Denver Broncos

Never saw it coming.")
 

(14-3) New England Patriots 45
(9-9) Denver Broncos 10

Look, I would LOVE to spend an eternity breaking down this game and reminiscing over the pure, unadulterated beatdown that the Broncos received, but frankly this was to be expected. The Patriots jumped out to an early lead, got Denver out of their gameplan and then stepped on their throats. It was delightful. It really started to go downhill for John Fox’s crew on the coin toss… when he decided to KICK TO TOM BRADY. Way to put your defense in a hole John. I’m sure they needed that kick to their confidence so early. Brady and the offense showed some new wrinkles, with hand-offs to tight end Aaron Hernandez. Passes to Gronkowski and then the last to Welker in the endzone put that Pats on top for good. Go look at the box score for all the crazy statistics. I’ll put it to you plainly: Tom Brady was super pissed that some shitty quarterback got all the attention this week. Brady’s won THREE freaking Super Bowls. He will not be anyone’s sloppy second. Six TD's and a 48-yard punt later, we all knew who the better quarterback was. (Oh, and New England has two beasts at tight end. Not fair.)

Continue reading "The Final Drive: 2012 Divisional Round"

I’m not saying it’ll be a blow-out, but it should be more than 3.5.

(9-8) Denver Broncos at
(13-3) New England Patriots
8:00 PM ET, CBS

Let’s just get this right out of the way. Tim Tebow probably played the best game I’ve seen from him against Pittsburgh, but that doesn’t mean it was all that good. It took him until overtime to complete his tenth pass, let’s all just remember that. I’m positive that Bill Belichick won’t play too much bump-and-run against Tebow’s nameless receivers (aside from Demaryius Thomas), instead he’ll opt to play off and keep those receivers in front of his (also nameless) secondary. Being without receiver Eric Decker will show. Willis McGahee is wearing down at this point in the year, so I’m not expecting a big game from him like the first time these teams met. New England’s issue will be manufacturing a pass rush against Tebow and not allowing him to find anyone deep (which is surprisingly where he actually can throw the ball somewhat on-target).

Continue reading "The Opening Drive: 2012 Divisional Saturday"

far: 2-1
Probably the only time I’ll be over .500 all postseason.

 

(9-8) Denver Broncos 29
(12-5) Pittsburgh Steelers 23
Overtime

Steelers can’t get anything going, fumbling, turnovers from Big Ben, The Broncos got up 20-6 at halftime, leaving me aghast at the utter ridiculousness of the situation and prompting a note of “Oh hell” on my PC. The Broncos got after Ben today, sacking him five times and making him pay for extending plays in the pocket. Pittsburgh couldn’t get their offense going until the second half, getting their first TD on the board to close the gap. McGahee nearly fumbled the game away late, setting up a Roethlisberger pass to Cotchery to notch the score at 23-23. Though I’m surprised the Steelers pussed out at the end of regulation, opting to get Ben sacked instead of trying to kick a 66-yard field goal. And guess what? Those new OT rules didn’t even come into play. One Tim Tebow pass, one Demaryius Thomas run after catch and major stiff-arm led to a Broncos overtime victory and insanity in Denver. As a ton of tweeters pointed out, the two players involved on that score are both Josh McDaniels selections. He’ll feel good about himself today. But where were the Steeler safeties? Oh, COMPLETELY OUT OF POSITION? That's cool.

Continue reading "The Final Drive: 2012 Wildcard Weekend"

uo;t be a pounding, but it should be more than three.
(12-4) Pittsburgh Steelers at
(8-8) Denver Broncos
4:30 PM ET, CBS

How much time do you want me to spend on this one? Okay, fine. Big Ben is still hurt with a high ankle sprain, but something tells me he’ll be out there with an occasional limp and yet miraculously and dramatically lead his team to a victory. Sound familiar? Veteran DB Champ Bailey will likely be matched up on speedster Mike Wallace, but with rookies at safety for the Broncos (no Brian Dawkins), there won’t be an effective top on their defense. Keep an eye on Wallace for big plays. Without Rashard Mendenhall, the Steelers are going to need a committee effort at running back just to keep some pressure off Roethlisberger. Safety Ryan Clark won’t be out there, but I’m not sure he needs to be against the Bronco offense. The Steelers have too many excellent pass-rushers to let this game get away from them.

