The Broncos weren’t making any excuses Monday after the team’s 24-17 loss to the Jaguars. Some might have blamed the weather, others could have noted that key players were out of the lineup and others still might have argued that a controversial late call could have cost them the game.
But Denver didn’t do any of that, the team knows this loss is on them, and it is up to them to get better and correct mistakes.
“I think it was all on us,” wide receiver Glenn Martinez said. “It is not like the Jaguars went out there and out performed us. We had some key turnovers here and there. We just keep beating ourselves. The good thing about that is we can correct that.”
At times during Sunday’s loss both the Broncos offense and defense looked as though they were controlling the game, but they didn’t sustain that high level of play throughout. Head Coach Mike Shanahan said his team needs to play that well the entire game.
“We are making strides,” he said of the defense. “I think you saw it in that first quarter when we had a fumble recovery and the next two possessions we played extremely well. In the fourth quarter I think we had three series (allowing) maybe 25 yards and three punts. Then all of a sudden they control the clock for the last six minutes. We have to get better. We have to improve, and we will keep on working at it. We played in segments like the first quarter and parts of the fourth quarter, and we just have to build on it.”
The offense was able put up some extended drives against Jacksonville but just couldn’t convert on all its scoring opportunities. Two of Denver’s three turnovers came inside the Jacksonville 10-yard line.
Martinez said if the team doesn’t get discouraged and continues to follow the offensive script, the points will come.
“We have been driving the ball well the last couple of games. We just haven’t been putting up touchdowns. That will come in time. If we keep working hard and keep executing the game plan – we’ve had one guy here or there miss an assignment, miss a block, a receiver drops a ball – that hurts us. It is something that we can fine tune and get corrected for this week coming up.”
The Broncos’ next opponent is the 3-2 Patriots, fresh off their 30-10 loss at the hands of the Chargers.
The team hopes to have Selvin Young, Eddie Royal and Tony Scheffler back in uniform next week for their matchup on Monday Night Football, but if they are unable to suit up, a positive the Broncos can take away from the Jacksonville game is that their backups know how to make plays.
Michael Pittman had 109 rushing yards on 20 attempts filling in for Young. Brandon Stokley had a touchdown reception seeing more time with Royal being out. Daniel Graham caught a touchdown pass, getting more looks at the tight end position with the absence of Scheffler.
Martinez, who had 47 punt return yards filling in for Royal on Sunday, said that Denver is a team full of players ready to step up when their number is called.
“We have depth at every position,” he said. “I feel, and these guys feel, that if somebody goes down their backup can step up and make plays just as the starter does. We just prepare every week, us backups, as if we are going to start — just in case we do get that call.”
The Broncos have another test coming up against New England, and after the team’s loss on Sunday, the team knows that in the National Football League there is little room for error.
“We can see what we are made of,” he said. “After losing a game like that — a tough game that we know we should have won — we can really see what our character is. Coming in this week, we can see how we prepare this week and how serious we take this game coming up against New England Monday night. Hopefully guys step up to the plate. Come out there, prepare well and make plays.”
-Jake Grilley, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Defense, Glenn Martinez, Jacksonville Jaguars, Jake Grilley, Mike Shanahan, Offense
every week the players say, oh it our fault, its correctable, said it all last year and most of this year, and i’m sick out it. just get it done men
good try refs got us guess it goes both ways shut up other guy kill the patriots
i think the play calling on defense lost us the game (besides the turnovers) on sunday.. it was so *bleeping* obvious what plays were being called was not working! hey slowik! our personel isnt best suited to zone coverage.. like for F@%K sakes we have champ bailey and dre bly (bly was a let down but stepped up in the 4th) call some damn man coverage.. especially againt no name receivers
look here everybody this was mirror image of the K C game. The D and Offence came out with great energy but what happence fumble, fumble. interception, momenten dropped. then our team falls apart. I’m so sick of the fumbling in the red zone every game. I’m all for getting the extra yards but hold the ball. When we don’t turn the ball over we win its simple. We are clearly the best team out there. we are better than KC and the Jags but we beet ourselves and lose the game. Yes the D did not have a good game again but they shown the have potential. Were still in first place but the chargers or getting close.
