Champ Bailey and Brian Dawkins don’t buy into the hype that this week’s game against the New England Patriots is any bigger than the 13 before it. Every game is big.
“It’s the NFL,” Bailey said. “You can say what you want — every week is a big test and the more you win, the bigger the test is. This is one of the better teams in this league. Every week is a big test.”
As Bailey alluded, the Patriots are one of the top teams in the AFC this season, currently sitting atop the AFC East with a 10-3 record.
With the Broncos on a six-game win streak, the team knows that every game is important.
“As you get further where we are in December playing meaningful games, every game gets bigger and bigger,” said Dawkins, who had limited participation in Thursday’s practice. “If you can’t get up for these games and if every game does not mean a little more, trying to push ourselves to get to somewhere we haven’t been as an organization in a long time — you’ve got to get up for these games.”
As the team continues toward its goal, Bailey said the group is only getting better.
“I don’t think we’ve peaked yet,” he said. “That’s going to be the key. We’ve got to keep improving because the good teams that are in the playoffs play great this time of year. So if we stay focused on getting better every week, the sky’s the limit.”
HISTORY OF SUCCESS
Since Sports Authority Field at Mile High opened in 2001, the Broncos have won six of their eight games against the Patriots.
Bailey has been a part of five of those wins, and with only one loss, has the best winning percentage against New England (minimum five games) of any active player in the NFL.
But he knows the past doesn’t necessarily dictate what’s going to happen on Sunday.
“We play well against them, but things can change,” Bailey said. “We’re confident that we’re going to play well. But (Tom Brady) is one of the best and you’ve got to give him his credit and the respect he deserves.”
Still, Bailey did allow himself to think back on one of Denver’s most memorable victories against New England, in a 2005 AFC Divisional Playoff game.
“Considering how much they’d won the previous years, they were pretty much unbeatable,” he recalled.
In a Broncos win, Bailey recorded the longest non-scoring interception return and second-longest overall interception return in NFL postseason history with a 100-yard return late in the third quarter.
“Well, that play was one of the biggest plays around here,” Bailey said. “It definitely, last time we were in the playoffs, last playoff win. Hopefully I can make more like that.”
Bailey was tackled at the 1-yard line , and he joked that former teammate Nick Ferguson was to blame. The Broncos scored on the next play courtesy of a 1-yard run by Mike Anderson, and Denver went on to win 27-13.
“To get a play like that to change the game and to get a win against a team like that, it was a special moment,” Bailey said.
WOODYARD EARNS AWARD
Thursday morning, the team told Wesley Woodyard that he was selected as its Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award recipient for the second consecutive season.
The award recognizes a player for outstanding leadership both on the field and in the community.
Dawkins said he couldn’t agree more with the selection.
“That speaks a whole bunch about a man’s heart,” he said. “Because he does not do it with a frown on his face — he wants to do it. He’s always trying to get us to come out and attend his events as much as we can. It seems like it’s always something that he has going on. So that means you have a young man who understands how much he’s been blessed and he’s trying to bless as many as he can with the overflow.”
McCARTHY TO PRACTICE SQUAD
On Thursday, the Broncos added safety Kyle McCarthy to the practice squad.
The second-year safety played eight games as a rookie for Denver in 2010.
INJURY REPORT
For the Broncos, three players were upgraded Thursday. After not practicing yesterday, Dawkins and Andre’ Goodman were limited. Eddie Royal, who was limited Wednesday, practiced in full.
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: Safety David Bruton (Achilles).
LIMITED: Safety Brian Dawkins (neck), cornerback Andre’ Goodman (concussion).
FULL: Fullback Spencer Larsen (hamstring), linebacker Von Miller (thumb) and wide receiver Eddie Royal (concussion).
For the Patriots:
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: Safety Patrick Chung (foot), offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer (back/foot).
LIMITED: Cornerback Kyle Arrington (foot), quarterback Tom Brady (not injury related), wide receiver Deion Branch (groin), center Dan Connolly (groin), wide receiver Julian Edelman (back), linebacker Dane Fletcher (thumb), safety James Ihedigbo (shoulder), cornerback Devin McCourty (shoulder), wide receiver Matthew Slater (shoulder), linebacker Brandon Spikes (knee), running back Shane Vereen (hamstring), wide receiver Wes Welker (knee), center Ryan Wendell (calf), defensive lineman Vince Wilfork (not injury related), running back Danny Woodhead (abdomen).
Below are photos from Thursday’s practice.
-Gray Caldwell
Tags: Practice Photos
DB, do you watch First Take on ESPN ever? it’s been priceless the last 8 weeks… Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless go at it everyday, and they bring in guests to support either side… good entertainment!
