It has been well advertised that the Broncos have a chance to clinch a playoff berth with a win on Sunday. The Buffalo Bills are the team to beat, and at 6-8, losers of three-in-a-row, some people might think Sunday is a foregone conclusion.
But Brandon Marshall says not so fast. Just because the Bills are eliminated from the playoffs doesn’t mean they don’t have the ability to come into INVESCO and get a win.
“If a team is not in the playoffs, they want to take somebody home with them,” Marshall said. “It is not easy. A lot of people think, ‘Oh, you are going up against a team that is 6-8,’ but those teams are the ones you don’t want to see at the end of the season when you need a win. They are dangerous.”
But at the same time, Denver has won four of its last six, and with the No. 2 offense in the league, not many people want to see the Broncos come the end of the year, either.
“We are dangerous on the offensive side of the ball and we play with confidence,” Marshall said. “If we limit our mistakes against Buffalo, we can be dangerous on Sunday.”
HONOLULU-BOUND?
In yesterday’s press conference, Head Coach Mike Shanahan talked about players he thought were close to the Pro Bowl this year but didn’t quite get in. One of the players he singled out was Eddie Royal.
Royal said he wasn’t disappointed he didn’t make it onto the AFC’s All-Star roster.
“Nah,” he said. “It really is a team game, you know? If we get to the playoffs, I’ll be happy. Individual goals are great, but in the end you play to win championships.”
Plus, with his quarterback and fellow starting receiver each gaining a trip to Hawaii, there’s a good chance Royal might find himself with a free visit to the Aloha State, as well.
“We’re talking about it,” he said with a laugh.
FAN APPRECIATION DAY
This Sunday against the Bills is the final home game of the regular season at INVESCO Field at Mile High.
For the occasion, the Broncos will be giving away prizes throughout the game, in the tailgating lots and at the Broncos Barn.
Every fan in attendance will have a chance to win the prizes, including a $500 gift card to Lowe’s, lift tickets courtesy of Coca-Cola and a 42-inch flat screen TV from Best Buy.
In addition, Broncos all-time leading receiver Rod Smith will address the fans before kickoff to thank them for their support during his 13-year playing career.
Fans exiting the stadium from Sunday’s contest will receive the 2008 Denver Broncos team photo courtesy of 7-Eleven.
Hope to see you at the game.
-Gray Caldwell, DenverBroncos.com
Here are some pictures from today’s practice.
Tags: Brandon Marshall, Buffalo Bills, Eddie Royal, Gray Caldwell, Mike Shanahan, Pro Bowl
Oh my goodness that picture up there is so funny… the guy is so bundled up to stay warm you can’t even tell who it is. Thanks for the laugh!!
REALLY glad to see Champ warming up… I really hope he plays on Sunday. We need some serious help with our D and he can help us out. I’m getting restless with him being out for so long… I guess I’m just wanting to see him back out there helping us out.
And I’m glad to see that Marshall has his head on straight and realizes that even though we’re playing a 6-8 team and they’re not going to the playoffs doesn’t mean we shouldn’t put some effort into this game. This kind of game is where we define what kind of team we are. Playing a team already out of playoff contention - we have to show them why we’re #1 in our division, that this is our house and we can beat an even more mediocre team to get to the playoffs. How we play on Sunday and the outcome will start to define our post-season games.
Go cook us up some BBQ Buffalo boys… this Bronco lovin’ girl wants some!
GO BRONCOS!!!!!
I hope we perform well against the bills.
Wow…really like Eddie’s thoughts on how its focus on the team not the individual. Royal’s already turning into a great guy, maybe a fill in for the late Rod Smith, and developing into a future threat in the NFL
it bothers me that champ didnt go in against steve smith that means champs prolly hiding his pain. i dont think we should rule him out justdont start him keep him available and try him out a lil in game situations but dont rule him OUT
i love Royals attitude it says so much about this kid. he on his way to be such a star in this league and i’m hoping to see him for a very long time in Orange and Blue.
BMarsh has really grown up this year. it’s great to hear him talk about how important this game is. I’ve been arguing with a co-worker how BMarsh will be so much better than T.O. when he’s had as many years in the NFL. who agrees with me there? BMarsh already has a better first three years than T.O. so i can see it happening.
can’t wait to see them roast some Buffalo this sunday and take the West. may need a little help from a fellow Bronco fan to help me get an AFC West Champion hat, kind of hard to find them out here in VA.
i know how much everyone wants to see Champ out there this week but i truly think we should rest him and have him 100 percent for the playoffs. thats where we will need him the most. i believe Bly and Bell will prove their worth this week.
Let’s stop the run and shut down that passing game and D-line. lets get some sacks.
