Notes, thoughts and anecdotes from the fourth quarter of the Broncos’ clash with the Indianapolis Colts:
4:21 P.M. MST: Actual attendance: 76,067. A rousing, organic chant of “Here We Go Broncos” rises from the stands, rocks the stadium and rouses the fans, who are now spending the post-kickoff stoppage working themselves into a noisy lather.
4:25 P.M. MST: A huge third-and-3 from the Denver 44 went in the Colts favor, as Peyton Manning snagged a 17-yard grab after getting past Sam Brandon to move the Colts into Denver territory for the third time in as many second-half possessions.
4:27 P.M. MST: Denver’s first stop of the half comes when Manning rolled right and threw for Dallas Clark, but the toss went just beyond his reach.
4:30 P.M. MST: Adam Vinatieri just drilled a 48-yard field goal. That’s exactly why the Colts signed him in free agency. Denver trails by two, 23-21.
4:35 P.M. MST: Mike Bell continues to slam forward for tough yardage; he had 53 yards on 10 carries before sprinting into the open field for a 19-yard sprint that moves the Broncos into Colts territory.
4:38 P.M. MST: Call Cecil Sapp “The Postman,” because he rings twice today. The same play that got the Broncos into first-and-goal on their last possession — right down to the tailback shifting from a split-wide position to one behind the fullback. Sapp gained 28 yards on this one, and Mike Bell scored one play later.
4:43 P.M. MST: This might be as loud as this stadium has ever sounded. But a 29-yard Manning-to-Reggie Wayne pass just silenced it.
4:45 P.M. MST: Manning continues to singe the Broncos; he now has the Colts at the Denver 27-yard-line as the Broncos continue to search for their first sack of the day. His passer rating now stands at 122.8.
4:58 P.M. MST: Too much time on the clock after Jason Elam’s field goal? Indianapolis has its full compliment of timeouts and 109 seconds to make it into field-goal range.
5:03 P.M. MST: It would appear that way. Manning and the Colts dissected the defense, setting up Adam Vinatieri’s 37-yard field-goal attempt — which went right between the uprights, leaving two seconds on the clock. The kickoff return went for naught, and Denver’s five-game winning streak — and 13-game home winning streak — ends.
Tags: Indianapolis Colts
Darrent Williams!!!!!!! Argh gives up 3 tds in the second half We need another really good cornerback so they cant avoid bailey
I put this loss on the shoulders of Def. coordinator Larry Coyer. Why would you play a zone coverage defense against Payton Manning?? We have corners that can play man to man and let the linebackers cover the running backs and tight ends. Also the corners never touched the receivers within the 5 yards allowed. What a waste of a good offensive turnout. Way to go Donkeys!!!
oh yeah and trade Tatum Bell, I think a twinky could tackle him in the open field
this loos hurts, because IMO Jake was very good tonite
like the whole offence. Denver played his heart out.
But these Guy´s defenetly must not hide with a 31 : 34 against Colts.
I agree with the Broncs fan forever. I am truly amazed at Larry Coyer’s defensive “strategy.” I have watched 7 Broncos opponents have a hey day throwing to the backs and TE’s to move the ball downfield. Fortunately, only two have won games against us. If our linebackers are so fast and talented, then why can’t one of them cover a back or a TE man-to-man? And what’s with the soft zone coverage that continually enables the TE’s and slot receivers to get into? Lastly, I’m still waiting for a pass rush!!! Heck, if they can’t rush the QB then do like Bill Belichick does and drop them back into coverage to stop the backs! Yes, Larry Coyer needs to answer for this one.
I agree with Broncs fan forever and doctorising. No need for our defense to sit on its laurels when seriously challenged. Nice to have the offense show up!
Why do they muffle the fan noise so much in the new stadium? I thought that would for sure come in to play more in the last 2 minutes, but it didn’t appear to from my TV viewing seat anyway.
Diane
http://www.sacredjourneymassage.com
First of all Tatum Bell was hurt with a turf toe injury. Secondly Larry Coyer is not a very bright man. He just had us sitting back in zone coverage sending 4 defensive linemen at a time at Peyton while he just picked our defense apart. When we did blitz we showed coverage with the LBs and then tried to sprint 10 yards to a quick throwing Peyton Manning. Peyton was never guessing he knew exactly what we were going to do every single play. Great effort Broncos we just simply got out coached.
Good job offense but please do not give the ball to T. Bell on our last drive when he had been averaging under 3 yards to that point. Thats what set up the eventual FG.to only tie it up. Some things I just don’t understand.
To the fools that feel that they must express their frustration in the form of slurs (donkeys) (larry coyer isn’t very bright) and generalized dumping of the blame: You forget that the broncos defense has shown that it is one of the tops in the league. If you take away the one touchdown off of the turnover at the 10, then the defense gave up 2 touchdowns and 4 fieldgoals. Against the colts that sounds like they did what they wanted them to…score more field goals than anything. In defense of larry coyer, he and the defense have been criticized the previous 2 times of playing the colts for blitzing too much, and peyton being able to read the blitzes. So he tried something else out…and guess what peyton still read it, why?? because he is the best quarterback playing right now. So obviously the defense hasn’t figured out indy yet, but they gave the offence chances to win, think of the drive that stalled in the end and the lone turnover. Both of those essientially were the difference in the game by themselves.
So I will offer a round of applause to the broncos as a team, both offense and defense for a game that came up just short, knowing that the offense is looking much better and the defense can go back to continuing to improve. And again I wish to condemn all of you out there who make comments on message boards like these with similar uneducated crap, there is a reason that coyer and shanahan are the coaches and you are not.