I love watching Skip – I just don’t know how to get to his regular program.
I can Google anything though – I’ll figure it out.
We have two Raider fans in our Pool league here, and it makes thier skin crawl to hear the word TEBOW… We played one last night, and he was so frustrated that he won only 1 of four games…
I love that – LOL
I think i’m heading to bed! Have a good one DB, and all the rest…
VON TEBOW FOOTBALL!!! Where were you when you started to believe?
FTP
Last week was pretty interesting … i dont believe we had ever run a 5wr look before the chicago game. And for good reason as how Tebow had limited blockers and got hit on like every pass. I mean usually we run 5 wr when we want to QB draw but last week was passes. Pretty cool adjustment.
Looking for the denver wes welker to be a factor … come on eddie … whether its in PR or in WR … I think this will be his game … as everyone not only pays attention to Decker but DMT now … royal just flys under the radar and kills in the slot … well … either him or willis but Royal will have 1 td whether in PR or WR.
And to those askign for TE involvement … don’t expect any soon. Seeing as how Tebow is pretty much barred from passing mid range in the middle of the field where they usually are.
TRB
Oh yea. Good Morning Broncos Country
Later days, TRB out –
We all know to be successful we need to pressure Brady, but easier said than done:
Brady is one of the most difficult NFL quarterbacks to pressure.
This year, according to league statistics, only the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers has performed better when faced with extra rushers from opposing defenses. Rodgers has completed 67.6 percent of his passes against the blitz to go with 11 touchdowns and just two interceptions.
That all works out to a league-leading passer rating of 134.6 against the blitz.
Brady is No. 2, having completed 61.5 percent of his passes against the blitz with 12 touchdowns and two interceptions. He has been sacked only nine times against the extra rushers, a testament to his ability to get the ball out quickly.
“He gets rid of it,” said Broncos defensive end Elvis Dumervil . “He can be frustrating.”
Meh, I’m still confident our boys can bring the heat. We did it to him in 05, we can do it now, especially with Von and Doom in the lineup.
Legwold with real good simple to understand insights on what we will be up againts with the Patriots TE tandem, no one better than Legwold in the Denver media to analyze the Broncos on the field, an old ex-Rocky Mountain News favorite of mine, most of the time haha, let him have it like anyone else too, specially draft time:
The Patriots also have used a double-vertical look often this season — with both Gronkowski and tight end Aaron Hernandez running down the hashmarks. And it’s a difficult choice for a defense to make.
Trying to cover both with a linebacker is a rare option since teams usually don’t have two linebackers with that kind of speed in coverage. Teams can try to cover them with defensive backs, but it’s difficult for a player who gives away 50 to 70 pounds to make a play in traffic, especially with an accurate quarterback who can deliver the ball in the best spot.
The Jets have had some success against Gronkowski, particularly in the October matchup, when he had four catches for just 31 yards. New York used cornerback Darrelle Revis in man coverage on Gronkowski at times. The Jets didn’t match Revis on Gronkowski all of the time, just in some third-down or scoring situations. The thinking is that a cornerback with the athleticism possessed by Revis can, with positioning and quickness, overcome the size difference.
The Broncos have that kind of option with Champ Bailey . Under previous Broncos defensive coordinators, especially Larry Coyer , Bailey has played against top-tier tight ends before, including Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez.
The Broncos could certainly do that in some situations, but to do it for the entire game is to invite a quarterback such as Tom Brady to pick them apart.
Linebacker Wesley Woodyard, who is fast enough that he has played safety with the Broncos, will get the task. Safety Quinton Carter will also be in the mix.
The Broncos on Sunday figure to use double coverage away from wherever Bailey is — whether he’s on Wes Welker or Gronkowski. But the Patriots figure to spread things out, as well as go no-huddle in order to keep the Broncos from substituting too often.
Whatever defensive personnel the Broncos have at the start of a drive may be what they have to play with throughout.
Good Morning Bronco Brethren!!! Just checking in before work, Gonna be a great weekend!
This is gonna be a very good game. Chess match all the way. TRB
Like I said before, Q will have a chance to change the game for us this week, let’s hope he takes advantage of the opportunity… WW is fast but it is suicide not to over under at least one TE… Cut down the field to Brady’s right side and then make him roll that way with pressure off the edge… Make him throw back across the field and give our guys a chance to make some plays… We Cannot simply let him drop the ball off time after time to Welker and Co…
See you all in a few hours…
B-R-O-N-C-O-S BRONCOS BRONCOS BRONCOS!!!
