Despite a 2-3 start, the Broncos find themselves in the thick of the AFC West title race.
Denver will travel to San Diego for a Monday night showdown this week that gives the Broncos a chance to tie the Chargers for the division lead. The team’s place in the standings is helping it stay positive and focused after a 31-21 loss to the Patriots.
“That’s the good news,” tight end Jacob Tamme said. “We’ve got a chance to get right there at the top of the division lead again. Nobody’s real happy around here right now, but no one’s discouraged at the same time. It’s time to get back to work and get ready for this week.”
Each of the Broncos’ first three losses of the season have come against quality competition in Atlanta and Houston, who are both 5-0, and the defending AFC Champion Patriots. Week 6 will be no different, as Denver takes on a 3-2 San Diego squad. Tamme said the team should expect to win week in and week out, regardless of the opposition.
“We feel like we should be able to go strap it up with anybody, and we’ve missed some opportunities to kind of prove that,” Tamme said. “We’ve played good teams. Every team in this league is pretty good. At the end of the day, you’ve got to win. You’ve got to win against good teams. We’ll go back to work and try to get a little better this week.”
Though the Broncos know how important it is to get back to .500, Tamme said the team’s record is not a source of added pressure.
“I haven’t really heard ‘2-4’ until you just said it,” Tamme said. “The goal is to find a way to get to 3-3. We’re playing a good team again, a division opponent who’s at the top of the division right now, and we’ve got a chance to get back up there with them. We’ll have to be ready for it.”
One problem for the Broncos through the first five games of the season has been fumbles. Denver currently leads the NFL with seven, including three against the Patriots. Doing a better job holding onto the ball is important, but it’s not something that can be perfected. It’s simply a matter of squeezing the ball tight and hanging on, Tamme said.
“Sometimes you’re going to get unlucky,” Tamme said. “Guys make a great play and get a hand right there on it. We’ll continue to put an emphasis on it. As an offense, it’s something we work on hard, and we’ll get a couple of those bounces too.”
“Just try to protect it with everything you’ve got,” Tamme continued. “That’s about it.”
One other area where the Broncos are looking to improve is in how they start games. Falling behind has been an issue in each of Denver’s losses, but Tamme said better first quarters are not far from the team’s grasp.
“I wish we had a little magic potion,” Tamme said. “I don’t know the exacts. I think just little things with ball security, with missing a block here and there, or being just a tad off in different parts. I think the slow start maybe is a little bit overrated at this point. We were pretty close to going up 7-0 there early (against New England), but at the same time, we didn’t. It’s a matter of just taking care of all those little things. We’ve all got to individually get better. I can play better. We can all do a little better.”
Tags: Jacob Tamme, Week 6
B-R-O-N-C-O-S BRONCOS BRONCOS BRONCOS!!!
All I’m going to say is I HOPE we win… No reason we can’t, the Chargers are almost as weak a team as we are
I’m sick of not feeling like we have a chance against tough teams… It’s embarrassing really, to have watched the Falcons, Texans and Pats simply impose their collective wills on us…
I will never stop cheering, but right now I’m having a hard time ‘Believing’
VON MANNING FOOTBALL 2012!!! HELP ME BELIEVE IN YOU ORANGE AND BLUE!!!
And another thing I can’t stop thinking about… Who else thinks that Sir Eddie Royal is going to do his darndest to take at least one kick to the house against us? he was a truly under-utilized and underappreciated part of our team for the last few years, and his abscence is more Glaring to me because of our refusal as a team to use a REAL punt returner these days
NFL FUN FACT!!!
In the last three games the CHICAGO BEARS DEFENSE has scored 5 Touchdowns!!! FIVE wow
http://blog.denverbroncos.com/mrice/no-time-to-panic/comment-page-1/#comment-461926
I’d stop thinking about your punt returner issues turtle. Jim Leonard may or may not possess the skills to take it to the house but he makes good decisions and does not turn the ball over to the opposition. With a QB like Peyton Manning, it’s more important to put the ball in his hands as often as possible than it is to have a better chance of the rare score on a punt return.