Keeping the Faith
GO BRONCOS!!!!
Broncosmaddenchamp… Shutup you look like a fool with your cap lettered rant. Watch this video and wait and see who our starting or rotiation RB is next year.. wait and see.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSjDe0WDuCg
pay close attention to 1 minute in.. and tell me Hillis doesnt have skills of his own, and those skills especially complement denvers run system which makes it an even more perfect fit. Look what happend to our run game against carolina with him out.. non existence.. enough said just watch and get yourself educated.
broncosmaddenchamp - Oh my word man… GET OVER IT!!
Hillis IS Pro Bowl worthy - END OF STORY!!! Just wait till next season buddy and when he gets in you can just shut your trash talkin’ trap!!
GO BRONCOS!!!
i loved the unidentified bronco picture. im driving down there on saturday . beat the bills!
Broncofan1088- i watched that video its missen some good plays but ur rite some1s just bein ignorant and not wanting too addmit some1s tallent.
broncosmaddenchamp- ok ur askin the coach to mention every1s name he thinks can do it. maybe if he knew where he’ll play next year he’d say but know i remember him playin FB most of the year and then when called apon he mastered the RB possition. granted we havent been able to see him run every game so we cant be sure be a fan and recognize ur teams tallent. Hillis ran up hill with a 1/2 ton truck tied to him i think he atleast deserves recognition by this teams fans. ok my friends a carolina panthers fan and even with smash and dash he thinks hes pro bowl wortyh maybe not this year but next year if hes gunna be RB which i dont see why he wouldnt. i like Tatum as well but hes not got the hand and power hillis has.
does anyone else agree that we should start hillis next year?
BroncoBoy1993 - I’ll be the first to say it… YES!!!! He deserves it and he’s earned his right to be the starter. Not only is he worthy of the Pro Bowl in his future but he’s worthy of being our starter next season. And that’s it!
The smell of BBQ’d Buffalo keeps on getting closer, I can almost taste it!
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!
It looks like Chad Jackson’s hair is frozen! Wow, these are great pics! Anyway, hoping for a win this Sunday. Also, on another note, is anyone else upset about the Broncos choice as cornerback last Sunday against the Panthers? I mean come on, a rookie against Steve Smith? The game would’ve had an entirely different outcome if Bailey was there. Still awaiting his return. Hillis? Starter? Why wouldn’t he be the starter?! Clady was screwed over in the Pro Bowl voting! He deserved it more than anyone! THe Browns guy should be gone and Clady should be put in his place! .5 sacks allowed against amazing ends like Peppers. Clady WILL be in the Pro Bowl next year and so will a bunch of other Broncos!
GO BRONCOS!
GO BUCS!
“Nah,” he said. “It really is a team game, you know? If we get to the playoffs, I’ll be happy. Individual goals are great, but in the end you play to win championships.” What a great attitude! Hillis has the same attitude about being a team player.
Yes, Hillis should definitely be the starting RB next year.
broncosmaddenchamp - according to you, Shanny mentioned all the players you think are pro bowl worthy. One of the players Shanny singled out is Royal. In a previous blog, you said Royal and Hillis aren’t pro bowl worthy and neither of them will be going to a pro bowl anytime soon. You contradict yourself which further emphasizes the fact that you are talking out of your a**. All you are doing is making a bigger a** of yourself. It’s obvious that you don’t know what you’re talking about and you should really stop blogging because everyone is sick of your negativity. The fact that you said you are glad Hillis got hurt says it all.
GO BRONCOS!!!!
I appreciate Royal’s class. He may not be a Pro Bowler (that’s sarcasm, OF COURSE he belongs, ) but there isn’t anyone in the NFL that can cover him based on what I’ve seen. Oh well, the Bills will have hell to pay trying to cover him. I do think the Bills are dead men walking, but the Broncos are going to have to confirm this. You can do it men. GO BRONCOS!!!
Hillis will be a probowler… as a fullback. IF we can find a another feature back we can rely on, Peyton has the talent to revive the role of fullback in a pro set offense. He’s a load to tackle, blocks like a train, has great hands, and a heart to match. I feel bad for Selvin. His career took a big hit with that fumble. Pittman is a step slow, but still hits a ton. Aldridge will be a special situation back only. Torain has more potential than anyone, but is followed by a dark cloud. Tatum won’t be around next year. Andre Hall has a chance, but he sure seems forgotten. Perhaps the answer is to draft a monster running back, but the crop looks a little thin. Ah, well. We’ll beat the Bills without a running game. I hope. Go Broncs!
yea Hillis is a beast, but I still see him at the FB position, he’d be the best all-around FB the leagues had in a long time. I think we need to draft a great RB as well.