Continue reading "The Opening Drive: 2012 Wildcard Sunday"

(7-9) Kansas City Chiefs 7
(8-8) Denver Broncos 3

This stat line is why Teebs won’t beat the Steelers: 6 for 22, 60 yards, 1 interception. That won’t get it done at all against a team with a smidgen of an offense. (Which is precisely what KC has.) Major props to the players at Kansas City and coach Romeo Crennel for getting this final win over a team with playoff aspirations. You can tell that team loves Romeo. (Why, who knows.)(8-8) San Diego Chargers 38

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 17, 2011-12"

Now get ready to go home before anyone else.(6-9) Buffalo Bills 40
(8-7) Denver Broncos 14

This was about as disappointing a loss as you could find on Sunday. For a division-leader that could have locked up their playoff berth to lay down to a team that had nothing to play for is unacceptable. The Teebs magic was all used up apparently as Timmy tossed four interceptions, two of which were boomerangs. I wish I had been able to watch this one. It would have felt SO good.(12-3) New England Patriots 27

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 16, 2011"

the Lions, who are making a habit of falling behind early.(11-3) New England Patriots 41
(8-6) Denver Broncos 23

THANK YOU TOM BRADY. That being said… I suppose I have to pay up my debt. (This bet has a 24-hour time limit or it becomes null and void. Any Patriot fan that reads this best get in touch with New England’s PR department in a hurry.) We all thought the Broncos couldn’t hang with an actual offense and we were right. All of their victories have come against teams with decent defenses but inconsistent offenses.

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 15, 2011"

Something has to give.(10-3) New England Patriots at
(8-5) Denver Broncos

Speaking of something has to give… I will do anything to be able to see a beatdown of these Broncos. Tom Brady… I will do ANYTHING. Just have the Patriot PR person get in touch with me. Away from divine interference on the field, I simply don’t see the Broncos keeping pace offensively with the Patriots. Brady should have a two-touchdown lead going into the fourth quarter, which should be more than enough. If the Pats score more than 24, they should win.(8-5) New York Jets at

Continue reading "The Opening Drive: Week 15, 2011"

t sending the game into overtime and the second securing the sudden death victory.

 

(8-5) Denver Broncos 13
(7-6) Chicago Bears 10

There’s plenty of blame to go around for this horrific failure. Everyone is going to point at Marion Barber for his two colossal errors and rightly so. His failure to understand the situation and keep the ball inbounds in the fourth opened the door for a comeback in regulation. The fumble on the first drive overtime (while on his way to what seemed to be a touchdown) was unacceptable. Barber cost his team the game TWICE. But he’s not the only one to blame. How about putting it on the offense, who had a chance to convert on third and five after Barber’s out of bounds blunder and keep the ball?

Continue reading "Joe's 2011 Gameday Recap: Broncos 13, Bears 10"

immy in check? It’s time to break this one down!

 

(7-5) Chicago Bears at
(7-5) Denver Broncos

If last week’s sack-fest of Caleb Hanie at the hands of the Chiefs didn’t freak you out enough, get ready for Vin Miller and Elvis Dumervil to come off the edges. Watch the blocking of the Bear offensive tackles closely, because Hanie could be caught staring at the blitz or running for his life on nearly every play. And while Champ Bailey may have lost a step, he can still hang with Earl Bennett. (I think.) Without Matt Forte, Marion Barber must take the bulk of the carries on offense, supplemented by Kahlil Bell. Lovie Smith will have to keep an eye on Barber’s number of carries early on or the back’s bruising running style will tire him out before he can take advantage in the fourth. With limited production coming from the wide-outs in recent weeks, the offensive line has to pound on the Denver defensive front from the first snap on. It’ll be another low-scoring day.

Continue reading "Joe's 2011 Gameday Preview: Bears at Broncos"

Need to know more? Welcome to The Final Drive.

  

(7-5) Denver Broncos 35
(2-10) Minnesota Vikings 32

This is really starting to piss me off. Can’t SOMEONE knock this guy off the horse for ONE week? To be honest, this was probably Tebow’s best statistical game. He did complete 10 of his 15 passes. However, you can thank the defense for a timely turnover and Matt Prater for two clutch field goals. They are the real heroes.(9-3) New England Patriots 31

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 13, 2011"

efense, a whiny wide receiver, and key injuries have all contributed to the Eagle downfall.

(6-5) Denver Broncos 16
(4-7) San Diego Chargers 13
Speaking of coaching changes, the Chargers are due. Norv Turner’s been wasting “the most talent in the NFL” for years and this year is one of the worst. There’s no miraculous stretch run in this team. On the other sideline… forget it. I don’t even want to talk about him. (Besides to mention his nickname is now “Jebus and Teebs.”

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 12, 2011"

WTF is wrong with me???(5-5) Denver Broncos at
(4-6) San Diego Chargers

With two minutes to go, Tim Tebow will call down a lightning bolt of his own to smote Philip Rivers. Oddly enough, it won’t look anything like the bolt on the Charger helmets. As far as on the field action goes, Denver’s defense might get all up in Rivers’ grill and make him look hopeless and lost for the umpteenth time this season. Get ready to watch Phil lose you another game Charger fans.(6-4) New York Giants at

Continue reading "The Opening Drive: Week 12, 2011"

Thank you NFL!

 

(5-4) New York Jets at
(4-5) Denver Broncos

Don’t look now, but with a win the Broncos could get to .500 and move into second place in the AFC West, a loss behind Oakland at 5-4. I could not be any more excited to see the Tim Tebow show in action tonight. John Fox has taken great lengths to make Tebow feel at home by incorporating the read option into the Bronco offense, letting Tebow run to his heart’s content. (Though how’d you like to be a wide-out in an offense that runs 55 times a game?) Thankfully Fox’s defense has shown up to work with an attitude the past few weeks, led by rookie sack-machine Von Miller, who’s getting plenty of DROY talk.

