Today is the last Friday of the regular season. Thus, we are going to start things off with a quote from Head Coach John Fox about the team’s mindset heading into the finale against the Kansas City Chiefs.
“I think four months ago if you would have told me we were going to be in the last regular season game of the season with a chance to get into the playoffs, I probably would have taken it and run,” Fox said. “We’ve got some unfinished business, and it’s all out there for the taking. Now we just have to go take it.”
FILLING BIG SHOES
It looks like everyone should be healthy and ready to go Sunday as all the players listed on the injury report are probable with one notable exception: safety Brian Dawkins.
Dawkins, who hasn’t practiced all week with a neck injury, is listed as doubtful for Sunday’s contest. Dawkins missed the entire New England game and most of the Buffalo game with an injury, meaning that for the third straight game, Denver is most likely going to be without its most experienced player.
However, while cornerback Champ Bailey said that it’s extremely tough to replace a guy like Dawkins, rookie safety Quinton Carter said he and the rest of his teammates are ready to once again step up.
Carter said that one area he’s looking to improve is his tackling. He’s made it a point all week to emphasize that in practice. It helped that for the last time in the regular season — and just the third time in the last six weeks — the Broncos practiced in pads Wednesday.
“Just getting some reps in and being able to put your body on somebody going full speed. I feel like it will help out tremendously,” Carter said.
“It’s easily correctable,” he stated. “It starts at practice. This week I’ve been stressing tackling. Just taking every little step, and we all have as a defense. We just have to go out there, play through and play the way we’ve been playing for the majority of the year.”
Carter noted that the practice on Wednesday resembled that of a training camp session, in terms of the intensity and physicality, which he said is something the team appreciated as they head into a game knowing that a victory would clinch the AFC West division title.
“I liked it personally,” Carter said. “I feel like a lot of the other guys liked it too. Just knowing where we were the past few weeks, just slacking off on the tackling. We needed that.”
BRONCOS ROOKIES HONORED
Three Broncos rookies were named to the Football Outsiders All-Rookie Team this year: tackle Orlando Franklin, outside linebacker Von Miller and cornerback Chris Harris.
The Broncos are tied with the Cowboys for the most players named on the team.
INJURY REPORT
Here is the injury report for Sunday.
For the Broncos:
DOUBTFUL: Safety Brian Dawkins (neck).
PROBABLE: Safety David Bruton (Achilles), cornerback Chris Harris (neck), linebacker Von Miller (thumb), safety Quinton Carter (hip).
For the Chiefs:
OUT: Running Back Jackie Battle (foot).
DOUBTFUL: Safety Jon McGraw (ankle).
Below are some photos from the Broncos’ Friday practice.
-Kenny Legan
Tags: Injury report, Kansas City Chiefs, Week 17
I remembering too!
MS played some good ball for us. Maybe he thinks (rightfully I might add) that this game is no gimme. Two things I’ve learned being a Bronco fan from even BEFORE Elway lined up his first snap under the wrong lineman is this. 1: If we win ONE game a season, we kick the crap out of New England. 2: IF we only lose one game in a season, KC kicks our ass. Nail biter guys…. but I still think Ortons’ gonna be bitin’ pillows! Go BRONCOS!
And we didn’t beat the crap out of N-E this year, so is that a good omen? LOL.
At least I know what one of our players is doing right now, Von Miller is watching the Texas A&M bowl game.
HAPPY NEW YEAR BRONCO COUNTRY!!!
I hope everyone has a HAPPY, HEALTHY and PROSPEROUS 2012!!!
Bay – I hope u got my updated score prediction, I was being serious..
17-13 Broncos to the playoffs…
Also predict that SD will beat Oakland
Happy New Year all. I was born and raised in Colorado Springs. Born in 1948 so I’m just an old cuss who is a die hard Bronco fan. I just hope all at the game show some class and treat the opposing team with respect. I’m not a big Orton fan but I feel he helped our team to the best of his abilities. That said, Hope we kick so serious butt and go to the playoffs with our heads held high. Mile High that is.
There is no such thing as update in the contest, only first prediction counts, and I wouldn’t take one that would make a mockery of the contest anyway.
Same for MANDIEGO, already got you down for a 30-17 KC win made early in the week.
Making a mockery wasn’t my intent at all.. Just wanted to feel the same pressure (kind of anyway) as our boys.. I’ll i need is a Bronco win and i would’ve been off the hook, if I understand the rules correctly..
Predicting 100 is not a NFL score and like I said can’t predict again after original one.
Well – almost game day – can hardly wait … to the Casino for me … da%$ Chargers/Raiders … maybe, just once, the Missus will go with me … at least there I’ll be able to keep my eye on both games …
Next Thursday my wife and I will be flying into Denver to spend a long weekend w/ my Son and his wife … she’s had cancer for 4 years … you think Pro Football players are tough!! ,,, so – if the Broncos make the playoffs, we’ll be able to watch the game with them … how great would that be … they’re BIG TIME Bronco fans … always have been … he went to Lakewood HS …
Beast – talking about your son – NO GUY should even THINK about getting married until he’s out of the house, on his own, got a job, and paying his own bills … how many have made that mistake (I DID) … and gals – don’t even LOOK at a guy who doesn’t fit that description … HA … you think they’ll listen?? … not when they’re thinking below the waist … Hey – they say “with age, comes wisdom” … well, sometimes … right, Daddy?? …
What?! I gave KC a field goal.. LOL! You really rule with an iron fist over there, seems like u got a little McD’s in ya..
*(joking of course) LOL!
PUM PUM PUM…
25 HOURS TILL GAMETIME BRONCO COUNTRY!!!
Get your game faces on!!!
VON TEBOW 2012!!! O’YEAH!!!
