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Broncos report: Trash-talking calms down

By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact), Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published December 29, 2008 at 12:19 a.m.

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After the two teams exchanged plenty of words through the week - Chargers reserve linebacker Matt Wilhelm lobbed the biggest verbal salvo, calling Jay Cutler "a punk" during a radio interview - Cutler called the talk on the field "pretty standard stuff."

Though Cutler did add, "pretty typical of them."

Cutler and San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers shook hands quickly before the game, with Rivers running quickly to Cutler first when the captains met at midfield for the coin toss.

Cutler finished 33-for-49 for 316 yards to go with a touchdown and two interceptions. Rivers was 15-for-20 for 207 yards to go with two touchdowns and didn't have an interception.

'Slo' hand

Asked directly after the game whether Bob Slowik will return, Mike Shanahan indicated there would not be a change.

That vote of confidence came despite his team allowing the most points in a game since Oct. 31, 1988, and the seventh most in franchise history.

"I'm definitely happy with him as coordinator," linebacker Jamie Winborn said. "We played like (dirt). We didn't play to win. You play a good team like that, and that's what's going to happen. They came out fiery and took advantage of their opportunities."

Not in the lineup

For the second consecutive game, linebacker Niko Koutouvides, who was competing for the starting middle linebacker job in training camp, was a game day inactive.

Koutouvides also wasn't in uniform against the Bills on Dec. 21.

Defensive end Jarvis Moss also was an inactive, and the decision to keep him out of uniform meant defensive end Tim Crowder was in uniform for the first time since Oct. 20 at New England.

Also inactive for the Broncos were safety Marlon McCree, running backs Andrew Pinnock and Alex Haynes, cornerback Jack Williams, guard Pat Murray and tight end Chad Mustard.

Haynes had just been signed last week when the Broncos put Selvin Young and P.J. Pope on injured reserve.

Injury report

Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey left Qualcomm Stadium with a heavy wrap and split on his left elbow. Bailey will be evaluated more today and is expected to have a magnetic resonance imaging exam to check for ligament or tendon damage.

Bailey left the game in the first quarter after making a tackle. He returned later in the quarter and played the rest of the way.

Bailey said he did not want to speak after the game and walked to the bus with his arm in a sling.

He finished with seven tackles in the game.

Bell tolls twice

Tatum Bell hadn't shown flashes of his 1,000-yard form in 2006 until Sunday.

Bell scored on touchdown runs of 26 and 37 yards, demonstrating some speed on pitches outside that has been largely absent since Denver signed him out of an Aurora cell phone kiosk in November.

He finished with eight carries for 86 yards, but Denver could run only 10 times total because of the large deficit it faced.

With the performance, Bell, a pending free agent, might have earned himself a look by some team for next season.

"When I signed back with them, I looked at it as an audition and for the other 31 teams," Bell said. "Hopefully, I impressed the coaches. . . . I was fortunate enough to come back and, hopefully, I'll be fortunate enough to come back next year."

A case of the drops

The Broncos defense allowed 52 points, putting huge pressure to match San Diego score for score.

But Denver's offense didn't have some of its better moments, either, with receivers dropping at least four passes.

Two came early from rookie Eddie Royal.

Brandon Stokley allowed a ball to go off his hands on fourth down at the Chargers' 5-yard line that would have moved the chains.

And in the fourth quarter, Brandon Marshall was running free on a post route but tripped over his own feet, ending another drive on fourth down.

"That's just how our season's been - up and down," Marshall said. "It was one of those plays where Jay threw a great ball. I was so wide open, I tripped over my foot. I'm still kicking myself for not making that play."

The Broncos finished with 406 yards but only 21 points, an issue for much of the second half of the season.

Denver also was a combined 4-for- 13 on third and fourth downs.

"We stopped ourselves," said Cutler, who threw one TD pass against two interceptions. "They didn't stop us once."

He said it

"It's a disappointing season. If you don't make the playoffs, that's one of the goals. We could have played better. We lost to teams we shouldn't have lost to. But we'll only get better from here."

Daniel Graham, Broncos tight end.

He said it

"Disappointing. Just disappointing. That's how I would describe it."

Stokley, on how he would characterize the season.

