.m.
Suggest removal
Dynamicdave writes:
angryman1n, your post means nothing. You are a Raiders fan so your words are meaningless.
cdmdenver, you're even worse then angryman1n.
RickyLee, you're a joke. But we always knew that from all of your previous posts. You manage to get deleted half the time because you can't seem to post without using profanity. I'm surprised this last one was clean.
zdcoombs, my thoughts, exactly. Our 1st string was winning. We didn't fall behind until the 3rd quarter when we played our 2nd string against their 1st string. I thought the 2nd string were pretty competitive, anyways.
OregonBroncFan, I'm right there with you, brother.
August 23, 2008
3:19 p.m.
Suggest removal
Dynamicdave writes:
DforDavid, I don't take preseason too seriously, although it gives us a chance to gauge our team. Also, it gives us a chance to decide on the new talent. I'm not sure where you were going with the political thing, though? It was a little too extreme of a comparison. The people, who you read in these posts, who whine, are usually not Bronco fans and when they say they are, they are usually liars. It's good to voice concerns but many don't write ANYTHING positive. They are unhappy in their own lives and generally don't have any true friends because people don't want to be around whiners, all the time. If they have wives, I feel sorry for the women because they have to hear their complaining, constantly. I will bash them every time because I'm not shy about telling someone how stupid they act and sound.
August 23, 2008
4:28 p.m.
Suggest removal
mccaffreyfan writes:
myerda00,
Make sure you read my post before you criticize it.
August 23, 2008
5:52 p.m.
Suggest removal
Dynamicdave writes:
RG2008, you stated you love the Broncos? You obviously don't know the 1st thing about the game. I don't know what team you were watching but it wasn't the Broncos? You are simply a bandwagon fan who likes to whine. I want to hear from you again at the end of the season, when you will be eating crow. But do the rest of the Bronco fans a favor, either get on the Bronco bus with the rest of us and quit lieing to yourself and realize that your pessimism is unfounded or find another hobby. We expect Bronco bashing from Raiders fans, and you fit right in there. Bronco fan, yeah, right.
August 24, 2008
6:05 a.m.
Suggest removal
Champion writes:
I think the negative people here are just that, negative in life, struggling. But here they get to have some freedom of expression because they're incapable in their lives because of the controlling wife, no friends( Im betting this one), poor job. This way if they predict a bad year, they can claim i told you so, but if they do well, they disappear, never to be heard from. Go Broncos!