Much of the snow remained, and the temperature was probably still below freezing, but that didn’t keep the Broncos from being in high spirits as they wrapped up their week of practice Friday morning.
NEVER
Last night on the NFL Network, the Chargers and Raiders faced off in a game that had many a Bronco staring at the television.
Many hoped for the Raiders to pull the upset and push the Chargers further away from playoff contention, but at least one person at Dove Valley didn’t think along those lines — the Head Coach.
“I never pull for the Raiders,” Head Coach Mike Shanahan said after practice. “No matter what the case is. That shows you it goes deep.”
CHAMP UPDATE
Champ Bailey continues to work his way back from his groin injury suffered against New England, and he hopes to be able to play against the Chiefs on Sunday.
“I think I’ve progressed, but the thing is it’s moving so slow – it’s very frustrating,” Bailey said. “But I’ve just got to deal with it as it is. I think a lot of rest will help. Ive been out there on the field doing more than I thought I could do, so hopefully as time goes on in the next couple of days, I’ll be able to play.”
Bailey also weighed in on the importance of winning on Sunday.
“For some reason we’ve played them well at home. We haven’t played them well up there. We do have them here, and hopefully we can get this win. I know it’s another step closer to winning the division. It’s crazy because we feel like we need this game. We don’t want to go all the way to the last game trying to clinch everything.”
CUTLER, HILLIS HONORED
Jay Cutler and Peyton Hillis have been voted Fed Ex Air and Ground Players of the Week for their performances in the Broncos’ 34-17 win over the Jets in Week 13.
Cutler passed for 357 yards and two touchdowns completing 27 of 43 attempts in the game while Hillis amassed 129 rushing yards and a touchdown on 22 attempts.
While Cutler won this award for his performance in the Broncos’ Week 10 win in Cleveland, this marks the first time Hillis has received it.
But it doesn’t end there for Hillis — he earned Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week honors as well.
INJURY REPORT
The official injury report for the Broncos and Chiefs has been released.
The Broncos have listed D.J. Williams as doubtful while Ebenezer Ekuban, Marlon McCree, Champ Bailey and Spencer Larsen are questionable. Nate Webster is probably for his return to action Sunday.
Shanahan said that “most of the guys” would be game time decisions. He also said the weather could also play a factor in the return of the injured Broncos.
As for the Chiefs, wide receiver Mark Bradley, linebacker Donnie Edwards and cornerback Patrick Surtain will not play this weekend. Guard Adrian Jones and linebacker Pat Smith are questionable.
QUOTABLE
“I watched a little bit. It got out of hand pretty early, so I kind of started watching my shows after that.” — Champ Bailey on last night’s game between Oakland and San Diego.
– Adam Zinser, DenverBroncos.com
And here’s a look at this morning’s action…
Tags: Adam Zinser, Champ Bailey, D.J. Williams, Kansas City Chiefs, Mike Shanahan, Oakland Raiders
I’m really starting to like this Hillis guy.
My love for the Broncos is greater than my hate for the Raiders, so I’m going to say I was cherring against the chargers, let’s just leave it at that. How could we have lost to the Raiders, HOW!! a win would of sealed it. The Broncos are in control and they will take charge. I will be at the Buffalo game to welcome the AFC West Champions!! Let’s suprise the nation, when we’re in the playoffs let’s do something!
“I never pull for the Raiders,” Head Coach Mike Shanahan said after practice. “No matter what the case is. That shows you it goes deep.”
Nice. I love the fact Mike refuses to hide his hatred for the Raiders.
Remember Terrell Davis? He was a 6th round draft pick. Hillis is a 7th round pick
Maybe if Shanny hated the Faiders soo much he would have put forth a better plan of beaating them at home….instead we looked like a bunch of morons out there. Just my opinion………anyway…..GO BRONCOS
That a boy shanny…. hahaha
WE LOVE TO HATE THOSE RAIDERS!
HERE WE GO BRONCOS! It’s time to clinch and seal this deal.
Congrats Jay and Peyton on the accolades you received, well deserved.
I bought my tickets for the playoff game, I will be flying up from San Diego…
now GO BRONCOS!
GET WELL SOON Torain… we want you back and in FULL “Torain the train” force next season.
GO BRONCOS! GO SUN DEVILS!
Hey we look good for this weekend.
so when we are leading by so much in the fourth why not give Hackney a go behind center he’s be with us a long time training hard and he never get’s game time so just for some of the fourth give him ago he deserves it and it would also give jay a rest
GO BRONCOS
At this point in the season, I don’t want SD to lose the division. I want Denver to win it. I would rather win the division by winning twice, not by having the Chargers lose. I like that Oakland lost. I always like that.
What I like more, is that Denver is wearing Orange this sunday. I love that we’ll be tearing up KC with Orange jerseys on–just like the good ol’ days.
Enjoy winning the AFC West in the weeks ahead everyone!
hey cutlerizer where did you find out we will be wearing the orange 1s?
jmonk – it was announced prior to the season starting out, that the Broncos would be wearing the orange jerseys for two home games this year. Saints back on 09/22/08 and the Chiefs on 12/07/08.
HEY broncofan2415 since you could have come up with a better game plan for a team that plays 9 rookies on it’s squad while the starters are injured maybe you should go talk to bowlen about a job.