A little insight into Fox ball by way of Krieger:
Fox is the first coach in NFL history to lead two teams to at least three overtime victories in single seasons. His first Broncos team got there last week with its overtime win over the Bears, and it still has three games to play. No previous Broncos team won more than two.
Fox’s 2003 Carolina Panthers played four overtime games in the regular season, winning three, then played another in the postseason, beating the Rams in double overtime. Those Cardiac Cats were the only team in NFL history to win four overtime games in a season.
But take it from that snow-white hair. It’s not part of the plan.
“You don’t design it,” Fox said. “You’d like to win it in regulation, you know what I mean? And you’d like to win it by a couple of touchdowns. The reality is that’s hard to do. Teams that I’ve coached, I don’t know that we’ve ever just been that incredibly dynamic, score-a-lot-of-points offense. You don’t get a lot of blowouts.”
Yet bloggers still go on posting blowout Bronco scores, so far they just have been lucky that we have been winning because we would be seriously overcrowded on the Wall Of Shame, LOL.
The Broncos’ record in overtime under Fox is not luck. Each win turned on a big defensive play in overtime.
“Listen, we’re trying to make those big plays whenever we can, from the opening snap to the last snap of the game,” Broncos defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said. ” I think what you’ve got to give your players credit for is they never quit. They always keep competing. Just like that game last week, (the Bears) hit a seam in the defense and had a chance to have a big play, and Woodyard reached back in there, knocks the ball out and we recover it. I think the heart and the fight of those guys in that locker room, you can’t question that.”
Okay, heading out for the weekend so here’s my prediction.
Pats: 24
Broncos: 27
Woodyard with the right take on why Prater may be so clutch:
Kicking brought Prater to Denver in 2007, when he was signed late in the season to handle kickoffs during Jason Elam ‘s final season in Denver. Back then, Prater was known as little more than a young kid with a big leg.
Four years later, Prater is one of the longest-tenured Broncos and one of about a dozen players remaining from the Mike Shanahan era.
“He’s a lifesaver,” said special-teams captain Wesley Woodyard, who joined the team in 2008. “I know he’s always had a lot of confidence in himself. But he’s had three special-teams coaches since he’s been here, so he always has to prove himself every year. To me, that makes him the type of player he is, with having to come out and prove himself every year.”
To me that’s one of the biggest accomplishments the Broncos organization has ever had, following up a kicker like Elam with a kicker like Prater, I mean how much better can it get than that in the FG department. We are way spoiled that way, other ways, not so much, LOL.
Unleash Tim Tebow cause all he does is win games. I always liked Skip Bayless but i like him even more now
24-17, not mine, but 6 bloggers have that score prediction, original it isn’t. If I have to give 7 points to 6 bloggers I will be a bummed out camper, LOL.
I skip Skip, give me Woody, haha.
The score was a typo, 27-24 is the score of choice this week, not 24-17.
2 x 24-17 instead.
Low participation this week, 34 bloggers so far, 29 say we win, 5 we don’t.
DB, the link for first take podcast is
http://espn.go.com/espnradio/podcast/archive?id=6247496
I’m not a huge fan of skip’s show. Too much yelling for me. But sometimes their guests are good. Doug Flutie was on yesterday and that was interesting.
My favorite broncos show is 850 Dave and Dave. And as Bay said, Legwold is must reading for fact based analysis.
Dave and Dave podcast also.
Broncos: 24
Patriots: 27
I think it will be somewhat of a shootout and the Patriots have a very good kicker as well who will make the most of the thin Mile High air as well.
Goodman has one of three Broncos interceptions returned for touchdowns this season. Before this year, Denver had gone four seasons (2007-10) without an interception returned for a TD.
jeeze. I’m guessing that is all about the DCs we have had over that period of time.
rbf1, this one just for you:
Peter King predicts a 27-16 Patriots victory.
Thanks bay, yeah I did try to post yesterday, but was having some technical difficulty posting his small paragraph.
I listen to his audio and he thinks Brady has too many weapons for us to handle, even against our defense.
I think this game is more about our defense than Tim Tebow. And according to what Champ said, the defense is peaking at the right time. Everyone is relatively healthy.
McGahee seems to be healthy again. DT seems to be gaining confidence and shaking off the rust.
And one of the distinct advantages we have is that our QB is a supremely conditioned 24 year old who just flat out wears down the defense.
I’m believing in light’s out play by our defense.
Continued excellence by Prater and Colquitt.
Tim taking care of the ball, finding open receivers and singing tone deaf praise and worship songs.