Hey Lynch4prez, You can have the greatest CB in the world, but they don’t do much good when the QB has all day to throw!!!
This excuse of no pass rush to justify our bad secondary is just lame. How many times QBs have 5+ seconds to throw the ball and still DBs manage to make interceptions? It’s happening all around the league, except with the Broncos. Loose coverage, slow safeties, bad secondary.
People are freaking out waaaay too much. Just relax people. This is a good team. Maybe if they didn’t have such uptight fans criticizing every mistake they made, they could play a little bit more relaxed and focused. I think if anyone is to blame for the loss on Sunday, it’s the fans at Mile High. I was there and it was pretty quiet. We need to help our team and and make some noise, have some fun, and don’t take it so seriously. I love this team, Go Broncos!
r8r h8rdude, Were not uptight fans. We have high expectations, especially when we got a glimpse of what this team can be. I am critical of this team that I believe has been beating themselves. Cutler is so focused on “B-Marsh” that he forgets there are others that he can throw the ball to. Sometimes, in close games, you have to be willing to take what the defense gives you. Jay want’s to go big all the time, at any cost. When it’s 3rd & 6, get the 6, so the drive continues. This offense is starting to listen to closely to their own press. They need to humble themselves, do what they are capable of, spread the ball around, a steady dose of run and pass and by god realize there is 60 minutes in a ball game. The Broncos have been good for 2 quarters tops all year. That may be a generous statement.
The Defense, OMG, this defense line gives opposing QB’s forever to throw the ball. Our LB’s are fast and hit hard, Champ Bailey is still awesome, The other secondary, not very effective. When this season is over draft D-lineman. The offense is fine, it may need a little depth, but Defensive lineman are a must.
This has been a very disappointing season so far. If the offense cannot play to their full potential, and we leave it in the defenses hands this season will be a bust. We could very well be 1-2 in the AFC West. We were lucky against San Diego and got our butts handed to us against KC.
Even if Denver won that game yesterday by some miracle, I would be saying the same thing. It was an ugly game, which presented several opportunities for the Broncos to put the game away. The offense was unable to take advantage of those opportunities, so in a nut shell I blame them. There was a golden opportunity to tie the game for a possible OT situation and they failed to convert 3rd & 7. Yea, Defense got hosed, but in my opinion the offense should of never put them in the situation to be hosed.
Enough said, I love the Broncos and always will, but it’s our right to bitch when they do bad and cheer when they do good. Just can’t wait to see them put it all together and return to the beloved Broncos of yesterday.
chill out fans,,,,u dont sound like the same last week when they won….
i agree with r8r h8rdude……… i watched the game on HD and i thought the sound system was down cuz i didnt hear much cheering till the 4th..mostly murmurings..what happened to all the moral support?not blamin anyone but gosh,,it wouldve been great to hear a loud stadium…
i luv the Broncos so much,,inspite coming from a very very small island
defense did their own share on the game… cmon guys its hard to overcome if your gonna keep turnovers instead of points… defense cannot handle that. offense should be more careful this time..fumbles, interceptions and others that causes to convert points into opponent’s count…
offense please take care of the ball….
NE will be next, and heading to bye with 1 game lead over empty chargers…
Broncos 28 NE 14
pinoy-bronco-fan
The Jags are a good team, easily a top ten team. Broncos turned the ball over, and didn’t put enough pressure on Garrard. Broncs still could have won the game, if they could have got them to three and out, but the calls came back to haunt us, charger fans we are even now! To lose this game after all the adversity by only seven points, says alot about the team. Things will come back around, stop hating your team so easily
Its an easy formula to win against us, run the ball to keep us honest then pass in the 5-20 yard range. our safety’s are terrible. let’s not fool ourselfs
this is going to happen consistantly until we get some talent in the MIDDLE!!
