This Sunday’s regular-season finale between the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos pits two division rivals against each other for the second time this season as they ring in the new year.
In any season, that’s enough to get the blood flowing and adrenaline pumping as the players gear up for the contest throughout the week.
Except this time, it means much more.
Not only are the Broncos going against the Chiefs for the 103rd time in the regular season — only the Chargers have played more regular season games against the Broncos with 104 — but they’ll be going against their former starting quarterback from the first half of this season with a playoff spot on the line.
“At the end of the day it comes down to beating the man across from you and us executing well,” Defensive end Robert Ayers said. “That’s about it. He [QB Kyle Orton] does know us, but we feel like we know the Chiefs, too. It’s a division team, and with all the scouting reports and all the stuff that helps us know the other team, that’s what we’re supposed to do.”
But Ayers was quick to play down the hype regarding his former teammate.
“It’s going to be fun as it always is, but I’m not going to think too much into this whole Kyle Orton thing,” Ayers said. “We’re fighting for something that’s big, and we want to go to the playoffs. That’s all I’m focusing on.”
Ayers’ current teammates have also downplayed any notion that Orton and the Chiefs have an advantage because of his time in Denver and familiarity with the offense playbook and defensive players. A lot has changed since the Broncos waived the veteran quarterback, and any insights Orton can give the Chiefs will be negated by the fact the Broncos defense went against him — in practice every day — more than anybody this year.
“(Orton’s possible advantage) is about as equal as it will be for our defense having practiced against Kyle.,” Head Coach John Fox said.
In the end, the game will be played by more than just one person. As Fox and the players have been saying all week, it’ll come down to the Denver Broncos against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Several Broncos players might catch up with their former teammate on the field before the game, but once the clock starts, the Broncos will be focused on winning and making the playoffs.
“You can know everybody all you want, but once you get hit in the mouth on the first play, all that goes out the window,” Elvis Dumervil said.
CHAMP BAILEY NAMED RECIPIENT OF GOOD GUY AWARD
One day after being named to the Pro Bowl, cornerback Champ Bailey received another honor, as he was named the fifth-annual Darrent Williams Good Guy Award recipient.
The award is named after Williams, a former Bronco, who passed away on Jan. 1, 2007 after completing his second year with the team. The recipient is chosen by members of the local media, who give the award to the person that best exemplifies Williams’ enthusiasm, cooperation and honesty while dealing with members of the press.
Bailey will receive the award after Thursday’s practice. Previous award winners are: Mario Haggan (2010), Elvis Dumervil (2009), Ebenezer Ekuban (2008) and John Lynch (2007).
STATISTICAL CHANGE FROM SUNDAY’S GAME
The NFL announced a statistical change on quarterback Tim Tebow’s second interception that was returned for a touchdown Sunday by Bills defensive end Spencer Johnson.
At the time, the play that occurred with 7:55 left in the fourth quarter was ruled as an interception. However, it has now been changed to a sack-fumble.
INJURY REPORT
Here is Wednesday’s injury report.
For the Broncos:
DID NOT PRACTICE: Safety Brian Dawkins (neck).
LIMITED: Safety David Bruton (Achilles), cornerback Chris Harris (neck).
FULL: Safety Quinton Carter (hip), linebacker Von Miller (thumb).
For the Chiefs:
DID NOT PRACTICE: Running back Jackie Battle (foot).
LIMITED: Safety John McGraw (ankle).
Below are some photos from Wednesday’s practice.
-Kenny Legan
Tags: Kansas City Chiefs, Kyle Orton, Week 17
“You can know everybody all you want, but once you get hit in the mouth on the first play, all that goes out the window,” Elvis Dumervil said.
Sounds like a direct reference to Orton to me, LOL.
And they finally got it right, Tebow’s arm never went forward, it was a fumble.
Chiefs seemingly healthy…
Tebow and Decker on the same page on that pic? What are they doing, the foxtrot?
