15:00: The Broncos have a first-and-10 at the San Diego 49-yard line when play resumes.
Jay Cutler is in the shotgun with Tatum Bell to his right. He tries to find Eddie Royal downfield after avoiding pressure, but he skips it just short of the rookie. That brings up second-and-10. The offense breaks its huddle and jogs up to the line — there are four receivers out wide. Cutler drops back and avoids pressure from all angles — very impressive pocket presence — and finds Darrell Jackson for a 13-yard gain near the left sideline for a first down.
On the ensuring play, Cutler gets it to Brandon Marshall, who falls backwards for what looks like another first down.
13:42: In fact it’s second-and-1 for the Broncos after Marshall’s nine-yard gain. Cutler takes the snap in the shotgun and pitches it quickly to Tatum Bell, who runs forward for four yards and the first down.
On first down, Cutler avoids pressure once again, rolls out to his right and throws a bullet toward Tony Scheffler in the end zone, who was locked up with a defensive back. At the last second he leaps high in the air to haul in the touchdown pass.
The Broncos are going for two. Cutler is in the shotgun and takes off toward the end zone. He gets in on his own with a run up the middle. It looked like the same formation from the first time Denver ran a two-point conversion against the Chargers 15 weeks ago.
Now the Broncos trail the Chargers 38-21.
12:53: Darren Sproles takes the Matt Prater kick to the 34-yard line before being brought down by Karl Paymah and a group of Broncos. That’s where the Chargers offense will take over after a TV timeout.
Sproles takes the handoff on first down and gains three yards before being taken down by Marcus Thomas and Ebenezer Ekuban.
12:05: Rivers gets the play call from the sideline before setting up the offense, dropping back and rolling to his right. He decides to take off and is chased out of bounds by Jamie Winborn after a gain of three.
Third-and-4 for the Chargers at their own 40. Rivers is in the shotgun. He fires a pass downfield and finds Chris Chambers past the first down marker for a gain of 18.
10:50: The Chargers are in Denver territory as Rivers takes the snap and hands off to Sproles. He picks up three yards on the carry.
Second-and-7 for San Diego at the Denver 39. The offense breaks its huddle and two receivers are out right. Vincent Jackson goes in motion and it’s a hand off to Sproles. He picks up 37 yards down the sideline before being pushed out of bounds by Wesley Woodyard at the two-yard line.
On the ensuing first down, Sproles takes it the final two yards for the touchdown. Nate Kaeding knocks the extra point through and the Chargers lead 45-21.
9:40: Chad Jackson takes the kickoff from the two-yard line and brings it out to the 22-yard line, where the offense will take over after a TV timeout.
Cutler is in the shotgun when play resumes, and he takes the snap and fires to Royal. The rookie fights his way forward for a first down, and the offense huddles up after the 11-yard gain.
9:00: Cutler takes teh snap and fires down field for Marshall, who had his defender beat, but the ball falls incomplete — flag on the play, however. Two flags on the play — illegal contact on the defense and pass interference on the defense. The illegal contact is declined and the Broncos move to the San Diego 35 on the pass interference call.
8:55: Cutler’s pass is complete to Royal on second down — it’s a gain of five yards, setting up third-and-5 at the San Diego 30.
Cutler is in the shotgun with four receivers out wide and Tatum Bell to his right. He takes the snap, drops back and fires to Tony Scheffler — but he’s drilled just outside the 10-yard line and the ball falls to the ground.
That brings up fourth-and-5 for the Orange and Blue. Cutler buys time and finds Marshall behind the defense after running a great route — but he stumbles as he reaches the back of the end zone and the ball flies just over his head. Turnover on downs.
7:45: Sproles picks up another first down on the first play for the Chargers offense. On the ensuing play, it’s Sproles again — he picks up nine more yards. Second-and-1 for San Diego at its own 49. Rivers hands off to Hester, who picks up the first down before being brought down by a group of Broncos.
6:22: On first-and-10, Rivers hands off to Jacob Hester, who is pummelled by Marcus Thomas after a short gain — two yards to be exact.
