Broncos-Cowboys Preview: Keys to Victory For Denver In Week Four

For the first time in 2009, the new-look “Orange Crush” will be on display when the 3-0 Denver Broncos host the 2-1 Dallas Cowboys wearing their popular alternate orange uniforms.

The Broncos are looking to start 4-0 for the first time since 2003, and the Cowboys are trying to keep pace with the New York Giants who also face an AFC West opponent in the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

Denver’s potential 4-0 start will not come easy, as Dallas boasts one of the league’s top offensive units.  This is significant because, so far in 2009, the Broncos have faced the 24th, 31st, and 32nd ranked offenses in the NFL, and the skeptics maintain that their defensive statistics are “overhyped.”

The Broncos have most certainly been up to the tasks at hand, handling the offensive units of Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Oakland with relative ease.  Denver’s defense has been so dominant in their first three games that they have allowed their opponents into the red zone a total of three times.

Here are the keys to victory for the Broncos as they host the Cowboys on Sunday.

 

1.  Stop The Run

The Cowboys have the number one rushing offense in the NFL and are getting a boost from their Pro Bowl tailback Marion Barber, who is returning from an injury.  Barber is undoubtedly the biggest name at running back the Broncos have faced so far, and the Cowboy offensive line is the biggest. 

Denver needs to stop Barber, Tashard Choice, and the Dallas running game if they are going to win this game.  The Cowboys are averaging nearly 200 rushing yards per game, and they can control the clock and wear down Denver’s defense if the Broncos are unable to get off the field.

Ronald Fields, Kenny Peterson, Ryan McBean, Vonnie Holliday, and Le Kevin Smith have done an outstanding job at stopping the run so far this season, and linebacker Andra Davis has been a great acquisition as well.  This group of players, though not the most decorated is a very solid unit.  They are big, but they are also quick. 

The Cowboys will be without speedster Felix Jones, who was averaging over 10 yards per carry before going down for two weeks with an injury.  His absence could be key.

2.  Exploit Dallas’ Weak Pass Defense

Dallas is currently ranked 27th in pass defense, and they have not exactly played the most dominant passing offenses in the NFL so far.  Denver is getting back a full arsenal of weapons offensively now with Brandon Stokley back in the mix, and they would be wise to utilize a lot of short passes to neutralize Dallas’ blitzing.

The Cowboys have a solid group in the secondary with Terrance Newman, Ken Hamlin, and Mike Jenkins, but the Broncos counter with a very solid group of skill players.

Kyle Orton is going to not only need to keep up his consistent, mistake-free play, but he may need to throw more than one touchdown in this game because Dallas’ weakness is clearly on the back end of their defense.

3.  Pressure Tony Romo

The Broncos have been one of the top teams in the NFL this year statistically in getting to the quarterback, led by Elvis Dumervil who has six sacks.

Denver is going to need to continue that success on Sunday if they want to slow down the Cowboys’ offense.  Tony Romo is probably the most athletic quarterback they have faced thus far, and he does a good job evading pressure and making something out of nothing.

If the Broncos can stop the run, then getting to the quarterback should be no problem. 

 

The Broncos have done an excellent job so far this season at playing “small ball” and winning games with the stellar play of their defense.  The Cowboys are Denver’s biggest test yet physically and are far and away the best offense the Broncos have faced so far.

Here is a positional comparison for each team.

 

Quarterback:  Cowboys

Running Back:  Broncos

Wide Receiver:  Broncos

Tight End:  Cowboys

Offensive Line:  Broncos

Defensive Line:  Cowboys

Linebacker:  Push

Defensive Backs:  Broncos

Special Teams:  Broncos

Coaching:  Broncos

Advantage:  Broncos

 

 

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Matt Prater To Be Honored As AFC Special Teams Player Of The Month

On Wednesday, the Denver Broncos announced that kicker Matt Prater will be named the AFC special teams player of the month after his fantastic start to the 2009 season.

