Without a doubt, the Broncos’ season-opening loss to the Raiders was disappointing. And everyone had a hand in it.
“It was a team effort, so to speak,” Head Coach John Fox told 850 KOA right after the game.
Indeed it was. There is no getting around that.
As poorly as the Broncos played, and as disappointing as it was to see, it was only one game. I know everyone knows that one game does not make a season. One game is not a pattern. One game is not a trend. One game, whether it be a bad one or a good one, is not an indication that things will continue in the same way.
Just so no one misunderstands and thinks I am making excuses for the Broncos on Monday night, the Broncos made too many mistakes to beat the Raiders. They could not run the ball. They could not stop Raiders’ running back Darren McFadden. They committed too many penalties and turnovers. They played poorly.
And they still only lost by three points.
Even in the what-have-you-done-lately world of the NFL, perspective is such an important commodity. The Broncos are trying to pick themselves up off the mat. They are trying to come back from the depths of a 4-12 season.
The road back will be bumpy. Consider the Raiders game bump number one.
I see, however, an improved performance this Sunday against the Bengals. While nothing is guaranteed in the NFL, I don’t see a repeat of week one’s systemic breakdown.
Here are a few reasons why.
1 – A BETTER EFFORT AGAINST THE RUN. Right now, Darren McFadden has the Broncos’ number. I don’t see the Bengals having the same success on the ground that the Raiders had on Monday night.
2 – A CLEANER PERFORMANCE ON OFFENSE. Call it season-opening jitters or whatever you want, I don’t think the Broncos will commit as many penalties and drop as many passes this week. Things seemed to get rolling in the wrong direction on Monday and the Broncos could not reverse that. I don’t think that will happen two weeks in a row.
3 – THE LEARNING CURVE. The Broncos just played their first game under a new head coach. There is a learning curve and the Broncos experienced some of that in week one. I have to believe they will get more and more comfortable in John Fox’s systems.
If we are having this same discussion about the Broncos’ consistently poor play in six to eight weeks, then that would clearly be problematic.
For now, I’ll sit back and believe this team can and will play much better.
What will be the key against the Bengals this Sunday?
Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts.
Best,
Mike
Tags: Broncos-Raiders, John Fox, Raiders
Here’s our official injury report. I forgot….NO CHAMP!!!! UGH!!!!
Bailey, Champ CB Hamstring DNP
Dumervil, Elvis DE Shoulder DNP
Lloyd, Brandon WR Groin DNP
Moreno, Knowshon RB Hamstring DNP
Thomas, Demaryius WR Finger DNP
Thomas, Marcus DT Shoulder/GroinDNP
Warren, Ty DT Triceps DNP
Williams, D.J. WLB Elbow DNP
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d82240ed5/article/fox-didnt-hear-broncos-fans-wishes-so-maybe-hell-see-them
26-49 passes. Nope, the balanced approach went away faster than the Tebow fans, waiting to see if KO could inspire them.
Morning Mr. Rice!
Thanks for your thoughts. Some of us need anything positive after that MNF debacle.
The key, in my opinion, is for the team to play with consistency. By that I mean- mixing the run with the pass. Staying out of 1st/2nd and long due to penalties. Not killing drives by drops, turnovers or lack of fight for the 1st down. That’s just on offense. (Can the Oline get some push?)
As far as D, get off the field on 3rd down. Set the tempo and stop the big runs. The 10+ ones. I know we are beat up on that side of the ball. The next guy MUST step up. (Can the Dline get some push?)
On ST- our punt team needs works. I have seen us get burnt on blocks, fakes and returns over the last 3 years more than any of us would like.
GO BRONCOS in 2011, Dig Deep in Denver!!!!!!!!!!!
Agree Brian this season is Fox’s first year and as long as we are moving in the right direction week to week and being competitive, that’s whats important. I love to see us win as much as anyone, but the under the circumstances I’m viewing this season differently than normal win/loss record
21 Broncos
13 Cinci
Bay. Agreed. I can understand you not having to change a buttload of these picks and thanks for doing so….I won last week so maybe someone else has a chance now.