5:38: On second down, Hester takes a carry up the middle but is taken down after a gain of two more. On third-and-6, Sproles picks up the first down.
4:05: The Chargers have a first-and-10 from the Denver 30. Hester takes the carry down to the 13-yard line. On the next play it’s Hester again, and he’s brought down by Jamie Winborn after a seven-yard gain.
2:19: It’s second-and-3 and Hester is tripped up for no gain. That brings us to the two-minute warning.
2:00: Hester picks up two yards on third down and sets up fourth-and-1. The San Diego offense stays on the field. Hester pushes his way forward for a touchdown and spikes the ball afterward. The extra point is good and the Chargers lead 52-21.
1:15: The Chargers boot the kick high and short and it’s fielded by John Engelberger. he takes it to the 33-yard line.
On first-and-10, Cutler takes the snap in shotgun formation and gets it to Royal for what looks like a first down.
It’s a nine-yard gain, and the team runsback up to the line. Royal gets the first down on the following play.
Now the offense is back at the line. Cutler is in the shotgun and takes the snap. He finds Royal again, who fights his way across the field for another first down.
As the clock ticks all the way down, Cutler finds Royal again down to the San Diego 32.
Time runs out and the Chargers and Broncos meet at midfield.
The Broncos and Chargers both end with an 8-8 record, but the Chargers win the AFC West title because they have a better record within the division.
The Chargers beat the Broncos in San Diego, 52-21.
-Gray Caldwell, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Fourth Quarter, Gray Caldwell, Live Blog, Week 17
We should be picking somwhere around 12th to 15th this year again could make for one hell of a draft defensively next year say a MLB first round, trade up into the first again for a DE, use plethora of picks aquired to bolster DT, FS, SS, CB, C and for gods sake get a friggin kicker that has not been released from another team.
I dont want to hurt any of your hopes…But we play Giants, Steelers, pats, Colts, cowboys and a bunch of other crazy teams next season…Sigh
OUCH!
I AM JACKS COMPLETE LACK OF SUPRISE. I prayed, I channeled, I studied, I read, I posted, and nothing changed this year from the last five except it might ‘ve gotten worse. I AM JACKS WASTED LIFE.
On that note it is now Officially Avalanche season! I think since Joe Sakic was injured in a non Hockey injury The AV’s should withhold his salary till he’s healthy. Actually I think he should retire and rejoin the TEAM as a Coach, that way he would still get paid and it would free up some salary cap money to sign some new younger, bigger, stronger players. Any thoughts ?
CONTROL THE PUCK ! ! !
GO AVALANCHE ! ! !
As I watched,
I noticed that we ran one Offensive play formation 12 times, another 6, and yet a third 4 times throughout the game, and the same defensive zones, with no adjustments in the assignments on Defense. I truly don’t feel that Coach Shanny has lost it, or the team needs an entire overhaul but it looks like the true factors are coaching personnel management, in particular the D and O Coordinators or Worse…their “Assistants”.
I also think, as I’ve said throughout the year, it’s the lack of “the eye of the tiger”. Sometimes it can be inspired or instilled in a player but that only goes so far if it doesn’t come fro within that player. In our case the “potential” is there but the management that it takes to “procure, harness, utilize and sustain” simply isn’t there. I believe we have gotten too ‘finesse’ and dare I say too “classy” of a mentality, because it seems to be the ‘barrier’ between bringing out that ‘heart’ (that everyone talks about) necessary to finish!!
However, I feel for them because I see heart there, but I truly think some players are out of position and therefore our weapons aren’t being used right. Mike is caught between spinning the web of his own ingenuity and Coordinators with no ‘killer’ instinct to carry it out. Thus we get a games that start hot -(Shanny’s ingenuity), but finish slow -(Coordinators).
At the same time Cutler has the same symptom Elway had when he tried to overcompensate with his arm…and threw a little ‘too’ hard at times. Also think the Coordinators should have designed our Offensive attack around Stokley, who’s mostly off the radar but the best “slot” in the biz. Marshall should be stretching the field 40% of the time and not be used underneath so much that it makes him think he’s a RB,… leaving our deadliest weapons (Royal, Sheff, and FB’s) w i d e o p e n!!!
