Sometimes you just can’t say anything at all in the way of an explanation for what we have watched.
The National Football League is structured for parity. We all know that, and most games reflect scores that show one team that barely won and one that barely lost, with a half-dozen scenarios that could have changed the result, sometimes several times over.
But once in a while we witness a game that just starts off bad, gets worse, and before we know it is not even recognizable as being representative of the way we expect a team to play.
There is no sense in looking back at the Chargers game with any eye toward saying that if this had happened, or that had happened, the results would be different.
In 1940 the Washington Redskins had the best record in the NFL at 9-2 and won the Eastern Division title, facing the Western Division-winning Chicago Bears, who had been 8-3, for the league title.
The Bears won that game, 73-0, not only the most lopsided score in pro football history, but one which came in the championship game to add to the Redskins’ embarrassment.
Early in the game a Washington receiver dropped a sure touchdown pass from Redskins’ Hall of Fame quarterback Sammy Baugh, and after the game reporters asked Baugh if he thought the game would have been different had that ball been caught.
“Sure,” Baugh deadpanned. “It would have been 73-7.”
From start to finish, the Broncos’ game against San Diego was one of the worst in team history, and some of the other “worsts” came back in the early 1960′s, when Denver was a ragtag team ill-prepared to face early American Football League powerhouse like San Diego and Kansas City.
In a blog last week, I wrote that this series has produced some of the Broncos’ most “interesting” games — I guess we have another addition to that list in the series ledger between the two teams.
At halftime Sunday the San Diego PR staff called the Elias Sports Bureau, official statisticians for the NFL, and got confirmation of what they had suspected: the halftime margin yesterday was the largest in Chargers history for any game played in Denver.
Who would have thought the carnage would get worse in the second half?
But it did, and there are not many solutions for the average observer to come up with.
One thing is for sure–the Broncos’ bye week could not have come at a better time.
Sometimes you have to take a step back and clear your head before getting ready for the next challenge.
The good and bad of pro sports is that no matter what you have just demonstrated, you have to go there and do it all over again in your next game.
Win or lose. Or lose real bad.
Champ Bailey said something quite true after the game.
Without trying to sugarcoat anything, Champ pointed out that the NFL brings almost every team back to the middle, and by the last couple of weeks of the season sure winners are fighting to hold on while long-ago abandoned teams are playing their way back into the playoff races.
It does nothing to settle our stomachs today, but that truly does happen every year.
For now, all we can do is try to get away a bit during the bye week, and a mental vacation in this case is as good as a physical one.
There are no answers in this corner, just the knowledge that the calendar and schedules are absolutes.
Every remaining game, one at a time, is a chance to improve and fix things, no matter how many might today seem irreparable.
And there is no joy in statistics today, but the Broncos’ division has three teams that are 2-3, and one, Oakland, which is 2-2 after their bye this past week.
As has been true evermore, the future is not in the past.
Tags: Champ Bailey, Chicago Bears, History, Sammy Baugh, San Diego Chargers, Washington Redskins
[...] vinhk wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptWithout trying to sugarcoat anything, Champ pointed out that the NFL brings almost every team back to the middle, and by the last couple of weeks of the season sure winners are fighting to hold on while long-ago abandoned teams are … [...]
I’m at a lose as to why we put so much attention into the pass defense when our division is so strong with the run? Larry Johnson, LT and Jordan . . . all top RB’s in the league (LJ off to a slow start, but who would have guessed?). Now, name some top wide receivers or QB’s for that matter, in our division . . . yeah, not coming up with any.
Even with the corners we have, teams still finds whys to work in their TE’s and third receivers to gain yards.
We need a rush defense and agressive offensive play calls – By the way, what happened to the QB play action roll-out? I don’t know the techincal term for this play, but it has always been effective for us . . . I think I’ve seen it twice all year?
One of the worst I’ve witnessed…Jan. 15, 2000, Jacksonville 62, Miami7. Dan Marino’s final game. I felt terrible for him. Elway did it right…he was fortunate to go out on top.
[...] unknown wrote an interesting post today!.Here’s a quick excerptBut once in a while we witness a game that just starts off bad, gets worse, and before we know it is not even recognizable as being representative of the way we expect a team to play. There is no sense in looking back at the Chargers … [...]
embarassment completely
Jim,
Yesterday was horrible, but I do think the team needs to take a break and try to recharge their batteries. After a devastating loss like that, does the organization reevaluate players, coaches, etc. or is that something that’s always left to the offseason?
By the way, I’m reading “The Game of my Life” right now and it’s terrific!