And Gase is showing to Tebow exactly how far back he’s got to have that elongated throwing motion, LMAO!
And what’s with the Orton pic up top…seriously…
I was wondering about that INT. Kind of irrelevent now. LOl
Are you talking to yourself Bay?
You know that is a sign of that bi polar thing LOL JK
Just watch out when he starts answering himself. LOL
Hilarious!
so how long do we have to go without any football activity after the season?
The first week of March is the start of signing Free Agents. April 26 is the draft.
Like those words from doom … im looking for him to sack brick legs orton on the first defensive play of the game.
Heres hoping we see some of those INTs Orton used to throw in practice and training camp to his teammates who are no his opponent.
Nothing will bring me great pleasure than for us to show the world how remarkably average Orton is. Not a bad guy or QB … just an avg QB who can’t get it done when it matters (like last week against the raiders) yea yea … i know … it was the whole team … but people sure were quick to say “Look ORTON beat Greenbay” (not here but out there).
is it sunday yet?
TRB
The NFL college Combine which is in Indianapolis for players coming out of college to workout for teams to be drafted is in Feb.
So after April nothing until when?
preseason … lol
So… I’ve spent some time thinking on how the Faith of Tebow might be a bad thing. I always want to be open and honest and never have it be said of ‘daddy’ that there exists and idea not worth considering!!
Is it possible that Tebow has been forced to take an unpopular stand? Maybe Dawkins and Tebow are debating some finer point of theology? Maybe one of the guys forced Tebow into making comment concerning players who drink, slack off, co-habitate, or some political issue?
Tebow excels ‘normally’ at using those opportunities to complement his adversaries and the naysayers, but…
Do the Broncos look like the same team that beat the Raiders? Is the team chemistry the same at it was through the winning streak? Does the possibility exist that the very thing that makes Tebow a fine young man and athlete, is also the very thing that could be causing trouble in the Bronco locker room?
What a day… That’s quite the “high” five Dawkins was dishing out above.. lol
Turtle – I didn’t know this kid was a Bronco fan, that’s so cool! Thx for sharing, his story is amazing, and I’m pumped to know he’s got such good taste with football teams!
http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/7394932/ex-rutgers-scarlet-knights-player-eric-legrand-attend-broncos-game-denver
Shaz-
There will the OTAs (minicamp) that should be in April and then Training camp that starts in June. Our website covers both very well. Not sure of the exact dates, though.
C
Daddybronc,
just over thinking. The only thing that would annoy them is all the publicity he gets while they are invisible and they have already shown they dont care and are very close to one another. TT is not one to act self righteous either from what I know. Just looking for a reason, but there is none except poor gameplan and execution.
TRB
That’s off of memory so anyone correct me if I’m wrong.
Go Broncos!
thats correct camhar … guess i shoulda told her that. Not sure about the dates but u are accurate that they do take place and that the broncos blog covers them very well. TRB
TRB-
TT seems like the kind of guy that could still hang with a bunch of drunks and still keep his head on him (having a vitamin water or something). I think that he truely wants to st the example. If he slips the media will be all over him. I hope he pans out for us!
Thanks for responding TRB –
Lack of ‘Execution’ happens to be a word that we like to throw around that basically means failure, and it is acceptable to use because it fails to specify what caused the failure.
Is it lack of talent?
Is it a more skilled opponent?
Is it the coaching, prep, or injuries?
I tend to always think that the most important fundamental element of winning is locker room chemistry.
The locker room is more important than talent/ preparation/ coaching – just about anything!
I’ll say locker room chemistry is ‘as’ important, but def not more important.
I’d
Lou – the thing that is difficult to discern is because of how much they are interwoven.
If you field non-talent you sure won’t find any chemistry.
Critical mouths and minds destroy chemistry.
as in: success breads success is a principle of locker room chemistry. It is much easier to build chemistry when you are winning. (How do you build it when you are losing – this is what great coaches do – so coaching comes into play)
I’m distracted and my writing shows it. LOL
Yes but you could have a locker room fulla twin brothers with some mega chemistry, but if they suck they’ll surely lose.
