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
Happy New Year. I hope the Broncos give us a Happy New Year!!!!!!!!
It’s not only in Florida.
Gotta love the “JUMP PASS”
Guess I am the only one who isn’t partying.
Yeah – but it was the jump pass that Tebow kept under throwing last week. I don’t see that the Tebow reruns are available here in CA. I’d love to be watching that though this Auburn game is pretty fun.
Mrs. Daddy and I will go join my older children at about 11pm. It’s only almost 8pm here. I’m ready for sleep!!!
If you have cable or Direct TV its on CBS Sports.
We need Harvin, Hernandez and Nelson.
Those guys could catch anything!
If Decker and DT could do that we would be awesome in the passing game. just wait till next year.
Yeah – if I can’t get it online, I can’t get it.
The rec. problem still doesn’t make any sense to me.
It is his sophmore year I am watching, I didn’t know that Tebow beat out Matt Ryan for the Heisman. I know he was in the top 3 for 3 years straight. I just watched him drag 4 guys about 6 yards LOL.
Tebow is a long way from done!!!
Chick-fil-a Bowl 43-24 Auburn.
Did baylin submit a prediction yet?
I never saw it – but I’ve noticed that when Bay predicts a Bronco loss he likes to go and post on an earlier blog. LOL
Broncos 13 Chiefs 19
Hey Bay – Just looked and knew you had to get back to make it and make a liar outta me! LOL
Chief at 19 is prolly a good bid. Hopefully the Broncos break out on offense which will be doubly impressive against the KC defense.
Hi – my name is Hadley, Papa Perrier is my Papa, it is new years eve, and my NaNa said Papa wanted to go to a New Years Party around the corner, and she trusted Papa so much she said okay!!!!. I hope the Broncos win tomorrow, my papa is teaching me a lot about the game, like if they score, and he raises his hands, and is happy it is a touch down, or some points which seems to make him happy if it is the Broncos.
Well I gotta go, it is past my bedtime, I tried to get some strawberries from Nana and Papa glass of champagne, and they said NOOOOOO, I hate that word, I hear it a lot.
Anyway, have a Happy New Year – Hadley Faith
You go Hadley Faith…awesome post…love it!!!
Go Broncos. All I want is a playoff game.
Von DOOM!!
I appreciate that, but Papa isn’t here and doesn’t know I can post on a blog, HAHA so let’s not tell him, Anyway, thank you. I gotta go to bed now, Nana says it is my bedtime, there again, that word NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO when I want to stay up late, you would think I would get a break on New Years. Oh well, so everyone who is reading this,, I wish you very Happy New Year, and may the good Lord, grant all your wishes.
Hadley
Hopefully the secondary can step up, but i really dont like the chances of that happening, being that Orton has practiced against this defense should bode well for him. I’m hoping we can get atleast 1 int and the offense can run the ball being that mcgahee is finally healthy. We need to come out passing the ball stretch the field a bit, then mix up some true option. I’m going to assume we win the turnover battle so I say Denver 20 KC 16
#EAT GREEDY
Well it is officially 2012 here in the East. This is going to be a great year you wanna know why? Because when my birthday rolls around this year it will be on 12-12-12. That has never happened in my life and never will again.
Did baylin get hacked? Lol.
Happy New Years Broncos Country…
15 minutes left here in Chicagoland!
GO BRONCOS in 2012!!!!!!!!
*Official Score Prediction*
23-17 Chiefs
I almost forgot to put my pick in i’m working here in Vegas, ITS LIVE!!!! Happy New Years Broncos Country!!! I’m loving life!!!
I rarely ever drink lol but hey what can I say… I cant say anything i’m buzzed LOL
Happy New Year Bay thank you for the gifts you’ve given to us bloggers… you were the first to nickname me lol. I tell you this a lot but thank you soo much for all the work you do on this blog I sincerely appreciate you bud.
Shaz I really never get to blog with you but you are a truly ray of sunshine and from what I read about what you post — are a GREAT wife and mom. I appreciate a strong woman like you because I was raised by a single mom. You deal with a lot but NEVER complain.
Thanks BFE & Strand you were the first to welcome me to the Bronc’ on side of the blog.
And thanks TRB the you’re the coolest the-royal-beast I never met lol your one of the most intelligent and trill guys on this blog, you always stay true to the players you believe in. I can tell you got a big heart.
