The facts cannot be ignored:
–The Broncos committed three turnovers against the Jaguars and failed to convert a fourth-and-one situation.
–The defense allowed Jacksonville two relatively easy (and long) touchdown drives in the third quarter.
–The Broncos committed a couple of costly, not to mention controversial, penalties.
–The Broncos came up short and lost to Jacksonville. We have talked in the past about the bottom line. It holds true here.
But before you throw up your hands in utter frustration, consider a few more facts:
–The Broncos were without a handful of key offensive contributors, including Eddie Royal, Tony Scheffler, Selvin Young and Brandon Stokley, who left in the first half after taking a blow to the head. Defensive linemen Ebenezer Ekuban and Josh Shaw were also inactive.
–Running back Michael Pittman showed there is plenty of gas left in his tank. He bulldozed his way to 109 yards and brought some toughness to the ground game.
–The Broncos defense stiffened and came up with some big stops to give the offense a chance in the fourth quarter.
–Despite their mistakes, the Broncos still had a really good opportunity to at least tie the game in the fourth quarter.
No, I am not pretending the mistakes and stretches of poor play on both sides of the ball didn’t happen. But I am saying that all is not lost.
The Broncos are still 4-2. They will be getting key guys healthy. And of all the things that are easily improved, turnovers are probably at the top of the list.
At the beginning of the season, I thought the Broncos were a good, solid football team that had a chance to make the playoffs. No doubt they are a work in progress, but what NFL team isn’t? The Broncos have a good record and they are right in the thick of things.
The Patriots are next. Obviously, this is not the same team without Tom Brady. The Broncos have won five of the last six meetings against the Patriots overall and five of the last six in Foxboro dating back to 1991.
I believe the Broncos will continue to improve against the Patriots. And I believe they will do so while winning.
Despite the loss, where did you see progress against the Jaguars? Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts, too.
Have a great week,
Mike
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Someone needs to light a fire under Cutler`s ass. He has absolutely no killer instinct. All the talent in the world is useless if you keep doing stupid things…….
Denver back ups didn’t step it up enough….. BRING BACK CHARLIE ADAMS
too many turnovers but oh well. and injuries don thelp wither. we will probaly get ekuban royal stokley young all back. scheffler is a iffy. would be nice to get him back but we shall see
We need John Lynch back…He was a solid tackler and can help in the box and get some pressure on the QB with his experience and all…move marlon mCcree to strong saftey….manuel is horrible….
The sky is falling!!! The sky is falling!!! Hey, wait a minute, we’re 4 and 2 and in first place of the AFC West. Life is not all that bad.
I saw the defense playing much much better. The front 7 looked good. I keep hoping for another few years of good drafts and players getting more mature and better. I really hope Jarvis Moss and Crowder become starters in the next year, they were very high draft picks. It’s not very satisfying to see the safety play not that great, or maybe it’s just the scheme that makes them look late to the ball. I hope we can get a good safety in the high rounds of the draft next year and another high pick on the offensive line so we can be a great O-line. Clady has really made us much better, having one more would be great. It just seems to be an incomplete team because of young players and not so great players. We have to wait another year or two I think.
It seemed to me that we got a little more pressure on the QB (not enough sacks) but it did seem like we were getting a little more penetration and other than the big plays the D is looking slightly better.
Your right Mr. Rice, we are 4-2 & AFC West leaders.
I liked that the TEAM comitted to Pittman, He has so much heart but the play calls could have been more ballanced. 20 run plays 40 pass plays (Cutler scrambleing is a pass play gone bad).
I liked the energy in the first qtr. the first TD drive was spectacular but unballanced. Why do we pass on 1st down so much? If you look back at the last couple of years 90% of our 3 & outs begin with an incomplete 1st down pass. (The O had 3, 3 & outs).
I liked the catches Brandon made, except the 9yrd loss in the 3rd qtr what was that call? To bad it seemed no one else could catch.
I liked Champs play, why did we let Foxworth & Hamza go?
I liked how our special teams kept the Jags pinned & they made some great returns A. Hall 2-50yrds., G. Martinez 3-47yrds. (Why am I talking about Special Teams, oh ya what I liked about the game).
I lkied the Olines work up front, they made holes when they needed to except one 4th & 1. (They could’ev had a few more run plays)
The truth is I’m trying really hard to find some things to build on but everything is over shadowed by something except SpecialTeams & the Oline. All these little things add up to a conclusive loss. I did’nt even mention the bad calls, the turn overs, or TIME OF POSSESION UGH!!! (12:00min. to 3:00min. in the 4th qtr. 33:35 to 26:25 for the game).
They say that Tactics without Strategy is the Sound you hear before Destruction. I suggest we really look at how we controlled the game last week before we go into New England. Stop passing so much on first down, and make the linebackers think instead of reacting. Control the trenches, on both sides of the ball and hold yourself accountable for your job.
