It may only be the Broncos’ second game of the season, but cornerback Champ Bailey said Sunday could be the team’s most important game of the year.
Photo: Eric Lars Bakke
“I think this is going to be our biggest test of the year,” Champ said. “It is only our second game but this will one of our biggest tests — just like how next week will be another test. I think it is all about how we respond to success. We had a good game, but it’s how do we bounce back from all that and win another one.”
Bailey will have a familiar face in front of him on the Broncos’ defense as Denver goes up against the rival Chargers. He and his brother Boss Bailey will play in their first regular season game as NFL teammates.
Boss Bailey said he is excited about taking the field alongside his brother.
“It is going to be fun,” he said. “A home game, an opener, we are going to have a lot of family here, so it is going to be real fun.”
Boss has been out of action since going down with an ankle sprain against Houston in the first week of the preseason.
“He will be ready — he is always ready,” Champ said of his brother. “He is such a competitor and he is hungry to get this started and under his belt.”
The Bailey brothers agreed that as competitors they are excited about matching up against San Diego.
“Only the guys that don’t want to compete would rather go against the guys that are average,” Champ said. “In this league there are a lot of guys that like to compete — and there are a lot of them in this locker room.”
“When you are in this game and you are a competitor, you want to face the best and see how you measure up,” Boss said. “As a defense we will see how we measure up to that Chargers offense.”
The Broncos have lost their previous four contests against San Diego, and a win against an established Chargers team will go a long way in showing how this young Broncos squad stacks up.
“You can measure yourself against a team – they made it to the (AFC) Championship game last year, so they obviously have a good team,” Champ said. “We just want to find our own identity and find out what we are like. I think as long as we keep winning games we will understand what we are about.”
-Jake Grilley, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Boss Bailey, Champ Bailey, Jake Grilley, San Diego Chargers
I’m glad to hear Champ making comments like that. This IS an important game on so many levels. I’m stoked to see the Bailey brothers together for the first time, too. Champ is the leader of the D, so if he’s making a point about how big this game is, then I think the rest of the D will follow. LET’S GO D…..STUFF THE RUN!!!! Phyllis can’t beat you with his noodle arm and gimpy knee! GO BRONCOS!!!!
Glad to see Champ taking on the role of a vocal leader. I’m really pumped for this game. Seems like there a hint of blood in the water, but no matter how banged up the Chargers are, no one gets anything for free. The Broncos have to come out and handle their business. Bring on the game, already!
I can’t wait for this game & the little boogers we are playing against… ooh the Chargers & Mr. Shivers are going to get it and they’re going to get it GOOD!!!!! I can’t wait to see them wet their pants when we kick their butts. I’m excited to see the Bailey Bros. in the same game on the same team and hopefully they’ll get some picks… AND I am so thrilled to see what Royal & Marshall do when they’re on the field together, hopefully they are. Let’s hope the O-line & Clady make a rock solid steel hard wall for Cutler and give him ALL DAY long for him to make some great plays. If they amp up their game from what we did against Oakland, we will be the team to beat and the team all other 31 teams should fear. Make this a memorable game Orange & Blue… I can’t wait to see what you guys pull off. I’m gonna start doing this for every game…
I’m so excited… and I just can’t hide it… the Chargers are gonna get CREAMED and I think I like it.
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
im soooooo excited to see the baileys play together, during the offseason i thought the boss pick up was the missing puzzle.
Boss needs to make plays for the Broncos consistently. To me, he is the ultimate X factor and may play a crucial role in leading us to elite status. The same formula for success still applies for the Broncos. If we get an early lead, we dictate to the Chargers and the game is ours.
It was good to hear Champ speak out. He has the impact on defense as Cutler does offense. It shows leadership and earns respect and confidence from your team. I think the Bailey brothers will have a great impact on our defense. You can’t find chemistry and talent together like that on a defense. The Broncos are still not getting their props so a win against the Chargers will send a message. We have to let the Chargers know we own the AFC West. Our D has to step up this game and the offense come out firing like they did last week. Watch Stokley to be a factor in this game. Go Broncos!!!!!!!!!!
boss and champ playing together im so excited we are gonna have a killer defense and with marshall and royal we should put up some big numbers
Bailey is a leader and it’s great to see him set forth an internal challenge to his teammates. This is what it’s all about…. smashmouth football against a tough division rival. The Broncos are ready to compete with Bolts now ! Took a little time to get it right but, we’re ready !!
hopefully rivers will try to throw it to that side of the field lol he sounded scared about the things he said about champ i want him to pay for it. boss can create the pressure and get to rivers and hurry a throw for champ to get this is going to be a close game more then likely so we need boss on the the field with his big littler brother
did you hear that javon walker is playing this week? think he was to scared to play against us last week?
orange crush 92: that is funny!!! I wonder if some how he won’t be feeling too well on Nov. 23!!!
lol he probably wont his hammy will probably get all tight again lol
go broncos beat that chargers ( especially shut Rivers big mouth down )and make a statement league wide .
Film
Was a great win vs the Raiders. Great coaching and execution.
Offense
Ryan Harris-amazing job on Burgess, shut him down. Maybe he should be at left tackle?
Clady, nice job, keep improving hand/arm upperbody strength, core strength.
No screens to nate jackson!!
Colbert-aggressive run blocker-maybe more rotation?
Kuper-work on backside seal blocks for cutbacks
I think the OLine should cut block more..alot more
Andre Hall, great runs, and good blocking
Kern-be ready for the snap on FG/EXP
Dam Graham-great blocking!
Defense
Exposed against the Raiders, they have a sub par Oline, and still had problems.
Great Job-Dumervil-obviously pass rush, but keeps contain and uses great tech. D. Robertson, only one getting penetration. DJ-making tackles.
Entire front 7 as a group must play better. The entire D-line, with the exception of Robertson, is slow, bad reaction time, and has weak hand violence, very soft.
Need more from Marcus Thomas.
Ekuban and/or Crowder over Engleberger?
This Defense (by personel) is “designed” to Attack, and Blitz.
More stunts/games upfront, get the D line moving and attacking, more blitzes, specifically run blitzes, flow over the top playside or slant, and fill backside with the run blitz
Just my opinion, based on film.