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Broncos vs. Giants: Pregame Blog

November 26th, 2009 - 3:59pm by Zach EisendrathOther posts by

Greetings from INVESCO Field at Mile High where the 6-4 Broncos will take on the 6-4 Giants in a few short hours.

First and foremost, Happy Thanksgiving to you and your entire family. Hope the holiday has treated you well so far.

With their game tonight against New York, the Broncos are hosting a Thanksgiving game for the first time since 1963. This is the 11th time in club history and third time in the last five years that the team has played on the Thanksgiving holiday.

NFL Live

Remember, you can watch tonight’s AFC West/NFC East matchup LIVE on NFL Network and online with NFL.com/LIVE’s Online Extra. To access the online broadcast, click here.

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Taking Notice

November 19th, 2009 - 3:10pm by Zach EisendrathOther posts by

By now, Chris Simms’ career-threatening and possibly life-threatening injury has been well documented.

Three games into the 2006 season, Simms — then the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — suffered a ruptured spleen against the Carolina Panthers.

The fact that Simms could start an NFL game on Sunday for the first time since that fateful day, and a subsequent splenectomy, has not been lost on Head Coach Josh McDaniels.

“I have a great deal of respect for what he’s overcome now to come back and do this, and I can also see every day why he’s overcome it,” McDaniels said. “He works as hard as or harder than anybody we have on our team.”

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Changing of the Guard

November 12th, 2009 - 3:26pm by Zach EisendrathOther posts by

In his press conference on Thursday, Head Coach Josh McDaniels said there will be a change in the offensive line, with Russ Hochstein replacing Ben Hamilton.

McDaniels said he made the move in hopes of doing “what is best for our team.”

“If there is something we feel like may give us a better opportunity to have success, wherever it may be, then we would not be opposed to doing anything,” McDaniels said. “We’re going to see how that goes and evaluate it ongoing. This is not an anointment of anybody or anything tremendously negative about Ben Hamilton. We’re just going to see if this makes the situation any better, and if it does, great.”

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Broncos vs. Steelers: Second Half Live Blog

November 9th, 2009 - 8:07pm by Zach EisendrathOther posts by

Q3 15:00: The second half begins with a 22-yard kickoff return by Stefan Logan. The Steelers will start the ball at their own 17 yard line.

Q3 13:38: Roethlisberger completes a seven-yard pass to Ward on first down. On 2nd and 3, Mendenhall battles his way through contact and gains six yards to pick up a Pittsburgh first down at the 30 yard line.

Q3 11:30: Roethlisberger looks downfield, but Kenny Peterson makes a move into the pocket and hits the ball out of Roethlisberger’s hand. Robert Ayers recovers the fumble and races down the sideline for a 54-yard touchdown. After an extra point by Prater, the Broncos regain the lead.

Broncos 10, Steelers 7

Q3 12:22: Medenhall rushes to his left on first down. On second down, Roethlisberger goes play action and find Ward at midfield for an 18-yard gain. The ball is at the Denver 49 yard line.

Q3 11:35: Out of a five-wide set, Roethlisberger pump fakes to his left and then finds Holmes for a 16-yard completion. The ball is now at the Denver 33 yard line.

Q3 11:09: Prater sends the kickoff five yards deep into the end zone. Logan again elects to take the ball out of the end zone, returning the ball to the Pittsburgh 20 yard line.

Q3 11:08: Roethlisberger goes play action on first down and completes a 18-yard pass to Wallace, giving Pittsburgh a first down at its own 38.

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Broncos vs. Steelers: First Half Live Blog

November 9th, 2009 - 6:40pm by Zach EisendrathOther posts by

COIN TOSS: Denver will start on offense with Josh Reed kicking off for the Steelers.

Q1 15:00: Royal returns Reed’s kickoff at the goal line and returns it to the 22-yard line. The Broncos starting offense is on the field with Kyle Orton behind center. The offensive line consists of Ryan Clady, Ben Hamilton, Casey Wiegmann, Chris Kuper and Tyler Polumbus, who is starting in place of Ryan Harris (toe injury). Daniel Graham and Tony Scheffler are lined up at tight end and Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal are the wide receivers. Correll Buckhalter is starting at running back.