Broncos fans remember the Prater from early last season who seemed well on his way to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl only to self-destruct as the season wore on.

Prater has arguably the strongest leg I have ever seen, one that has earned him this special honor after he made seven of his nine field goal attempts, including three from 40 yards or beyond.  He also leads the AFC with seven touchbacks, touchback percentage (46.7 percent), and 13 kickoffs that have reached the end zone. 

He has also helped the Broncos lead the AFC in opponents’ starting field position with an average spot on the 20.6 yard line.

In their 3-0 start, the Broncos’ special teams play has been an area that often goes overlooked, mainly because their defense is overshadowing everything else right now, but the defense might not be what it is today if not for the play of Prater and the Broncos’ special teams unit, coached by Mike Priefer.

Prater was a player many Bronco fans thought to be on the bubble after his finish to last season, but this award is an excellent confidence booster for Prater and Denver’s fan base.

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Broncos 23, Raiders 3: Denver Dominates in Oakland Once Again

For the second consecutive year, the Denver Broncos went into the hostile environment of their bitter rivals the Oakland Raiders and absolutely dominated from start to finish, and they did it with power football all the way to a 23-3 victory

 

Quick Hits

• The Broncos ran for a season high 215 rushing yards while holding their third straight opponent under 100 yards (95).
• Denver committed its first turnover of the season on a fumble in the third quarter by running back Correll Buckhalter.
• Kyle Orton continues to play smart football, going three games as a Bronco without throwing an interception.
• Brandon Marshall had his first touchdown of the season.
• Knowshon Moreno scored his first rushing touchdown in the NFL.
• The Broncos’ defense has decreased in points allowed with each game, holding Cincinnati to seven, Cleveland to six, and Oakland to a mere three points.
• Renaldo Hill and Andre’ Goodman, both acquired this offseason from Miami, had their first interceptions as members of the Broncos.
• Elvis Dumervil had two more sacks, increasing his season total to six.
• Bronco punter Brett Kern did not see the field until the fourth quarter.  Denver’s offense controlled the game with nearly 13 more minutes of offensive possession.

 

Scoring Recap

First Quarter

The Broncos drove the ball right down the field on their first drive and failed to convert on a fourth-and-goal from the one yard line.

On their next possession, they did much of the same, driving the ball down the field and this time, they were able to capitalize.  More specifically, Kyle Orton threw a short pass across the middle to Brandon Marshall for a touchdown.

Denver capped off the scoring in the first quarter with a 48 yard field goal from Matt Prater, increasing their lead to 10-0.

Second Quarter

The Raiders started the scoring in the second quarter, much to the dismay of Denver fans who saw a forced fumble by Mario Haggan that could have been recovered by Elvis Dumervil turn into a 3rd-and-16 for the Raiders, and Zach Miller caught his longest pass of the day to put Oakland back in field goal range. 

Sebastian Janikowski connected from 48 yards to put the Raiders on the board, and cut the lead to 10-3.

After an impressive 11 play, 76 yard drive, the Broncos were forced to settle for a Matt Prater field goal, but they took a 13-3 lead into the locker room.

Third Quarter

The third quarter was fairly quiet for both sides, but Knowshon Moreno was able to cap off an eight play, 80 yard Denver drive with his first touchdown in the NFL.

Fourth Quarter

The Broncos had arguably their best drive of the season, lasting 16 plays and 88 yards but they were only able to get three points out of it, increasing their lead to what would eventually be the final score at 23-3.

 

Analysis

Although not impressive offensively, this was probably the best Bronco performance of the 2009 season.  Their defense was suffocating, allowing a season low 137 total yardage and three points. 

The Bronco offense was not staggering by any means, but they kept their defense fresh, and made only one mistake all game, their first of the season.

In my preview to this game, I discussed that the biggest key to the Broncos winning this game was establishing a dominant run game while also stopping the run.  They did just that, and not only were they able to control the ball for over 36 minutes, they out-gained the Raiders 215-95 on the ground.