RBF1, oldsouthstander, S.D.30, weatherman, Wiemin, brian_s, alex, Turtle, stevecan, 07(Ash), 007 Greatness, BB&R, 1LUV, corybleeds, DaddyBronc, even BroncoFreak30!!! lol (with the exclamation points) ScalpTheChiefs (I hope we do but my coin came up heads haha).
I could go on and on even glax LOL na not glax but… I hope to get to know you all a lil more as time go by although I don’t always post as much as I would like to, I read it all and wish all of you and yours the best!!! HNY!!!
-Royalty (guess I had alot to say after all
)
GO BRONCOS!!! Get into them Playoffs!!!
That was funny bay! really funny lol
BRE or do u prefer Royalty, u forgot me! kidding lol
Wow – went to a movie tonight (The Descendants, w/ George Clooney – POWERFUL movie) and coming home the line from the Casino back to the freeway (about 2 miles+) was packed tight for New Years Eve … they don’t have parking space to handle this ,,, sure hope it clears out by tomorrow Bronco Game time …
A GREAT New Year to everyone – and bring on the Bronco success and good cheer … It’ll seem really odd to think we’re watching the Broncos in ’12 already … I may not “like” him all that much (nothing personal) but I’m sure hoping for some Tebow Success tomorrow …
Ever hear of “Accccch-Med”, the Dead Terrorist? … TOOOO funny!!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR BRONCO BROTHERS!!!!
ONE LOVE!!! VON TEBOW 2012!!!
B-R-O-N-C-O-S BRONCOS BRONCOS BRONCOS!!!
FTC!!! ;o) HARD, no SPIT!!!
C’mon guys we are gonna beat the Chiefs…..24-17….have faith!!!!!!!!!!!
GodDamnit!!!!!!!!!
No spit….LMFAO!!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2012 is gonna be special…don’t ask me how I know…I just do!!!
We’re going to the playoffs………garuntee it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No Spit… Redneck Style… You want a Donkey Punch… We got Donkey Punches for DAYS!!! This is Bronco Country!!!
Man I just got back from a party at my BIL’s house……… liquor,shine,and beer….still got a lotta buzz left…..so excuse me!!!!!!!!
Just fine Turtle…I’m a plastered Bastard…..hows yours?
Donkey punch…LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!
To my mind, TIm Tebow has earned the starting job for next season no doubt – great job at winning and at progressing at passing beyond what many of us both in and out of the organization thought you could do, kid – but Kyle is coming to town to get us and that makes me really really nervous!
All of the very best, Kyle Orton, and you were damned underappreciated in some circles, and may you lead a team to the playoffs next year – but Washington or Seattle, okay, not one in our division? I may actually have to root for the I-can’t-say-how-much-I-dislike-them-because-implied-bad-language-about-them-appears-to-have-been-the-reason-the-invisible-mute-mod-staff-suspended-me-at-the-end-of-last-year-Chargers to win because we have a very good and very motivated quarterback coming at an injury-weakened-secondary us tomorrow [later today] – ! Good luck Kyle Orton, in getting a team to lead to the promised land – but go Broncos!!
Still got a few beers left…lol.
F’…..Orton….he sucked for us for 2 years…and he still sucks!!!
Nice… I’m just watching Archer… Smoking Bongs… Wondering how today is any different than yesterday… and I still don’t have an answer!!!
O’yeah… Today is DENVER BRONCO FOOTBALL DAY!!! one of my 16 favorite days of the year!!!
HAPPY BRONCO FOOTBALL DAY!!!
Elway Winder Smith and Smith? 7 23 49 80?
Got a Subway sandwich waiting on me…..with a couple beers in the fridge at 3:00 AM here……looking pretty F”N good……
80= R. Smith or M. Jackson?
Dennis Smith….#49…..Kool!!!!!!!!!
BFE… My town is so small that we have no fast food… no chains stores of any kind except for a Family Dollar that came last Spring!!! lol… Pizza hut was here for about 4 years in the ’90′s but it failed, due to hiring local workers…
Smith @#80 kicks Ass!!!
I sooo miss the days of D. Smith and S. Atwater roaming our secondary… Recievers in today’s game DON’T KNOW FEAR!!! those guys were the SHIZNIT!!! Atwater is one of my 3 favorite Bronco’s of all time! Elway and Davis being the other 2… So many great names and games… but those guys got us RINGS!!!
)
I’m kinda buzzed as well, so sorry if I go all BLAH BLAH BLAH…