Jeff
I have been a fan since i was 7 and love my broncos…last night was embarassing…not only does our team seem to lack play calling diversity (what happened to the bootleg?) but our defense can’t stop the run…and remember some picked us to win the afc west…bring back kubiak at least our offense was a threat then
So Brandon Marshall thinks it is “bandwagon” for 76,000 people who showed up in foul weather to leave when their team doesn’t return the favor? I think they deserved what they got. The team didn’t show up so the fans left; and a few booed. I will say this though: If you think that was bad Brandon, try playing like that again. It can get MUCH worse.
What really bothers me is I still believe this team is better than that. If they were just bad, I could understand. But we are seeing a good team play poorly; and that really hurts. I can back a team that loses if they leave it all on the field. I haven’t seen that yet from the Broncos this year.
It makes me wonder about the concept of buying talent. I said above the Broncos were a good team. Now I wonder if they really aren’t just a collection of good players. Maybe we bought so many “good” pieces that we couldn’t put together a good team with them. I don’t know: But I do know I don’t like it.
This “bye week” should be spent with FOUR-A-DAY practices, each THREE HOURS long, doing nothing but block-breaking and TACKLING… and learning how to play defense again.
And these guys call themselves “professionals”?
“Professionals” of WHAT, exactly?
Professionals of spending all their bonus money right away on a whole bunch of crap that they don’t need, and then complaining that they “can’t feed their kids” when they have a career ending/season ending injury.
I was unaware that the price a milk had gone up to 3.5 MILLION a gallon.
It was $3.89 the last time I bought a jug.
It seems like after kubiak left our offence isnt doing anything! Maybe we should try a different running back like young who has the ability to make big plays unlike henry. Our defense needs to do something different. With all that talent we have on the team we should be leading everything on D. Maybe we need to blitz more considering we have the best secondary… supose to neways. But that would stop the run more and also put pressure on the QB which we arent doing at all, Even though we went and payed tons of money for like sam adams, simion rice, which cant do it by their selves. Blitz. and I feel that might get the job done. Cutler is doing an amazing job, but the team need to help him out with play calling and down in the redzone we need to score.
“By far one of the most terrible performances I’ve seen by a talented team and potential superbowl team”.
It seemed as if the team ran out of stream right off the bat. I dont blame them all. We were up against a team that wanted it more and was slowly coming up from its worst start jst after being a superbowl contender last season. However, our team shouldn’t have made it that easy for em. I just hated that smuck grin on Rivers face.
Again, what happened to pass rush? Our coaches cant expect to call the same defensive schemes week after week and hope to see something happen. We should be one step ahead. they came in and knew that they had a mismatch against their TEs/slot position and they took full advantage against that. Overall our D did a pretty good job holding down LT on the run, but gave Turner too much room.
In the end, I felt sorry for the team. It seemed as if the fans abandoned the team too soon. We know the the team didnt show up, but the least we could’ve done was stay behind and atleast show some support. I think the sudden dissappearance of the fans affected how the players finished the game, atleast thats what i think. This is much needed BYE week and should be taken full advantage of.
I was on an air plane while the game was being played but recorded it so I can watch it when I got home. I did not know the score when I clicked on the tv. That is the first time I ever fast fowarded a bronco game all the way through. And all I kept seeing was a charger uniform in the end zone time after time and I was just shocked and sick of what I was seeing. Needless to say my recording of a 60 min game lasted about 4 min, I could not wait to delete it. Good news is that I know they will not lose next week. Thanks to bye week.
A die hard Broncos fan I am_ win lose or draw, but the lack of HEART displayed on the field yesterday was atrocious. Something to attribute to the coaches. Only a handful of players played with heart to win yesterday. The talent is there, bought or produced. The coches make the players fit- look at the Patriots. Are there coaches better than ours? I think not! Come on Broncos- find somehing or someone to play for: D-Will, D-Nash, Fans, Coach, Family, Yourself, The Team, Pride, Money, Injured Players, Anything…Preferrably all the above and more! The coaches need to find this teams HEART (like Al Wilson) and put schemes in to fit the Talent.
Find some Heart and turn it around Broncos- wer’e not out of it yet! I’m standing behind you cheering with all my HEART!
GO BRONCOS
The players should take the loss at heart and actually win a game because at the pace we are going our record will be 2-14
The players should take the loss at heart and actually win a game because at the pace we are going we might not win a game the entire game the whole year, But this loss could also be a turning point this year and lead to a SuperBowl win
YES someone that agrees with me Bronx you said the exact same thing I have been… We need heart a leader to step up and say we can F-ING win… WQe need to play for d-will, and d-nash…
While I understand the comments and feelings of Brandon Marshall, it is obvious that his frustration came through and was fired directly at the fans.
And, while I was a bit defensive and upset about it yesterday, today I just have to say this.
The fans didn’t leave when our first drive produced nothing. They didn’t leave after the Chargers’ first drive did……or when Brian Clark lost the ball and a second score was made. Heck, they didn’t even leave after you, Brandon Marshall, could have put us in a good place to score but instead fumbled the ball, yourself. The entire first half, we sat through what appeared to be a lot of mistakes that were pretty much taking the air out of our sails and rendering our voices mute. But we didn’t leave.
