Playoff Preview: Wild Card Weekend
If Week 17 wasn’t intense enough, the Wild Card playoff weekend has arrived. Three of the four matchups pit teams that played each other last week. Here are previews of all four of contests.
Saturday, 2:30 p.m. MST
NEW YORK JETS (9-7) at CINCINNATI BENGALS (10-6)
TV: NBC
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Road Warriors Close in on the PlayoffsIt’s not official, but it’s pretty close. Barring a major collapse and a major resurgence by the Chargers, the Broncos are going to the playoffs.
After three games, this looked like a foregone conclusion. Then at the midway point of the season, it looked like a remote possibility at best. Then for the past four games, the prospect of a post-season berth has been a week-to-week roller coaster ride.
Believe what you want about how good you think the Broncos are or how you think they will fare in the playoffs, assuming they do indeed make it, the fact is there has been one huge constant in the last month: The Broncos have been a terrific road team.
The latest example was Sunday’s 34-17 domination of the Jets.
I must admit I didn’t think the Broncos would win the game; my guess is I was not alone. But there was absolutely no way I thought the Broncos would make it look as easy as they did.
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That’s our ROAD TEAM!! 34-17What a difference a week makes huh!!! Crazy league, the Jets beat the Titans and we beat the Jets. Does that mean we’re better than the Titans? Of course not. That’s the NFL……even the “Old Man” can’t overcome a few turnovers. TURNOVERS KILL.
Six…..count ‘em, six rookies in the field and numerous injuries. Boy I love these guys and their heart (when it’s on their sleeve). Yea, a few guys out of position a few times and some lousy tackling under tough, rainy, wet…slippery conditions, an O-lineman’s dream game, and a running game that showed up.
The difference, Cutlers timing and accuracy. Three games up four to play. A third road win in a row, against a Jets team that has won five in a row. Wow!! The time to gel is at the end of the season and I keep hoping it’s all coming together……….Only time will tell.
I hope you guys enjoyed that game as much as I did!! Get ‘em boys!!
Coop
Broncos vs. Jets: Fourth Quarter Notes15:00 We start the final frame with the Jets having the ball at their 36-yard line, first-and-10. Dewayne Robertson puts down his former teammate Thomas Jones for a short carry on first down. Favre rolls out of the pocket on second down and throws the ball away. Third-and-eight… Favre stands tall in the pocket and hits Chansi Stuckey for the first down at midfield. Another Bronco is down, this time Marquand Manuel.
Manuel made the big hit on Stuckey, but he seems to have gotten the worst of the hit.
14:01 First-and-ten at the Broncos 46-yard line. Josh Barrett has replace Manuel. First down bubble-screen to Stuckey nets the Jets seven yards. Favre hands to Jones on second down, but he is met by Wesley Woodyard. Third-and-three… the ball skips incomplete to Jerricho Cotchery.
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Broncos vs. Jets: Third Quarter Notes15:00: The Broncos will get the ball to start the second half and it is still raining. Looking at the radar, it looks like it will be raining for the duration of the game. Then again they don’t pay me for my weather knowledge, so take it with a grain of salt.
How is the weather in Denver? I hear it is snowing a bit.
Ok, enough of the meteorological discussions. Eddie Royal is back deep waiting for the Jay Feely kick. The short kick is fielded by John Engelberger, who take a knee at the Broncos 30.
Jay Cutler starts in the gun, hits Royal. Royal reverses field, gets a block by Cutler, and gets six yards. Lot of running for a six-yard gain. Peyton Hillis pick up the first down on the next play.
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Broncos vs. Jets: Second Quarter Notes15:00: Second down Jets to start the second quarter. Thomas Jones gets a big chunk to start off the quarter and the Jets face a manageable third-and-one… They convert the first down as Brett Favre hits Chris Baker.
13:30: Favre with the quick pass to Jerricho Cotchery to the Broncos 29-yard line. 15-yard gain on that quick strike. On first down, the Broncos thought they had Thomas Jones down, but Jones gets back up and into the endzone. This might be challenged. And it is…
From these eyes, Jones rolled over Peterson and it looks like his elbow hit the ground. Problem is, “looks like” is not indisputable evidence. We shall see what Walt Coleman sees…
Well Coleman disagrees with me and the Jets have scored. Weird, weird game.
