Rice Takes

I know there are two games left and the Broncos need to try to win them. But I’m taking a deep breath after the loss to Houston and starting to think about next year.

The Broncos aren’t mathematically eliminated from the playoffs but the way they are playing, and have played this year, they have showed they are not a playoff team.

But they have pieces in place that, to me, show they could be a playoff team again as early as next year.

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There’s nothing quite like a blowout when you’re on the plus side of it. The Broncos needed such a game — and they got one Sunday against the Chiefs.

I know, it was “only” against the Chiefs, who are certainly on the south side of decent during a recent losing streak. But still, the Broncos went out and dominated a team that they should dominate.

I was really impressed with quarterback Jay Cutler. I’ve been saying it for awhile, but he continues to get better. There weren’t any red-zone issues against Kansas City. The Broncos offense flat-out did a lot of good things against the Chiefs and Cutler was in complete control. I still find it amazing that he has made only 18 career starts in the NFL.

How good did Brandon Marshall look? Holy guacamole, this young man can play. He is becoming a terrific receiver right before our eyes. The way he gains yards after the catch, the way he has improved as a blocker … it’s impressive, to say the least.

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It is an enviable position for an NFL team to be in: Win while not playing its best. That’s where the Broncos find themselves after two games of the 2007 season.

Sunday’s overtime win over the Raiders was the Broncos’ second consecutive nail-biter. The bottom line is that the Broncos are 2-0 and they are not playing nearly to the level at which they are capable of playing.

The Broncos have plenty on which to work after beating the Raiders. A few of the items:

• They surrendered 200 net yards rushing. The Raiders couldn’t throw the football, finishing with 53 net yards passing. But the Broncos could hardly stop Oakland’s running game. It was just too easy.
• For the second straight week, the Broncos’ offense marched up and down the field. But for the second straight week, they struggled to score points. The Broncos racked up 441 yards but they still had to rally to win.
• The Broncos’ special teams has to tighten things up. The onside kick the Raiders recovered seemed to give them new life. Even though Oakland didn’t score on the ensuing possession, the Raiders seemed to be energized by taking the Broncos by surprise.

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