Any historian will tell you that history is never final, but that we are able to make sense of it by identifying eras.
So too, every National Football League team writes a new season of history every year, and each season is not final until February.
But the Denver Broncos have hit the halfway point with some great moments and an extremely positive feeling among all fans.
These are just some random thoughts that I have had with the statistical support having come from Broncos Media Relations Coordinator Erich Schubert.
One of the most positive signs that things are going in the right direction is when there are so many positives happening all at once that we begin to take them for granted.
In the game at Cincinnati Peyton Manning had his 48th career game-winning drive, which moves him past Dan Marino as pro football’s all-time in this category. This is actually a category first development by myself when John Elway was seemingly having a drive like that every other week. Eventually the Elias Sports Bureau, with infinitely more research available, took over and dug way deeper, creating specific criteria accepted by all as to what constitutes such a drive. In the process, John Elway’s total actually was reduced from 47 to 40 currently, and in any case Peyton Manning passed everyone in Cincinnati.
The Broncos had five sacks against the Bengals, giving Denver 24 at the half way mark. It puts the team on pace for 48, which would be the most since the 1999 season.
Second-year linebacker Von Miller had three sacks at Cincinnati, and he truly is on pace for greatness. Miller could finish with 18, which would set a new franchise record. In his first two years Miller has 20.5, and the best in Broncos history is Elvis Dumervil’s
21 in 2006-07.
We are at the point where fans and press watch with the expectation of seeing something good happen, and that expectation is borne out of previous success, creating the very best pro football version of the chicken and the egg.
The development of Denver’s young wide receivers brings a smile to every Bronco fan’s face.
Eric Decker now has a streak of five straight games with at least one touchdown reception, and the team record is six straight, held by four players. Decker has 16 touchdowns in his first three seasons, 2010-12, that already ties him with Lionel Taylor for the best ever by a Denver player—as an FYI, Rod Smith and Brandon Marshall each had 15 in their first three years.
And when Trindon Holliday took off on his 105-yard touchdown kickoff return, it triggered a flood of quickie thoughts—
–his return was the longest scoring play of any kind in Denver Broncos history.
–Trindon Holliday became the shortest Bronco to ever score and, while hard to measure, certainly one of the fastest.
–the only Bronco who has ever scored who might have been as fast was Jerry Tarr, who caught a 97-yard TD pass in 1962—Tarr was an Olympic sprinter from Oregon.
–Holliday’s record return moved his ahead of Goldie Sellers and Nemiah Wilson in the Broncos record book. Each player, both cornerbacks from Grambling, had
–A 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in consecutive games back in 1966. Wilson’s came at Kansas City on October 8, while Sellers had his the previous week in Denver vs. the Houston Oilers.
That game against the Oilers was one of the greatest I have ever seen, by the way.
Denver had opened the season with a 45-7 drubbing at Houston, a game in which Denver set a pro football record with NO offensive first downs—Denver’s only first down came as an automatic result of a kickoff return touchdown of 88 yards by Goldie Sellers.
The Broncos their typical bad season in 1966, the last before Lou Saban began to shape the team into respectability the following year, but still, a team has its pride, and the Broncos were itching for respect when they hosted the Oilers in the rematch on October 2.
Not only was that the game in which Sellers had the 100-yard kickoff return, his second of the season after the opening night score at Houston, but the Broncos posted a stirring 40-38 win despite one of the greatest individual performances I have ever seen.
Houston quarterback George Blanda, eventually headed to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, accounted for all 38 of the Oilers’ points, throwing five touchdown passes, kicking five extra points, and kicking a field goal to round out the scoring.
It was a fantastic football game, and I thought of it—via a Goldie Sellers flashback—as soon as Holliday crossed the goal line.
So the Broncos are at the halfway point, 5-3, and when the debate is about whether quarterback Peyton Manning could be comeback player of the year, OR the NFL most valuable player, OR both, that is a pretty good debate in which to be centered.
The good times are rolling again in Denver, and Broncos fans are hoping those good times roll like a steamroller going downhill in the second half.
Tags: Jim Saccomano, Week 9
Anyone what the Eagles/Saints game? The Eagles have the worst Oline I have ever seen. Mike Vick may not be the greatest QB on the planet but he is not the problem with the Eagles. The saloon style swing door they call an Oline is the problem. Vick routinely had 2 seconds, tops, to throw or run. No quarterback can succeed like that.
watch*
I did watch the first half of MNF, and Vick isn’t going to last much longer in the league if he continues to take hits like he’s been taking all season long. They do have a rookie starting at center. Part of the center’s responsibility is getting the offensive line set correctly. I didn’t see a lot of that from the center, he’s still learning and that’s why Spagnolo keep sending pressure right up the “A” gap. You could really tell the hits are taking it’s toll on Vick, he rarely steps up into this throw and he consistently threw the ball short and low even when he didn’t need to. Tough on a QB for sure.
Which reminds me our offensive line has been doing exceptional this season. Clady’s got a big pay check coming his way at the end of the season!!!