Well the seasons over and I am so ready for next season I just might apply for a position with the Team, just to prove my points.
Please give your prayers to the Families of the players, and the players.
At the end of the day, They are the ones going through the real hardships, not We the Fans!
I will continue to support our team because ironically we do look like the ’96 team that went 8-8, and the following years won 2 Super Bowls! Hey maybe God’s letting us repeat history. With that said, heres to Back-to-Back-to-Back Super Bowls, ’09..’10…and ’11!!!
Keep the Faith, its all we truly have sometimes, GO BRONCOS!
p.s. Steal Mike Martz, and Rex Ryan!
I thought coming into this game it was going to be a shoot out, but in no way did i expect are defense just take the night off and play as bad as they did, i thought the big game would fire em up but this was the worst game of the year defense wise by far. The broncos need to focus on defense this off-season 110%. Are offense is one of the most talented and explosive units in the NFL but the D is far behind.
We need to draft Defense in the draft. Why is everyone wanting Maualuga? We need to go after Taylor Mays from USC if hes still available, a much more promising and talented player i think plus god knows we need help at the safety position.
But overall, im confident for next season because the running game will be back and with all the injuries at the positon we found talent maybe we wouldnt of especially with hillis, and i look for the D to be better because honestly we cant go newhere but UP!
Also i have no doubt in my mind that the colts will handle the chargers, which i would love nothing more then to see san diego get whooped.
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“Open Your Eyes”
Looking back I clearly see
What it is that’s killing me
Through the eyes of one I know
I see a vision once let go
WE had it all
Constantly it burdens me
Hard to trust and can’t believe
Lost the faith and lost the love
When the day is done
Will they open their eyes
And realize we are one
On and on we stand alone
Until our day has come
When they open their eyes
And realize we are one
I love the way I feel today
But how I know the sun will fade
Darker days seem to be
What will always live in me
But still I run
It’s hard to walk this path alone
Hard to know which way to go
Will I ever save this day
Will it ever change
Will they open their eyes
And realize we are one
Still today we carry on
I know our day will come
When they open their eyes
And realize we are one
Will they open their eyes
And realize we are one
(its hard to walk this path alone
hard to know which way to go)
Will they open their eyes
and realize we are one
(lost the faith and lost the love when the day is done)
Will they open their eyes
And realize we are one
WE SUCK! Simple enough? This is, without a shadow of a doubt, the worst defense this franchise has had since the 60′s. I have never been so disgusted with a team and coaches. Someone get me Mike Nolan.
And just so EVERYONE KNOWS just how PATHETIC this defense is, we allowed 30 or more points in 9 FREAKING GAMES, 9!!! That’s over HALF THE SEASON! Shanahan has sold us a bill of goods that isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on. Your defense sucks, your scheme sucks, your defensive drafting sucks and your free agent picks suck. I can’t think of one thing good about the defense you’ve given us over the past 3 seasons. OK Mr. VP of Football Operations, who’s going to be your scapegoat this season? You gonna start chucking players under the tires first thing this week or are you going to wait and see who gets into trouble frist? Does anyone doubt why Bronco fans leave early anymore, or why the place isn’t packed every game? They get the up close view of their team, they get the “eye test” that a lot of us don’t get and they see what we should all see….a control freak with too many hats struggling to wear them all at once.
Well, this one hurts. This one hurt real bad. I too am amazed that we did not see Woodyard playing more. When He, Wynborn and Williams were in the game it was totally different on defense.
The question remains, do we need a new D-coordinator or just new talent? In my opinion we have the personnel on defense behind the D-line. Our Corners are decent, with some pressure from the D-line they could capitalize on mistakes of hurried QB. Our scheme seems to be a bit of a problem because the blitz is almost non-existent. I say this off-season, find some meat on the defensive line, some big boys who can get to the QB. There is no reason to worry about the offense side of the ball. Maybe a RB on offense. Sure would be nice to pick up Sproals. But I’m Sure SD won’t let him go.