Numbers game

1 time before the game Sunday night that the Broncos had played a division opponent for the AFC West title in the final game of the season. The Broncos won the 1984 AFC West in a 31-14 game against Seattle. Both teams had entered the game at 12-3.

Unlucky seven

The seven running backs the Broncos already had placed on injured reserve before the game Sunday ties the league's highest number at any position during the past five seasons.

Year Team Position

2008 Broncos RB

2008 Saints DL

2008 Seahawks OL

2006 49ers DB

2004 Giants DL

Etc.

* Bell had two touchdowns rushing, and it was only his fifth career game with at least two rushing touchdowns.

* For all the heat Chargers coach Norv Turner has taken in his short time with the team, he is now 9-0 in December games with the team after the win Sunday.

* The Chargers have won 14 in a row in December.

* In the first quarter, Tomlinson scored his 124th career rushing touchdown, moving him into second place all time behind Emmitt Smith. Tomlinson scored another rushing touchdown in the second quarter.

* Rivers crossed the 4,000-yard passing mark for the season in the fourth quarter and broke Dan Fouts' single-season record in the process.

* Royal finished with 11 catches but fell 20 yards short of joining Marshall as the first 1,000-yard tandem for Denver since 2004.

Comments

  • December 29, 2008

    7:53 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    nickelbolt writes:

    "Typical"? Talk about typical. This is typical Jay Cutler stuff. Don't give credit to your opponent. Keep that up Jeff George Jr. and you'll be missing the playoffs for the remainder of your career. By the way, Jay... that first INT you threw was a play by a defensive back who was in position to pick you off. The 2nd INT you threw was also a play made by a linebacker who knew what was coming. So I'd say that at least twice the defense stopped you. At least give the Chargers that much. But in typical arrogant fashion, I'm sure you could never do that. Have fun sitting at home... AGAIN... this January. Maybe you can "lead" the team in a cheer for the Colts next weekend.

  • December 29, 2008

    8:29 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    broncofan722 writes:

    Another great job by the Denver defense. Special teams are indeed special in Denver. The offense was not much better. Drop balls, penalties, poor throws. Outstanding coaching this year to say the least. Time for change. Time for a new voice. At least at the top something has to change. Shanny can't draft defensive players. Time to act Bowlen or get used to being 500 for a long time.

  • December 29, 2008

    11:16 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    johna writes:

    They wouldn't call Cutler a punk if he didn't act like one. sitting on the sidline by himself pouting. This guy has no fire or desire to win he needs an attitude adjustment (winning instead of whinning)

  • December 29, 2008

    12:26 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Broncos101 writes:

    Cutler looked like every single Broncos fan on that sideline: shocked, confused, fustrated at watching the defense get walked on. His desire to win is not the issue. The defenses inability to tackle, intercept, make a play, stop the run, stop the pass, force a 3 and out is one issue. The play calling was another issue. What was up with the WR screen that was called I think 8 times. When the only way your defense can stop an opposing offense is by the clock expiring, then your issues far exceed the issue of your young QB sitting on the sideline wishing he was't getting beat 52-doesn't matter

  • December 29, 2008

    1:15 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    broncofan722 writes:

    Watching that Defense would make anyone frustrated. I sure was. That "D" is a joke. I agree on the play calling. How many boots were called? What was with the lateral running? We actually moved the ball north-south and then we go and run the WR screen to the sidelines. Cutler will mature hopefully. Winning is going to help but if you look at the 2009 schedule, get ready for the pouting to continue. This team is in trouble next year also.

  • December 29, 2008

    11:03 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    krister342 writes:

    Denver fans you might have a real good QB when he grows up and stops acting like a spoiled college athelete. His facial expressions when his receivers don't make a play are way out of line. There not expressions of dissapointment but ridicule toward his other teamates. Shanahan needs to sit that kid down for a long talk before the rest of the team turns on him. There's plenty of smack that goes on on both sides of the ball in all NFL games. When Rivers does it is usually followed by a smile as if you were smacking with your buddies during a normal golf game. During that smack last year the only camera angle which was shown was Rivers and the Chargers. Check out the angle of Cuttler he was going at it pretty good himself.