The Broncos refuse to look ahead.
Head coach John Fox said this week he has not studied the playoff field.
“Nope, because then I wouldn’t be keeping my focus. I think what’s really important is that win this week against Kansas City. All our focus will be on that. Whatever that brings, we’ll react to. Right now, that’s where all the focus is.”
But Fox did tell 850 KOA that he has thought about how he might handle things should the Broncos secure a bye in the first round of the playoffs.
“Oh yeah. I’ve been doing this a while so we pretty much have a schedule for everything,” Fox said. “We’ll know how to adapt and prepare if that’s the scenario. But we have to take care of business Sunday first.”
I know anything can happen on any given Sunday, but I have little doubt the Broncos will beat the Chiefs and at lock down at least the second seed in the AFC playoffs and a week off in the first round of the postseason.
Coaches and players cannot say that, even if they believe it.
Not only do I believe the Broncos will accomplish those things but I also believe with one week left in the regular season, they are the team to beat in the postseason.
I have no idea if they will advance to the Super Bowl and win it. But if I were a betting man, that’s the way I would go for several reasons.
1) OVER THE LAST TWO TO THREE MONTHS, THE BRONCOS HAVE BEEN MORE CONSISTENT THAN ANY TEAM IN THE NFL.
Not only have they won 10 straight games, but the Broncos are averaging 30.8 points per game during the streak. Only the Chiefs have held them under 20 points all season and that was in the Broncos’ 17-9 win at Arrowhead Stadium on November 25.
At the same time, the Broncos’ defense has given up an average of only 17.2 points per game during the 10-game winning streak.
In addition, as my 850 KOA colleague David Treadwell points out, the Broncos lead the NFL with 48 sacks and they are third in rushing defense, allowing only 91 yards rushing per game. They can bottle up the run and get to the quarterback.
2) THE BRONCOS HAVE AN ELITE QUARTERBACK. Peyton Manning gives them a chance to win regardless of how a game unfolds. He can help them get out to a big lead. He can rally the troops if the Broncos fall behind. He won’t let his team go into a game unprepared. He won’t let his team go into a game unfocused on the task at hand.
Manning isn’t the only reason the Broncos are 12-3. But he is most definitely one of the main reasons they have had this kind of year.
I know several other teams also have elite quarterbacks. Which one, however, is playing better than Peyton Manning right now? I’m not sure one is.
3) THE BRONCOS HAVE PLAYMAKERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL. Imagine being an opposing defensive coordinator. Remembering that Manning has faced just about every kind of defense possible, the opponent’s defensive coordinator will still have to decide on what he believes the best approach is to try to slow Manning down. Easier said than done.
Then, that coordinator has to decide which receiver will garner the most attention. Demaryius Thomas? Fine, the Broncos still have Eric Decker, Jacob Tamme, Brandon Stokley, Joel Dreessen and others. Seven different players have at least 20 receptions (one of them, Willis McGahee is currently injured) and five players have 39 or more catches this season.
Furthermore, the Broncos are running the ball pretty well. In five starts since Willis McGahee injured his knee, Knowshon Moreno has piled up 469 rushing yards and two touchdowns. That’s a more-than-respectable 93.8 yards per game and 4.0 yards per carry.
Now, think about being the opposing offensive coordinator when your team is facing the Broncos’ defense. Denver stuffs the run and gets to the quarterback. Who is your first priority, Von Miller or Elvis Dumervil? You also know that Champ Bailey will likely match up against your best wide receiver. Think you can pick on Chris Harris or Tony Carter? No worries, each of those guys has scored two touchdowns.
The bottom line is that in addition to a variety of star players who are playmakers, the Broncos have plenty of others who have taken turns making big plays in big situations. There is no reason that cannot continue.
4) THE BRONCOS HAVE SOME COMPELLING INTANGIBLES. Call me a homer if you want but I believe this to be true. More than anything, the Broncos know they have the opportunity to win a Super Bowl. And they are making sure they do what it takes to take advantage of that.
“It starts with Coach Fox,” cornerback Champ Bailey said. “He talks about it. And when you have guys that have been around the block a few times, 10-plus years, there’s several in our locker room that can tell them these opportunities don’t come. You look at (linebacker) Keith Brooking, prime example, Super Bowl his first year and not even close since. You see that around the league a lot. A lot of guys get close and they don’t get back. You’ve got to take advantage of these opportunities.”