Defense wins championships. Anytime you score 21 points in a game a team should at least be competitive. This defense only offered one solution to our offense. Score every series or the D will let you down. It was very sad to watch this unfold.
It started to unravel the moment Prater missed his kick. Set the tone for things to come. Just think if we would of scored before halftime, then on our first possession of the 3rd qtr. It would of been at least closer.
This one was on the Team. Our offense could of scored more, but our defense should of put up a better fight. Oh well, woulda, coulda, shoulda it don’t matter cause we sealed our own fate. Next season, with the right defensive corrections and healthy RB’s, we DOMINATE!!!! See you all next season, oh who am I kidding, I will be here in the off-season to to follow the news and transactions taking place.
Happy New Year to all the Broncomaniacs out there. Next year are Boy’s become men. I predict a return to Bronco Excellence.
Something better happen next season. Personnel changes, player changes, something. This was pathetic, you wouldn’t even have known the Broncos were playing for playoff spot the way they played like crap, no heart, not intensity. It’s amazing what the loss of a couple of great defensive leaders can really do to a D. Lynch, Wilson, Gold, those guys were crazy tough competitors. As far as I’m concerned we need a couple of new DT. While we got some pressure sometimes, others the QB has all the time in the world to survey the field. The O, come on 7 RBs on IR, that ridonkulous. B. Marshall 18 drops. While catching 98 that’s pretty good, but in the game last night Royal and Marshall both had easy catches dropped. Cutler is going to get better to not force throws hopefully, otherwise he is going to be just another Plummer and not any better. I really hope this loss leaves a nasty old taste in their mouths for the offseason. As far as I’m concerned 8-8 is not acceptable when we have potential to be 11 or 12 and something. Lets see what happens next season then, maybe we should start questioning Shanny. See you all next season.
One last comment, while we had some great draft picks, lets try to get some better D players. Our D you know..ahh.. has been struggling..if you want to call it that. We need some D-Line, and some Safeties, my gosh our safeties are horrible. Anyway I hope Indy beats the piss out of SD, I hate Indy, but I hate the Chargers more.
All I got to say is WTF Bowlen you are one of the best owners in the league or at least you were until you let Shanny control this team. He is a coach that is it, the guy should not be making personel decisions when it comes to this team you should be making these decisions Bowlen Ol Shannarat only knows OFFENSE he don’t have a clue what good D is or what a good D coordinator is for that matter WTF is going on with The O coordinator as well is there nobody left in the orginatzation that will tell Shanny he is wrong and get some adversity in the decision making process. A great man once said that if we are all in agreement then nothing is getting accomplished, if your organization is full of yes men that don’t think for themselves you will not progress as a team there will be nobody to critisize and scrutinize the coach or coaches but since Shanny does all the hiring of personel it is believed that these guys belong here in Denver so nobody questions except the fans. Our team is not a bad team they just don’t have any damn ESPRIT DE CORPS.
07elway…..So sorry for assuming you were a guy. From here on out I will consider you my blog sister. At least you bloggers dont have to be down here this week in So Cal. I have to live with these band wagon charger fans that you can only find after a win. I will give you the positives from this year…Our Offense period. Jay was incredible last night and both those picks were not on him. Marshall needs to be more physical before the catch and needs to claim the ball as soon as it leaves Jays hand. You could see the disapointment in Jays face drive after drive when our defense couldnt stop my sons hockey team. I am proud to love a team that has a QB like Jay for many many years to come……Please , Please get us a D coordinator that actually knows Defense and watch out…..West Coast
Shanahan after the game said that he would not switch d coordinators.
That to me is a joke.
As Taggart says in Blazzing Saddles… “I AM depressed.”
West Coast – I couldn’t agree more. You will only find Charger fans after a win. Heck, the team has to rely on the local corporations to buy tixs when they lose so the home games won’t be blacked out. Let’s be honest, although we all would have loved to see Denver in the playoffs, I’m not sure that Denver or the Chargers deserve a playoff spot as much as the Pats. Cutler was incredible last night and anybody that says otherwise doesn’t truly no the game of football. You could definitely see the disappointment in Cutler’s face and the rest of the offense as they watched the defense lose the game. Make no mistake, 21 points should have been more than enough points to keep the game competitive.
