Final thoughts as Week 9 begins speeding into memory …
You might remember a 2004 game against the Atlanta Falcons when the Broncos piled up 567 yards, but still fell 41-28 as the Falcons amassed 467 yards themselves and won the turnover margin by a 3-1 count. Well, Sunday, such numbers went in the Broncos favor, as the Steelers sprinted to 499 yards — their most in a loss since 1986.
Sunday, the Steelers were doomed by the Broncos’ six takeaways — including five by the defense that came inside the Broncos 10-yard-line. Back in 1986, it was something different entirely.
That day, it was not turnovers that did in the Steelers, but special teams. Pittsburgh was only minus-1 in giveaway-takeaway ratio, but surrendered touchdowns on a blocked field goal, a blocked punt and a kickoff return. Kansas City’s Nick Lowery added a 47-yard field goal to complete a day in which the Steelers outgained the Chiefs 515 yards to 171, but still could not keep Kansas City from a win that clinched their first postseason bid in 15 years.
OTHER NOTES:
- Chicago allowed 31 points Sunday while the Broncos gave up 20; this puts Denver back in the league lead in points allowed with 98 so far this season.
- Six of the eight division winners in 2005 lead their divisions at midseason. The exceptions are the Cincinnati Bengals (4-4, second place in the AFC North) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-6, fourth place in the NFC South).
- Al Wilson was credited with nine tackles to lead the Broncos.
- Brian Clark had a 65-yard kickoff return called back on account of a penalty. He still leads the Broncos in average per kickoff return.
- Javon Walker is on pace for 1,338 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns through eight games.
- Jason Elam is back on a 100-point pace, scoring seven points to push his season total to 51; he has only missed two kicks this year, and none from 40 yards or closer.
- The 11-point margin of victory was the Broncos’ largest of the year.
Head Coach Mike Shanahan talks at 1:30 p.m. MDT today.
Tags: Brian Clark, Javon Walker, NFL, Pittsburgh Steelers
The difference other than turnovers…….Champ Bailey and Javon Walker, the two best players on the field yesterday………………Now for more important business, HOW DO WE Beat the COLTS…….I saw the pats vs. Colts and the pats had them…. They got to Peyton, but the defense can`t do anything when the offense gives up 5 turnovers. That game is the key for denver. They need to study what the Pats did on defense and how they got to peyton and emulate it. Our db`s and linebackers are better than the pats now we need for the dline to pick it up…………………..
Huge win in a huge spot…Javon is the man, and proved that one man can take over a football game…He should have been tackled three different times on that 72-yard run.
The way things stand now the Broncos are the #2 seed, let’s hope that stands true and we don;t have to face the Colts until the Champ. game.
Time to shift focus to the Raiders, before the huge matchup with S.D!!!
TSG
http://www.milehighreport.com
The only way the Broncos are going to have a chance at beating Manning is by using the 3-4 Defense. It has proven to be the only defensive set up that confuses Manning. Pittsburgh won using it last year and New England has used it in the past to dominate the Colts. I like Denver’s base 4-3, but they may want to consider coming up with a 3-4 scheme to use only against the Colts. Why do they insist on using a 4-3 that fails every time against Manning?? Mix it up, our defense is smart enough to use a one time 3-4 scheme against our arch enemies. It’s either that or we’ll lose again in the playoffs.