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KRIEGER: Broncos' high hopes are back — for now

By Dave Krieger, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published November 30, 2008 at 8:18 p.m.

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It is well established that math's transitive property does not apply to sports, but consider it for a moment anyway:

A week ago, the Jets beat the Titans, the team with the best record in football. A week later, the Broncos beat the Jets, suggesting the Broncos can be as good as anybody in the NFL.

On the other hand, the Raiders beat the Broncos a week ago. A week later, the Chiefs, going in at 1-10, beat the Raiders, suggesting the Broncos can also be as bad as anybody.

"I think it says a lot about the NFL and just how crazy it can be," Jay Cutler said after out-dueling the legendary Brett Favre in the rain at the Meadowlands to beat the hottest team in the league. "Each and every week you look at the scores and there's somebody that beats somebody they weren't supposed to. So it's an interesting year."

One man's "interesting" is another man's "wacko."

"We've been pretty unpredictable all year," Mike Shanahan allowed.

Through all the twists and turns, two patterns have emerged:

* When the Broncos have an even or positive turnover margin, as they did Sunday at 2-1, they are 6-0. With a negative turnover margin, they are 1-5.

* When Cutler is on, the Broncos win. His passer rating has been over 90 in every Broncos victory and under 80 in every defeat.

His performance Sunday was especially remarkable because of the constant rain.

"It would be easy to write off our lack of production on the conditions," Favre said, "but that wouldn't look too good considering they did produce. I told (Cutler) after the game he played outstanding, and if you play like that it's hard to be beat. He was the better man tonight."

Some quarterbacks just handle a wet ball better than others. "I don't mind it," Cutler said. "It wasn't raining too bad."

Two other phases of the game - phases that tend to get attention only when they blow up - were huge Sunday for the Broncos.

One is game-planning and play-calling. The Mike Shanahan/Jeremy Bates/ Rick Dennison offensive game plan was far superior to Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer's. While Schottenheimer was calling a reverse in the pouring rain (fumble, touchdown Broncos) and throwing on third-and-1 (incomplete) and fourth- and-1 (sack), the Broncos were taking advantage of the Jets' defensive scheme by attacking the middle of the field.

"We got some big plays with our tight end because they do double-team the wide receivers," Shanahan said. "They do a great job defensively taking your top people out of the game. So we had to run the football, we had to get some big plays with our tight ends and then when they did blitz us we got a couple big plays with our wide receivers."

The intelligent game plan made tight ends Tony Scheffler and Daniel Graham the Broncos' leading receivers (13 catches, 149 yards) while Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal attracted most of the defensive attention.

The other phase in which the Broncos excelled again Sunday was pass protection. Over and over, Cutler stood in the pocket unmolested, patting the ball and making his reads in relative calm.

The Broncos offensive line has now given up eight sacks in 461 pass plays, or 1.7 percent of the time. If they finish the season with that percentage, they will rank third all time behind only the Dolphins teams of 1988 and 1989.

"It starts and ends with those guys, and they've done a great job for us all year," Cutler said.

"I think everybody just trusts each other and we've got good communication up there," said guard Chris Kuper. "Everybody's reliable. I think that's a big deal, that everybody can rely on each other."

The amazing part is that three of the five linemen are essentially newcomers. Veteran center Casey Wiegmann came from Kansas City to take over for Tom Nalen this year. Left tackle Ryan Clady is a rookie. Right tackle Ryan Harris is a second- year player who missed almost his entire rookie year following back surgery.

"It's unbelievable what they're doing on the outside," Wiegmann said. "And it's helped this offense so much. I totally respect what our tackles are doing. It helps set the pocket. Jay can step up. So if those guys are singled out on the outside, we're three-on-two against guys on the inside. I just can't say enough how good they're doing."

"I think it helps having Casey and Kuper because they've been in the league longer," Harris said. "We do a lot to try and communicate with each other."

These are the five unsung heroes of the season, so far.

This week, high hopes are back. Up three games in the division with four to play, it is tempting to say the playoffs are a lock. But the way predictions have worked out this season, the Broncos would probably rather you didn't.

Comments

  • November 30, 2008

    8:40 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dynamicdave writes:

    Denvers offensive line are playing at an incredible level. Clady protects Cutlers back like an all pro. The Denver staff needs to make sure this group stays together for years to come.