It was only after we had been heckled to death by fans of San Diego, been rained on and nearly blown out of our section 509 (yes, that’s at the TOP of the stands) seats and watched our team give up, did we even consider leaving. And even then, we continued to hope for a miracle, but instead got long runs, long bombs and more scores….just not ours. By 1/2 way through the 3rd quarter, it was pretty apparent that we were the only ones left in the stadium. Oh there were a bunch of our guys on the field….but no team.
I’m sorry you felt abandoned. I’m sorry you felt betrayed. And, I’m really sorry you don’t understand why we, your fans, felt exactly the same way.
Oh….by the way…..just thought you might want to know……
I was wearing YOUR jersey.
Vonnie
[...] jim_saccomano wrote a fantastic post today on “Chargers Game a Shock to All”Here’s ONLY a quick extractBut once in a while we witness a game that just starts off bad, gets worse, and before we know it is not even recognizable as being representative of the way we expect a team to play. There is no sense in looking back at the Chargers … [...]
you know im not giving up on denver i have been a fan foe 10 yrs no team has stole my heart from the broncos and they never will so having said that i dont care if they never win i will always love the broncos but losing does hurt really really bad so please get it togeather
we will win one day
lol hopefully soon and very soon
Denver is mi fav team since like i was 5 so they have to step it up and figure out somting over there bye champ bailey i want to see more inteerceptions of course he will wehen they throw the ball to him and thats not often the whole team has to preform better SUPERBOWL !!!!!
stop being such a toady. the loss was so embarrassing that the local network affiliate chose to cut away to a different game explaining “and now we’ll bring you a little more competitive game between…” how embarrassing for a broncos fan in the heart of chefs country. don’t be such a company man and acknowledge something needs to change with this team or we can expect more of the same.
All i can say is if that was the best our team has(which it wasnt!) Then this is going to be one long…..season! Our team is facing an identity crisis which lacks any character or leadership! I would be lying if i thought this team should be one of the elite teams in the afc and nfl at the beginning of the season, i bet we all did, but as for now I feel at a total loss for a team with so much talent and no direction. We will rebound from this i guarantee it, lets just hope its sooner than later. GO BRONCOS!!!!
There are some good points made here. I don’t believe this is a good team. I don’t believe this is a TEAM at all. There is no TEAM chemistry. The Broncos are 2 field goals away from being 0-5. My heart will always be with the Broncos. During this bye week they must all do some serious soul searching and bonding as a TEAM!!! I see individuals pointing fingers and smart a#% remarks by players after bad plays. Brandon Stokley is visibly frustrated with Cutler. Marshall and Cutler aren’t always on the same page. Tight ends are not used enough anymore in the offense. Martinez was the lonely bright spot in this game. He caught whatever he touched. There comes a time and place when a team must come together as one. Hang together, play together, fight together, win together. The decision to get rid of Coyer was bad, very bad. We now have Tom Nalen gone for the rest of the year, CRAP!!!!! The players can sit around feeling sorry for themselves, or they can step up and become a team. Look at the Patriots. Their players are excited about football. Those players look like their having fun, and they look like they have fun as a team. Back to the basics guys, really sometimes thats all it’s about. Jim Bates, change the scheme, use a scheme that will work with the personell you have. Coaches and players if you feel as though we’ve jumped off the ban wagon, your crazy. All those fans that left that day just couldn’t bear to watch anymore, hell the country couldn’t watch anymore, and to be truthful, if this were a boxing match your corner guy would of thrown in the towel. We as fans at least care enough to try and point out what you probably already know, but we are interested one way or another. Plus the standard in Bronco football as been set so high, we expect greatness. This is not Detroit, where people expect the Lions to loose. Yea Broncos fans will always be there, but we just haven’t had much to cheer about lately. Fans show up on sundays and do our jobs, now it’s time for the players to do theirs. We invest our time for you week in, week out. We just expect more. Thanks for the blog site and the opportunity to rant daily. GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!
Couldnt agree more. I swear our d-fense looks absolutley lost. At one point the players are running around and pointing with their backs to the line and thankfully the coaches called a t.o. Right now we are not a good team, thats 100% right, but there has to be hope when we take a pounding like that! Someone should have reminded those guys they were playing a football game on sunday, and oh yeah that team just happens to have LT playing. OUT COACHED 3weeks in a row. I’m bummed but I have faith. GO BRONCS!!!!
I am grateful that the the fans can endure some pain. For too long we have been fattened and spoiled on the meat of success. We are caught up in demanding a superbowl at every turn. A superbowl will come again someday and I hope we true fans have earned it with some patient suffering.
Success without hardship is bland at best.
