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
First time this year I predicted more than a 7 point spread, I believe.
Heh, yeah. I suspect I owe the blog an apology for that, but it’s football sunday and I’m excited about the game.
Go Broncos!!!
well, when i started typing that, he was the only one. LOL
Ya what am I chopped liver Brandon?
It would appear as if I may have missed few…
Here’s hoping the jets don’t get in the playoffs, tired of em.
2484 – what sports do you play so far?
Happy New Year y’all Broncos Fan.
I have a “stupid” question: Why do they always say it’s “Tebow against Orton”? They neither played nor will play against each other? They play against the defense of the other team not against each other. They will never be on the field at the same time (unless Fox turns Tebow into a MLB)
Go Broncos, WIN ONE FOR THE GIPPER
If somehow our D just absolutely collapses, and we turn the ball over a bunch, and KC ends up hanging a 40 burger on us, it would be the first time since 1964. That would probably be a bad thing. So …
Von DOOOOOOOOM!!! C’mon now, sock ‘em in the face. Hit Orton in his neckbeard (figuratively speaking)!!! Go Broncos!!!!!
Alex, you did have the 34-14.
Ahh that is just that silly thing they always do: characterizing a game as a match-up between their most high-profile players. Usually it’s the QBs. Sometimes it’s something like Revis vs A. Johnson. Or something like that.
Cool. Thought so. Thanks for verifying, bay.
Er, uh, I didn’t finish that stat earlier. From nfl’s website:
“The Broncos, whose last five opponents have averaged 154.8 rushing yards, have given up 40-plus points in back-to-back games for the first time since it happened three straight times in 1964.”
Wonder if Allen will have us jam the WR’s at the line and try to get them out of rhythm with Orton..
Sure hope so. I hate those 10 yard cushions with a passion. I still can’t understand why we don’t do it more often. Maybe our corners just aren’t very good at jamming receivers at the line. Except I am sure Champ can do just about anything he wants.
If I could sum up with one word how I want our defense to play today, it would be “swarming”!!!
Let’s see how badly Haggan wants to make a big play, and where’s May’s?? Ayers, and the rookie safeties – someone (or more than one) is going to make plays today!
That’s a good word. I hope two other words are also applicable, “fast” and “disciplined.”
From http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_19654066
“We just have to be detailed on the little things and tackle,” said Carter, a rookie. “I have to tackle better than I have in the last couple of weeks.”
I’m glad to see carter admitting this. I read something yesterday or maybe friday about how Carter has been focusing on Tackling better all week. I believe he is set to start along with Bruton today. I like Bruton, and I hope he can have a big day.
We also had the last of our padded practices this week. Something we haven’t been doing for the last several weeks. Hopefully all that adds up to a more physical team, and much better tackling in the secondary.
So much is riding. Either the elation of winning and the end of our playoff drought, along with ONE MORE WEEK of Broncos Football. OR, an emotionally crushing defeat, made all the worse because it extends our absurd streak of late season collapses, followed by 8 months of doldrums.
What a fork in the road that is!
Go Broncos!!! Don’t let the Chiefs do that to us all!
Bruton showed promise but before I get too excited I wanna see consistency from him. A good game is one thing, a good career is another. I’d hate to put him in such a pivotal game and have it ride on his shoulders, and he have a bad game and show why he hasn’t been the regular starting safety. And we don’t know enough to say what kind of game he’ll have. Here’s hopin he’s the man and starts a hof career today…
So nice to have my Broncos play when the Jets and Giants don’t play.. Prime time baby! Let’s get ‘er done!!! 4 quarters boys!!!
On a side note- I really hope Jeff fisher doesn’t become the head coach at either kc or sd. He will make the team he goes to successful in a big way, and those two particular teams need to continue to SUCK. And SUCK BAD.
Whoa, what a huge game. While some of the fans may’ve earned Kyle Orton kicking our tails, the organization really hasn’t – hopefully that bad karma won’t hurt the Broncos themselves today. If we can run run run against KC nearly as well as last time, moving down the field and dominating time of possession….
Go …Chargers? And GO BRONCOS!!!
Ya tsunami that’s the same problem I have. Here in northwest louisiana the saints and texans games are the games they play. That’s why NFL Sunday ticket is the best thing ever!! I dont know how I made it before it came into existence. Was like a previous life.
B-R-O-N-C-O-S BRONCOS BRONCOS BRONCOS!!!