This team will beat some better teams when it counts once we get to the post season. They will peak at the right time to be a contender to win the big prize. How many times in the last 10 years have the Broncos started out strong in the beginning of the season only to fizzle down the stretch? I’d much rather lose a few at the beginning of the season and save our best ball for when it really counts. Keep your head up turtle and show your Bronco pride. I don’t see this team letting us down, their best football will come later in the season. Go Broncos!
Imready, Im soooooo with you on that, if you cant see whats going on here theres a problem. Like I said I see more
posivtives than negatives in these losses, were on the verge of greatness, just have alittle patients Turtle man.
At least he’s turtley enough for the turtle club.
I’m with you though man, while these are right and ball security trumps all on punt returns, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t interested in entertaining and scoring returns.
Haha, Turtle Man….Yeyeyeyeyeyeyeyey Live Action! LOL!!!!
We need to focus on winning the turnover margin. All three losses we didn’t win the turnover margin. We need to start creating turnovers.
We have the POTENTIAL to be a great team, but we are making mistakes all over the place. Our D needs to snap the neck on 3rd and long (which we are last in the league)and play much better transition ball in our secondary as well as stopping the run on 1rst down… The O needs to posess the ball better, less turnovers (which we lead the league in) and quit dropping wide open passes!!!
Considering we have lost to 3 elite teams does not make me lose my faith, but its the way we are doing it that is a great cause for concern.
I WILL NEVER GIVE UP ON THE ORANGE & BLUE…. with that being said i beleive we HAVE TO BEAT THE CHARGERS MONDAY…get things worked out over their bye week and come back with ATTITUDE ON D…GO BRONCOS
Like the ole saying goes, the good football teams start playing well come Thanksgiving time. Just don’t get too far behind. We win against S.D. which I think we will, the rest of our schedule is down hill from there except the Ravens game on the road. The Bengals and Panthers are not good teams. We should be able to sweep our division if we win Monday night. Lots of football still.
Cheer up Turtle.
I have no doubt in my mind that Denver will inflict its will upon the Chargers. The data on the Charges is scewed as they have played some sissy teams while Denver has lost to some outstanding ones.
Think of it this way. SD has won against the 29th ranked Raiders, the 28th ranked Titans and the 30th ranked Chiefs all while loosing drastically at home to the 2nd ranked Falcons and on the road to 24th ranked Saints.
On the Other hand, Denver beat a 10th ranked Steelers team and completely leveled 29th ranked Oaland. Denver’s losses come to the 2nd ranked Falcons and 1st rank Texans by 6 points apiece (both games Denver stayed in despite turning the ball over way too many times). Then Denver losses by 10 to a 5th ranked Patriots (again in the game despite turnovers and an unbelievable scheme by Belicheck).
To me this shows that Denver is just on the cusp of being able to play with the big boys of the NFL (imo we are a middle line backer away from greatness, sorry Joe Mays). While the Chargers are hanging on by a thread at the back end of the NFL.
No doubt in my mind we kill the Chargers.
DESTROY the chargers! 41-24
Start fast, and play like it’s the fourth quarter.
I want to see Miller, Dumervil, and Wolf sack Rivers about 20 times! I think the Broncos D is going to step it up big time this week but when we get DJ back, we will be hitting full stride and be scary!
Well I hate to say it but I think we are in for a dog fight to the end to make it to the Playoffs I just hope we make it even if were 8-8 again Go Broncos!!!- Must win Game on Monday!
I am still positive.. against teams that we should be beating we are doing it in fashion. against teams that should give us a hard time, we fought to the end…
We have a great offense…but need a healthy line to be brilliant…
On Defense, need more tweaks and add-ons…. MLB and DE play has been lacking. We NEED a DEFENSIVE CAPTAIN at MLB to hold this unit together.
All I can say is that Im all in this year. We HAVE to make the playoffs and win a game or two. Ive seen some good things (offense) and some not so good things (defense). Lack of pressure, turnovers and 3rd down efficiency, is what is really killing us at this point. Hope we kill them Dolts.