Jones touchdown run covered 29 yards. Jones has nine carries for 105 yards and two touchdowns.
Jay Feely hits the PAT, and the Jets are back within a field goal.
Broncos 17 – Jets 14, 12:44 remaining.
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Broncos vs. Jets: First Quarter Notes15:00: Matt Prater lines the kickoff team up as J-E-T-S JETS, JETS, JETS rings across the stadium. The dangerous Leon Washington is back deep. Prater’s kick bounces into the endzone for a touchback.
The Broncos defensive starters are:
DE Elvis Dumervil
DT Marcus Thomas
DT Dewayne Robertson
DE Ebenezer Ekuban
WLB Wesley Woodyard
MLB Spencer Larsen
SLB Jamie Winborn
CB Josh Bell
CB Dre’ Bly
SS Marquand Manuel
FS Vernon Fox
Brett Favre gives to Thomas Jones for a short gain on first down.
14:12: After a second down incompletion, Favre has time but can’t connect with rookie Dustin Keller. Fourth down. and Royal is back deep. He waves off the coverage and the ball rolls to a stop at the Broncos 32.
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Broncos vs. Jets: Pregame Notes2:11 EST: Hello from the swamps of New Jersey and a rainy Giants Stadium. It is wet, it is cold and it should be interesting to see how both teams respond.
It is always fun to visit this area of the country, especially during the holiday season. Many of us took the 20-minute jaunt into New York City to experience the lights of Time Square and the other tourist areas. Thankfully we all came back unscathed but with lighter wallets.
Jake Grilley is down on the field, trying to stay dry and snap some photos. When he comes back up, I will post some of his images and I should also have the inactives.
Also just a quick note. Unfortunately some of the blog comments the last couple of days have been… well a little out of bounds. I know we all go through the gamut of emotions, but keep the comments away from personal attacks and profanity. If we see them, we will delete them. Thanks for your understanding and if you have any questions or concerns, contact me.
OK enough of that, back to the action at hand.
The Final Prep WorkA day removed from enjoying plates full of good food, the Broncos got back to practice this morning. They enjoyed another early practice starting at 10:20 am as they wrapped up their preparation for the Jets.
And since we leave early for the long plane ride across the country tomorrow, the early schedule had all the players smiling.
WE KNOW WHERE WE STAND
A lot can be said about players focusing on only the game at hand and never looking down the road, and everyone in the Broncos locker room would agree with that.
At the same time, given the close race for the AFC West title, you can bet that the Broncos have a good feel for how the final stretch of the season is playing out.
“As a player you always tell yourself, ‘Let’s take it one week at a time,’ but I know we’re 6-5, San Diego’s 4-7, and in the AFC West whoever wins the division is going to be in the playoffs,” Ebenezer Ekuban said. “The way it’s looking right now, there’s going to be no wild card for second place. You recognize it, but does it take over your mind totally? No, it doesn’t. Our priority is still focusing on the next play and the next game.”
And in this next game against the Jets, Ekuban sees a pair of running backs in Thomas Jones and Leon Washington that look similar to the 1-2 punch in San Diego.
“They’re very comparable to Tomlinson and Sproles back there,” Ekuban said. “You have your north and south guy in Jones and your cutback, energy guy in Washington. It’s going to be a tough matchup.”
Talking Turkey and JetsConversation in the Broncos locker room on Wednesday focused on Sunday’s showdown against the Jets. However, with Thanksgiving a day away, players also chimed in on tomorrow’s fast-approaching holiday.
DUMERVIL ON FAVRE
So what is Elvis Dumervil’s opinion on Jet’s quarterback Brett Favre?
“Brett Favre is overrated,” Dumervil told reporters before pausing a moment.
“Is that controversy for you guys?” he said with laugh.
“Nah, Brett Favre is excellent. He’s playing his best ball — like 70 percent completion — you can really see he’s in rhythm right now, they’ve got a ground game going and they’re an explosive offense. We’ve got our hands full.”