To Darrent williams: Tough luck today, but contrary to Garbo, you are a very good corner, in what your second year, going against a great wideout and the best QB, it happens and you will improve.
To Tatum Bell: I don’t think a twinkie could tackle you, or much less catch you. You have shown considerable improvement in your power and run finishing this year, and even improvement in finding the cutback lane. I know you will continue to work and eventually the cutback may be as natural to you as it is for mike bell.
And to/about Cecil Sapp, the Diesel: I am a fan from CSU, and I have always known that Cecil has what it takes to play in this game. Not only is he a great runner as he showed today, but also a team player. Kudos to you for learning how to block and becoming a fullback, because we all know that runningbacks want the ball, and that you could do that in this style of offense.
[...] Great analysis of a thrilling fourth quarter between the Colts and the Broncos. Adam Vinatieri’s 37-yarder won it. (Mason’s Morsels) [...]
thank you Bladed,
Coyer isnt dumb, he just didnt make the right adjustments
Williams is a good corner, he just had a really bad day (they all cant be like Bailey)
Tatum has to be feeling the pressure after today. Cmon Broncos fans…Mike Bells runs were what we expect from our rushing attack and what we havent seen that much this year
i agree with blade alittle bit. what i saw was peyton having all day to throw but i say send a linebacker or something with the front four. you got 2 blocking the inside lineman that left a linebacker against that rookie addai but you don’t play zone against peyton!!!!!
Im angry!!!!
2003…2004..2005 Didn’t we learn from our mistakes. The biggest key to any game is the battle of the trenches d-line vs. O-line. Ok Darrent didnt play so well but what can you do 1 on 1 vs Reggie when Peyton had all day. Our d-line sucked bad. I have never seen any quaterback get that much time…i think he might have been hurried once…maybe. Ok now for the positives.
All year I wasnt worried about the offence because i knew when they needed to they would score. Plummer was never the problem. They just played conservative after taking the lead.
Mike Bell…..I could have sworn that was Terrell Davis running….I was waiting to see him take off his jersey to reveal the #30 of old. He is a TD clone. Him and Tatum are great!!!
Well 5-2 its not bad. But I don’t know about the superbowl anymore? That was the game to prove it! That pass defense has to improve!!!!
Who knows lets see what we do at Pitt, at SD and at KC. If we win those 3 then my opinion might change
Bladed. I hope that you read this, and please write back. First of all I am not a fool , yes you are right on the fact that I was quite frusterated after the game so like any true broncos fan I look for solutions or reasons why we did not get it done Sunday. Personally I think we have close to the most talented team on our 53 man roster over any other team in the NFL. We also give 100 percent and then some in effort. So who do you look to next? The coaches. And since our offense put up 31 I go to the defense who seemed they were always out of position, and not laying a finger on Peyton. Then I ask myself who puts our great defense into these positions, and who is sending four D linemen at a time and playing zone defense. The answer is Larry Coyer. I was a little off in saying he was not a very bright man, but he surely did get out coached sunday afternoon. I know, I know your saying to yourself, “we faced Peyton Manning!”. But what you fail to say to yourself is that Peyton was facing a very fast , aggressive, smart defense in the broncos.
One thing I heard Shanny say at the press conference after the game is that the game plan going in was to play our same defense we have played all year which was successful indeed. But this defense was successful against QB’s Damon Huard, Tom Brady with no one to throw to, Steve Mcnair, Andrew Walter, and the great Charlie Frye. Don’t you think you would change the game plan a little bit when facing Peyton and his potent offense. I don’t know about you but I would. But as mentioned by you before I am not the coach so I just write my views as a huge broncos fan who wants another great year.
GO BRONCOS! BEAT UP ON THOSE KETCHUP FOOLS, aka the Steelers.
tseely3@mymail.slcc.edu
I agree with elviselway!
Larry Coyer had a great gameplan. Limit the blitzing and play the zone coverages. Fine. It worked first half. Half time comes and what does the Colts do? They come out and make adjustments. Adjustments is where its at. Thats the whole reason you have halftimes other than for a rest period.
Shoot this has nothing do with Darrent Williams. He played well believe it or not. I am a college (DIV II) defensive coach, i was at the game, and I Tivo’d the game. The defense as a whole was out coached. In my humble opinion, I would have played the same defense we played, however, I would have disguised the coverages from time to time. Football is a game of guessing. Maybe if Peyton saw something and (it was something different) he would have thrown a bad pass or interception. For GOD sake we have the best defense in the league. Let the offenses beat us. Dont give them the under routs all the time. GOSH Im frustrated thinkning about it.
Anyway, I am very dissapointed because honestly this lost effects the psyche of the Broncos. I have been a fan for well over 18 years (from the first time I put a jersey) and this one I CANT swallow. We gave it our best on both sides of the ball and was beaten by a heart breaker.
Thank you delux. I am glad to here someone else say that we got out coached, something I have been saying all week. Go Broncos!
How did we get outcoached when we ran on that defense at will!!!! Thats bs!!! both sides had an equal share of problems and one side came on top at the end… with 3 seconds left!! The broncos only issue is the same problem as the last 4 years…D-line, we need sacks and we need pressures against the best olines in the league. Our linebackers are the one of the best our safeties are good enough, CHAMP is the best, and Darrent is good enough when the second best reciever on the team is not Reggie Wayne!
Hey leebov, we were talking about the defense you fool! Not the run offense.