Losing sucks, but here is what I saw. Martinez stepped up on punt returns and as a WR. Webster played a hell of a game. Marshall was still making plays. Pittman looked strong. Cutler had plenty of time (again). Prater looks solid. Special teams played well.
If you look back at the game the Broncos had so many chances to win even with 3 or 4 turnovers. So everybody chill.
Also, props to Cutler for making that tackle on Marshal’s fumble. That should have been 7 the other way. Did anyone see the Giants game? Nice tackle attempt Manning.
The team is young, we had injuries and some calls went against us. If we play them again we will beat them. AND IF ALL THAT I HAVE SAID DOESN’T CHEER YOU UP THE RAIDERS ARE GETTING THEIR ASS KICKED WEEK AFTER WEEK SHOULD.
UNTIL MONDAY NIGHT
hot sizzle… you’re right. Shanny does need to get out of the D though (except to hire a good D coach) We should have won this game. We simply must improve on all the above points. Look at MNF! Dallas! This is the NFL! It’s hard to win. Mistakes’ll kill any team.
Yes, the Broncos had a disappointing game, but unlike the Chargers and Saints, when we lose we don’t make excuses. As for losing, I don’t want to have much more of it. Let’s go out and smack the Patriots. We’re fully capable of doing this and they are a team that we have dominated in the Shanahan era, not to mention throughout franchise history. The team is 4-2, and is still improving. Traditonally, in our successful seasons under Shanahan I’ve noticed, we really take off in November. That’s when good teams begin playing their best football anyway. The Broncos are a work in progress, and they will get better. All will be well and that’s all that matters. Let’s improve to 5-2 and hand that arrogant a-hole Belichick a loss he’ll never forget!
i think mike shanahan is a great coach and that jeremy bates is an up and coming star…but sometime this season the offense seems to be predictible in its play calling when the broncos are down… the shotgun formation is great when your mixing it up with the run and play action.. pefect example in the 4th quarter when the broncos were down 24-10 with ten minutes left.. you still have time to run and and play action where you can use the tight end (cutler has no confidence in his tight ends except when sheffler is in the game and even then he sometimes decides to go into double coverage… i.e KC and Jac.)… and he decides to go shotgun on all plays during the drive and the end result is a punt… when we were down 24-17 on the broncos last offensive drive.. 4 yards on first down and then we go again to the shotgun on the next two downs and we punt and then the defense and refs do the rest…when the offense was great during the first three weeks the play calling kept defenses off balance…
then theres dre bly… he is one of the worst corners i have ever seen… and zone defenses were playing and the 3-4 are to cover up our weakness on bly’s side and the third corner and to cover up the front four of school girls the broncos send out in blue uniforms playing against men with pride and its a miss match every week…
this team is talented on the offensive side and young, if they mature fast and limit the dumb turnovers and balance out the play calling were gonna be fine and get back to the level of the first three weeks… the defense is gonna kill us all year and its not going to get fixed unless we scheme at a level where we can cover up the weak points but how can one cover up a train wreck that everybody can see…
the next 4 games (at NE, MIA, at CLE and at ATL) are crucial if the broncos are gonna go anywhere this season, anything less than a 3-1 record before the broncos head into the final strech of the season will indicate that the broncos will miss the playoffs again for the third straight year which would be heartbreaking and unacceptable…
egy, I agree that bly has been a disappointment. But then I think about how much they throw to his side. It’s at least 90% of the time because everyone is afraid to throw to Champs side. You get that many throws to your side you’re bound to look worse than you really are.
Maybe the Chargers should take a lesson from the Broncos about not whining when crucial calls go against you.