Prediction
BRONCOS 33
dolts 23
@Champ-B-un
What exactly is DJ going to do? Woodyard has been as good or better at WLB. That makes DJ pretty good depth. The other option is to try him at MLB again but that hasn’t played as well in the past but maybe it’s better then Mays at MLB (sorry Joe, I like you but you are a great backup but not starter quality)
Mays not a good tackler whatsoever. We need top tier LB’s when the draft comes in April. DJ is sound but off the field he’s a proven loser. He is probably gone after the season is over. We need lots of help at LB. As for our Safety Rahim Moore, I’ve considered him a lost cause. We need tacklers at Safety not being out of position all of the time. I like Mike Adams, but he is getting older and after a few years he’ll need to be replaced. Lastly, our pass rush is missing most of the game. Whats up with that. Elvis has disappeared for the most part. I hope he hasn’t lost his mojo. Elvis we need you!!
Tap your cleats 3 times!! We’re gonna win in S.D.!!!!
I finally hvae a few minutes, so here’s a listing of BBBPs already right of wrong:
WRONG!!!!!
OSS: McGahee replacred by current Bronco, surprise (Was thinking TT)
OSS: NcNabb TT backup
OSS: Franklin to RG, Harris starting RT
Shaz: Hillis back as RB
KKod: Hillis back as RB, 1359 all purpoose yards
Bay: McCoy Fins HC, Sherer Broncos OC
Dad13: TT starts game1, 16, 10-6, not necessarily as Bronco
OT: PM starts 3 or fewer games
DEnvere 0723: TT starts game 1, 250 yards, 2 TD
3rd Gen: EFX try top trdae for #1
AB: Page 5 KR, 3 PR for TD, all pr o
AB: Omon makes cut
Skilz: KM traded before start of season
Camharland: Weber # 2 QB
FTR: Gartland makes cut, 5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles
SDBronco: KM doesn’t make team
SDBronco: Irving starting LB by game 4
Millertime1: KM inji=ured in preseasson, eventually cut
WINNERS!!!!!!
OSS: Wber LS, Trevathin ST
Since1972: Os #2 QB by start of season
KKod: TT traded before start of season
SEWeatherman: EFX surprise in draft order
Great fun!!!
ALL HAIL THE NECK!!!!
DON’T WRECK THE NECK!!!!!
“DON’T WRECK THE NECK!!!!!”
I LOVE IT!!!!!!LOL!!!!!
That was really funny oldsouthstander!
I think it was a really neat idea and great effort for comming up with and keeping track of everyonse BBBP’s here at the official blog!
You’re awesome man!
ILMSDB!
You can’t ask Turtle to have patience. He wants us to win now because that’s what he feels Elway promised us. Or at least that’s what I’ve gathered from ready what he posts. I could be way off base. I, however, have been preaching patience for weeks. I firmly believe that NOBODY can make the defense feel worse than they already do, especially Champ, because all he’s ever wanted is a QB like Manning and now Manning is on fire and the defense can’t help him. They aren’t living up to their own standards when it comes to Manning so I am confident that they are going to figure it out.
One bonus is that I don’t think Philip Rivers is the best no huddle QB. And they lost to the Falcons by a ton more than we did. It’s only been five games. And I know that I can’t keep saying that forever, but honestly, right now, there are 11 games left. And it’s like Peyton didn’t even miss a step. He’s on pace to beat records he made in Indy and he’s only worked with our guys for six months. It’s actually pretty amazing.
prediction
broncos 35
chargers 20
Missed a winner:
Since1972: TT not starting QB.
OC: Thanks. Having an absolute blast trying to keep track of winners and loosers. Pretty much the rest of the BBBPs are season long awards, yards, TDs, etc, etc.
I think von doom are on the 25 sack pace, but it’s looking pretty bad for moreno’s 1500 all-purpose yards
I’m not worried about 2-3. looking at, our schedule in the preseason 3-2 was being optimistic, and that was before we knew how good atl and hous would be. and suddenly the pats have a dominant run game?!
we started with a murderers row, and we were competitive despite shooting. ourselves in the foot.
if I am right you will see this teams true colors in a convicing Monday night victory
Alex, I agree 100%. Convincing win on Monday! I cannot wait! But I was bummed that I didn’t get a press conference today. MNF messed my time clock up. I was disappointed.
