This week, Chris Hall of DenverBroncos.com discussed the Broncos’ upcoming playoff opener against Baltimore with Executive Vice President of Football Operations John Elway in the latest installment of Elway Access.
The Broncos finished the season on an 11-game winning streak for a 13-3 record and the No. 1 seed in the AFC going into the playoffs. It was a year that ranked among the best regular seasons in franchise history, but those accomplishments will mean little if they are not followed by a strong postseason run. The players’ incentive for all their hard work throughout the year boils down to what happens over the next few weeks.
“Playoff football is exciting, that’s what you play for,” Elway said. “That’s what you start working out in March for and go through training camp to get in the position that we are right now.”
One of the biggest factors in the team’s success has been quarterback Peyton Manning’s record-setting regular season. With that portion of the year complete, Elway said that looking back, he’s been thrilled to see Manning perform so well after missing 2011 due to injury.
“No. 1, I’m happy for Peyton Manning, with the career that he’s had in the NFL and what he’s done for this game, for him to be able to bounce back like he has, I’m happy for him that he’s reached the level that he has again,” Elway said. “He’s pretty close to the Peyton of old. No. 2, I’m thrilled for us, the Broncos, the fact that he’s playing that well because we’re back in that No. 1 seed, back as one of the elite teams in this league. We’re able to go out and start the playoffs this week and compete for a Super Bowl championship. That’s why we play the game and why we work at this game.”
Denver is set for a rematch with the Ravens Saturday at 2:30 p.m. MST at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. In the first meeting of the season between the teams, the Broncos led 31-3 entering the fourth quarter and defeated Baltimore by a final score of 34-17. A key difference going into Saturday’s game is the health of the Ravens defense, which has welcomed back a trio of key contributors who were injured and inactive in Week 15.
“They’re a lot healthier now than they were when we played them,” Elway said. “(Linebacker) Ray Lewis was down, (Dannell) Ellerbe, their other inside linebacker, was down. So they were really banged up the last time we played them. They’re going to be at full strength, or close to full strength, this time.”
The return of those players has made one of Baltimore’s strengths throughout the season – the team’s red-zone defense – even more formidable. The Ravens’ playoff-opening win over Indianapolis in the Wild Card Round was highlighted by a bend-but-don’t-break defensive effort that yielded 25 first downs and 419 yards of total offense but only nine points.
“One thing that they are, and you noticed it last week also, was the fact that down in the red zone, they’re as good as anybody in the league,” Elway said. “I think they’re top 5, if not the best red-zone defense in the league. Last week they gave up three field goals to Indianapolis even though Indianapolis had the ball for 37 minutes. That’s why it’s going to be important for us to not only be good between the 20s, but when you get down in the red zone, we have to get it into the end zone.”
Another significant difference between Saturday’s game and the Week 15 matchup in Baltimore is the venue. Denver will have the advantage of playing in front of a home crowd that helped the Broncos win seven of their eight home games during the regular season.
“It will be great that we’re playing at Sports Authority Field at Mile High with the fans behind us,” Elway said. “It will bring back that great playoff atmosphere, which is great for the fans. We’ve played better at home. We did a better job this year, we’re 7-1 at home. We’re comfortable there and the fans have been great the whole year. But this is a different atmosphere and they’re going to be a big part of it, especially when (the Ravens are) on offense.”
Tags: Elway Access, Executive Vice President of Football Operations John Elway
LOL Dane…. Well, who are you and how did you get soo damn good at knowing what the score is going to be….? humm…lol
I just checked a few hours ago and same thing, I can’t get in either.
The Dane outta place a big bet in Vegas. He’s beating thee odds. LMAO!!
Oh okay, cool, I didn’t know if it ended at the end of the season of if it carried on through the playoffs? Thanks Bro!
Gray said he’d carry it thru the Playoffs. we voted and gray was all for it. He may be busy. Oh well.
OC……..YOU R THE MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WELL,WELL,WELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TGIF!!!!!!!!!!
Hey strand…whaaaasuppppp bro?
I feel bad for Tracy Porter. I hope he comes back next year ALL GUNS BLAZING! I like Tracy’s play.
Garbage time is the key LOL
37-10 Broncos………..
Is that you Tennessee?
Harris has picked up his game and played every bit as good as TP could,IMO.
Keep it up Dane! Bring in that GOLD! LOL
Finally the tn has come back to the Broncos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’ve missed ya bro. TNT OOOOYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SCREAMING IN THE NIGHT!!
I would still love to see Champ,Porter,Harris,Carter,and whoever at CB!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TGIF!!
Thanks tbroncof… Thanks for the nice words Bronco friend!!!!
Man, this is a great place to be a Bronco fan!! And no better time to be one!!!!
THESE ARE THE NEW GLORY DAYS FOR THE DENVER BRONCOS AND ALL WHO LOVE THEM!!!!
ILMSDB
Dude, we got game!!
Stayed awake all night!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PFM…and our Defense will take us to the promised land!!!!!!!!!!
Its not every year that a team gets the #1 seed to spoil the fans. This is a rare thing. its been since 1998 is what I’m saying!!
I missed you too bro…..oyyyyyyyyy
1998……When we won it all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In the COOL COOL COOL OF THE MORNING!!
whats up alaskan, strand. im just having a few good moments away from the grind! had to go help the wife for a minute but i’m liking the predictions, perfectly reasonable! i need a big comeback points wise for the contest but i can maybe catch up to some of the leaders with perfect predictions the next 3 games…
Hows the Family?
You guys are missed!!!!!!!!!!!
tbronc!!! Thought you had fallen off the turnip wagon!!!! LOL You and yours all alive and well? Have you been able to follow the blog? U get mentioned around here periodically.
Doing fine bro…………hope you are too!!!!!!!!!
hey lbf……….whasssuup????????
There are gonna be many who’ll be glad to hear from ya! ROCK N ROLL!!!!!!!!!
Lol LBF.
Few good moments away is always nice.
Glad to hear from you DB………..you rare me up,but I like you man!!!!!!!!!!!
LBF, always good to hear from you!
DB, more like STRONG CAT NIP!! LOL
Hey AB….glad to see you are here!!!!!!!!
strand………..long live R&R!!!!!!!!!!
LBF, hows the house coming along? You on schedule bro?
holy crap its like reunion night!! whats happenin tbf!! good to hear from ya! in the still of the night!!!
Might only be for the weekend,but Damn I will enjoy it!!!!!!!!!!!!
lbf……..Here I go again!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wheres Bay….I sure would like to talk to that dude while I’m here!!!!!!!!!
We have ourselves a big game Tomorrow! Can you believe were we are at? Its night and day compared to a few years ago. Its Mind boggling but freaking AWESOME!!!
ya strand the house is actually ahead of schedule cuz i got it in the dry before all this rain weve been having. but the shop is sitting in steel frame form and hasnt gotten anywhere for 2 dang weeks cuzza the friggin rain!! stressing me out man i wanted to finish them both at the same time but not gonna happen now. i am gonna get my wife to set up photobucket and post a few pics. its really cool seeing my vision come to life!!!
FNL action!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
man love night!?!?
Bay will flip out. We know that!
well strand i knew we were on the right track with what elway was doing but man i couldnt have predicted we’d be THIS good! of course i did believe 100% manning would be dominant again and whatya know? i’m so glad that happened lemme tell ya cuz my whole life is better when the broncos are doing this well, thats the truth!!!
LBF, life is good dude! Happy for ya! Patience Bro> Easy for me to say. LOL