It’s really pretty simple….flood the box….every play. Don’t let them know when we’re blitzing, use the scheme Coyer used with GREAT success. We may get burned every now and then, but at least we won’t be giving up a record number of points AGAIN! I mean good Lord, it’s just crazy watching our LB’s line up 8 yards off the ball every play, WHAT IS THAT? Then we have this crappy “zone” coverage that we run where NO ONE is doing their job. The safeties we have are just AWFUL, my only hope is that Shanny was saving Barrett until the 2nd half of the season. I’ll take a young rookie with flashy speed that makes mental mistakes over an older safety who simply can’t make the play every day of the week.
One word, TURNOVERS!!!!! I know realistically it is just a football, but to us Bronco Fans it is our hopes and dreams of another Super Bowl. So when a fumble or an INT occurs it’s as if a little piece of that dream breaks off and becomes more distant. I know we have a young team with great playmakers but they need to know that every time a turnover occurs a I holds my breath. In the words of Mark Kiszla “That’s not a football in their hands. It’s a city’s heart.” Tuck it in to the rib cage!!!!!!
More turnovers and the real D is back. Tuck it away already F%$K! You F#&KING guys are so frustrating to watch! Come on O let’s go! And coach Slowik what the hell is up with your D? I feel this is going to be another up and down season. Hang on fanatics because these guys are gonna take us for a bumping ride. Can anyone in the front office evaluate defensive talent? I see three players with talent and 8 back ups.
Denver’s schedule is brutal from here on out aside from maybe the Raiders or Chiefs games at home, but remember the Raiders have played Denver close in Denver the past two seasons. Playing against New England is never easy, even if Shanahan has had great success against Bill “the Cheater” Belichek. The home game against Miami will be a challenge because of the Wildcat formation, Denver’s defense doesn’t need another reason to worry, now it has to deal with the trickery that formation causes. The game at Cleveland is going to be very tough after watching what they did last night. The road games at Atlanta and the Jets will be no walk in the park and the home game against Buffalo will not be a gimme either. Finally, the big test, will be the Broncos trying to find a way to win in San Diego in Week 17.
I am a huge Bronco fan, but the history of the Broncos since 2002 aside from the 2005 campaign has been second half collapses following fast starts. I think the losses at KC and the loss to Jacksonville is going to come back to bite the Broncos big time. Denver’s a young team and I think they’ve exceeded most of our expectations with where they stand at the moment record wise, but I think Denver is still a year or two away because of defensive liabilities and too many offensive follies, e.g. turnovers that just kill momentum or the ability to put games away and in turn swing games in the opposite direction.
I hope I am wrong, but as of now, I see Denver finishing 8-8 and at best 9-7 and possibly missing the playoffs by virtue of a loss at San Diego in Week 17. I don’t think the AFC West will qualify a Wild Card participant and think San Diego will win the division with a 10-6 record.
I apologize, losses at KC should be loss and the is in that sentence should be replaced with are. Sorry for the grammatical error.
Yes the defense is not that great but our first round draft pick from last year is hard to be seen on the field , same for the second round pick , both linemen . In the defense you need young talent and so far Moss and Crowder are simply 2 gig busts !!
…..BIG busts .
If the defense is going to suck, and it truly does, can’t we at least be aggressive and suck? BLITZ MAN, send the HIZZY….hell the quarterbacks are killing us anyway, 70% completion rate….lets at least be a blitzkrieg of suck!
if we dont blitz this week and take advantage of a rookie qb then slowick needs to be fired. patriots have no offense right now and we have opportunity to break there backs this week. its time to put it all together and make a statement on national tv and show the world we are for real. guys need to get healthy this week and get on the filed and help this team win. after that they have 2 weeks to chill and heal up, if they can go this week than they go. this game is the turning point of the season and a will could propell us into the playoffs and a loss could send us packing. we need to come up with a game plan that will allow us to attack attack attack new england. and for f%$k sake quit turning the ball over and take the points when you can get it.