The Broncos also forced three fumbles of Raider starting running back Darren McFadden, who was held to a mere 45 yards.

My second key to victory for the Broncos was defending JaMarcus Russell and forcing him to win the game for Oakland.  Well, in stopping the running game, they forced the issue with Russell, and he was not able to capitalize. 

He threw two interceptions in the early stages of the game, and was sacked three times.  He completed only 12 of his 21 passes for a laughable 61 yards. 

My third key to the game was Kyle Orton’s efficiency, and his smart play continued in a big way.  Orton threw a touchdown pass to Brandon Marshall, and even without leading receiver Brandon Stokley, he seemed to have a firm grasp on the timing with his receivers, especially Marshall and Jabar Gaffney, who combined for nine receptions.

Orton also continued to benefit from great pass protection, avoiding a sack for the second straight week, and also continuing his interception-free streak.

The Broncos established a run game early, and Orton was only asked to throw the ball 23 times.

Denver held Oakland to nine first down plays, and only one appearance in the red zone which was the result of a Correll Buckhalter fumble, and the Raiders fumbled the ball away anyways.

Buckhalter had his most impressive game as a Bronco, leading the rushing attack with 108 yards on only 14 attempts.  He continues to provide the Broncos with excellent speed off the edge, and he is one of the more underrated offseason additions to any team so far.

Defensively, the Broncos were also very impressive, forcing three turnovers while committing their first of the season, increasing their turnover margin to +6.

Elvis Dumervil earned his fifth and sixth sacks of the season, all of which have come in the second half of games.  He has made a very smooth transition to the new 3-4 defense being implemented by Mike Nolan.

Another player making a seamless transition is middle linebacker D.J. Williams, who continues to be around the ball on every play.  He made a couple of great tackles on screen passes today, and led the team with seven tackles.

As an overall unit, the Broncos have not allowed a touchdown in eight quarters of play.  With Dallas coming into town next weekend, they will surely be tested a bit more than they have been so far this year defensively, but this unit has proven that it is capable of breaking the 2006 team’s record of most quarters without allowing a touchdown. 

The Broncos still sit alone on top of the AFC West, now with a record of 3-0 as the Chargers improved to 2-1 with their victory over Miami, Oakland moving to 1-2 with the loss to Denver, and Kansas City in last place with a record of 0-3.

Denver was expected by many fans to begin the season 3-0, but they could not have expected it to be behind the play of their resurgent, No. 1 defense.  Now they head into an eight game stretch where they will play Dallas, New England, San Diego, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Washington, and the New York Giants.

If their defense continues to play as they have, the Broncos and their fans have no reason to believe they cannot handle that competition, and maybe even vault into the AFC elite by winning games.

The Broncos were called the “worst 2-0 team ever” by one analyst, and John Clayton predicted they would win three games.  Sorry John, it just does not seem like this team is going to go on a 13 game losing streak anytime soon.

Denver is well coached, disciplined, smart, and they play smash mouth football by controlling the clock and making timely defensive stops.  This game against Oakland is not going to silence the Bronco haters by any means, but a win at home against the Dallas Cowboys next week could go a long way.

The Broncos remain one of six undefeated teams in the NFL with this big road victory, and are doing it with a whole new brand of football.

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Broncos-Raiders Preview: Keys To Victory For Denver in Week Three

On Sunday, the Denver Broncos (2-0, first place AFC West) will make their annual trip to the “Black Hole” to take on the Oakland Raiders (1-1, second place AFC West) who are playing their third straight divisional opponent.

This game, although not hyped much by the national media, is a huge game for both teams and their fan bases, who are both beaming with optimism and confidence. The Broncos have enjoyed a thrilling, one of a kind victory as well as a dominant performance, and the Raiders have been on either side of two close, hard fought games.

This is a fairly new rivalry for most in the Broncos’ camp, and head coach Josh McDaniels thinks it is going to be a lot of fun.

