Broncos aiming to end weekly pattern of back-and-forth

By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published December 1, 2008 at 10:39 p.m.

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Photo by Barry Gutierrez / The Rocky

Broncos wide receiver Eddie Royal whoops it up with Broncos cornerback Jack Williams after scoring a touchdown on a 59-yard pass from Jay Cutler in the first quarter against the Jets.

Their season has been constructed via Sybil engineering.

Virtually no one can figure out which side of the Broncos will emerge each week.

Their split personality isn't as simple as home or road - they're seemingly better away from Invesco Field at Mile High, actually - or playing a good team vs. an NFL lesser-light, though those patterns have emerged at times.

They can look pitiful one week, powerful the next.

They can turn over the ball, then appear sure-handed - in a driving rain, no less.

And through all the postgame self-examinations, Denver currently can look in the mirror and see clearly what stands before it: a possible AFC West title.

The Broncos would earn that designation outright if San Diego were to lose to Oakland on Thursday and Denver were to defeat Kansas City on Sunday.

"We're a resilient bunch," middle linebacker Spencer Larsen said with a smile after his team improved to 7-5 with a thorough performance against the heavily favored Jets. "I'd hate to be the guy that has to predict the spread for us, because we're a difficult bunch to deal with. But when we execute our game plan, I think we're a tough group."

The Broncos (7-5) are even beyond difficult to figure.

Consider that within the past three weeks, Denver went to Atlanta and defeated a Falcons team battling for the NFC South title then came home and promptly played one of its worst games of the season, losing by 21 points against Oakland, a team it had dominated in Week 1.

So, of course, the Broncos' response would be to knock off a Jets team being touted as perhaps the class of the AFC and that was brimming with confidence after five straight wins, including one against then-

undefeated Tennessee and another at New England.

"When we're coming off a bad game, we play good," theorized Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey, who is likely to return this week from a groin injury. "But the thing is, we can't make up our minds to play after a bad game. We've got to learn how to handle success and build off that."

The Broncos handled business in that fashion during their 3-0 season start.

A clunker followed at Kansas City, setting up a bevy of capricious contests. Three losses in four games followed before a

second-half rally seemingly out of nowhere at Cleveland on Nov. 6 pulled Denver out of the abyss.

It seemed to reinvigorate Denver, but only long enough to be brought down to earth in the Raiders debacle and back up again against the Jets.

"I guess we play better against the upper-echelon teams, the top teams," said cornerback Dre Bly, alluding to Denver wins against the Jets (8-4), Tampa Bay (9-3), New Orleans (6-6) and Atlanta (8-4). "We have to find a way to play more balanced and be good when it doesn't mean anything to the other team, because that's basically what it's been with Oakland and Kansas City."

Against the Jets, the Broncos "did all the things a team's got to do" to prevail, said Jim Goodman, Denver's vice president of pro personnel.

Quarterback Jay Cutler cut through the wind and rain for 357 passing yards. Running back Peyton Hillis bashed through and around tacklers for the team's second individual 100-yard rushing game. Denver's defense stopped two critical fourth-down plays, scored a touchdown off a fumble recovery and, except for two long scoring runs by Thomas Jones, kept big Jets plays to a minimum.

"We've got a young team that fights hard to focus," Goodman said. "But that's part of going together and gelling as a team. They're learning to fight together."

Yet, given recent events, including a three-game home losing streak, it's difficult for the Broncos to feel completely confident heading into the rematch with the Chiefs, even though motivation shouldn't be an issue. Kansas City (2-10) ran for 257 yards in its 33-19 win over Denver on Sept. 28 at Arrowhead Stadium.

"I think our guys will stay focused and will learn," Goodman predicted. "They'll prepare the week and come out and play hard."

Cutler chalked up Denver's instability to the generally "crazy" nature of the NFL from week to week. He might be right, considering the Broncos were one of 11 road teams to prevail in Week 13.

What is fairly straightforward, however, is that when Denver plays even or has an advantage in the turnover battle, it wins.

The Broncos improved to 6-0 in such situations Sunday. But just try to predict how that one's going to go. Even Las Vegas can't seem to get a handle on Denver, which at one stage this season lost against the point spread six straight weeks.

"That's why you can't play football on paper," defensive end Elvis Dumervil said. "You've got to play it between the white lines. This is a great example of that. We've got to take care of business at home. Once we do that, I think we're going to be all right."