  • November 30, 2008

    9:17 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Jubei writes:

    Damn, it looks like I missed a great one today! The roller coaster ride continues...

    From the way the stats look, the Broncos had a solid game in all three phases. And, go figure, they also won the turnover battle.

    I did notice that Larsen was injured today. Does anyone know what the injury was? The thought of Webster coming back in makes me slightly nauseated.

    Any chance the NFL network might show the game on Replay?

  • November 30, 2008

    9:43 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    bronco4428 writes:

    I WANNA KNOW WHERE ALL THE SHANNY HATERS ARE!!!!!! PLEASE TELL ME WHERE ARE UUUUUU??

  • November 30, 2008

    11:37 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dynamicdave writes:

    bronco4428, what was that movie, "Warriors" when the bottles were being clacked together? "Warriors, come out and pla-ay". Bandwagon fans.

  • December 1, 2008

    1:52 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    RustyWon writes:

    I have been hammering Paymah and Bly all season, but those two had a great game yesterday.
    Way to step up! If you guys keep this up, we'll be in pretty good shape.
    Fav-re usually tries to stick the ball in there even in the face of good coverage, but we had some pressure on him yesterday and he had to hold it.

    O-Line is the reason we are still in first. Those guys are all awesome.

    Go Broncos!

  • December 1, 2008

    2:51 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Bigg_Nuggets writes:

    Paymah did not have a great game yesterday. Bly, however, did and has turned a corner on the corner when they let him play on his man tighter. He has a greater chance of being beat that way, but his aggressive style takes away cheap first downs and puts him in position to make plays, but he is still a terrible tackler. Fox got a touchdown, but he look awful playing defense. Barret needs more snaps. It can't be any worse, but I don't know if he is seriously injured. Larsen needs to get back. He doesn't play spectacular defense, but he plays solid defense and tackles well, something Webster "the pinball" does not. Bell was fantastic for a rookie and made to great plays on the last real drive that threatened the game. Paymah just needs to go behind Williams too. This team is exciting because it is developing in front of us for the first time. I think it is a credit to Shanny that he has built a team finally from the draft up and been willing to change his strategy. This team is young and will lay another egg at some point this season no doubt, but that is to be expected. I am just so excited that they will get a chance to taste the playoffs and get some seasoning to better prepare them for the years to come. P.S. with the division wrapped up essentially I say Bailey and D.J. should be kept out of the KC game too. They are better than those playing now, but why not make sure they are totally healthy and rested.

  • December 1, 2008

    3:18 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    myerda00 writes:

    BN, covered it pretty well. Hello from 4 Mile Bar to neighbor DynamicDave.
    Josh Bell is really growing. IMO Karl Paymah would be better servicable at safety.
    Spencer Larsen needs to BE health. He is very solid at gap responsability.
    Make sure you guys go to NFL.com and vote our Broncos into the Pro-Bowl. My votes have been Cutler, Royal, Marshall, Clady, and Harris. Alone with Champ, DJ and Woodyard.
    I also throw a vote to Kuper and Harris because the line has jelled sooooooo well.

    OK team lets game plan well for KC.

  • December 1, 2008

    4:19 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    SteveC writes:

    I don't understand this team. I've been a Bronco fan for as long as I can remember and I'm 43 so that says a lot.
    After the Miami game I suggested that maybe it was time for Shanahan to go. I don't have all the answers and I don't claim to know who could take over for him. However, The Chiefs are a joke, we lost to them. The Raiders are a joke with an interim head coach, we lost to them. Badly. Miami's coach is in his first year, we lost to them. The Broncs have had ONE playoff win in TEN years. In that time there have been two constants for the Broncs. Bowlen as owner and Shanahan as head coach and GM. The bad draft picks, the bad trades and horrible free agent signings are all on his shoulders. Being outcoached and unprepared against BAD teams is Shanahans fault. Nobody else's. Part of being a head coach is having your team prepared mentally and physically prepared every week. With his resume' Shanahan should NEVER be outcoached. He has been more than once this year. Injuries have been huge this year and thankfully the 2nd and 3rd string guys have stepped up. I don't expect much this year. If we get into the playoffs I think it will be another one and done. Next year, different story. With the rookie, second and third year players we have we should get deep into the playoffs. If not, maybe a head coach change is in order. Where are the Bronco fans that demanded wins? It used to be that anything less than 10 wins was considered a bad year. For some reason people seem to accept less than that and be OK with it. I don't want a winning 9-7 record! I want 11-5 at least and at least a division championship and a conference championship to go with it.