With a healthy set of RB’s and no significant injuries, our offense will be hard to stop next year. The offseason should be focused on defense and special teams. I’m not sure what the deal is with Matt Prater, but the team really needs to evaluate that position. As many of you have said, Woodyard should of started last night. Nate should not be a starter, but at this point it is what it is. We all know that we have a great offense. Hopefully the coaches will go get a defense that gives the team a chance to win a championship.
GO BRONCOS!!!!
Hands down the most embarrassing loss in the history of the franchise last night. To choke with everything on the line is absolutely inexcusable. No heart – no pride – no nothing. Cutler looked like a 2 year old baby pouting on the sidelines – the entire defense needs to be replaced – from Champ Bailey to DJ Williams – EVRY SINGLE DEFENDER must be replaced. Hands down the worst defense in the history of the Broncos franchise.
If Shanahan doesn’t replace every defensive coach on the staff – then he needs to go as well.
Absolutely disgusting what we witnessed last night. Inexcusable!!!
the broncos D is so bad!!!!!!!! we cant stop the run we cant stop the pass we cant stop anything. Can broncos D be less physical. Can they f@#$%#@ tackle.????
Champ and ‘Bly are getting old.
09 draft lets get some safety’s and D line.
I’d keep 4 players on the D, and I’d keep 2 or 3 as role players but that’d be all. Eb shouldn’t be playing that much on the line, Engle is a great effort guy, but no real punch, Elvis is only effective in spurts, Nate can’t see anyone past the line, D.J. gets washed up in the blockers and Champ looked WAY hurt.
Shanny doesnt want to replace Slowik – RIDICULOUS!!!! this D is the laughing stock of the league! No other coach in the NFL would be safe! Wow!
Well Well Well. I’m not gonna say I told you so or anything but I told you so. 4 months ago me and another cat were on this blog (forgive me my computer got a virus so I haven’t blogged in a while) but anyways, I was on this blog saying we had alot of talent but we would NOT do well this year. I am a true bronco fan. I live in San Diego, California and when I go to school the banwagon Charger fans are going to be talking a whole lot of smack. And I won’t be able to say a thing.
I sat here for 4 months and listened to you guys tell me to keep the faith, stay optimistic, be a good fan, and I told you we wouldn’t be a good football team this year. Let me give you another dose of what I told you 4 MONTHS AGO.
This is a really talented team but: in case you guys haven’t noticed Bob Slowik is of the same mold as Jim Bates. They like to sit back and play prevent defense. Zone, No blitzing, keep the offense in front of you defense. Prevent defense only prevents you from getting off the field. Slowik just won’t blitz. And to the fan who said he doesn’t know why D.J is playing anymore and that our defense is better off without him. I agree. I also agree we need to trade Champ, Dre, and maybe even Elvis simply for the fact that Elvis can’t play the run. I think you saw for yourselves whenever it is first and 10 or an obvious running situation Dumervil is on the sideline, and of all people Engelberger comes in the game.
I hope we get serious trade value for Champ, we can’t afford to keep him because with this defense, Cutler will never sniff a playoff win, hell can’t even get in.
West Coast, as I mentioned earlier, I agree and I am down here with you in So Cal, I live in Chula Vista where the fans don’t get more bandwagon like than this. We need a franchise runningback which is what I said at the beginning of the season and for those who thought we got the better end of that redskin deal with CLinton Portis, eat your hearts out cuz they sitting there with a franchise back and we can’t run the ball.
You know how our best plays come off of play-action but we can’t even run the ball so who would fall for it. Now Some of you crossed the line calling out Mike Shanahan. Who built the 97 and 98 teams who repeated, Shanahan, so don’t go there. He’s spent the last two years building a top offense, and with a franchise back, that he could got in Mike Turner but that’s a whole different issue, our offense will be back. I think as you should to that Shanahan is well aware of the situation on defense. It is disgraceful. But you have to give him time like with the offense, great defenses don’t get built over night. It takes a couple years, but as fans it’s easier to have a sense of urgency when there is nothing SHanahan can do right now.
