Broncos not only team to look great, stumble to an unexpected loss
By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published October 13, 2008 at 10:11 p.m.
Photo by Barry Gutierrez / The Rocky
Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler walks away to the taunts of Jaguars defensive end Quentin Groves after throwing an incomplete pass in the fourth quarter Sunday. Cutler was missing a couple of his favorite targets in Eddie Royal and Tony Scheffler and lost Brandon Stokley during the game to a concussion. Cutler hurt his cause by fumbling in the first quarter.
Do the Broncos have the right personnel to turn around their defensive shortcomings?
After six weeks of the season, no AFC team is head and shoulders above the rest. Teams that are at .500 or better.
| Team | W-L | Pct. |
| *Tennessee | 5-0 | 1.000 |
| *Buffalo | 4-1 | .800 |
| *Pittsburgh | 4-1 | .800 |
| *Denver | 4-2 | .667 |
| New England | 3-2 | .600 |
| N.Y. Jets | 3-2 | .600 |
| Indianapolis | 3-2 | .600 |
| Jacksonville | 3-3 | .500 |
| San Diego | 3-3 | .500 |
* Leads division
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Turn on the talk-radio stations in San Diego, New England, Indianapolis, Buffalo and other AFC strongholds this season, and you're sure to have heard many of the same rumblings as in Denver from week to week.
The Broncos have lost two of their past three games to fall to 4-2, have some serious deficiencies on defense and a recent lack of consistency on offense.
But it's called the norm this year.
"That's the NFL," Broncos running back Andre Hall said. "That's how it be. You never know how a game's going to turn out."
There has been ample proof lately.
The Broncos look like gangbusters in going 3-0 before inexplicably losing their mojo against winless Kansas City. They rebound to win a slugfest with Tampa Bay, then slip again against Jacksonville on Sunday.
The Chargers lose at Miami one week, then crush New England the next.
The Patriots lose Tom Brady and their swagger, also falling to the improving Dolphins, then, after regaining some equilibrium, are embarrassed in San Diego.
Indianapolis slogs through offensive line issues, injuries and Peyton Manning's slow start for five weeks before seemingly putting it together in a rout of Baltimore.
Buffalo wins four straight but then is knocked to earth by Arizona, in the process losing quarterback Trent Edwards to a concussion, though he's apparently on the mend.
Even 4-1 Pittsburgh has serious issues, what with the games lost to various bumps and bruises and facing a brutal schedule.
Only Tennessee (5-0) can move forward without any complaints and maintain a straight face, though the Titans deserve credit for their adept handling of the Vince Young saga.
"It's one of those years where it's wide open. It's not like one team's going to separate itself from the others," Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey said. "It's pretty even across the board."
That's not to turn a blind eye to what's happening with the Broncos in losing those two of three.
The turnovers on offense are going to have to slow to more of a trickle if the group is going to reach its abundant potential. The 30th-ranked defense has gotten some key turnovers but has allowed far too many holes in its frequent zone coverages and openings along the front seven in the running game.
"I haven't really followed it too close, but I know where we stand, and the thing to do is get better each week," said receiver Brandon Stokley, who Monday still was feeling the aftereffects of a concussion suffered in the 24-17 loss to the Jaguars.
"That's what we need to do. You want to get hot and stay hot, especially at the end of the season. That's what it's all about."
Instead, the Broncos have the feel of previous incarnations that have started fast only to hit a lull. Denver has started at least 4-1 in every season the past seven years except one. And the 2005 run notwithstanding, the Broncos have played their way out of the playoffs or into an unfavorable wild-card matchup on the road.
"We go by quarters of the season. In the first quarter we were 3-1 and in this one we're 1-1," defensive end Elvis Dumervil said. "We don't look at it like losing two of three. Essentially we're facing a big game in the AFC on Monday Night Football. But every game's going to be big as the season goes on."
The Broncos still lead the AFC West, but the Chargers (3-3) picked up a game and appear to be finding their rhythm after another slow start, making the Broncos' trip to New England pivotal (6:30 p.m. Monday, Fox 31, ESPN). Win, and the team is guaranteed to continue sitting atop the AFC West heading into a bye week; lose, and it engenders mounting feelings that things might get worse before they get better.
"Everybody's got San Diego to win the Super Bowl still. But it's too early to panic," Broncos safety Marlon McCree said. "We've just got to keep playing. We've got room to improve, but there's room to be optimistic. Some teams are 0-6, 1-5. We're 4-2. There's a big difference. We could always do worse."
Coach Mike Shanahan pointed to a Brandon Marshall fumble inside the Jaguars 10, another by quarterback Jay Cutler near midfield and a pivotal failure on fourth-and-1 approaching the red zone as the offense's undoing Sunday.
The Broncos couldn't afford to limit themselves while playing without tight end Tony Scheffler and receiver Eddie Royal, two of their top three pass targets, but they did and were hamstrung further by Stokley's injury.
His status is uncertain for the Patriots, while Royal and Scheffler are expected to practice this week with hopes of returning.
Defensively, the issues seemingly run deeper. The Broncos have allowed four straight teams to complete 72 percent of their passes while allowing two 100-yard rushing performances the past three games sandwiched around a 22-carry, 139-yard team effort by Tampa Bay.