Continue reading "Joe's 2011 Thursday Night Preview: Jets at Broncos"

Buyer’s remorse?(4-5) Denver Broncos 17
(4-5) Kansas City Chiefs 10

Tim Tebow’s stat line. 2 completions (of 8 attempts) for 69 yards, 1 TD. 9 rushes, 43 yards, 1 TD. AND HIS TEAM WON. I’m not even gonna touch this one. Also, don’t be fooled: Kansas City still sucks.(3-6) Arizona Cardinals 21

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 10, 2011"

Thanks Chris Johnson.

(3-5) Denver Broncos 38
(4-4) Oakland Raiders 2 

Dammit. I was ONE loss away from being finished with Tim Tebow. Everyone’s favorite Jesus-pumping QB didn’t look supremely terrible today. However, the Oakland defense sure did. If Willis McGahee is racking up 163 yards on you, you’ve got issues.

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 9, 2011"

he Bengals have to handle this roadie if they’re going to be taken seriously in the AFC.(2-5) Denver Broncos at
(4-3) Oakland Raiders

One more Tebow suck-fest and I’ll do my best to avoid putting his team anywhere near The Opening Drive. This week the Raiders make the list because this will be Carson Palmer’s true debut. With two weeks of prep, he needs to make a good showing versus a shittastic Bronco squad. (5-2) New York Giants at

Continue reading "The Opening Drive: Week 9, 2011"

division to taking up the rear in a span of two weeks.

 

(6-2) Detroit Lions 45
(2-5) Denver Broncos 10

Pfft. Put Quinn in. Tebow will probably get another four to five games to show SOME kind of improvement, but that throwing motion just isn’t getting any better. It’s akin to a slow motion train wreck. And he’s wildly inaccurate, which is quarterback no-no number one. Nice guy? Sure. Good quarterback? Probably not.(6-2) Pittsburgh Steelers 25

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 8, 2011"

has to deliver a huge game following the mega-deal he just inked.(5-2) Detroit Lions at
(2-4) Denver Broncos

Tebow time! Hopefully he’ll lose this week so I don’t have to see him kiss another man on the sidelines. Wait, maybe I do want to see that. I’ll get back to you on that one.(5-1) New England Patriots at

Continue reading "The Opening Drive, Week 8, 2011"

the Titans are also hot garbage, leaving Houston at the top of the division be default.

(2-4) Denver Broncos 18
(0-6) Miami Dolphins 15

Yeah Tim Tebow led a mind-boggling series of drives to come back from down 15 in the final three minutes, but he still looked like pure shit for three and a half quarters.  But, he did kiss Demaryius Thomas on the field after the win. Let the debate rage on! (Also, fire Tony Sparano right now.) (4-3) New York Jets 27

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 7, 2011"

me could go a long way in establishing who emerges as the front-runner in a mediocre division.(1-4) Denver Broncos at
(0-5) Miami Dolphins

“Tim Tebow Time.” I’m more excited about never saying that phrase again more than I am about this game. Can you imagine if he loses to the winless Dolphins? Hilarious.(4-1) San Diego Chargers at

Continue reading "The Opening Drive, Week 7, 2011"

This win probably seals the NFC West title.(4-1) San Diego Chargers 29
(1-4) Denver Broncos 24

The only reason I bring this game up? Tim Tebow finally saw some action… and looked pretty decent. He’s not an overly crisp passer yet, but he can buy time in the pocket and sling it pretty far with some velocity. Tebow replaced Kyle Orton at halftime because of Orton’s ineffectiveness and turnovers. I don’t care anymore. It’s time to give Tebow the reigns for the rest 2011 and see what he can do.(4-1) New England Patriots 30

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 5, 2011"

2010 Record: 8-8
2011 Prediction: 11-5

Denver Broncos

After a quarterback controversy where none need have existed, Kyle Orton is once again entrenched as the Broncos’ starting QB. Go figure. He won’t have the spectacular numbers he did last season, but that’ll be a by-product of the new offensive scheme put in place by John Fox.  If Knowshon Moreno can stay on the field all year, he’ll be around the tops in the league in carries. On the outside, Brandon Lloyd has a tremendous 2010, but there’s no way there can’t be a slight drop-off in production. He’ll have a good year, but probably not a great year. Where the Broncos should be much improved is in their ability to sack the quarterback. Elvis Dumervil is healthy, Robert Ayers came on strong during 2010 and they drafted Von Miller, who has already shown evidence of his freaky speed coming off the edge. Unfortunately, I don’t see enough talent on this roster to propel them further ahead in the division.

Continue reading "Joe's 2011 NFL Season Preview: The AFC West"

d after all these collapses?

This is the same picture at the end of every Charger season.