But in the Draft it will addressed, I do have faith in that. Now with that out of the way, I need to rip this defense. Seeing that defense left me in tears. Tomlinson hadn’t done nuthin until he faces us, we’re like the new raiders on defense. Woodyard AND Spencer Larsen both need far more playing time. LOok what they did against the Falcons in there only starts. THe Boss Bailey experiment didnt’ work and him and Champ need to be shown the door. Boss has never been successful in the league, never will be he can’t tackle nor can the rest of this defense (Webster). Champ doesnt’ scare anyone the way he did in the 06 season when he got 10 picks. Teams are going right at him, he got beat big time by sorryass Vincent Jackson, Antonio Gates whose TOE didn’t let him do much the whole year until he faced us. Bly is blazing a trail right behind Champ in getting burned by Raider receivers. Our D-Line Play is improved, we need to get that defensive tackle we drafted from Virginia Tech, Carlton Powell more playing time cuz he’s a run stopper. The real problem is the back 7. All of them need to be replaced. With our first pick we need Ray Malougha or however you spell it from USC or James Laurinitis from the Ohio State. Then we need to start Woodyard on the weak side and either draft a LOLB or pick one up. As for the secondary we just need to draft well guys that’s all we can hope for at this point. Maybe we can trade and get our hands on Lito Sheppard who is an excellant man to man defender. And one last word on the D coordinator situation. Like Obama said “Change doesn’t come from the white house, change comes to the white house.” The same approach must be taken to fix our defense. No inbreeding coordinators which has been the major problem for Shanahan.
Let me know what you guys think…
IT’S NOT ALL ON THE D! The D played poorly but the O had WAY too many 3&outs, too many turnovers, an unballanced scheme, and don’t get me started on THE TIME OF POSSESSION! ! ! I saw pourus coverage on special teams, not to mention missed field goals & extra points, and what was the game plan against buffalo to kick the ball to the 25 and to keep it out of thier returners hands? THIS IS NOT JUST A DEFFENSIVE PROBLEM!
THIS WAS A TEAM LOSS JUST LIKE ALL THE WIN’S AND LOSSES ARE!
This is a young TEAM and they will get better, but I want the whole TEAM to be held accountable not just the D, or Slowik, or Prater, or whoever it is that actually calls the Offensive plays. I want this TEAM to remember,
If you never repeat the fundamentals you will Never achieve Mastery! You have the rest of the year to work on it, GET IT DONE AND COMPETE thats all I really want. I don’t care if the TEAM loses as much as I CARE HOW THEY PLAY AND REPRESENT THEMSELVES, THIS CITY, AND IT’S FANS!
I’M OUT !
GO AVALANCHE ! ! !
Not to blame it all on one player or play but the missed extra point attempt was crucial. I mean something little like that is a huge momentum changer and we never recovered. Prater should be thankful at least it was a blowout. If that game would have come down to his missed extra point, he might as well have packed his bags.
I think Shanny should go back to calling the plays or something. I think he is giving the coordinators way too much control of the play calling. Or maybe he just needs a new O coordinator, I don’t know. Oh my gosh call a blitz once in a while. I wish Coyer was still here, that guy was a blitz calling machine. Dial up the blitz and bust some people up. It’s things like that what get your team going. A huge blitz gets the D’s blood boiling and the intensity risin’. By him not blitzin’ he’s not even giving the D a chance to show that they can effectively blitz. I hope my next disappointment doesn’t come on draft day. Hopefully the Broncos make some wise choices.
Next year fellas and now without our beloved shanahan.
The defense never showed up !!! Not one time in one game did the d make a good outing !!!!They were crap all season!!!! Even the garbage teams ran it up on us !!!! A complete overhaul is needed for this D!!! or it will be many years of the same ol stuff !!!! Sheez!!! Elway didnt even have to play with a D that horriffic !!!!!