Over the years, Champ Bailey has gotten adjusted to the idea of teams avoiding him as though his side of the field were virally infected. That makes the fact that he has logged more interceptions in the last two years than anyone else in the NFL all the more amazing.
Sunday, the Arizona Cardinals tested Bailey twice too many times.
“I got two balls (thrown in my direction),” Bailey said. “Two picks. I thought maybe I’d get more balls, but I made it happen when they came over.”
Interceptions number seven and eight on the season gave him a total of 19 over his three Denver campaigns — 16 in the last two years. Only one Bronco has ever picked off more passes in a two-year span — Ring of Famer Austin “Goose” Gonsoulin, who procured 17 passes in the Broncos’ first two seasosn.
But Bailey expects a few more to come Sunday against Cincinnati. In the Broncos’ last duel with the Bengals two years ago, Chad Johnson got past Bailey by a step and beat him for a pair of 50-yard receptions.
He did, however, bounce back with one of his three interceptions that season.
“I’m not afraid of any challenge,” Bailey said after that 23-10 Denver loss on Oct. 25, 2004. “I don’t care. I still feel like I’m the best. I don’t give a (hoot) who’s out there. I don’t care. That’s just the way I roll. I’m going to keep on ticking.”
Two years and nearly two months later, Bailey knows what to expect in the rematch — “a whole lot” of passes his way.
“That’s one team that doesn’t care who’s in front of you; they’re going to throw it,” he said. “They love it.”
But more importantly …
“I love it,” he said.
Tags: Champ Bailey, Cornerbacks
Bailey means so much to this defense he basically terminates passing on one side of the field. He has 8 interceptions and the opposing team on average only throw his way 3 to 4 times a game. What an awesome interception percentage. He is the best athlete Denver ever had.
You can tell Champ is ready for this one. Chad got one over on him the last time, and with everything on the line 24 is going to be ready…
I just hope the rest of the DB’s are up to the challenge as well. I am worried more about T.J. Whosyourmama, or even Chris Henry deciding to catch a ball….
TSG
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i would bet my college tuition that champ bailey and john lynch step it up this week. personally im kinda excited, denver is the underdog right now and when there the under dog they tend to surprise a lot of people. as long as darrent brings his a-game mentally and physically (more so mentally) then were gonna do great. with foxworth mixing it in and cox back there holding down the fort with lynch, there might be a few big plays but no body fights like denver does.
and on one more note. i think if LT is god of all running backs then champ is god of all CB’s. there is no shadow of a doubt about how much he means to this team and im happy he’s here so we dont have to play against him.
i deffinatley think that champ is going to have interceptions this week everyone still underestimates him and thats fine with me because that means there still gonna throw to his side. which we all know carson palmer is going to test him and fail. im more worried about t.j and chris henry because the other side of our field is a little weaker not that darent willaims is bad but against wide recievers like that he has to step it up
Indeed, Champ will probably get a pick or two. And Alex Smith of the 49ers is a pretty new QB, so he’ll probably think he can beat Champ like Leinart did.
I predict he wins Defensive Player of the Year.
The only defensive player that has a chance of beating him out would be Shawn Marriman. I personally don’t think Shawn is as important to his team or half the role model or athlete that Champ is but you know how the public backs the player that is on the dominant team. Look at the probowl Antonio Gates got voted in and Kellen Winslow didn’t and Kellen has more receptions but is not on a winning team. My vote is for Champ.
I know that the trade for champ bailey was the best move the broncos have made in a long time, because he shows week in and out that he is the best shutdown corner in the nfl…im glad that champ has made the pro bowl again because he deserves it…..time to shut down chad and whos ur mama……go broncos
Champ is by far our best player and will remain our best player for several years. I am more worried about Darrent Williams playing, he is having an awful year. I hope he doesn’t get lit up like he has over the past month. Oye…I’m still having flashbacks to that Indy game where he was getting burned on every play just about. That game may be overshadowing my ability to be objective on his play throughout the entire season, but I can’t help it.
I think we should do the same thing I thought we should have done against Indianapolis. Put Champ on T.J Houshmanzadah to litterally just obliterate one side of the field. No passes thrown that way nothing. If you put him on Chad Johson he will still end up getting 2-4 passes for about 55-70 yards, which is what happened with Marvin Harrison, and maybe you’ll get an interception in there. Then you put Darrent Williams and one of the safeties, (Curome Cox or Foxworth) on Chad at all times. I find that to be a much better idea. Of course it does take alot of the excitement out of Champ covering Chad one on one all night
Hoserman117,
Your idea is a good one, but the likelihood of it happening is a million to one. We all know Champ will be one on one with Chad Johnson all night and T.J. Housh will burn Darrent Williams all night just like Reggie Wayne did. We will see Lynch a few steps late on every play he is to help Williams on. I don’t understand how Lynch made the Pro Bowl, he isn’t even as good as he was last year. He provides excellent leadership on the field, but his best days are behind him. It’s hard to say that about my namesake, but I deal with truths and the truth with him is that he isn’t very good at all in pass coverages. I really hope they team Cox up with Williams to cover T.J. and leave Henry with Foxworth.
i dont know horseman117. chad is one of the best wide recievers in the nfl Darrent even needs some help covering the average wide reciever. and why would they throw to t.j guy or even chris henry with bailey covering them? palmer is gonna throw to the side of the field where champ is not covering.
ok people, hands down Bailey is THE best!!
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