Denver Broncos

My prediction: 7-9
What actually happened: 4-12
My result: ***

This season was a big fat pfft for the Broncos. Josh McDaniels clearly lost this locker room… or more accurately, he probably never had it. That defense needs a ton of work and so does Tim Tebow. Oh, and they’re low on actual talent. Not a great situation for John Fox.

Continue reading "How Much I Effed Up: The 2010 AFC Edition"

d are rewarded with sole possession of the AFC South lead.

(8-4) Kansas City Chiefs 10
(3-9) Denver Broncos 6

When you lose a fugly game like this and are under .500, it’s only a matter of time until you’re on the chopping block. Josh McDaniels didn’t have to wait very long as he was released earlier today. Not to dwell on the negative (no matter how hilarious it is), the Chiefs are making their case for the AFC West title. It’s theirs to lose.

Continue reading "Joe's 2010 Final Drive: Week 13"

(3-6) Denver Broncos 49
(5-4 Kansas City Chiefs 29

WHAAAAT? This along with the Cowboys' upset over the Giants account for the WTF moments of the weekend. We learned the Denver offense can still be potent and that Todd Haley is the sorest of losers. It makes for great division rivalries though, which can garner some attention for an AFC West that desperately needs some publicity.

Continue reading "Joe's NFL Final Drive: Week 10"

ng field goal in overtime to keep the Ravens in the AFC hunt.

(3-4) Oakland Raiders 59
(2-5) Denver Broncos 14

Man, I had this game pegged wrong. I thought the Broncos would be able to the chains moving with their passing attack and do enough to hold down a Raider offense that isn't as good as their numbers may suggest. Here's the real question: does this loss say more about the Raider offense or the Denver defense?

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 7"

(5-1) New York Jets 24
(2-4) Denver Broncos 20

Darelle Revis wasn't his usual lock-down self, which makes you wonder if the Jets made the right decision by putting him on the field with a sore hamstring. When Jabar Gaffney makes him look bad, you might think about resting him. Mark Sanchez overcame a few interceptions early to lead his team to their fifth win of the season. If there are dominant teams in the NFL, it's the Jets and Steelers. For Denver, Tim Tebow scored his first career touchdown... so you know... there's that.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 6"

o stay even with the Giants and Eagles.

Getty Images

(4-1) Baltimore Ravens 31
(2-3) Denver Broncos 17

What a surprise. The Ravens pounded down the Broncos. Did not see that one coming. At all. Seriously. The Ravens are undeniably legitimate AFC contender with quality wins on their resume. Kyle Orton continued his 300-yard passing streak, but he doesn't have much of a choice when his team runs for only 39 yards. Ouch.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 5"

Just won't happen. (Though it will probably happen now that I said that.)

(2-2) Denver Broncos at
(3-1) Baltimore Ravens

Last year the Ravens derailed the Broncos undefeated start. This season hasn't been as friendly to the Broncos, who boast the league's best passing attack. Yes, I said it. Unfortunately, they also lay claim to one of the NFL's most futile ground games, making them one-dimensional against a defense that can bring the pressure. Kyle Orton can't try to do too much against the Ravens defense because one mistake is all they need to make teams pay.

Continue reading "Joe's 2010 NFL Opening Drive: Week 5"

This should be one of the best games of the day.

(1-1) Indianapolis Colts at
(1-1) Denver Broncos

This match-up doesn't work towards Denver's advantage. Corner Champ Bailey will play despite a foot injury, but he'll be tested early and often. Peyton Manning will take advantage of you every chance he gets. Without Knowshon Moreno in the backfield, the Broncos will have to heavily rely on their passing game and expose Kyle Orton to a stingy pass rush. Indy should take this in a cake walk, because Denver doesn't have the offense to match them.

Continue reading "Joe's NFL Opening Drive: Week 3"

the air against the Ravens in order to even up this race. (1-0) Seattle Seahawks at
(0-1) Denver Broncos This may not be a flashy game, but there's certainly reason to pay attention. Can Pete Carroll's 'Hawks build off of the spanking they handed out to the Niners last week, who by the way are looking at 0-2 after the play the Saints? If you go back and look at the stats, Seattle didn't overpower the Niners, they just didn't make mistakes and played smart fundamental football. Denver's pass defense is suspect (as always, it seems), but at least Kyle Orton looked in control of this offense. He may have as many weapons as he used to, but the offense isn't suffering too much... yet. (1-0) Houston Texans at

Continue reading "Joe's NFL Opening Drive: Week 2"

st four games, and Dixon has them halfway to happy hour.

(1-0) Jacksonville Jaguars 24
(0-1) Denver Broncos 17

Okay, Tim Tebow has played in an NFL game. Can we shut up about him now? His two yards rushing doesn't exactly scream "start me!" The Bronco defense made David Garrard look like a decent quarterback. That's hard to accomplish. Moving on...

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 1"

Just look at that guy! 