The reason I think it is more important is because of watching San Diego. They have the most talent of any team I know. They can’t win and I think it is because of Rivers’ mouth. Turner is not a team builder either, though he is solid at management/ strategy/ recruiting. He knows football. But does he know men?
Lou – I think the ‘Bad News Bears’ theme comes up over and over because we have seen where teams that ‘suck’ are still able to win. Does it happen in the NFL? I’m hoping we have the ‘Bad News Broncos’!!!
I think Tebow and Decker were doing the Macerana…
B-R-O-N-C-O-S BRONCOS BRONCOS BRONCOS!!!
Ya norv turner is a problem for them. I agree & I think rivers over runs him as well and the chemistry is definately skewed and talent wasted over there. But they do win, just havin a down year. Thankfully I might add. Injuries are another issue with them this year. Eagles are another case, what makes a team with that many good players lay an egg & waste all of that potential. Crazy.
Carnage… I owe you a formal apology… Your analytical posts are much easier to read than your Negative Posts…
ONE LOVE in BRONCO COUNTRY!!!
Got me on that one Turtle- had to look it up – wiki seems adequate.
“Macarena” is a Spanish dance song by Los del Río about a woman of the same name. Appearing on the 1994 album A mí me gusta, it was an international hit between 1995 and 1996, and continues to have a cult following. It was ranked the “#1 Greatest One-Hit Wonder of all Time” by VH1 in 2002.
The song uses a type of clave rhythm. The song ranks at #5 on Billboard’s All Time Top 100. It also ranks at #1 on Billboard’s All Time Latin Songs.[1][2] It is also Billboard’s #1 dance song and one of five foreign language songs to hit #1 since 1995′s modern rock era began.
‘bad news broncos’. Good one, I like that. Let’s hope this team has the chemistry to take these BNB to the superbowl then!! I’m all for it
Nice Daddy, way to do your homework! Did you see the video for the Dance…?
and how are you? and lou? and all the rest this evening?
I agree carmahand … thats why i never got the negativity against him … its not like he is saying … convert or die. He is just giving his God the glory and living his faith. I believe his goal is to lead by example both on the field and in his faith because its alot easier to see what God did in someones life than for them to tell you what God can do in your life. So I believe he wants to be a shinning example that way … not like the hypocritical christians that judge and condemn even tho the bible says not to. Thats why I pray he works out and believe he can work out. Thats just me tho.
TRB
lol you didnt know the macarena DB?
Turtle – Too many kids around – I’ll put on the dance video when I’m alone in my office LOL
AM I old and outta touch? My kids usually keep me on top of stuff like that.
but i can google anything !!!
I’m at home with a heating pad on my back instead of playing softball tonight. I pulled something in the low back. I need SD 30 to ‘rack’ me!!! LOL (Only if he quits picking the bad guys to win!)
I’m splendid turtle. And for the record I know that i am critical of tebow and don’t yet believe he is an NFL qb but I certainly am impressed with him as a man and a Christian. I am not Christian but respect it, and respect goodness and conviction. Very good character, not so good qb. I hate that too because he’s the kinda guy you wanna see do well in what he loves because he deserves it, unlike some rich NFL players who deserve nothing.
That doesn’t sound right unless you guys know the SD30 is a chiropractor.
Funny. I’m layin on a heating pad too. Neck crick. Getting old sucks.
Sorry to hear Daddy… The Dance will make you smile… !
Lou, I as well do not choose to worship but I have nothing against people that do. I believe there are many reasons for respecting your fellow humans, and as long as you really care and are sincere about the things you choose to do to enrich their lives then we can all benefit… Sorry if I came off like a jerk…
Sec announced next years football schedule. A&M has a brutal one on the way. With a new coach. Although a good new coach for sure.
I hate college football this time of year!!! They have to come up with a reasonable playoff system.