Kudos to our Oline for sure. Kupe will be out about 4 weeks with his ankle injury. Ramirez has been up and down but really he is the only weekness. Clady has been unreal, Franklin has improved his pass protection (he has always been a beast at run blocking). Kopen has been very solid (as was JD before injury). I haven’t even heard the name Zane Beatles, which is a good thing. It means he has gone about his business and done his job.
You are right Brian, Vick won’t last. He also isn’t able to step into his throws and some have sailed on him because of that. Not his fault though. I found this picture of the eagles oline…
http://www.dreamstime.com/old-western-swinging-saloon-doors-thumb5433356.jpg
Everyone come on in lol
Looking good
Was Kuper’s injury to the same leg he broke last season?
Not sure.
PUM PUM PUM!!! GET OUT AND VOTE!!! (FOR JOHN ELWAY!!! I DID)
Only vote if you are informed. and uninformed vote does not help anyway.
If you are informed and had made up your mind, then please get out and vote.
does not help anyone*
Hey Fans – Name is Rick and I’m a Canadian – Been a Bronco’s fan since Elway was drafted and a Peyton fan since he was drafted – now I’ve got the best of both worlds – couldn’t resist joining the discussion since I have detested Vick (aptly named the coach killer) since he was drafted and especially now that he is also a “DOG KILLER” – Maybe his offensive line subconsciously wants him to feel like the caged dogs he was responsible for killing felt – I for one couldn’t be happier and can’t wait for the day he is no longer playing football!
As bad as I think what Vick has done off the field is, he has served his time and seems genuinely remorseful. He has had no off field issues since. What he did was wrong and inexcusable but I think he has righted the ship which is the most you can ask for at this point.
I’m interested in what our gameplan will be against Cam Newton. We haven’t faced a QB like Cam Newton this year. While he can completely gash the defense with his legs he also can throw the ball well. He’s been struggling lately and I could see the Broncos trying to bring pressure but it’s a double edge sword and he could gash us like Tebow did to the Jets and RG3 did to the Vikings. I wonder if we’ll pull a LB to spy or not. They haven’t really utilized their running game this season but they still have good backs win Williams and Stewart. Should be a good matchup, one that we need to be ready for.
At least the Denver defense is familiar with the read option, as they saw it every day in practice for a year.
RH709 says:
November 6, 2012 at 9:58 am
As bad as I think what Vick has done off the field is, he has served his time and seems genuinely remorseful. He has had no off field issues since. What he did was wrong and inexcusable but I think he has righted the ship which is the most you can ask for at this point.
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Sorta like the criminal named Singletary in Ca that chopped off a girls arms? He did his time, got parole. All’s good then eh? Should”ve got paroled after her arms grow back. Vick will be forgiven when his dogs return to life. My two Pitbulls would have it no other way.
Make more money for your charity Von! We love to see those 1000 stacks adding up!
I would rather not get into comparing people and dogs. I also own a pitbull and she is an amazing and loving dog. Anyway, I get where you are coming from and I would never claim that you are wrong. Just saying, I think the guy is truely trying to turn it around.
Blog Score Contest Results WK 9
Denver came away with a well fought victory in Cincinnati and it’s never easy to win on the road so extra Kudo’s to our beloved Broncos!!! Von you are the MAN and thanks for putting on a Pass Rushing Clinic!
Denver 31 – Cincinnati 23 (54)
KaPow… and DB (55) Strikes again, also Sharing first place honors for the week will be Banned_Inc!!! nice work you too and enjoy that 10 point blast up the leader board!
Now, if this was a grade school I’d send you all to the office for copying each other’s homework but since it is a score prediction contest I’ll give you 7 points and a Mile High Salute!!! Good for second Place, all with a Prediction of 31–20 (51) were The DANE, Strandoftds82 and Still1972! (Funny, all three names in alphabetical order on the Spreadsheet as well, a real oddity!)
Third Place and joining the scoring fun this week are Tnalen66 31-27 (58) and BroncosManiac1 34-24 (58)… Nice work you guys! Good to see you in the points column with five a piece!
With Predictions totally (48) points and good for 3 more contest Points are Gabeharter and Von_Dumervil… Excellent Choices!
Broncnasty joining the party and receiving one point with his prediction of 38 – 7 (45). (I always take the first prediction as per the custom of the game)
Well done Team and it goes without saying really that Dy_NASTY_D will be taking a 7 point slide in the standing! FOR SHAME DUDE! Haha! I’m glad you have fun Dy! That’s what it’s all about anyway…
Bonus CYBER COOKIES FOR THE WEEK (Picking the exact number of one team or the other)
RH, BroncsBomber66, Wolfedom, Von_Dumervil, Still, Strand and Dane! Way to earn those cookies!!! (31)
We just need to be ready for the “fumblerooski!”
Thanks Turtle. Congrats to the winners.
Seems like guessing the Broncos to get 35 or 31 points every week could work pretty well lol
To err is human. But to forgive is devine.
@Brian_Schneider Yes, same leg.