Denver Broncos

After getting out to a lightning fast 6-0 start, the Broncos finished out 2-8 and out of the playoff hunt. In a tumultuous offseason, Josh McDaniels traded for QB Brady Quinn and drafted Tim Tebow out of Florida, adding some sizzle to the Denver QB derby. Eddie Royal and rookie Demaryius Thomas have to make up for the loss of Brandon Marhshall in McDaniels' offense which is dependent on short passes and runs after the catch. The Bronco running backs are struck with the injury plague, none more important than Knowshon Moreno, who can't stay on the field. The offensive line is always solid in Denver, but left tackle Ryan Clady's return from injury to the starting line-up in their final preseason outing was sorely needed.

Continue reading "Joe's NFL 2010 Season Preview: AFC West"

After all the waiting and anticipation, the start of the 2010 NFL Draft went according to plan. Quarterback Sam Bradford went to the Rams, Ndamukong Suh to the Lions and Gerald McCoy to the Bucs. After the known occurred, there was plenty to discuss. Here's what caught my eye from day one.

Continue reading "Joe's Draft Recap: Day One"

r division rivals, something of which Jones can be proud.

(4-12) Kansas City Chiefs 44
(8-8) Denver Broncos 24

If you had told me the Broncos would go 8-8 at the beginning of the year, I would have said that would be a successful season. After starting 6-0? Not so much. Kyle Orton proved he will never be more than a slightly above average quarterback, throwing two cost pick-sixes to Chiefs LB Derrick Johnson. Even without those scores, the Bronco defense gave up 30 points, providing evidence that not all is solved on that front. Josh McDaniels's decision to bench Brandon Marshall and Tony Scheffler may have cost his team a trip to the postseason, whether his other players agree with it or not.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 17"

Don't miss this one. I'm mixed, but I'll take Dallas.

(3-12) Kansas City Chiefs at (8-7) Denver Broncos

Yep, this has all the makings of an ugly game. Neither offense is exactly explosive, but the real dynamite will be missing from the Denver sideline. Receiver Brandon Marshall and tight end Tony Scheffler will be benched for disciplinary reasons and won't be allowed near the field. Sophomore wide-out Eddie Royal is likely to miss today's dame as well, so Josh McDaniels will lean heavily on his running attack and the short passing game. Even at 3-12, I like the Chiefs to pull of the upset over their AFC West rival.

Continue reading "Joe's Opening Drive: Week 17"

the Indianapolis Colts: Don't make Peyton Manning upset.

(11-4) Philadelphia Eagles 30
(8-7) Denver Broncos 27

My how the once mighty have fallen. From 6-0 to 8-7, the Denver Broncos

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 16"

I want perfection. I think they keep it going. Colts in a close one.

(8-6) Denver Broncos at (10-4) Philadelphia Eagles

This match-up is the most significant of the weekend in terms of the post-season picture. A Denver win would secure their berth, but a loss may knock them out completely. Though who expects them to be anything more than a wildcard round out? In the NFC, the Eagles still have a shot at the number two seed if the Vikings falter. With their countless injuries, Philly sure could use that bye week. I love the Eagles over the offensively challenged Broncos.

Continue reading "Joe's Opening Drive: Week 16"

ontinues to shoulder the load without Ronnie Brown. 

(13-0) Indianapolis Colts 28
(8-5) Denver Broncos 16

Even when he throws three interceptions, Peyton Manning finds a way to crush your dreams. Josh McDaniels' defense looked lost at times and could never get anything substantial going on offense. I could care less about Brandon Marshall's NFL record 21 receptions. It happened in a loss where the Broncos were forced to pass all the time. Color me not impressed.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 14"

Look out New York. I'm just warning ya. 

(6-3) San Diego Chargers at (6-3) Denver Broncos

As much as it can this early in the season, this match-up may very well decide the AFC West. The Chargers have rebounded from their annual slow start to the meet up at 6-3 with a now struggling Broncos. If San Diego can get another big game from LaDainian Tomlinson like last week, Denver's defense won't be able to hang strong in the second half. For Josh McDaniels, he'll have to get everything and more out of probable starter Chris Simms. It doesn't look good for the Broncos this week.

Continue reading "Joe's Opening Drive: Week 11"

 
One of many. 

(3-6) Washington Redskins 27
(6-3) Denver Broncos 17 

How the mighty have fallen. After dominating teams in the second half earlier this year, Denver’s flipped the switch. Kyle Orton’s been pedestrian the past few weeks, and his ankle injury won’t help anything. (Much like last year.) Chris Simms did not look ready to take the reigns yet. On a positive note, it was a nice win for the ‘Skins, who need to rally this season to be credible again. 