The Broncos are a group of guys who like to be around each other. No doubt winning contributes to that but there is also no doubt that it is a good locker room. The importance of that cannot be underestimated, especially when games tighten up in the playoffs.
5) FOR AS GOOD AS THEY HAVE PLAYED, THE BRONCOS CAN STILL GET BETTER. After each of the last ten wins, the talk in the locker room has been about continuing to improve as much as the win they just earned.
Following the victory over the Browns, tight end Jacob Tamme summed it up perfectly on the 850 KOA postgame show.
“It sort of works like this. We know we have a good team. So we don’t need anyone else to tell us that because we also know that we can be better,” Tamme said matter-of-factly. “We know when we watch the film, we didn’t do everything perfect. There are things we can correct and improve on. You kind of start to lose that when you start listening to people on the outside (say), ‘Ah, these guys are playing so great.’ We know we’re playing pretty good and we know we have good players and good coaches and doing some things well. But we also know there are a lot of things we can do better. As long as we keep that mindset and keep improving, then we’ll be giving it our best shot every week.”
After one final regular season game, the frantic race for a silver football perched on a pedestal will be on and once Sunday’s game is over, the Broncos can finally focus on raising the Lombardi Trophy in New Orleans.
No doubt other good teams will be in the running to do the same. As things stand now, however, the Broncos are the team to beat.
What is the biggest obstacle to the Broncos winning the Super Bowl? Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts.
Best,
Mike
I think the biggest obstacle is keeping Moreno involved. Keep him running the ball hard and have him in situations where he knows his blocking schemes 100%. if Moreno can be a complete player for the next 4 weeks i beleive the offence can literally be unstoppable.
The Defence speaks for itself as Mike said it. Keep playing BRONCO football.
Superbowl Bound!!!!!!!!!
Mike, I think the biggest obstacle is not over looking our opponent and not changing who we are when we inevitably have to play the Patriots again.
Our biggest obstacle is and forever will be covering tight ends, and the patriots have great ones. We were the worst in the league agaisnt Tight ends this year. That will need to be addressed to get past patriots TE tandem. Even the ravens pitta torched us, and they will be getting ed dickson back soon. Houston has Owen daniels and that other kid i think his name is casey. Given the opportunity Indy will rekindle his flame with his college TE Fleener against us (if they make it to us). So taking on TE is my primary concern. D is pretty much stellar everywhere else. Glad Moreno came in when he did with those fresh legs. As a result he has been able to carry a heavy load. We need to use him more in the screen game tho. I see him get a few check downs but we only WR screen these days for the most part.
later days,
TRB
Protecting the ball and the QB and,as TRB said,covering tight ends.
I think the “let’s not look passed the next game” mentallity is going to play a big role too.No need to look forward to hoisting the Lombardi until the final seconds tick off the SB clock.
What I like best is that if we win this game we have 2 weeks to prepare for NE.
Very good point TRB… that’s been the kryptonite for the D this year.
Pats have had great success in last 3 games vs. Broncos in this area.
Ridley also ran wild last time out of Brady’s machine gun no huddle.
So the video TRB….awesome seats!!
**Saw the video**
I worry some about the kicking game. I was always comfortable with Elam lining up that game winning kick, not so much lately.
TRB is correct. There has been some improvement over the year though and I think JDR has been experimenting. The problem with TEs is the mismatch it creates. Do you cover the TE with an extra CB, a Safety or a LB? Well it depends on the TE and the rest of the formation.
Lets take NE for instance. When both Hernandez and Gronk are healthy, TE loves to run its 12 personnel package. Gronk in particular is too fast to cover with a LB, too big to cover with a CB. Plus if the defense subs in a CB or Safety to cover him, Brady will call a run play and Gronk will knock a safety on his backside in the run game all day.
Hernandez is the real receiving threat because he is fast enough to play WR but too big for a CB to cover. Having both these guys in at the same time really strains a defense.
The thing is, no matter what you do, you lose. You play small, Brady runs at you; you play big and they throw.
I honestly think that Trevathan is the key guy. He is fast and is improving in coverage. JDR has found a pretty good attack and I think it will work. It involves using more of a 3-4 look on defense.
Doom/Ayers playing a wide nine DE spot, Vickerson/Bannan play the NT, Wolfe at the other DE
Miller, Woodyard, Williams, and Trevathan at LB.
What I am suggesting here is to try to play the best combination of size/speed that Denver has.