Everybody wants pocket AA’s pre flop but it just is’nt going to happen.
Do the little things right and they will add up to a win!
GO BRONCOS ! ! ! !
monodono….Good job. My only addition is if we are going to give up 400+ yards on a weekly basis maybe we should start the 3 rookies on defense? Jack, Spencer and Wesly. They are 3 playmakers (which we are seriousl lacking) and at least they would improve weekly.
Just a thought?
What do you call this new D “Blue Velvet”?
How many Broncos does it take to sack a QB?
It’s not 3
What would happen if D plays 4 quarter like they played the 4th quarter?
You have proved you know how to do it
So do it
Can someone show Jay Elway’s come from behind films?
You say you can throw as well as Elway
Can you win like Elway?
I don’t care how well you throw
I want wins that’s all that matters me
I don’t care about INTs or TDs just Ws
Rice I would have to say the things that I really liked about the game are, special teams. I am no longer scared to watch every kick off coverage, and punt coverage. Much better job sealing up the cut back lanes. Also I have become impressed with Martinez as the punt returner. I mean a big part why we drafted Royal was for return duties. He proved far more valuable and in Martinez we have found a quality replacement for what Royal could do there.
I am really starting to love our defense, you can call it Blue Velvet if you want old fan. But remember that in the two losses we have had, the defense hung in there and kept it close enough to win if we had executed on offense!
West Coast where do you plan to start Jack at? Unless it is at a safety position then I don’t agree with that. Bly is a solid corner, we are all just remember when he gets beat, which really isn’t that often considering how often he is thrown at. If the front four get more consistent pressure Bly will shine the way he did with the Lions. Bly is a solid tackler too, and that is really what is killing our defense. We kept missing tackles in this game, and in the KC game, just wrap up the guy and take him down, nothing fancy or flashy about it. Half our guys aren’t big hitters anyway, so why try for the big hit? Just stop the play when it gets to you!
I think having Lynch back would be an improvement, someone called our safeties M & M, and I couldn’t help but think of how soft M & M’s are! lol
I have to say Lynch not being an everydown player sucked, but was he really that much worse than Manuel? I would like to see him back, stack the box when we need to, throw in some safety blitzes, and have receivers scared to get hit rather than plowing through milk chocolate candies! Why did we let go of Hamza Rice? He was so promising last year, and THERE IS NO WAY he is worse than Manuel!
Final note as always, I still have faith, we can beat anyone if we execute our game plan! With or without backups. We will continue to work out the kinks, and soon we will be as smooth as Velvet! hahaha GO TEAM!
We’re in a good position. The games against the Patriots, Browns (even after the Monday nighter), Dolphins and Raiders are all winnable. If we’re 8-2 heading into a November 16 tilt with surprising Atlanta, then this can be a really successful season.
i have said it several times on previous post that health is the key to winning in the nfl and we are not healthy right now. cutler needs to stop talking and start playing. Marshall needs to be coached on ball security. I agree with bringing back john lynch and benching manuel he is horrible. the defense is getting a little better but a long way away. the offense is getting worse were is the play calling that we saw at the beginning of the year.
i want to see jay roll to the right look down the field if the receivers are covered dont just throw the ball down the field but just run out of bounds 20-30 yards down field. i bet next time jay would roll to the right after play actin pass the tight end would be wide open . i know jay has all the skills he is a winner . i guess what im trying to say is lets let jay make the calls when he sees a oppurtunity to make a play downfield so let jay stay aggresive instead of running 3- plays in the 4th qt. when the games on the line . he makes the big bucks let jay play. go broncos
It all starts with Jay Cutler’s performance and ends with turnovers. BMarshall laying the ball on the ground doesn’t help. The Broncos have what it takes to be 8-2 if they focus and execute. Defense needs to stop the run. Point Blank.
Mistakes will be made. That’s football, especially with a young team. It would be nice to see Jay utilized in a manor that suit his strengths. So far he seems to be struggling against himself or the play calling – not sure which one, but we’re not seeing the offense near its potential lately. I agree with GO CUTLER, let him make his own opportunities. Run something that compliments his ability or let him make some calls. Sitting him in the pocket doesn’t show us the best in Cutler.
I also have to agree with columbusOHbronco, the safeties stink. We got rid of Ferguson, Lynch, and Abdullah for these guys? I’d like to see Jack Williams get more action, the dude has to be hungry to prove himself. Can the Broncos still come away with a chance at the play offs? Hell yes. Just a few crinkles to iron out. Keep the intensity up Broncos! nothing like a MNF win to pick up the momentum!
Oh yeah, nice posting Rice.
Can we please bring Lynch back? Go and get Ty law and J Trotter to play MLB right now! start moss in boss bailey’s spot and start kenny peterson at DE. Dre Bly is our weak link and every team knows it!