That kid who tebowed while chemo-ing was an eagles fan until tebow inspired him. Now he’s a broncos fan and that’s pretty awesome. Welcome to the broncos fanbase and the mile high life young man, you’ll love everything about it- guaranteed!
I’ve had it once, and it is great! Unfortunately I can’t get the service in the building I live in… they need to come up with a way to get it w/o a dish or open it up to other carriers already! Forget the lump sum with the exclusivity of one carrier, and trust that multi revenue streams will surpass the single carrier model..
Btw, love NOLA! Been several times. I’ve personally said before that the super bowl should have been scheduled at the Superdome each year for the foreseeable future.. Great venue, and helps to support that community – which goes a LONG way!
What are the odds of Julius Thomas being on the active Roster today?
I got my Fingers Crossed… I want to see him on the field!
Good call BT! I also have my fingers crossed that we put Royal on return duty (full time)..
These next games will also give us an inventory list for the draft, everyone better be going balls out today.. Never too early to think draft IMO, since when was planning ahead considered a bad thing.. Lol
Funny u mention that tsunami. Back when it was still pretty new, especially to me, can’t remember the year, I moved to an apt and directv told me I couldn’t get the service bc I didn’t face the south so I moved to another building that week. Told the apt manager I wasn’t asking if I could move, I was telling her I was. No way I was gonna not see the broncos every week.
Bills are givign it to the patriots. People think the bills suk but they have a potent offense. And against a weak defense like ours and a much weaker one like the patriots, they will put up points. difference is brady can usually hang with em. not so far tho.
poor Houston, thier first Playoff run ruined by a string of QB injuries. Another QB bites the dust. Yates down. Delhome in. Maybe they need to fix thier Oline
TRB
HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL
Never, ever too early to talk draft. No matter what bay says!
I’ll talk about the draft all day during the season; that last draft of ours hasn’t turn out so hot this year, just two regular contributors and a bunch of let’s hope they can get it together next year with a full off season, not the 4 starters minimum Elway was looking for that’s for sure. See, draft talk, LMAO!
One thing about the draft I will say, I think there a lot of offensive skill position players this year and RG3 is officially going pro as well.. I think it’s fair to say that a few very solid defenders may fall to us..
Haha bay there u go, love the draft talk! I’m not sold on rg3. He’s kinda like a colt McCoy to me. Very accurate, mobile, and smart but the NFL will overwhelm him too. But I sure wouldn’t say that’s for sure, he could do well. Wanna see the combine results. What happens today can make a huge difference in draft position, us making or not making the playoffs could change it as much as ten spots, and that’s a huge difference in players in the first round. But defense for sure unless Landry or Tannehill are there. Then it’s hmmmm……
Btw I hear ya on last years draft results thus far.
I agree. I been thinking this draft actually turned out a little disappointing for a couple weeks. Outside of Miller and Franklin, no one has really panned out as hoped.
Still too early to judge this draft, as I am a believer in the three year rule for evaluating a pick. But if it weren’t for the outstanding rookie years for Miller and Franklin, this years draft would seem pretty dismal right now.
I don’t fully judge a draft until 2 full years, some guys more, some less, depending on the situation..
The safeties will be fine long term IMO, same with the TE’s.. Not everyone comes in and plays rock solid all year their rookie season, doesn’t mean they won’t pan out… This is all great experience for our young guys no doubt about it
Obviously my point was Elway wanted at least 4 guys from this draft to be solid starters THIS YEAR and that is not the case.
I had tickets for this game but had to face the reality that my health isn’t good enough to allow me to go so I sold them to a friend for less than face value. I have Dish network , turned othe the TV to see what channel the game was on ,Dish decided the local station carrying the game wanted too much so they dropped them today! So I dropped Dish network today. I’ve been looking forward to this game for a long time since having to give up those tickets and especially excited about it this week like all you guys. Time to find the rabbit ears, or maybe even radio. LOL Go Broncos!
It hurts my heart. The idea of having tickets and not going.
I’ve only had the privilege of seeing two games at mile high. Sure wish I lived in Denver.
Cant argue with that, unless we make a deep push and two more ‘rooks had something to do with it! Lol
We know it won’t be JThomas, seeing that he’s a no go today.. Next year I see Rosario not here, and JT will get some PT to show us what he’s got
Almost game time, Baby!!!!!!!!!!
This is it. All or nothing. Go Broncos. Go Von DOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!