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 10"

(6-2) Pittsburgh Steelers 28
(6-2) Denver Broncos 10

That’s what happens when you run into the champs. In spite of Denver’s playmakers on offense, Kyle “King of the Checkdown” Orton can’t put up enough points to hang with the better teams in the league, especially when he throws three interceptions. He’s not good enough to bring a team back from a steep deficit because his deep throw can’t be trusted. Also, Champ Bailey got straight-up abused by Santonio Holmes. The chinks in Denver’s armor are beginning to show. For the Steelers, this sets up an AFC North showdown with the also 6-2 Bengals next week at Heinz Field. You can bet that game will be in the Opening Drive. Their 173 rushing yards harkened back to their power running days, an aspect of their game that was lacking early this season.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 9"

(6-2) Pittsburgh Steelers 28
(6-2) Denver Broncos 10

That’s what happens when you run into the champs. In spite of Denver’s playmakers on offense, Kyle “King of the Checkdown” Orton can’t put up enough points to hang with the better teams in the league, especially when he throws three interceptions. He’s not good enough to bring a team back from a steep deficit because his deep throw can’t be trusted. Also, Champ Bailey got straight-up abused by Santonio Holmes. The chinks in Denver’s armor are beginning to show. For the Steelers, this sets up an AFC North showdown with the also 6-2 Bengals next week at Heinz Field. You can bet that game will be in the Opening Drive. Their 173 rushing yards harkened back to their power running days, an aspect of their game that was lacking early this season.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 9"

For the second consecutive season, they’ll have to overtake the Denver Broncos to get into the playoffs. Unfortunately for Norv Turner’s boys, this isn’t last year’s Broncos. Philip Rivers faces off against the man who forced his way out of San Diego on draft day in a trade. Eli Manning’s Giants are stumbling but have the bonus of a bye next week. Tom Coughlin will have his team ready to play in front of their home crowd.

Continue reading "Joe's Opening Drive: Week 9"

(4-3) Baltimore Ravens 30
(6-1) Denver Broncos 7

Wow, the chest-thumping Raven defense finally showed up. *Slow clapping* It’s about time you lived up to your massive hype and trash-talking. QB Joe Flacco was efficient and careful with the football against what has been a great Denver defense. While its only one loss, I’m thankful to see the Broncos come back down to earth. Still, they look in full control of the AFC West.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 8"

No big whoop. Let’s analyze! 

(6-0) Denver Broncos at (3-3) Baltimore Ravens 

For the past few games, we’ve all said “this will be the week the Denver Broncos

Continue reading "Joe’s NFL Opening Drive: Week 8"

itzpatrick, who came in after Trent Edwards left the game with a concussion. 

 

(6-0) Denver Broncos 34
(2-3) San Diego Chargers 23 

A special teams bonanza! Josh McDaniels should be thanking Eddie Royal all night long for those return TD’s that single-handedly kept the Broncos in the game before halftime. Kyle Orton is 6-0. I think I wanna throw-up. Seriously though, that system fits his skill set and allows Denver’s multiple playmakers to run after the catch. The Cutler trade will probably be a success for both teams involved. 

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 6"

Oh yeah, Junior Seau has un-retired again, without the Favre-like hooplah. 

(5-0) Denver Broncos at (3-2) San Diego Chargers 

Monday night is the stage for an early AFC West showdown. The undefeated Broncos are pulling away in the division, but the Chargers have a chance to bring them back a notch. Philip Rivers must push this offense and be aggressive against Denver’s surprising defense. Kyle Orton just needs to find his playmakers in space and protect the ball like he has through five games already. 

Continue reading "Joe's Opening Drive: Week 6"

h the Niners’ loss, the ‘Hawks can still make some noise in the NFC West. 

(5-0) Denver Broncos 20
(3-2) New England Patriots 17 

Yes, this was a shocking overtime victory for Denver. Yes, I was simultaenously rooting against the Broncos and the Patriots. Yes, Tom Brady had a bad game. Yes the Broncos now have to be considered one of the best teams in the AFC. Yes, Josh McDaniels' post-game crowd-pumping was refreshingly genuine. Let’s just move on already. I feel sick.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 5"

New England Patriots (3-1) at Denver Broncos (4-0) 

Drama! The Patriots’ former QB coach and O-Coordinator Josh McDaniels welcomes his mentor Bill Belichick into Mile-High for an AFC showdown that could place his Broncos among the conference’s elite. Against Tom Brady and the Patriots offense, Denver’s defense will meet its biggest challenge so far this season. Without running back Fred Taylor, the Patriots will struggle on the ground, forcing Brady to air it out against Brian Dawkins, Champ Bailey, and the Denver secondary. Lucky for him he has Randy Moss and Wes Welker as receivers. This is without question the game of the weekend.

Continue reading "Joe's Opening Drive: Week 5"

t want to be coach Dick Jauron right now with a volatile TO waiting to ‘splode. 

(4-0) Denver Broncos 17
(2-2) Dallas Cowboys 10 

Either we were giving Denver too little credit or we were giving Dallas too much credit. It’s probably a bit of both, but I’ll still say its more overrating Dallas than anything else. The Cowboys are a .500 team that can at best manage 9-7. Denver has a rough schedule coming up that includes New England, San Diego, Baltimore and Pittsburgh. Let’s see where Josh McDaniels, Kyle Orton and 4-0 go from here. 

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 4"

If the Saints get above 24 points, you can almost lock in a win. 

Dallas Cowboys (2-1) at Denver Broncos (3-0) 

After beating the Bengals, Browns and Raiders, this will be the first true test for the 3-0

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That’s not an offense Eric.

