Second-quarter notes:
2:53 p.m. MST: Darrent Williams jars the return game to life, going right, darting, dodging, shaking, baking and finally sprinting his way to a 32-yard return that gives the Broncos more good drive-starting field position at their 41-yard-line.
2:57 p.m. MST: our weeks after being benched, Jake Plummer is about to step back onto the field after Jay Cutler absorbed a chin-strap-rattling hit from the right side.
3:01 p.m. MST Mike Bell got the Broncos into a second goal-to-go situation, but the doings haven’t been so good since … a sack, an incompletion, and a quarterback draw for three yards on third-and-goal from the 6.
3:03 p.m. MST: Jay Cutler “got his bell rung,” according to the official report from vice president of media relations Jim Saccomano. He is probable to return. The Broncos, meanwhile, lead 6-0.
3:11 p.m. MST: Curome Cox — or as the press-box public-address announcer said, “Courteney Cox” — was slow to arise after a punt return. Jake Plummer, meanwhile, remains in at quarterback.
3:13 p.m. MST: Tatum Bell becomes the sixth man to post a 1,000-yard rushing season in the last 12 seasons. The Broncos have now had 11 1,000-yard rushing campaigns since 1995.
3:15 p.m. MST: Jake Plummer rolled left, looked deep for Javon Walker — but his pass finds Walt Harris after Walker gets entangled and hits the field. San Francisco now takes over at the Denver 39 at a 42-yard return.
3:17 p.m. MST: The game has turned a bit balky on both sides in the last few minutes, with a flow as smooth as the engine for a ’79 Pacer on a cold day. Elvis Dumervil and Ebenezer Ekuban do something to bring the chilled fans to their feet, sacking Smith for a seven-yard loss on third-and-10 from the Denver 39.
3:23 p.m. MST: With third-and-6 from its 18, Plummer is called for a false start. Tatum Bell gets the call on third-and-11, gaining 10 yards before being stopped just shy of the sticks, focing a Paul Ernster punt that covers 45 yards.
3:29 p.m. MST: Even when you don’t throw at Champ Bailey, he still makes a play. San Francisco quarterback Alex Smith spent the game’s first 27 minutes avoiding the Pro Bowl cornerback. The ball, though, still found Bailey after it bounced off Frank Gore and into Bailey’s grasp. It’s his 10th interception of the season and gives the Broncos a 13-0 lead. The season total is the highest for the Broncos since Austin “Goose” Gonsoulin, one of the original Broncos on the 1960 roster.
3:36 p.m. MST: Some big plays by Darrent Williams — first to break up an end-zone shot, then to tackle San Francisco tight end Eric Johnson in the open field two yards short of the first down with 1:03 left in the half.
3:39 p.m. MST: Alex Smith resuscitates the drive with a fourth-and-2 run for a first down. San Francisco in the no-huddle by necessity with just one timeout left and 31 seconds remaining before halftime.
3:43 p.m. MST: Kenard Lang just had a chance to fall on a football that Alex Smith fumbled, and couldn’t gain possession. That gives the 49ers a chance to pierce the scoreboard for the first time today; the reprieve allows them to get Joe Nedney onto the field for a 46-yard field goal.
Tags: San Francisco 49ers
More points left on the field. Plummer seems like the type of QB that could come in a play well off the bench. We had to know that there would be a time when Plummer would be needed to step up.
TSG
http://www.milehighreport.com
Jake or Jay, we’ll be allright. Keep up the good defense and get the running game going. Losing isn’t an option after KC won their game…
Seriously Jake…here’s your big chance to contribute and you throw an Int? I think your mojo is in direct alignment against your being with the Broncos. I’m a big fan, but you gotta step it up!!!
Way to go D! (I really don’t like being in WA where they don’t televise the Bronco game…I just realized you all probably want more of Andrew and less of me. I’ll try to keep my posts spread out a bit)
so much for jake doing something spectacular. 3 possesions… FG, INT, PUNT
Way to go Champ. Glad to see Jake back in, but no interceptions please.
Glad to see Jake’s back in??? Are you kidding?
TSG
http://www.milehighreport.com
he’s not kidding. jake still has his fans out there…
Can all of the still-Jake-Plummer-fans clue me in here??? I have to agree with thesportsguru, are you kidding me? Glad to see Jake back in to do what got him a spot on the sideline to start with? Plummer fans, although I still love you guys because we are all Bronco brethren, could you please offer me an explanation regarding the great affinity for Jake Plummer?
snake can’t get it done………..how bad is cut?
jake has one thing jay doesn’t, experience. but thats not enough for him.
Jake isn’t perfect, but he plays hard, and spits at the media who for the most part just stir up trouble where there is none. I think a lot of the plays that people blame on Jake could be shared with others on the team with dropped balls, poor blocking, receivers not open, and some horrible defensive errors. With Cutler on the team, Jake had to go anyway, but I didn’t like the way it was done, or when it was done. There was no need for it this season, Jake could have easily taken us to the playoffs as long as the rest of the team was up and running. Basically I like Jake’s personality, I like the way he plays, and appreciate what he’s done for the team.
I think Jake is a stand up guy. With all the criticism that us fans have given him, he has taken it like a man. He could’ve easily gotten angry and lashed out but he didn’t. He accepted responsibility for his poor play and I like that. Having said that, it was time for him to give up the reins to Cutler. If we were going to lose and go down the tube (like we were), why not let Cutler see what he can do? That way next season is wasted as well with him learning how to play. He has learned this year AND led them to the playoffs at the same time, a double bonus. I like Jake but unfortunately, he just isn’t good enough. Hopefully, Cutler will be okay for the playoffs next week. GO BRONCOS!!!
Go Broncos!
Let’s go Broncos!