I still say broncosmaddenchump is Peyton Hillis in diguise. Just kidding Hillis is way to humble to seek any praise.(broncosmaddenchump! HA!) Did his post make any sense to anybody? I did’nt quite get it,.. Anyway.
I read a quote earlier by Casey Wiegmann on being snubbed again for the Pro Bowl. “As long as I’ve got the respect of the people who brought me in here and my Teammates, that’s enough for Me, that’s all that matters.” Ya every body now know’s about R. Clady and wanted him in the Pro Bowl but this guy has put his whole life into his game and that’s his response? WOW! Casey you sir RULE! and you Have my vote as OLineman of the year for The Broncos! ! ! To fill in for Tom Nalen at the center position and do as GREAT of a job without compaint is truely Stellar. You belong in the Pro Bowl certainly before R. Clady, not ot take anything away from him he to has been stellaras well,. but You are a True Professional!
TIME OF POSSESSION! ! !
GO BRONCOS! ! !
HILLIS needs a song Wrote about him. That man Is the Beast of our back field.i just hope Mike dont make the same mistake and trade him like he did Portis(my opinion).we need to Boo Maddenchamp off cause he bumped his head thinkin Hillis is’nt doin his thing.Thank you for those videos 1088!
Great Great vid of Hillis Thx
!!! SoCal Bronco Love!!!
I like the way Marshall is conducting himself this year. After a shaky season last year and off season I think he’s realized that it is actually a privilege to play in the NFL and it’s important to be respected both on and off the field.
This guy has so much talent, and I think his transformation into a team player rather than just being an individual, what about me, me, me type guy like T.O. can do nothing but improve his game on the field. You put a talent like Royal lined up alongside some other receivers and the bickering for the ball would begin…but not here in Denver. These guys are playing a real team game and it’s great to see.
The Broncos will most definitely be the underdogs in the playoffs, and I think that will work to their advantage. But they need to take care of business this weekend. Play the best game of the year boys, and stay healthy! I want to see Rivers sulking on the sidelines next week!
All you guys that are on Hillis’s bandwagon, where you also the guys that were raving about Torain too? I like Hillis as a RB and I think he will fit in the 2 RB scheme. A lot of teams are doing it. Hillis with Bell or Aldridge (speed guy) would be nice. But again how about Hillis as a all around FR with Torain and Bell. That would be deadly with our receivers.
We do need champ but i think we could use mcree also, so someone tell him to rubb some vagisil on it and man up.
Broncosmaddenchamp: I’m not going to bash you like everyone else. I will say the Hillis played exceptionally well in the 4 games he had significant time. I really like his downhill running style and ability to run over guys. He is also a fantastic receiver and blocker. For those reasons he should be considered for our #1 running back position next year.
That being said, he is not worthy of a probowl selection. It wouldn’t matter what he did in 4 games. You have to play the majority of the season to be considered. It doesn’t mean he lacks as much talent as the other guys, but he just didn’t do it over the majority of the season. Champ didn’t make the probowl, but it wasn’t because of skill. He just missed too many games this year. It shouldn’t be a popularity contest because the only thing that should matter is your performance this year. He was great, but he only played less than half the season. So I agree that he shouldn’t be a probowler, but I think he is a great player.
columbusOHbronco, you’ve obviously never had a groin injury. Aside from hurting like a son of a gun, if you’re not 100% recovered the slightest wrong movement will re injure it setting Champ back even further.
rustycletis you are correct sir! It should’nt be about a popullarity contest and the only thing that should matter is the players performance this year, but that’s not reallity is it? If it was about performance players like the leading rookie reciever Eddie Royal would be in or a 13 year vet who has missed only 1 game in his last 11 seasons Casey Wiegmann who wants to go but does’nt care would be in. Wiegmann said “One thing I know over the years is it’s about the playoffs, it’s about trying to get to The Super Bowl. If you don’t make the playoff’s, it’s all for nothing, so that’s where our energy is right now.” This guy has recieved the priase from his fellow O Lineman and is the one guy that should be there that’s not. Rusty I applaud you for not bashing broncosmaddenchump and your right Hillis and Champ should’nt be in the Pro Bowl and they are Great players.
columbusOHbronco vagisil REALLY? That’s harsh bro. Thats a low blow.
TIME OF POSSESSION! ! !
GO BRONCOS! ! !
Broncosmaddenchamp:The ramblings of a idiot.
rustycletis- i dont think n e 1s complainin bout hillis not getting it this year i mean he did more than exceptional when he was in but we all can see he got hurt but our arguement is he will be a FUTURE Pro Bowler. hes like mike alstot but better and more humble. now if u dont think alstot deserved a pro bowl thats stupid possibly 1 of the best FBs that got a lot of touches.
i disagree with needing champ back if hes not a 100% hes gunna get hurt again now keep him active is the best idea but i wouldnt say we need him and mcree had his ups and downs i think the safties we have r doin great we can live without for now when he comes back i wanna see him play beside barrett
columbusOHbroncso!