“It means a lot to us. They are our—if you want to call them arch rival or what you want to categorize them as—but we get to play them twice a year. I think there are a lot of players on our team that are very familiar with their players. Sure, that is the same on their sideline and then their coaching staff.

We have got a guy or two from that organization here now. It is special when you get to play these division games early in the year on the road against a team that historically, you are no supposed to like. We know that, and they know it. It will be exciting for us to go there and meet the challenge.”

A lot of fans will discount either teams statistics heading into this game simply because of the rivalry, but the facts are too difficult to ignore.  The Broncos are superior statistically in every major team category.

Offensively, the Broncos average over 100 more yards per game than the Raiders, 86.5 more yards through the air, and 23 more rushing yards.  The Broncos also have a higher points per game average, third down conversion percentage, and lead in time of possession.

Defensively, the Broncos have allowed over 100 fewer yards per game in their first two games, 54.5 fewer passing yards, 55 fewer rushing yards, and 10.5 fewer points per game.  They also allow opponents a third down conversion roughly 27 percent of the time whereas Oakland’s opponents convert on third down 37 percent of the time.

This is an intense rivalry, and statistics have a very long time to change throughout the course of this year, but at this point, it is hard to ignore given the fact that each team has played two teams with bottom 10 defensive units.

I have no doubt that the Raiders will bring their “A” game to the Colosseum on Sunday afternoon, but the rivalry did lose a bit of luster when Mike Shanahan left town.  It was my understanding that the rivalry between the Broncos and Raiders became heated when Oakland fired Shanahan and despite Al Davis’ desires for Shanahan to not coach the Broncos, he went ahead and did so anyway.

Now that the Shanahan saga is over, new head coach Josh McDaniels has changed the culture in Denver, and the players are buying into his methods.  Perhaps the most underrated move made this off-season by any NFL franchise was McDaniels luring Mike Nolan to be the Broncos’ defensive coordinator.

Nolan has brought credibility to the most surprising defense in the NFL, which is currently the number one defense in terms of points allowed at 13 over two games.  His blitzing schemes are complex, and the beef up front has gone from lean to mean in seemingly no time.

Similarly, the Raiders have made some very solid additions to their defensive front in free agent acquisition Greg Ellis and blockbuster trade acquisition Richard Seymour.

Here are what I think are some of Denver’s keys to victory when they head to Oakland for this week three rivalry contest.

 

1.  Running the Ball and Stopping the Run

The Raiders’ biggest strength is clearly running the ball, and how could it not be?  They took Darren McFadden with the fourth overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, and got a steal in 2007 in Michael Bush.  They also have Justin Fargas, who may be the most complete overall back on the team’s roster.

All hands are expected to be on deck for the Raiders this week, and they are facing stiff competition in Denver’s revamped run defense.  The Broncos added a bunch of pieces this off-season to beef up their front line, and so far the new group has done a tremendous job, allowing only 140 yards rushing over the first two games of the season.

If the Broncos can take away the big play from the Raiders run game, they will force the game over to JaMarcus Russell, and as many Raider fans will tell you, they have not done the greatest job of keeping their defense off the field so far this season.

It is absolutely critical for the Broncos to maintain their gaps on defense and keep the blitz packages surprising for the Raiders.  As long as the big play is eliminated, the Broncos should be able to keep the Raiders offense off the field.

It is also key that the Broncos run the ball effectively.  Correll Buckhalter leads the AFC West in rushing yards so far this season, and is second among starting running backs in yards per attempt at 7.2 yards per carry.

The Broncos would also love to see rookie Knowshon Moreno find a groove. After a disappointing game one we saw significant improvement against Cleveland last weekend.  Denver needs to get Moreno more involved in the offense, and now that he is fully healthy, it seems as though they will.