I hear you but unless you have rules and have everybody adhere to them there would be no way you can hold a contest yearround without having some serious issues week in week out, many would like a break from the rules here and there and it’s just not fair to the rest of the competition.
Or, we have to wait until next year for our next game, LOL.
I hope Rahim Moore Skips the UCLA Bowl Game, and goes in for extra Tackling Drills!
Pick it up 26… JULIUS THOMAS, we See you… in the practice pictures, can we get some love please… a little? for 2012 your resolution should be to Dominate! you have the size! and the athleticism, so just relax and have fun letting us cheer for you!!!
Again, I got excited… Kickoff is 2:15 not 2:05… my bad!!!
who ya got
jets or leafs tonight. u think mile high will be nuts, the hanger in winnipeg is going to be insane tonight.happy new year everybody,got 15 people coming over to watch tommorow, just like the bronc-gb sb. same result?
Hey Bay, do you do a draft prediction contest?
I’m hopin’ Bay. It’s not a guarantee but odds at play.
Prediction: 17-10 Denver. Out in the first round then a REAL off season for Timmy…. then we’ll know.
And thanks for the shout &*%^@hotmail.#$#. “Yes, I do smell my own farts. Who doesn’t?”.
G Carlin said it best. “they smell OK”
Whoa Denver where did that come from? Did I miss something/
Den = 13
KC= 45
Our defence was fake with dawk in and without dawk the orange mush
It’s 5:00 somewhere……………….PARTY TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A BIG HAPPY NEW YEAR TO BRONCOS COUNTRY!!!!!
Be safe and bring in the New Year with a bang!
Drink one for me and I’ll do the same for you!
BFE
BFE!!! Happy New Year Bronco Buddy!!!
Time to Break out some Shine!!!
)
Happy New Year Turtleman…..lol.hope you have a good one bro!
No shine tonight bro…just plain old Bud Light…..and lots of it,can’t handle that shine,I’m gonna have to cut it(water it down a bit)200 proof can give you alcohol poisoning!
150 proof should do it,LMAO!!!
Get you some……….live action!!!!!!!!!
I hope this isn’t the last game of the season for us. Want to Buy: one more game after tomorrow.
Happy New Year Broncos Country!!
Rough day – we started our annual movie marathon last night even though my older kids were with friends.
I was in my office this morning catching up on a few emails and the 23 month old decided to treat her own cold. Spent 6 hours in emergency room with my baby looking like she tested BFE’s 200 proof. Pretty scary. The ER was full of nut-balls. Once the baby was stable, my wife and I were cracking up. Baby seems back to normal now. Can’t believe some folks do that to themselves on purpose!
I think it’s going to be a great year!!! Go Broncos!!!
Wow Daddy glad the baby is okay. I was wondering where you went.
MESSAGE TO ORTON:
Dear Mr. Orton,
Since you did not do anything for the team who paid you a lot of money could you please throw interceptions, fall down and fumble the ball and help out your old team. Don’t do it for the fans (since you don’t care about us) do it for the payroll department. Thank you so much.
P.S. Maybe you could curl up in a ball or fake a hand injury when Von tackles you.
I think I will post that on the chiefs site…Oh wait that will require me to subscribe to their site. NEVER MIND.
Ha ha LOL
See Shaz, a killed blog!!! I’ve got the touch…..? LOL
This Virginia / Auburn game looks like it will be good!
Shaztah, yes we do a draft prediction contest but that won’t start until exactly two weeks before the first day of the draft, long well deserved vacation for me.
And glad everything sounds ok for DB’s family.
Chiefs placed RB Jackie Battle on IR
They must really be all bent on beating us if they need to put him on IR for their last game just to bring someone else in.
I still think that the Denver Defense played beyond their ability and talent through the winning streak, and there is not nearly enough depth. It resulted in some low scoring contests. I still think some rookies could get awesome – and make this assessment null and void. I can’t explain the lack of defensive turnovers this year, but change that stat and stuff is going to start happening!!!
I think that the Denver Offense has still never started firing on all eight cylinders. When they do!!!…it is going to be fireworks!!! This is my hope. This is my expectation for the playoffs – beginning tomorrow!!! Imagine Decker- Royal – Willis – and DT all consistently catching and Tebow having the luxury of spreading the ball around. Imagine The O-line dominating the line of scrimmage and opening holes for McG, Ball, and JJ with screen options and TE plays. As you think through the players it is easy to see that the offensive weapons exist. It is about the opportunities and execution primarily made possible by offensive domination of the line of scrimmage.
Auburn came to play!!!
Auburn is using two QB’s in order to have a running QB and a passing QB. ahhhuuemm…makes me feel good!!! Go Broncos!!!
Kids have the Hogan’s Heroes reruns … Having a good family night!!!
The baby is back to bossing her older bros! Man! I was scared! I wonder if she’ll have a headache in the morning.
She probably took a double or triple dose of Delsym. All of my children have been climbers. Bad news. We think she dropped the bottle, shattering the lid, and then scooped the medication off the floor. We cleaned up the mess but, we didn’t realize what she’d done until her speech was slurred and she couldn’t walk.
I love having the blog all to myself…not!
Happy New Years!!!
Happy New Years everyone. I am watching the old Gator games. Hoping for some of that throwing tomorrow.
MAN, all this is doing is ticking me off. If they wouldn’t have made him change his throwing motion he would have been ok. I just watched a 66 yard beauty that was right on the money….His completion rate of 72.6 broke records.
Get fired up Shaz!!! LOL I’ve been saying all along that the problem is O-line and receiving core. (The o-line is a lot better than they were at the beginning of the year.)
I love the fact that they play Tebow reruns in Florida!!!