Y’all know the Bengals went 4-12 last year, and the biggest changes have been that they lost their Palmer and their 85, right?
They drafted a WR in the first round. It could be Jerry Rice, it still won’t matter if the QB sucks. Gradkowski has some fire, but most Raiders fans were happy to bid good riddance.
Last year their leading rusher averaged a whopping 3.5 yards per carry.
Any given sunday and all that, but I am still expecting the Broncos to beat this very weak Bengals team by more than 1 possession.
BOUNCE BACK WEEK!!!
BRONCOS = 30
BEN”GALS” = 13
At least that is my hope!!!
The Bengals also held Hillis to like 50 yards or something like that…HILLIS! If he can’t gain yards on the Bengals D I highly doubt that we’ll be able to run on them.
Cincy hasnt won in Denver since 1975.
This team, has to prove they can get it done. Until then look for more first time in history disappoints. The 11-0 home opening record that we lost last Monday, is a sign of what’s to come. Hold on.
Billboards?! You have got to be kidding me? What is this world coming to? Seriously disgusted with this news.
It’s just a game.
That 10000 could be better used donated to food charities, juvenile diabetes research, American Red Cross or even the charity of Tebows choice.
I really hope Tebow steps in and stops this. That would be the RIGHT thing to do.
The last sentence of that link shows one more time why fans have never really liked Orton in Chicago or here. It’s about what he thinks about fans chanting for Tebow:
“I just look at it like I don’t care,” Orton said. “(Fox’s) opinion and my teammates’ opinions will always be the ones that matter.”
A smart player and leader would of said:
It’s the right of the fans to say whatever they want, after all they spend their hard earned money on expensive tickets to come and see us, hopefully I can play better next week and they won’t be so antsy to have me replaced.
That’s what a class act athlete would do.
What Orton does is what a moron does with all due respect to Orton, you bring it on yourself Kyle, your attitude has a huge part in this mess, on top of your lackluster performances of course.
Yeah hillis is a beast. He also got another 30 yards or so in receptions.
Still, it’s the Browns we are talking about here. I still like to thing we are better than both the Browns and the Bengals.
@ bay: /agree. Nail on the head. What’s worse, is he brings that same attitude to games, and to huddles, and the sideline, and practices, etc.
Broncos-34
Cinci-20
I think our D is a lot better than we were last year. I at least see 3 takeaways this game and we have a much better outting this time around. I also see us putting up a solid hundred yards rushing to help Orton get things goin. He at least will have one good game this year, and this might be his only chance.
Tough night the other night but you guys know the score. Same old, same old. Team needs to clean up alot of things.
Very obvious we lost the battle in the trenches.
You can bet the Bengals are licking their chops reviewing film of McFadden breaking loose. Benson will be tough to stop.
bay, I’m sure my orange kool-aid was spiked, as I made my season prediction. No hallucinogenics here, or not that I’m aware of!! lol!!
Broncos – 20
Bengals – 19
Bay, your statement @ 8:27 a.m. was classic, down right funny, that being Coors beer being the Orange Coolaid and hallucinogens. OMG LMAO dude!
Well, if Orton puts up another stinker, I say bench him. Not cause I’m pro Tebow and want to see him start……….but because when you bench a player, it’s a signal to say, “You are not doing your job and you’re ineffective.” It’s a reality check that needs to be done sometimes. But I highly doubt that will spark Orton. If you doused the guy in gasoline and threw a match at him, he woudn’t catch fire………even if he is a wooden totem pole.
Now I got to go back to that post and do more catching up on reading. LOL
Knowing rbf1, that’s the closest thing he can do with a 20-19 win prediction to not calling it a loss since I know he couldn’t bring himself to do that, right?
Let;s not forget, folks, that the Raiders were the second ranked rushing attack last year, and they seem not to have lost too much.
The Bengals rush attack is no where near as tough as the Raider’s. Heck last year we kept some premier rusher at bay, most notably C. Johnson.
I will be surprised if the Bengals rush for over, let’s say, 107 yards. I will be more surprised if they pass for over 225. I figure they will get two TD and a FG. I also figure we will score more.