  • December 1, 2008

    5:37 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Mark13 writes:

    What are you talking about? Shanahan is the best coach in the NFL hands down. There are always people who want to run the coach out of town no matter who he is. I'm sure Lombardi had detractors in his day. Hard to figure. I noticed no mention of the great moves made by Shanny just the bad, it's always the same with you guys.

  • December 1, 2008

    5:53 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    TYoungman writes:

    The NFL needs officials with better critical thinking skills; these guys stood around staring at one another for half the game, at one point engaging in a three minute discussion to decide a false start/encroachment call.

    Hillis is a special player: Raw power,toughness, great vision, soft hands, quick feet - and he is smart to boot - playing multiple positions in his rookie year and playing them well. When you find one, you keep him (see Dallas Clark in Indy)

    The coaching staff has done an incredible job with this defense all things considered; The Bronco's have found their defensive coordinator in Coach Slowik: I see a defense which - in spite of the injuries, inexperience, etc., is buying in to the system, playing as a unit. The D is still suspect but headed in the right direction and I am exited to see what they can do when Bailey, Webster, and Williams get healthy. There is a fine line, as we Bronco's fans have seen in recent years, between a good D and a bad D.

    The offensive game plan was diabolical: - Kudos to Coach Shanahan and to the Denver offense for exposing the Jets.

    Anytime you have as many injuries as the Broncos have, and as many rookies playing key positions, and you manage to be competitive, the coaches on both sides of the ball deserve a lot of credit.

    Jay Cutler is a Beast: enough said.

    I seem to recall that in the fourth quarter of the game at arrowhead, the chiefs went to a no huddle in an attempt to run up the score. Let us all dwell on that memory as we prepare for next week.

  • December 1, 2008

    7:34 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    CJA writes:

    Signing Niko Kirkavides to starter money was a brilliant move!!!! Shanny has drafted much better the last 2 years but name a free agent in the last 3 years that has panned out?? Hard to find one and that is all on Shanny!!

  • December 1, 2008

    9:34 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Mark13 writes:

    Name a free agent that has panned out for any NFL team. The days of building through free agency are gone. Shanahan built a Superbowl champion when it worked, Oh I know the next refrain " "He hasn't won a Superbowl without Elway blah blah blah" If you guys got your wish and Shanahan was gone you might as well forget ever getting back to the Superbowl. Any team in the league would love to have the guy and we have fans who would run him out of town. Brilliant

  • December 1, 2008

    9:41 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Mark13 writes:

    Name a free agent who has panned out? How about Wiegman isn't he a free agent? He only stepped right into Tom Nalens spot and the offensive line is playing like the Superbowl days. Dre Bly? wasn't he a free agent? Brandon Stokely? Daniel Graham? ...well?

  • December 1, 2008

    10:45 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dynamicdave writes:

    Mark13, down, boy, down, ha, ha. Don't bother trying to convince them. The Shanahan haters are the negative thinkers who try to call themselves Broncos fans. They wouldn't know about being a true fan if it walked up and bit them on the behind. Your points were well spoken and here's to looking at a butt kicking of the Chiefs.

  • December 1, 2008

    11:07 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Bigg_Nuggets writes:

    Dre Bly was a trade. And we gave him a new contract that was too big for his talent level. However, like I said before the way to build a team is through the draft, and Shanny has changed course and done that. It's not easy to change one's ways, but the coach deserves a little credit for trying something new. He even traded away the likes of Foxworth to get more chance to build through the draft. These are smart moves, and they bode well for the future.

  • December 2, 2008

    11:57 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dynamicdave writes:

    myerda00, did you go to 4 Mile? I wasn't there. I've been fighting a head cold and my sick mother is in the hospital so I've been spending my time there. I will be there for the KC game, however. Some of my friends called me from the 4 Mile Bar wondering why I wasn't there?
    I already voted for the Pro Bowl picks. Pretty much the whole Denver offensive front line, ha, ha. Royal, as well. Stokley (the best slot receiver in the business). Scheffler. They didn't have Hillis in there so I was disappointed. So I trew my vote to Larsen.

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