Denver Broncos 12, Cincinnati Bengals 7

In the most outrageous and unbelievable ending I’ve ever seen, Josh McDaniels and his Broncos escaped Cincinnati with a victory. With less than 30 seconds left, a Kyle Orton pass from the 13 was tipped in the air and landed in the hands of a lucky Brandon Stokley who took it 87 yards for the winning score. They’re still going to be pretty bad, but there’s one highlight for the Bronco season.

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The game’s over. Can you shut up about it now? As the most exciting and drama-filled preseason game I can remember, Sunday night’s Bears v. Broncos match-up didn’t disappoint. Well, unless you’re a Broncos fan that is.

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After last week’s impressive performance, the Chicago Bears are looking to improve on the little things and settle some key position battles. This week, they visit the mile-high city for one of the most hotly anticipated preseason match-ups in recent memory. As much as Jay Cutler and Josh McDaniels say this game doesn’t matter, you know they’re itching to embarrass the other guy just a little bit. I personally can’t wait to see our defense pick off Kyle Orton, but that’s just me.

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Can all the naysayers please sit down?

After a sub-par performance in his first preseason game as a Bear, Jay Cutler had to listen to a week of Chicago fans moan and groan about the offense’s slow progress. That certainly won’t be the case this week.

Continue reading "Cutler and Bears Dominate Giants"

Time to start predicting the unpredictable. Will any of the Denver Broncos running backs get enough carries to warrant a spot on your roster? Can Michael Turner replicate last season's performance and warrant the second overall pick in your draft? What will Terrell Owens's numbers look like now that he is in Buffalo? And how does that impact Trent Edwards value as the Bills' QB? Who am I taking if I get the first pick? What if I get stuck at the end of the first round? Do I snatch up two running backs? Or should I go one running back and also nab a top tier receiver?

Continue reading "Fantasy Footbal is Upon Us"

A Denver Broncos star player is unhappy and wants a trade out of town. Oh wait, that JUST happened. The Broncos’ leading receiver the past two seasons wants a new deal and has asked for a trade from owner Pat Bowlen. Marshall’s agent has stated that the team informed his client that they would try to comply with his wishes.

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What are the Raiders doing? In addition to the Raiders, their rival the Denver Broncos had an uneasy draft. At number 12, they had an opportunity to address their pass rushing issues but chose

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Jay Cutler is a Chicago Bear. I said it. I can’t believe it. This was a pipedream. All I wanted to hear was that the Bears expressed their interest and were on the phones trying to make an offer. I did not even fathom the idea that they could actually land a franchise quarterback. General Manager Jerry Angelo not only called the Broncos, but pulled the trigger on a massive blockbuster trade, acquiring the Pro Bowl QB from Denver.

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are going to be a dangerous team in the playoffs, especially if they get to play at Heinz Field.

Denver Broncos 34, New York Jets 17

I don’t think the Jets’ bandwagon was ready

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more questions as to resigning Cassel, especially if Brady isn’t ready to start next year.

Denver Broncos (6-5) at New York Jets (8-3)

As the best of the west, the Broncos barely nee

Continue reading "Joey A's Opening Drive: Week 13"

Let's take a final look at week ten in the 2008 NFL season.

Denver Broncos 34, Cleveland Browns 30

With San Diego barely edging out Kansas City, the Denver Broncos needed this game to stay on top of the unimpressive AFC West. Jay Cutler regained some confidence with 441 yards and three touchdowns in the comeback win. Denver’s defense hasn’t improved, but if their offense is reignited they should have no problem staying ahead of the Chargers.

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I've tweaked my Weekly previews to be slightly more streamlined, so I hope you enjoy!

Denver Broncos (4-4) at Cleveland Browns (3-5)

The Brady Quinn era begins tonight. It’s a strange decision to say the least, as Quinn has only had a day and a half worth of practice for his debut. Luckily, he gets to shine in front of the Cleveland faithful by playing against one of the worst defenses in the league. Now we’ll see how much Derek Anderson was to blame for Cleveland’s woes, or if it was his supporting cast that hasn’t come through. Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow, and Jamal Lewis are the Browns’ top playmakers, yet they haven’t made any plays this season. They better step it up, or Brady Quinn’s arrival won’t save them. 

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on, the Packers will be in contention for the NFC North all season long.

New England Patriots 41, Denver Broncos 7

This game featured another pair of teams that can’t show any consistency whatsoever. The first few weeks of the season Denver appeared to be a great offense that rarely turned the ball over matched with a defense that couldn’t stop anyone. With 13 turnovers in their last four games, their offense has regressed tremendously, along with quarterback Jay Cutler.  They handed possession to the Patriots five times, and never took it away. No team in the NFL can overcome a minus five turnover differential. The real problem for Denver has been holding onto the ball, as they fumbled three times in this one. Your young gunslinger quarterback is going to throw interceptions every now and again, but fumbling this consistently is just a joke. It got worse for Denver with the loss of the Bailey brothers on defense, as corner Champ injured his groin and linebacker Boss hurt his knee. That means an already suspect defensive unit is without two of its best players. If Denver can’t curb their turnover problems, they might not even be able to maintain first place in a disappointing AFC West.