Truth is, all the VERY TOP teams have an over-powering defense, especially in the DL … Denver, right now, has a finesse defense, which means you’re on the edge of your seat every time the other team has the ball, and on the edge of your seat when Denver has the ball, hoping against hope not to see a turnover … when finesse works, you get a sack or a tackle for loss – when it doesn’t, you see the opposing QB standing back there all day, looking for a target, and usually finding one … we’re still w/o that Watts type DLman, who can turn the game around … Wolfe looks pretty good, but he disappears for long stretches … I keep waiting for him to look like Watts – I guess he plays a different position (doesn’t he??), but still …
If we wanted to have patience – we could have had that with Tebow and it would have been justifiable. After 15 years, needing to have patience with Manning is just almost funny.
We had a better performance out of lesser talent on D – advantage Tebow!
Win percentage – advantage Tebow!
Entertainment value – advantage Tebow!
System integrity – advantage Tebow!
Rushing yards – advantage Tebow!
Passing yards- advantage Manning
BTW – I think it necessary to point out that while Miller is getting all the love, he is likely to continue to be on the field something less than 70% of the plays collecting his impressive stats, while Mays will likely continue to to plug away at 90% or more of the plays. Kinda makes a feller wonder if those who are hatin’ on Mays know how to eval a LB???
do we get Chris Kuper back this week?
Tebow??
Daddy… Miller was in on less than 70% of the snaps yes, but that was just this last week. If you go back and look the week before against the Raiders, he was in 100% of them so that’s a non issue in my book. And advantage Tebow? You’ve got to be kidding me. We would be 0-5 without Manning. He’s been our best player by FAR this season!
Oh DB………you deserve a big COME’ON MAN!
If Tebow played in those first 5 games, we might’ve been outscored 200-30. At least Manning has given our D some rest by converting first downs and limited the 3 and outs. TT was a 3 and out machine…….I can only imagine how out of control the scores could’ve gotten with TT playing QB.
NUFF SAID! LOL
Tebow? DB you can’t be serious. You cannot seriously still want Tebow after you’ve seen what Peyton Manning can do. This is a team sport and he has done his best. But he can’t stop every fumble magically. We keep shooting ourselves in the foot. Crikey. I know he just said that to get a rise out of me Kod.
Our current MVP is definitely Peyton Manning or Von Miller. You cannot honestly want a different guy leading our team. smh
I am talking about patience for the team as a whole anyway. Peyton Manning hasn’t missed a beat since 2010. We need to have patience for the team to be as prepared as he. Sorry. You wont convince me that Peyton Manning shouldn’t be playing. 1013 yards 8 tocuhdowns 0 INTs the last three games. HE is NOT the problem.
Tim Tebow threw 12 YD last season. Peyton Manning has already thrown 11.
Nope, Peyton has been ballin since that first quarter in Atlanta. He’s been our best player bar-none. And once this team stops making mental mistakes, we will be a force to reckon with.
Anyone think NOSHOW gets activated for this game? Ball hasn’t done a thing.
Yah cat……I think DB is just trying to needle you and stir the pot as usual. lol
Don’t embarrass yourself DB… Outside of ball security, our biggest problem hus far has been clearly on the defensive side of the ball. As kod points out, with Tebow’s 3 and outs, I shutter to think how bad this season would be at this point.. Also, anyone notice that Tebow’s one completion this year, put the receiver (TE) on IR? He led the kid right into traffic, much like what he did to Decker when he got hurt last season..
*thus far
*He led the kid into traffic, and threw a high arching pass
Exactly Kod!! And I noticed that too OT. But I’m not knocking Tebow because I think the Jets are silly not to use him correctly… all I’m saying is there is no way I prefer Tebow as a QB for my football team.
You can’t blame Tebow for Decker’s injury. Harrison put his helmet right into Decker’s knee looking to injure him. If you’re going to say that then it goes for every single QB not just Tebow.
Our problems on defense come down to drafting. It’s too soon to properly judge Elway’s two drafts at this point, but there are some question marks there. But a team can’t expect to turn things around with a draft or two, it has to be part of the fabric of the organization – from the FO, to the scouts, to the coaching staff – everyone needs to be on point. Just look at the Texans, they’ve built a serious contender through the draft, over several successful drafts, all while letting Mario Williams get overpaid else where.