It’s easy to be so negative toward a team that may be playing inconsistent at times, but for as much injuries as this team has occurred this year, i think the young guys really stepped up and played very well. And were going to continue to get better.
Those pictures of Hillis and Bailey just crack me up.
I’ve had a bad feeling about the Chiefs game all week, just like I did with the Raiders game we lost…
…but the Broncos are poised to win the division – something that feels a decade ago since last won – and THAT feeling counts for something special.
C’mon Denver. Perform and pwn.
Nice Shanny
The Raiders are the biggest a-holes in the world. I appreciate that hatred. It’s nice to see Royal getting limber, he’ll torch the Chiefs all day long!
i will love the broncos and defend them to my full knowledge no matter the outcome in the playoffs this year but we could be the giants of last year with jay behind the reins.
Great news to hear that Cutler and Hillis won this week and for Hillis to win both the ground player and rookie of the week speaks of a ton of this kid and what everyone has seen of him. Good Job to both of you and Congrats.
i’m looking forward to a huge win this sunday and getting one win closer to an AFC West Division title.
Keeping the Faith
GO BRONCOS!!!
Hillis is what we missed for the first 10 games. He is strong enough to push the pile. He holds on to the ball. He can catch (he proved that before) and he can block. This commands respect for our running game from the opposing defense and will open up the passin game. I am still amazed, we won 10 games with a onesided offensive scheme. Our option on offense look much better now. Go Broncos!
I want a Hillis jersey…
Sorry – just saw my mistake: I am surprised we won 6 out of the first 10 with an unbalanced offense.
Man it seems like forever since I have been able to watch a game, let alone had time to get on here and post. Holiday sales season is always hectic, even with the “economic recession” we are in.
I think it is more hectic because everyone wants that great deal more than ever!
Anyway one of you said something about we could be this year’s version of last years Giants with Cutler behind the reins. I have all the faith in this team that any of you do, but I’m sorry the Giants are this years version of last years Giants plus some. They have only gotten better! Crazy!
But I will say this, and I don’t want to raise to many eye brows, or even jynx it. So I’ve knocked on wood and everything else. But we’ve won what 3 games on the road in a row now? Winning on the road at the end of the season is a good omen guys. I know it goes against what I just said but…..
Remember the last team to finish the season strong on the road? Last year’s Giants, and what did they do? Won the superbowl!
Remember the last team before that to finish the season strong on the road? The 06′ Pittsburgh Steelers, and what did they do? Won the superbowl!
We are in a good boat right now, so lets just keep it up guys!
Congrats to Hillis on both awards, and to Cutler for his! Next year we can only continue our rise to the top further!
Maintain your gaps defense,
Hold onto the ball offense,
Keep the faith fans!
Congrats to CUtler and Hillis. I think both deserve it more than anyone else nominated espescially with the way every “analyst” has downplayed how good this offense really is.
As for the raiders-chargers game, I’m glad SD won. I hate Oakland and it’ll be that much harder for for everone to ignore this teams success if they WIN the division with their play instead of just taking it by default. It’ll make teams think twice about underestimating them in January.
All of these defenses better take notice. Hillis is out to prove hiumself and he is going to be destroying D-lines for the rest of the season. I noticed in “5 min. with Hillis” he doesn’t have any nicknames so I’m just throwing one out there: Peyton “Pain Train” Hillis.
Take it to KC, Broncos!
Congratulations to Jay and Peyton!!!
I am especially proud of Hillis….as an Arkansas native and fan, we knew what he could do. He may not have the blazing speed of Felix or Darren but he “blasted” them open several times!!
Now the NFL world is starting to learn what we already knew: Hillis is capable of being an ALL STAR if given the chances with the football. He is a good running back, has great hands, and doesn’t take any plays off!!!
There is somethings wrong however…..first we need to be able to buy a Hillis jersey and second we need to get his name back on the ballot for Pro Bowl!!!
Doc
I think this weekend we see how much this team has progressed and how far we go in the playoffs. In recent history lesser teams have lost these kind of games going down the stretch. This game makes me nervous but I certainly feel better about it than I did with some of our personal in recent years. Will this team play down to KC’s level like they have done earlier in the season or will they seize the moment, play every game down the stretch like it’s win or your seasons over. It time to step up and with this teams talent, if they can rise to the occasion they could go deeper in the playoffs than most of us expected at the beginning of the season. Today is the day we find out what these guys are made of………
Sit Bailey we need him 100%.
good job cutler and hillis.I think we got the three best rookies in the NFL.
Clady,Royal,and Hillis.Great draft Shannahan.Go Broncos and smashs those chiefs
I also have a bad feeling about this game. I think well need bailey. Bowe is very tough to defend and is much faster than Bly and Fox.
ramz2129 your right the TEAM has been inconsistant they are young and they have had allot of injuries but thats not why they lost to the raiders. broncofan2415 your right Shanahan shoul’ve run the ball more.
RaiderHater9899 I love the fact you refuse to hide your hatered of the raiders
Cutlerizer I’m with you I dont care what the other teams do I want the Broncos to TAKE thier division.
Lets focus on this game now.
Put your gamefaces on and Take this game from the Chiets!
Mike run the ball on first down and control the clock.
O players hold on to the ball and execute! No three and outs.
Go gettem TEAM
TIME OF POSSESSION! ! !
GO BRONCOS! ! !