Q1 14:00: After Orton completed a 13-yard pass to Royal on the first play from Scrimmage, Buckhalter rushed for one-yard.

Q1 13:02: Orton again looks Royal’s way, connecting with the second-year wide receiver for a 14-yard game and the ball is now at midfield.

Q1 11:53: The Broncos showcase their version of the wildcat by snapping the ball directly to Buckhalter. After he gains five yards, Orton once again connects with Royal — this time for a 20-yard gain. Denver is now at the Pittsburgh 25 yard line.

Q1 10:28: After Buckhalter loses three-yards on first down, Orton fires a six-yard pass to Brandon Marshall. On third down Orton’s pass intended for Royal is broken up and Matt Prater is on to attempt a 40-yard field goal attempt.

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Broncos vs. Steelers: Pregame Blog

November 9th, 2009 - 4:06pm by Zach EisendrathOther posts by

Greetings from INVESCO Field at Mile High where the Broncos (6-1) take on the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) on Monday Night Football.

Tonight’s AFC battle between the Broncos and Steelers marks the first Monday Night Football matchup between the two club’s in over 23 years. In fact, the last time the two squads faced off on Monday Night Football was on Sept. 15, 1986.

Currently, conditions are gorgeous. There is not a cloud in sight and temperatures are in the Mid-50s. Temperatures, however, are expected to drop by kickoff of tonight’s game.

Here is a full weather report for the contest:

Broncos vs. Steelers Weather Report

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A Familiar Foe

November 5th, 2009 - 2:38pm by Zach EisendrathOther posts by

Arguably no one in the Broncos’ locker room knows the Pittsburgh Steelers — as presently constructed — better than Ryan McBean.

After all, the 6-foot-5, 295-pound defensive lineman spent his first two seasons in the NFL (2007-08 and 2008-09) on Pittsburgh’s practice squad. So he got a first-hand look at the defending Super Bowl Champions last season.

Well-versed in Pittsburgh’s defensive scheme, McBean said he has been able to share a few notes about Dick LeBeau’s unit with his offensive counterparts. But he has plenty of confidence that the offense will be ready for the challenge at hand.

“I try to share my part, give my part,” McBean said. “But these guys, they come here to work. All they’ve got to do is just watch tape and it shows for itself.”

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Harris Ruled Out for Monday Night Matchup

November 2nd, 2009 - 3:09pm by Zach EisendrathOther posts by

Speaking with the media on Monday morning from Dove Valley, Head Coach Josh McDaniels said that starting tackle Ryan Harris will not be available for Week 9′s Monday Night Football matchup with the defending Super Bowl-champion Pittsburgh Steelers.

“I don’t know the whole entire prognosis,” McDaniels said. “I am meeting with Greek (Head Athletic Trainer Steve Antonopulos) here as soon as this is over, but he will not play this week.”

Harris left Sunday’s 30-7 loss to Baltimore in the first quarter with a toe injury. He was replaced for the remainder of the game by Tyler Polumbus.

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Starting the Clock Before Sunday

October 29th, 2009 - 2:55pm by Zach EisendrathOther posts by

In Champ Bailey’s mind, it is no accident that the Broncos have looked like a cohesive unit week in and week out six games into the regular season.

No mystery as to why guys are always on the same page. No mistake as to why the team is able to make quick in-game adjustments.

The 11-year pro attributes much of how the team performs on the field to one thing: an intense level of preparation.

“We practice like it’s a game,” Bailey said. “We just know how to prepare. I think you win the game during the week. You don’t win it on Sunday. If you don’t go in there with the right mindset and the right preparation, you’re going to lose.”

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Reid on ESPN First Take

October 27th, 2009 - 4:34pm by Zach EisendrathOther posts by

While many players on the Broncos spent time off during their bye week resting up or on a quick vacation, Darrell Reid spent a portion of his time away from Dove Valley in Bristol, Conn. — making his way around ESPN studios.

Reid appeared live on a variety of ESPN programming last Friday, including SportsCenter, ESPN News and the Scott Van Pelt Show.

He also appeared on ESPN First Take — sitting down with co-host Dana Jacobson to talk about Head Coach Josh McDaniels’ influence on the team’s 6-0 start and how the club has been able to jell so quickly in 2009.

For the full interview, check out the video below.

– Zach Eisendrath, DenverBroncos.com