Yeah, let’s make a comment about a FUTURE HALL OF FAME CB! nice…a genius that lives in Ohio. Hey the Bengals would like you to be their fan ya turd!
Broncosmaddenchamp!
Sorry but each time you blog, I get this visual of a 42 year old fat guy, living in his mother’s basement, sitting on a mattress on the floor, playing your XBOX, wearing an ACDC T-shirt 3 sizes to small getting the controller all cheezy from the excesses amounts of doritos you’re eating……
Dude give mom her $45 dollars for rent and shut the H*ll up!
i swear Broncosmaddenchamp is a raiders fan, everytime i read his posts his saying something stupid, like being happy that Hillis got hurt, what idiot would actually say that? about anyone, especially Hillis who was doing so well for us.
I agree with Lepsis-fan, i think we should rest Champ for the playoffs where we will need him for sure. bly and bell are doing well and with barrett out there we will be fine in our secondary and i look forward to that next year with Champ back of course.
As for our running game, we are stacked with backs. yes they are hurt, but next year we will have a packed backfield. i’d love to see Hillis get the start as lead rusher, being backed by Torain and throwing in some Aldridge. now i think that would be one hell of a running game. Selvin, will most likely be let go. i love the guy but i think he took a hit this year. Hall, well i just don’t see much from this guy, maybe a special teamer or something. Pittman may stick around as the fullback but probably not. i really hope we don’t go after a back in the draft, we need defense, defense, defense in this upcoming draft. ok, enough about that.
monodono, you are right. Casey is a true class act and is very deserving of the probowl this year as in years past, coming in and filling in the way he has for the great Tom Nalen and to be taken in by this team the way he has. i hope to see him in the probowl next year along with both of our tackles.
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!
I’m pretty sure the “unidentified bronco” is Royal.
Hillis was inactive for multiple games at the FB position due to his blocking, however he was active as part of our backfield passing plays often because of what he can do with the ball in his hands. He will get his chance at RB next year and will do well, just because hes white does not mean he cant play RB. I’ll bet anyone whatever that he will either start at RB or be a serious part of a 2 back rotation as the smash back / goal line / short yardage bet.. bring on the bets.
Webster needs to be OFF the field, he is a joke of a linebacker.
Broncomaddenchamp! You are a freakin idiot! There is no way in h*ll tatum runs better than hillis! No way! There was a reason tatum was selling cell phones and not running in the NFL.
Secondly, don’t talk to me about being a fan when you try to talk so passionately about something but yet sound so stupid!
And finally, don’t play the military card with me! I give thanks to all who serve. However, serving our country doesn’t excuse the fact you don’t know sh*t about this team.
Think about your retarted comments before you type.
GO GET EM’ BOYSb!
yea i remember hillis being dropped to second FB but as a rookie u can have struggles and as u saw he corrected his mistakes he didnt start two games and when he got back he did great. as for Tatum vs hillis i agree hillis is a more solid RB for denvers future but i wouldnt say something as low to say he deserves to be sellin Cell Phones. he only works with our system now personally i think hes a great back up back for next year, but as a starter on this team? no. i say trade young and hall save Pittman as a FB and start hillis and aldrich as our 1,2 backs.and as for torain i dunno i wanna see more out of him against starters then what i saw. i see leadership skills in Larsen at MLB next year so id like to see him get more time there next season.
But who cares bout next season we need to make playoffs this season!!!!
GO BRONCOS!!!!
broncomaddenchump, !@#$%^&*(?)/>,.:’:;’[}]=+]{. and stay there!
Lepsis fan, im with you 100%
Larsen I think for years to come could be our beast of a MLB, but Niko was supposed to be that one, oh well. Wait and see!
I say Hillis starts next season, followed by a competition for 2nd RB between Aldridge and Torain, unfortunately I see Aldridge being the change of pace back we need in there, with Hillis in there for the down hill power running. I was sitting right on the lower level right where Hillis got hurt, and I could tell before they even went out there to check him he was hurt, just a very freak accident. He is as tough as they come and will be back rarin’ to go next season. I see Jay and the O staying reletively intact but I see this as another D oriented draft. But who cares about that now, see you Sunday fellas and stay warm! GO BRONCOS!
Broncfalls:Well said….
Come on people were in a playoff fight here and all we can talk about is who is gonna start at RB next year!! Sorry but the only RB im worried bout is lynch. Let next season wait till next season
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!