Wolfe and Vick have shown they can two gap very well. Which will bottle the middle of the run game and force it outside.
When we last played NE, we had Mays playing at MLB. Mays is a good downhill LB but he isn’t good in space and he isn’t good in coverage. Having D.J. back (yes, I know I blasted him a lot) is an improvement as far as speed and coverage over both Mays and Brooking. The dynamics have changed quite a bit since the last time we played NE.
TRB is right, TEs have been our biggest struggle and will continue that way till we develop a better coverage LB or till get one in the Draft or FA.
Sorry for the essay. Hope it was at least somewhat interesting to anyone.
Very interesting RH and I agree… great analysis of just exactly what’s transpired. I really do like the 3-4 look.
Mays was Mike backer in last three games vs Pats. Brooking has done well in base defense vs. run, with exception of Chiefs game.
Here’s some interesing information regarding Broncos Defense from ESPN. Pretty dominating !!
Broncos Defense During 10-Game Win Streak
Total opponent QBR: 13.1 (NFL rank — 1st)
3rd-down conversion: 21.3 (NFL rank — 1st)
Points per drive: 1.23 (NFL rank — 1st)
Yards per play: 4.6 (NFL rank — 2nd)
Opponent yards per drive: 22.1 2nd (NFL rank — 2nd)
Very good commentary on the TE situation. I think TRB nailed it. I’m just not sure we have a solution for a tandem of TEs like Hernandez/Gronkowski or Daniels/Casey. NE knows how to exploit this but I don’t think HOU and Schaub in particular know what they have.
GO BRONCOS!
I think the biggest obstacle will be the turnover differential. While covering TEs has been our Achilles heel, we still have a 10 game win streak.
That extreme hurry up NE ran kept Von on the sidelines for quite a long time in that 1st matchup. I’ll bet JDR has a remedy for that if we face them a 2nd time.
But, 1st things 1st, grab that win on Sunday and that potential rematch will be in thin air…
Broncos Country Strong 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!
Turnovers on offense and covering TEs on Defense are our obstacles.
Also the Texans TEs are Owen Daniels and Garrett Graham. James Casey is a FB/TE who they only use at TE when one of the other two are hurt or to give them rest.
Good to see TRB and RFB1 posting. A Go Broncos goes out to them!!
RH I would bet that you are coaching or have coached!
ILMSDB!!
FTR
I want to wish everyone a Safe and Happy New Year!
RIP DW!
Just me!
FTR
broncos are the best team in my opinion but their biggest obstacle is those damn patriots. as a colts fan for so many years, i endured many a heartbreak watching king peyton lose to the pats in the playoffs. hopefully the tables have turned, with peyton finally getting both a solid defence and running game in the open can of whoopass elway-led mighty broncos. pey-j from vancouver, canada
I dont know what you guys will think about this, but here what I think could be great for our D against the Pats, assuming we face them again in the playoff. First of all, you have to play man to man and rush the passer to be succesful against them. Zone Coverage against Brady is worth nothing, he just pick you appart. Von Miller, Elvis Dumervil, Derek Wolke, Kevin Vickerson/Justin Bannan. Those 4 HAVE to be able to pressure Brady with these only 4 rushings.
For the man to man, I believe that Chris Harris is good enough to take on Brandon Lloyd all game 1 vs 1. Lloyd is not a huge playmaker this year while Harris has been great. Good macthups for us I believe.
Tony Carter their 2nd Wideout if they are in 3 WR set. Most of the time it’s Edelman, so Carter has some speed and can match Edelman.
Bailey on Welker all game long. No matter where he his at the line of srimmage, I’d put Bailey on Welker to shut him down.
Now, for both Gronk and Hernandez. Let’s start with Gronk! D.J. Williams have to cover him, 1 on 1. It’s a huge assignement for DJ but he has to do it. The Pats have alot of great weapons on offense, we have to rely on our players and Williams has to play a great game on Gronk.
For Hernandez, he is too big of a mismatch for anyone on our team. We dont have any player than can match him man to man. That’s the player I’d double up. Threvathan and Mike Adams (he’s better than Moore in coverage)
Woodyard gets into Spy coverage or on Ridley. He has speed and great vision, he’ll handle that. Rahim Moore back there and doing some zone coverage.
I’m not saying they have to do this ALL game long, but this plays could work well for the Denver Broncos I believe.