 

2.  Broncos Pass Defense vs. JaMarcus Russell

As was one of the keys against Cleveland and Brady Quinn, the Broncos need to force the issue with Russell, who is not nearly as athletic as Quinn.  Russell has outstanding arm strength, and has proven over the first two games that although his completion percentage is the worst in the NFL, he is capable of leading his team down the field when it matters.

Still, Russell has been somewhat of an Achilles heel for the Raiders.  He is extremely inaccurate unless the receiver is wide open, and unfortunately for him, the Broncos are tops in this division and third in the NFL overall in quarterback sacks.  They are also going to be without veteran lineman Robert Gallery, and will have to count on second year player Mario Henderson to keep JaMarcus’s blind side clean.

The Broncos need to put pressure on JaMarcus Russell, and it would be smart to attack from the left side with Elvis Dumervil, similar to the approach they took against Joe Thomas last week.

The oft-penalized Cornell Green is really no match for the quicker Dumervil, and if Dumervil can provide consistent pressure, the Raiders drives will be derailed by sacks and holding penalties.  This is a matchup the Broncos really need to take advantage of.

Of course, along with pressure comes poor decisions by the quarterback, and Russell can ill afford to make mistakes against Denver’s secondary which is veteran laden, very athletic, and very smart.

 

3.  Kyle Orton’s Efficiency

Orton has the 11th best quarterback rating in the NFL so far this season, and has yet to turn the ball over.  His fourth quarter quarterback rating of 152.1 is the best in the NFL, and he has done a great job so far for the Broncos.

The Raiders will be his toughest test of the season so far, as they have a very athletic group of linebackers and a defensive backfield that is underrated.

Nnamdi Asomugha leads a group that includes Chris Johnson, Michael Huff, controversial rookie Michael Mitchell, Hiram Eugene, and Tyvon Branch.  Each and every one of these players has one common denominator: speed.

The Broncos counter with a top tier group of receivers and tight ends led by Eddie Royal and Brandon Marshall, who oddly enough are being outdone by the elders at the receiver position.  Brandon Stokley and Jabar Gaffney lead the team in receiving, and Tony Scheffler provides a mismatch at the tight end position.

Unlike Jay Cutler, Kyle Orton does not seem to force the issue to his receivers and simply takes what is given to him or throws the ball away.  The Broncos have not been stellar offensively in the first half of games, and Orton needs to get on the same page as his receivers. 

If the first key can prove true and the Broncos are able to run the ball effectively, all Orton will have to do is make good decisions with the ball and continue his solid but not spectacular play.

 

Here is my positional breakdown of the two teams

Quarterback:  Broncos

Running Back:  Raiders

Wide Receiver:  Broncos

Tight End:  Raiders

Offensive Line:  Broncos

Defensive Line:  Push

Linebacker:  Broncos

Defensive Backs:  Broncos

Special Teams:  Raiders

Coaching:  Broncos

Advantage:  Broncos

 

As is common in these matchups, this game could be won in the early stages based on momentum and whoever can quickly establish the most consistent run game.  I think the Broncos have the decided advantage up front offensively, and both defensive fronts have played well this season.

This should be another exciting chapter in the Broncos-Raiders rivalry.

 

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Early Thoughts on The Broncos-Raiders Week Three Matchup

Well, it is a good thing the Oakland Raiders have one of the NFL’s best punters, because they might be using him a lot on Sunday.

When the first place Denver Broncos (2-0) head to Oakland to take on the Raiders (1-1), they will do so boasting the NFL’s number one defense after allowing a combined 13 points in their first two games against Cincinnati and Cleveland.

The Raiders played well against reigning division champion San Diego on Monday night in week one, but were unable to stop Darren Sproles really at all, and lost a heartbreaker.  In week two, they scratched out a win against lowly Kansas City on the road with a late touchdown by Darren McFadden.

This matchup with the Raiders, aside from being one that is on the road, is very favorable for the Denver Broncos.