Continue reading "Joey A's Final Drive: Week 7"

Don’t overlook the Rams; they may throw a wrench in the Roy Williams love-fest.

Denver Broncos (4-2) at New England Patriots (3-2)

I only have one question for Broncos v. Patriots: Whose defense can actually make a play? Jay Cutler and the high-flying Broncos are anxious to make up for their loss to Jacksonville. They have good news as well, for rookie stand-out wide receiver Eddie Royal is probable after missing last week. Tony Scheffler and Brandon Stokley are still questionable, so the Denver receiver corps is only minimally healthier. It might not matter against a Patriot secondary that got torched by the Chargers’ average wide-outs. Cutler threw a costly interception versus the Jaguars, which is what the New England defense is hoping for this time around. If he can eliminate his turnovers, look for a points bonanza by Denver. They might need it if their defense can’t pressure Matt Cassel into mistakes.

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inton Portis, who should be saved for an eventual push for the playoffs.

Jacksonville Jaguars 24, Denver Broncos 17

Denver, behind the skill of Jay Cutler, took the opening possession 80 yards for a touchdown on the first drive of the game. After that opening score, the Broncos turned the ball over on three of their next four possessions, giving Jacksonville opportunities to jump on the board. Denver didn’t get another touchdown until the fourth quarter, when Jacksonville had already built a sizeable lead. It was a return to form for the Jags, as they finally discovered their running game with Maurice Jones-Drew. Fred Taylor was out most of the game after being injured in the first quarter, but returned late to spell MJD in key situations. Denver had their own injury issues, as wide-out Brandon Stokley left with a concussion, leaving Brandon Marshall as their sole first day starter. Receiver Eddie Royal and tight end Tony Scheffler were both out with injuries, which dampened a normally fiery offensive attack. While Marshall is one of the best young receivers in the NFL, he can’t be expected to be the only target for Cutler. Jacksonville was able to double up on him and force Denver to go in other directions. In the end, this was a bigger win for Jacksonville than it was a loss for Denver. However, now that San Diego is behind them at 3-3, Mike Shanahan might beg to differ.

Continue reading "Joey A's Final Drive: Week 5"

I’m sure Bill Parcells will too.

Jacksonville Jaguars (2-3) at Denver Broncos (4-1)

The way preseason predictions were going; these two teams should be in the opposite positions. For Jacksonville, their running game hasn’t come close to the pounding success it was last season. That means the pressure is on David Garrard and his under-achieving wide receiver corps to keep drives alive. As long as that’s the case, don’t expect the Jaguars to win many games this year; they simply don’t have the talent at wide-out to keep it going. The defense is slacking, giving up at least twenty points in each of their last four games. Jacksonville is built on running the ball and tough defense, so major problems will arise when neither aspect of their game is performing. As for the high-scoring

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d to start catching up to the division-leading Titans.  

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1) at Denver Broncos (3-1)  

Brian Griese will try again this week to lead the Bucs to victory against a former team. If he’s still hung up on leaving Denver though, he holds a grudge really well. Still, holding down Denver’s high-powered offense will be an impressive feat if the Bucs defense can manage it. In fact, if they can it will make this match-up pretty even in terms of offense on defense. Going up against two tough defensive units the past two weeks in Chicago and Green Bay, Griese should welcome the chance to throw against one of the worst defenses in the NFL. Denver needs to start playing up to their potential on both sides of the ball. With Dre’ Bly and Champ Bailey in their secondary, I expect more interceptions than the one they’ve nabbed so far. Jay Cutler and the offense should rebound after their showing against Kansas City, but they can’t be required to score 35 every week. Holding Tampa under 20 should be enough to get the Broncos to 4-1.  

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and rookie Jim Zorn needs to progress as a head coach in this league

New Orleans Saints (1-1) at Denver Broncos (2-0)

Look for this game to top sixty points combined, and probably seventy. Two high powered offenses are heading up against mediocre to poor defenses. I’d rank the Broncos defense higher than the Saints, because any defense with Champ Bailey and Dre’ Bly is a scary one. On offense, Eddie Royal and Brandon Marshall are catching every bullet that emerging superstar Jay Cutler sends their way. Drew Brees, on the other hand, will be without Marques Colston for another week, so look for tight end Jeremy Shockey to factor largely into the Saints passing attack.

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quo;t going to attempt thirty-five passes from the shotgun formation.

San Diego Chargers (0-1) at Denver Broncos (1-0)

The Chargers sure do like to make things hard on themselves. They are notorious slow starters. Denver wasted no time last Monday as Jay Cutler picked apart a pitiful Raiders defense. With no Shawne Merriman to rush the passer, Cutler should have all the time he needs to attack an average San Diego secondary in this division match-up.

Continue reading "Joey A's NFL Week Two Preview"