Soon enough time will tell.
Broncogator, I`d say the only way for Orton to be clutch is to trip and fall and cause an injury. Bring in the TEBOWNATOR!!
killerkod. I think it will take 2 or 3 more stinkers to make the change but don’t forget that the loss to the fraiders was a team loss with KO contributing to the loss. I think we’ll have to see a Plummer-esque meltdown for them to consider a change IMO
Here we go, Broncos!. Here we go! Let’s go, broncos! Let’s go!
Defense! Defense!
Rah rah rah!
And so on.
It’s nice strand takes the time to read up on blogs, like killerkod and rbf1 do too and many others, just too many times folks come on here and offer us some great revelations that were just discussed on the last page. So kudos to the ones who have the time and do catch up, while I realize many folks are just too busy to do so, but that often makes for conversations in an echo box for the rest of us.
If our team can remember how to tackle, we might be able to stop Benson…..that’s a big IF!
I’m no premier rusher.
I just about spilled my java when I read it. That made my morning right there.
I’m guilty of that on occasion bay. I appologize in advance for any further occurances.
I don’t agree with the billboards. But, when will it ever catch on. You win, these sort of things just don’t happen. You can put up career setting numbers, but when no one gives an ounce about your career, then, no one cares. Win, win, win, find anyway not to throw a timely pick or drop the ball on the ground. For a guy with no killer instinct whatsoever, he sure found a way to be the anti-climax of the evening.
I like it when bloggers put forth the effort to catch up on these blogs BEFORE the contribute.
It’s so irritating when some a-hole comes along and posts some big post that he thinks is original, but in fact was just discussed to death; if only he were cognizant enough to try to skim through the posts First.
I mean it’s cool if frequent bloggers who don’t have time for anything more just make a quick interjection, but when every single Joe-Schmoe is just repeating what has already been said ….
It get’s really irritating eventually.
Oh ****, …
Whoops.
I can tell you one thing……….even with a decisive win this Sunday, I will not be on here Monday shouting praises from the mountain tops. I will awknowledge a good effort if one is put forth. But the W, if we get it, will just be that……a positive notch on the standings.
I will not let the outcome of this game sway my judgement too much and think that we’re now in a position to win the division by any means.
Still a grumpy gus today………ARRRRGGGHHHHH!!! LOL
reading all the posts and playing catchup is relaxing to me. I love it! Good medicine with the throws of life coming at you everyday.
It’s no big deal raidrhadr, I guess it’s just to try to explain why sometimes I chose to ignore discussions because it’s just been discussed.
@killerkod:
But … What if we win 98 – 3??!?
alex……..
Then we’re going to the Super Bowl buddy!! haha
hehe j/k, of course
Kyle Orton League MVP!
@ Strand
I said the same thing right after I put up that post. Its the fastest way to get a new quarterback in the game. The Team will change there tune once a second year player manages the game better than a 7 year vet!
O nly
R ealy
T hinking
O f
N ot losing
Yeah, that’s right bay…. can’t bring myself to pick the other Team.
Lot of ups and downs the other night. We picked up some momentum with Deckers return. Looked like we were at least going in for a possible tie, when the rock was dropped…. enough said.
Never heard the chants pick so much as the other night….younger guys arguing in line for the restroom between KO and TT.. crazy!!!
It won’t be long before our some of our own fans are throwing fisticuffs over this QQ.
It just like the season record prediction and game score predictions. You want to win so you put up your best guess even if it goes against the grain and you have us with a losing season or losing the game. You want to win right. That’s how Orton needs to play…we’re in the redzone…McCoy calls a passing play…Orton drops back..of wait don’t turn the ball over…nevermind I got this…fires a laser in to Lloyd for a TD. That’s what he needs to play like…play agressive but not reckless.
Orton plays “passive aggresive”…aggressive betwen the 20s and passive inside the 20.
Maybe we should make a call to Tiki to help our running game! baaa haaa haaa! NOT!!
brian…..you mean passive-reggresive………
jubilee
infinitesimal
I have apparently entered the random word portion of blogging endeavor.