It’s Starting To Get Interesting
It’s called a season for a reason. All 16 games count. And the Broncos have to be glad for that.
With the win over the Titans on Monday night, the Broncos accomplished their first task of getting back to .500. Now, they have to keep it going.
One reason to think the Broncos can and will is the play of their defense. They have changed things up, they have made adjustments, and they have received more from young players who are developing.
While Vince Young isn’t the best quarterback in the NFL, he is dangerous. The Broncos didn’t let Young take over the game. They kept him and the Titans’ offense pretty well in check.
Another reason to think the Broncos can continue to play well is the emergence of the big play. For the first time in franchise history, the Broncos had four touchdowns of over 40 yards in one game.
The week before against the Chiefs, Selvin Young had a 20-yard touchdown run and Daniel Graham caught an 18-yard scoring pass.
A third reason to think the Broncos can keep rolling is their schedule. No, there are no easy wins in the NFL. But it’s pretty clear that the Broncos early season schedule was tougher than many of us originally thought it would be.
Buffalo is solid, Jacksonville is really good, Indianapolis…need I say more?, Green Bay has lost just once, San Diego is still tough, and Pittsburgh and Detroit are definitely good teams.
Now look at the teams left on the schedule.
- Chicago…the Bears are not nearly what they used to be on both sides of the ball.
- Oakland…have to beat the Raiders if a team has playoff aspirations.
- Kansas City…all kinds of problems for the Chiefs…and it’s a home game for the Broncos.
- Houston and San Diego…certainly difficult road games, but winnable.
- Minnesota…if a playoff berth is on the line in the regular season finale, one would think the Broncos could beat the Vikings.
My point is not that I think the Broncos will win the rest of their games. My point is that when the Broncos execute, they are a good team. If they play well down the stretch, they could very well find themselves in the playoffs.
What do you think will happen over the final six games? I’d love to get your thoughts.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks for reading.
Mike
November 21st, 2007 at 10:07 am
If we keep us this new play intensity, I honestly can only see us losing 1 more game, if that. I really think we can go into San Diego and return the home game loss, especially if they play the way they have been.
It’s the Houston game that I’m nervous about, but not overly concerned.
10-6 is looking good now, and 11-5 is even better.
We all knew this team had enormous potential, and it’s just nice to see some of it coming out now.
November 21st, 2007 at 11:32 am
Mike,
Excellent take on the remaining schedule. The Broncos truly hold their destiny in their hands and control their own fate….one too-many cliche’s there.
In looking at the rest of the season we have to factor in who the challengers in our division face as well, and the Broncos have the easiest road, though neither K.C or San Diego play what I would consider a tough schedule.
As I broke down here - http://www.milehighreport.com/story/2007/11/20/04926/138 —
The Chargers play BAL(4-6), @KC(4-6), @TEN(6-4), DET(6-4), DEN(5-5), @OAK(2-8)
Combined Record — 27-33(.450)
The Chiefs play OAK(2-8), SD(5-5), @DEN(5-5), TEN(6-4), @DET(6-4), @NYJ(2-8)
Combined Record — 26-34(.433)
Both teams have 3 home and 3 road games left, while the Broncos have to travel 4 of the next 6.
9-7 shuld win the division mening the Broncos need to go 4-2 the rest of the way. They have the talent, they have the ability, now they just need to go out and do it…
TSG
http://www.milehighreport.com
November 21st, 2007 at 11:49 am
Thanks for an interesting report and fans comments.
I’m afraid I am a simple man and only look at games one at a time since form and injuries vary throughout the season.
The most important thing for me is for the player’s to focus during each and every minute of every game and bring intensity and perfect execution onto the field. They have enough talent to more than match the opposition if they compete at the same level.
November 22nd, 2007 at 12:40 am
Bears(WIN) -Looked good at the begining of the season, but, their defense is not nearly what it usually is, and their offense is what it has been for 5 years, scary team who can play good sometimes, but everyone seems to be beating them, why not us? 3 straight?
Raiders(WIN)- We don’t deserve to win the west without beating the raiders twice, but please do not make it as close this time around.
Chiefs(WIN)- We always beat KC at home, and their luck from the begining of the season is running out.
Texans(WIN)- Tough game on the road, a team who plays up to competition, and down to competition, depending on which broncos team, and which texans team shows up, could be an easy win, or could be a close game, another winnable, yet scary game.
Chargers(Toss-Up)- Can we seriously lose 4 straight to the Chargers? It looks like redemption might be sweet on Monday Night…hopefully we beat the chargers like they beat us…or at least by a point.
Vikings(Win)- The Vikings are good and bad, like most teams we play 2nd half, if the playoffs are on the line at home against the Vikings, one would think we won’t throw 2 games away in back to back years the exact same way??
Overall
If denver goes 5-1, we’ll make the playoffs, if not, we better beat the chargers.
We could go 6-0 and be the hottest team going into the playoffs…which would be great.
P.S. We’ve had the patriots number in the playoffs lately, so i think it would be great to draw them 2nd round and knock the bullies out of the playoffs!!!!!!
GO BRONCOS!!
November 23rd, 2007 at 6:55 pm
I think we will loose one (SD) or maybe two (Min) if our D dose not stop a healty A. Peterson. I do think we can win those games but they are the ones that stand out to me. I think Houstin has a good pass attack, but not nearly good enought to beat Champ and Dre all day long. I think KC is going to attempt to rally they beat SD, and that give us the better reord in out Division should it come down to it.
November 23rd, 2007 at 8:23 pm
The rest of the games are winable games. The Broncos can and should win the rest of the way. They have had good games and show they can win without a fire drill fg. The rest of the season is theres for the taking what they do with it is up to them. Being that they have shown they can play very well I expect nothing less
November 24th, 2007 at 2:46 pm
There are a couple of reasons why the Broncos are playing like they are supposed to. In the beginning of the season, they were moving the ball but were not putting points on the board. That would put pressure on the D to stop the oppositon. We were not stopping the run because most of our linemen were pass rushers. Now that the Broncos score points and are getting turnovers. If they play the same way they have been, then we are playoff bound. Before we started winning, the players didn’t execute. Now that they are executing, they are winning games.
Good point thereMike.
Go Broncos!!!