For me the past three games have really been atrocious. A 1-2 record and our offense has scored less than 20 points in each of those games. On that 3 and 7 ( in the game against Jacksonville) and the ball flys out of our best receivers hands???? Offense needs to improve. Our D-Sucks but at least they are improving. Thats all we can ask. GIVE DEFENSE A BREAK!
Just my .02.
ONE more thing:
Does Cutler even look like he cares anymore? His stares on the sidelines. His sunflower seed chewing is getting old. Where is his fire? Why doesnt he spend some time firing up the offensive guys? In all honestly, Bret Farve is reckless with his passes but at least his competiveness is above the charts. Thats exactly opposite of Cutler. He throws recklessly AND it doesnt seem that he cares.
Denver fans and media can’t make up their minds. They get mad at Cutler following the loss to KC for getting irate and unable to control his emotions and now they say he’s indifferent and unconcerned about turnovers and losses.
I have seen plenty of fire from Jay, maybe not as much last week, but in previous games, he was one of the few on offense showing some emotion and passion especially at KC during that game’s debacle.
i for one always go into a game believing the broncos will win… always believe they will pull out the comeback… always believe that ill wake up after a loss and thinking it was a bad dream and turn on the tele and watch the broncos win… another long week of depression and anxiety wondering if they will bounce back and kill the patriots and keep me happy for a week.. it took the broncos 9 years to get back to the superbowl from super slaughter 4 and the greatest game ever… i still choke up till this day when i watch the game.. i play it every night on my computer before i go to bed.. im tired of living in the past and the broncos have to do us fans a favor and get one of the best franshises in the nfl back to where we belong… weve left the nfl to organizations like the patriots, bucs, ravens and rams to be champs… and mile high magic is fading away with a quiet crowd that couldnt care less if the broncos win… the only game since the afc championship game against the jets that had the feeling of mile high was the divisional playoff game against the patriots…
cutler is the answer if he doesnt get over his head and think hes done something so far… being good or great isnt enough, you have to win to be regarded as one of the best.. ask number 7…. steve atwater and dennis smith must be dissapointed watching the safties that the broncos put out on the field every sunday, shanahan hasnt drafted one good defensive player in the years hes been here except trevor pryce and he shipped him off to baltimore where hes still making plays… im actually satisfied with our linebackers… and the days of darien gordon are gone and the days of returners who cant get 10 yards have stayed around the mile high city…
and to finish my session of therapy, the bolg writers on the website are feeding the blind propganda that its always bright at dove valley when sometimes its not… the fans here are great and do their part its a community that believes in one thing and thats the denver bronocs…
gasperdn:
i agree with more pressure needed, but how many times last game did you see them send 4 and put everyone else in a zone and let an easy pass in a hole get completed.. send and extra LB and man up.. and just to make a point.. you can give any jag receiver any amount of time to get open against champ bailey and i’ll put my money on bailey every single time no matter whos throwing the ball
3rd and long….drop into zone and man…1st and 10 send some HEAT! The blitz has NOT been used very often this year. This past game was the first time I really saw a blitz come after the qb. Just because you send one LB and drop a DT or DE doesn’t mean you’ve blitzed. Overloading the line is a blitz, plain and simple. You can stunt or whatever else but our front 4 can’t pressure. Elvis is getting doubled and chipped, Eb is a little old and Peterson doesn’t play every down. The every down players need to apply the pressure. The zones we’re using are a JOKE! Cutler has a fire in him, if you can’t see it I suggest you get glasses. Just look at the first game when he yelled “COME ON NATE”. He was left with one wideout midway through the 2nd quarter.
410 yards later Shanahan says we are making strides on Defense. Was the defense making strides with 5 minutes left in the game they couldn’t stop the jags and turn the ball over to the Broncos offense.
I’m hating these blogs cause all you guys do is cry and think you can coach better.