GO ROCKIES!!!!!!
Mr. Saccamo
I, J’shua the Knight, (the Messenger of the MILE HIGH SPIRIT ~ADONAI~), hereby CHARGE YOU, to write and Deliver This Speech and Message,
TO BE SPOKEN in the Locker Room To the Team and Staff:
Thus Saith the Lord of Hosts,
“To My Coach’s,… aka Rod Smith.. {suffer them not},….. SELVIN, Chris, Antwon, Jason, BRANDON, D.D., Webster, D.J., Dre, John, Daniel, BRIAN, JARVIS, Hamzaah, Javon, Simeon, Marcus, and Elvis……. one of you will uphold Me in BELIEF and speak of true Hope and Faith, even in the face of media … of Me and MY SPIRIT in “, Says the Lord, “for you already have and possess My BlessinG with-in your {Hands and HEARTS},… and the very Grounds that you play on”!!!
~an ancient Native Burial Ground at Mile High Invesco Field~
~~~~Honour the Fallen, and I will Raise YOU UP, by MY HAND!~~~~
….”and to my soldiers on the Offensive Line, and the rest unmentioned”,.. “Be Silent and Hold the Line steadfast MY BELOVED STALLIONS, as you were, and remain ‘THE SILENCE BY WHICH I SPEAK AMUNGST YOU TO THE MEDIA’, –which is become your closest enemy!” ..
and to ALL, be not.. neither haughty nor vein, for I, THE LORD, WILL REPRESENT YOU IN YOUR HUMBLENESS and in VICTORY, Just as I always have… With-In your organization, starting with my Chosen..JOHN.
It was when he humbled himself to Me thru prayer, not for himself, but for HIS MEN….did I Deliver that which was worthy of such Humbleness, …..TWICE!!!
…and as for you Jay, Fear Not, Young Captain, thus saith the Lord,….”Be Not Afraid for I am With You. John, possessed the number for that which is HOLY to Me, but you Jay, possess the Number for that which I belove the Most….the Number of my Beloved Man-Kind!
…therefore worry not about the shadow of your predecessor, for I will make your name great for My Namesake, as long as you stay humble with-in me !!
“~Adonai, of Mile-High~
-the above was not from me the messenger, therefore Harken -
-from me, J’shua the messenger: I pray Miles, that YOU, and ALL Those Reading to ENCOURAGE YOU, to PASS ALONG THIS MESSAGE TO OUR TEAM, by any means necessary!!!!
worry not about the messenger,……TAKE HEED AND HOLD OF “THE MESSAGE”
To my Teammates: Listen to me, “If We dont Stand (when we play) for SOMETHING TOGETHER…..then we will FALL FOR ANY-TEAM!!!!
LET THIS BE YOUR MOMENT AND HOUR OF INSPIRATION
there will always be days that do not “appear”, to be in your favor….but these are the days when the inspiration of…. one of YOU, as you heard, …..will spark many! the fans may boo in dismay….but this is NOT your end. Commentators,..may never ‘truly’ give you respect, and heck, MADDEN may never truly give you the true team rating you are, but thats ok!
behold…have not they been made to “hate” you?
“Blessed are Ye when Men shall Revile you, Persecute you, and basically Hate on You, for His Namesake, He says.- Matthew 5: 1-20
“But I will not forsake you”, says the Lord, and the spirit of Adonai (Mille High). …”Even though many of you don’t believe, for the sake of the few, I will Bless the many”…. “Others, may not know you, just as you have not completely known me, but I KNOW you, and your time is coming…….Believe in me as you can believe in yourself, for that is How and why I believe in you…..He says, “AM I not THERE when you look into the MIRROR! for it is written: I WILL BE WITH YOU, WITHER SO EVER THOU GOEST”!!! ~YHVH~
Football is now more than just X’s and O’s, Gentlemen– its about “HEART AND BELIEF”—
Believe in Him Denver, with the faintest of ‘Hope’, and HE WILL LAY YOUR ENEMIES at Your enemies (Teams)at your feet~
for those of you truly doubting His Presence A MILE HIGH……..CONSIDER THE ROCKIES!!!!!
~ R. I. P. DARREN and DAMIEN ~
Miles, I dont know You,
If any of yourself believes in what You said above, then take charge and Deliver this Message to be READ IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE TEAM!!!
Do NOT Fail to Do SO!!!!
before next the PITT game!!!
P.S. A young Prince, living in the U.S. – (2 yrs old and adored by God), likes football already and screams aloud very fervantly ….GO BRONCOS!!!!
WORRY NOT ABOUT THE FAIRWEATHER OF FANS,….DO IT FOR THE CHILDREN AND WHAT HE STANDS FOR TO THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Give it to Ramsey.. cutler is not there yet. Give
Ramsey a full game and the second game you will see a difference