"I feel good about us. We've just got to keep getting better," Bailey said. "That's the one thing we have to keep stressing to the young guys. Teams figure out what we're doing, you have to do what you're doing better."
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October 14, 2008
9:42 a.m.
Suggest removal
Coltgm56 writes:
Before the season started I had us at 4 and 3 at the bye week and I am sticking with this prediction. Lets face it we are a pretty good offensive team with a TERRIBLE defense. We will finish up at 9 and 7 out of the playoffs again. Have no fear Bronco fans we will get better offensively and the Defense will be average next year. 12 and 4 next year in the regular season and our third Superbowl Championship. GO BRONCOS!!!!!
October 14, 2008
12:38 p.m.
Suggest removal
ramAZ writes:
Check out the doom and gloom in Dallas this week. They had the full support of the game officials and STILL couldn't beat the Arizona Cardinals.
Compared to the lack of discipline currently permeating the Cowboy locker room... the Bronco situation is much healthier.
Tough loss, but the playoffs are still a reasonable goal.
October 14, 2008
2:01 p.m.
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AZBroncosFan writes:
72% is crazy. We need a pass rush. Our defense would be perfect with a pass rush. I dont care what QB you are, you could be Rex Grossman and if no one is pressuring you, you could fit it in where ever you want all day. Shanny please! GET A PASS RUSH!!!! Notice our best defensive performance was against Tampa Bay and we had a significantly better pass rush that day. Practice it do something thats whats going to win us football games. That Front 4
October 14, 2008
3:23 p.m.
Suggest removal
Dynamicdave writes:
ramAZ, absolutely. I just read a remark from a "so called fan" in another article on the RMN who said he'd rather have the Broncos miss the playoffs then to go and be humiliated on National TV? I told him to become a Raiders fan, then. I can't stand "bandwagon fans". They ALWAYS look at the negative, not the positive. But that kind of attitude, that he showed was stupid. Me, I love football and I love to watch my Broncos. Win or lose, I enjoy the action. When we win, some of the same "doom and gloom" people, STILL find reasons to complain? It's just their nature. Negative people. We will be healthier this week so Denver will rebound. Many complained about how poor the offense was against the Jags, but what they fail to acknowledge, is that we were without most of our starting WR corp, our starting TE. I won't say much about the RB situation because I thought Pittman did very well. Then, there are those who try to lay ALL the blame on the D, yet the offense committed 3 turnovers and had 5 straight possessions with only 3 points. What can a D do? They don't see the game from the way it really played out or put the blame where it really belongs. They also blame bad calls? Bad calls are synonymous with football. It happens, get over it. GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 14, 2008
3:32 p.m.
Suggest removal
Dynamicdave writes:
Coltgm56, read the post above, you fit right in. So, you have a crystal ball that tells you all this? You are a bandwagon fan to give up on your team when we are still in 1st place. You are tooooo funny.
October 14, 2008
4:15 p.m.
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incognitoboy writes:
i want coltgm56 to pick my powerball #s this week with his pack of tarot cards. what a genius! really though, this week's game is very winnable. matt cassel has proven every week that he is not tom brady. limit the offensive mistakes, and we can win a close one. we simply MUST, however, return to wk 1 and 2 offensive form. nothing less! let's open up the playbook a little further, bring out a few tricks they haven't seen for awhile.
October 14, 2008
4:37 p.m.
Suggest removal
Dynamicdave writes:
incognitoboy, yeah, then we can bring him to Vegas to win the tables for us.
I agree with what you said about returning to form. We will hopefully have Royal and Stokley back. Pittman was a good idea as starter. He can get it done and then we will get the bye and have Torain back. I was impressed with Martinez. He has skills and speed. D. Jackson showed me nothing but "rust". We always have a tough game against NE. I expect nothing less in Foxboro. Hopefully our D will do enough to put Cassel on the ropes, much like the TB game. Our offense will be stronger, I'm confident. GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 14, 2008
10:19 p.m.
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FTR writes:
DYDave
Relax the Broncos were in for a boxing match as we were last year vs the Jags. Broncos float like a butteryfly and sting like a bee. The Jags Jab --Jab-- and wait to Recovery fumbles! This Broncos team had to learn how bad turn overs hurt! They were scratched in KC and the scabs were reopened vs Jags. True Bronco fans know this will only make us stronger so screw the rest. I bleed blue and orange and I have a "GUT FELLING" the Broncos are going to be fine. Bring on New England! GO BRONCOS!!!!!!
FTR
October 14, 2008
11:48 p.m.
Suggest removal
Dynamicdave writes:
FTR, bravo to yourself and incognitoboy. We need more Broncos fans like you guys. I also made the peace with the "poster" about the "missing the playoffs" thing. We talked and are good. Me, I'm all about the W. If we get an L, oh well, next game, then. I was reading so many posts from Broncos fans after the Jags loss, crying about the bad calls, I thought I was in a San Diego blog. It's ridiculous. Crying won't change the score. I move on to the next game, not dwell on bad calls. Now, as far as turnovers, yes, THAT needs to change. Secure the ball and we'll be back on track. NE will be important to win so we can go into the bye with a W and a chance to get healthier. And man, I'm looking forward to watching Torain as the rest of the season progresses. I doubt they will over-work him, right out of the gate, but he will play more and more. He will just get better and better. GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!