McGahee having a 100 yard day
And 4 million people believing.
Denver 27
NE 24
Score Prediction: 24-20, Patriots win., hope im wronge but it feels like a turning point, we lose this one but rebound, or collapse? How well a team plays after a loss is their defining moment. LETS GO BRONCOS GET SOME,…. DJ. VON-DOOOM ON YOU
Denver 24
NE 21
I guess First take should be renamed First Tebow. If you look at the list they discuss him everyday LOL.
Applejack, you have a good point about the conditioning of Tebow. I also think that the whole team is in that kind of condition. I think they may all competing with each other. None of the other players want to be out lifted or out worked by the QB so this amps them up to do more work. Benefit for us and them. That is why we are still fast and strong well into the 4th quarter and OT when the other teams are tired. NE players will be sucking oxygen on the sidelines big time this weekend. LOL. They are comming a day early to try to get used to it but from what I hear from friends who have visited it takes A LOT longer than 24 hours to adjust. Good for us again. LOL.
Belicheck better take them out to Red Rocks to do some wheel barrels…lol. All kidding aside, this is shaping up to be a great matchup.
Patriots run defense is tough, though not has highly ranked as Bears run defense.
I dunno why the are making a big deal about this patriots team … saying “Can Tebow keep up?” … Ummm … they have one of the worst defenses and the worst pass defense. They say he hasn’t done it before … what about the vikes … and what about this team puting up mad points on the Raiders. Both whose defenses are better. They seem to have short memory whenit comes to this team. Just because its brady on the other sideline doesnt mean this offense will not be able to do work on a worse defense. Better question is if our Defense can stop Brady and if our D does … once again … it will be … This D is just carrying Tebow … How about “They are doing thier job” just like this O does enough to win. To analysts and the outside world … this team is only as good as the team they aint beat yet. Sure we haven’t beat any real super stars but all they just keep saying is this week it stops, this week it stops, eventualy I suppose u will be correct eventually but while u were denying 7 games were won and 1 game was lost. TRB
They will always have a reason why Tebow succeeded and it will never have anything to do with Tebow’s ability.
MIA – comeback was because it was a horrible Miami team
DET – see..see what good teams do to Tebow
OAK – oh it was against a struggling team
KC – another subpar team
NYJ – no team in their right mind would send an all out blitz late in the game Tebow got lucky
SD – Rivers is struggling that’s why they won
MIN – C’mon 2 – something anyone can beat them.
CHI – Bears just blew it
The thing is they keep saying Tebow can’t do this or doesn’t have the skill set to accomplish anything. But when he does they always have a reason why.
NE – if Tebow has a good passing performance it will be because NE defense is ranked last. However if he has a bad performance it will be because he lacks good passing skills.
We’ll just have to get used to listening to “no matter what Tebow does it is not because of Tebow it’s because of some other reason”.
Thanks for the link Applejack.
Bay – Toooo passionless!
You mean not fanatic enough? LOL.
I’m more of a BroncoManiac.
Just wanted to say I can’t stand Skip Bayless and First Take. I mean, I like that he is a Tebow supporter but he talks trash about the rest of the team all the time. I saw bits of First Take live in Denver this morning and the fans were making me sick because they asked the crowd if they like Tebow more than John Elway and the fans roared like crazy. That’s not cool if you ask me.
Don’t get me wrong Tebow has been amazing during this stretch but I’m tired of no one else on the team getting any credit. And I don’t like that fans have forgotten about Elway, the best Bronco of all time. If Tebow takes this team to a couple Super Bowls then we can start comparing.
Again, I’m not slighting Tebow at all, but c’mon the rest of the team has been great and Elway is still the Duke!
MHM88
I hear you there, when Mark Schlereth got on to give his opinion about Tebow and basically said that Timmy ‘was a great football player, but may be unsustainable doing this week in and week out,’ which is a valid point — sure the kid needs to get it going earlier and he will be the first to admit it, the crowd booed him. Booed a man that has helped win this community two SB championships (which he politely pointed out)
It really was “so disrespectful” as Stephen A. Smith would say. I love, LOVE what Tebow has done for this team, but to hear what people out there at Jacksons Bar were saying was diplorable. And in no way should represent what true BRONCOS fans stand for. jmo
-Royalty
Yeah im pretty tired of the excuses for Tebow not being good, but to not credit the team as a whole is stupid.
I kinda thought a bit what it would be like, if say, we won the Super Bowl against the Packers… i had a chill go down my back. Prolly wont happen but gosh it would be the biggest slap in the face to so many haters and dipsh*ts…
One can only tebow…