• December 1, 2008

  11:24 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Dynamicdave writes:

  Time to get on a win streak and take it to the house. This is a perfect time to begin to peak, to hit their stride. GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• December 2, 2008

  7:01 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  incognitoboy writes:

  hey, crazier things have happened. last year's giants started out with low expectations around the league, began 0 - 2, nearly lost the third, then came back to win it. they won 14 of 18 to finish off the season, including 3 playoff road wins and the super bowl against the undefeated pats. if that doesn't give a team hope that anything can happen, well......

  i think the broncos may be just beginning to take themselves seriously. let's hope the momentum begins NOW!

  GO BRONCOS!!!

• December 2, 2008

  8:24 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  schiznit writes:

  Haya, I say since they play better on the road, put them in a hotel the night before, ship them to the stadium on a bus on sunday afternoon. This should keep them focused on football.

• December 2, 2008

  9:12 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  MTBroncofan writes:

  It is plainly obvious that this team has tremendous talent and potential, all that seems to be missing is that 'killer instinct'. I think that if you give this team more time to gel, they will develop the killer instinct... then look out... I don't care if they play the New York football Giants or the Detroit Lions...

  I was so impressed with last weeks game. They laid a big a$$ whoopin on Brett Favre and the Jets. IF they can develop that killer instinct every week from here on out, they will surprise everyone and become that sleeper playoff team that nobody wants to play against...

  Yeah, that sounds sweet! Go Broncos!!!

• December 2, 2008

  9:29 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Broncofan_in_Boston writes:

  Not just last year's Giants.

  In '05, the Steelers were 7-5 and struggling. They put together 4 un-impressive wins (my best friend is a Steeler's fan and he gets the football package) and got hot for the playoffs.

  In '06, Indy was awful late in the season and had that game in which they gave up 300+ yards rushing vs. the Jags. They were given up for dead.

  The '01 Pats weren't even a very good team. I'm pretty sure they were 5-5 and won a bunch of weird games going down the stretch and into the playoffs.

  So sure, anything can happen. They have an offense that can literally "go off" and put up lots of points. The defense has shown some flashes in recent weeks. Going back to the bye week, they have played well enough to win every game. The Miami game was not the d's fault and in the Raider game, the defense allowed just 3 points into the 3rd quarter. I know the raiders ended up with 31, but that game would have been different without turnovers, missed fg's. That game snowballed.

  They certainly are showing they can beat good teams on the road. Maybe getting to the playoffs is what it takes to focus this team and give them the confidence they need to execute.

• December 2, 2008

  9:54 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  baylinorcrush writes:

  This team is mostly young and immature, made out of a lot of rookies. Up and downs are to be expected.
  And also, it is always easier to sneek up on somebody you are supposed to loose to, than to be heavily favorite to beat a loosing team with nothing to loose.
  The only thing that will help this young team change that, is to obtain maturity through professionalism and compete at the same level of intensity every single game simply because that is what you are paid the big bucks for ! It should be that simple.
  Anyhow, we are lucky to have these young men representing our Broncos and we have a very bright future ahead of us thanx to the fabulous drafts of 06 and 08.

• December 2, 2008

  9:57 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Coltgm56 writes:

  I agree with D-Dave. Perfect time to hit our stride and go on a run. The ups and downs are just part of the learning process. We are ready to take off! With the exception of Champ keep the young guys in the game, they make mistakes but they are agressive and hungry. Have we tried Moss as a linebacker? Just a thought. Time to get HOT while others fade. GO BRONCOS!!!

• December 2, 2008

  2:53 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  broncomex writes:

  It is all in Shanahan playbook.
  The L vs KAN, JAX, and OAK was due to a standard playbook as he thought those should be no brainer games to win.
  The L vs NE and MIA was due to failure to adjust to the injuries.
  The unpredicted W vs SD, TB, CLE, ATL and NYJ was due to great playbook for all those difficult games.
  As long as Shanahan can bring great playbook for "suppose to win" games such as the remaining homies (KC and BUF) we should be able to win them.
  At this point every game until we clinch, should be seen as a playoff game.
  I live in SD and would love to "deja vu" and be at Q Stadium for the last game of the regular season already clinched (2005). I love to hear all crazy things from the worst fans in the world!

• December 2, 2008

  6:51 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  johnb writes:

  Broncos need to learn not to let turnovers get them too down. Against the jets I was worried after that int. but they kept their heads up and played well. This offence can score and get the momentum back quick. Fun team to watch !

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