Why not look at positives?!? We’re 4-2!!! Thats real good!!! Go Broncos!!
i wanna see us put jack williams at the number two spot over dre cause in my opinion hes getting burnt to much. I also like the new 3-4 look but i think we need to do it more
Time to be real fans! It’s tough to what them lose because we all know how good this team can be! Let’s kick some butt on MNF! Go Broncos!
oh yeah
Well you guys I feel your frustration because I bleed orange and blue like most of the nation (bronco nation) that is. Did you guys notice how we started to blitz in the 4th quarter and we were kicking ass. I don’t know why we don’t do that more often. Garrard got scared and had to change the play because he knew we were coming with the heat. I also wish the broncos would of made some kind of a deal to get a dominate DT maybe from the Vikings. Both Williams they have are great we could of got one of them but what do I know. I know the Vikings suck this year and will not do anything because of the NFC East. So why not take a good DT from a team that ain’t gonna do anything. And oh yeah can you say unfair that the refs blew this game for us. Maybe it makes up for the Cutler fumble against the Chargers. Whatever I predict 35-28 Broncos.
Egybronco I agree with you the confidence in the TE’s is not there, but they have to catch the ball and the Ocoach has to call thier #. Also the 3 & outs are unforgivable 90% of the time the Team goes 3 & out it starts with an incomplete pass on first down. Stop passing on first down so much.
But we did have some good Dlinemen in B.Berry & R.Hayworth remember those guys who would’nt conform to last years defensive scheme.
hrdnokd, Blitzkrieg of suck That’s funny!
Bones1965, The D should’nt have to make strides there remember the two 3 & OUT’S in the 4rth qtr.!!!! Time of possesion was 12:00 min to 3:00 min for crying out loud!
I agree the Safetys are’nt very safe and D.Smith & S.Atwater cant be very proud but there isnt very many of them out there.
Bottom line is we got what we got & we should be looking at our Strategies!
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!
While there’s a lot I like about the Broncos offense, they are totally predicatable when it’s 3rd or 4th and short. They’ll hand off to Pittman. Granted, he makes it the majority of the time, but how about every once in a while faking it to him and rolling out? Has anyone noticed how much Larsen is playing FB? Interesting.
Looks like the Pacman era is over in Dallas. I hope that Marshall noticed and will help his commitment to getting and keeping his act clean.
OK, it’s been 2 days of grieving, time to move onto New England. Look Shanny, I don’t ask for much, really I don’t, but don’t you think it’s about time to have a team look competitive as a whole? I don’t care if you like your depth at LB or not, SEND SOME HEAT. During the bye week please call up Barrett because those 2 clowns you currently have running into each other out there are giving up plays in the middle of the field. Make sure your LB’s understand the point of zone coverage is to BE IN THE AREA of an opposing player. You don’t just drop back into an area and call it your “zone”. I mean holly crap, does Dre Bly even remember how to PLAY cornerback? BEAT THE HELL OUT OF NEW ENGLAND!
chill peeps…show some support! r8r h8rdude is right…i was at the game…saw/heard alot of crap talking…shanny bashing…no noise making fair weather fans…and to top it all off…LEAVING EARLY…WTF?? i hate that! im sure that makes the players REALLY wanna play hard..pff..LAME!
ya bly has been a disappointment but hey he has a big load to carry since 90% of the time teams are throwing his way and he’s getting NO help from those 2 clowns trying to play safety. Man that made me laugh (when they ran into each other) come on the defense would be in the top 15 defense easy if we had even one decent safety.
I think we should have kept Foxworth. In a couple of seasons Bly will be phased out, and then we could of had a couple of good young guys with Foxworth and J. Williams. Oh well I guess football is a business. I agree, D~J~C~#24is#1, we need better safeties.
Ya I really hated to see Foxworth go.
no, keeping foxworth wouldnt fair to him.. bly will play for 2-3 more years if not more and to make fox a nickleback corner for the majority of his career wouldnt be fair to him
You guys are just frustrated with our team and you have every right to be. I also agree that we should play offensive football like we played against Oakland and defensive like the way we played against Tampa Bay. If we played those two strategies we would be unstoppable. Go Broncs