Oakland is not a good passing team, and quite honestly, they are just not a good offensive team, ranking 24th in scoring and 29th in total offense.  Denver’s number one defense was tested by Carson Palmer, dominated Brady Quinn, and they should have no troubles keeping JaMarcus Russell in a bottle.

Denver’s biggest asset heading into this week three matchup is their run defense, which has absolutely mystified opposing offenses.  They held Cleveland to only 56 rushing yards last week, and Cincinnati was only able to net 76 yards from Cedric Benson.

While the Broncos’ defensive strength is stopping the run, Oakland’s biggest offensive threat is running the ball with Darren McFadden and Michael Bush.

McFadden has been, to me, their most impressive running threat this season.  He is fast, a good receiver, and he showed me against San Diego that he can lower his shoulder into a defender and pick up extra yards.

Bush is a powerful back inside the tackles who is deceptively fast in the open field.  He does not have a great burst off the line of scrimmage, but if he can get to the second and third levels, he is hard to bring down.

Oakland’s best offensive weapon is Zach Miller, their third year tight end.  Miller always seems to find a way into the open field, and has some of the most sure hands in the NFL.  He is a rising star in this league, and the Broncos will have the chore of defending him this week.

Defensively, Oakland has a much improved defensive line, a rising star at linebacker in Thomas Howard, and one of the NFL’s best cover cornerbacks in Nnamdi Asomugha.

Along the line, the Raiders added defensive ends Richard Seymour (New England) and Greg Ellis (Dallas) to improve their dreadful pass rush, and so far, they have done a serviceable job.

Oakland’s linebackers and secondary are very fast, and also very young.

So how does Denver get to the winner’s circle when they travel to Oakland on Sunday?  Here are some of my early thoughts as to how Denver can win this game:

 

1.  Continue to Stuff the Run

Denver’s run defense has been phenomenal this season, and it started with San Francisco in week one of the preseason.  The Broncos added Ronald Fields, Vonnie Holliday, Ryan McBean, Chris Baker, and Le Kevin Smith to beef up their front line this offseason, and so far, they have done a fantastic job.

Brian Dawkins and Andra Davis have also been critical in Denver’s improved run defense, which ranked among the league’s worst in 2008.  In fact, Dawkins and Davis have respectively led the Broncos in tackles in consecutive weeks.  Dawkins had 11 stops in week one, and Davis led the Broncos with 10 in week two.

It is going to be crucial for the Broncos to give McFadden and Bush fits so as to force JaMarcus Russell to beat them on Sunday.

 

2.  Keep the Pass Rush Strong

The Broncos have seven sacks in two games, four from converted defensive end Elvis Dumervil who is now lining up at outside linebacker. 

Seven sacks may not seem like a lot to a Steelers or Ravens fan, but for the Broncos, it is a huge step in the right direction for a team that has had absolutely no semblance of a pass rush since the Orange Crush days.

The Raiders have allowed only three sacks this season, but they will be missing their best offensive lineman, Robert Gallery for the next four to six weeks.  For the most part, they were able to shut down the Chargers’ pass rush, and the Chiefs didn’t have much luck either.

The Broncos will be the Raiders’ third divisional opponent to give the Raiders’ offensive line a test this season already.

Dumervil and company need to keep the heat on JaMarcus Russell, who is a very difficult quarterback to bring down due to his massive size.

 

3.  Keep Improving Offensively

The Broncos were dreadful against Cincinnati week one on offense.  They only had 10 first downs, and if not for the 87 yard play by Brandon Stokley would have undoubtedly finished week one with the league’s lowest offensive yardage total.

In week two, Denver was not as hot to start the game offensively, but as the game progressed, so did Kyle Orton and the Bronco offense.

They were able to score 27 points against the Browns while racking up 449 yards of total offense including nearly 190 rushing yards.

Oakland’s defense has been stingy in terms of allowing opponents to score, ranking ninth in that particular category, but they have not been shy at all about giving up yards.

In fact, the Raiders have allowed opponents a total of 44 first downs and as a result are ranked 23rd in total defense.

The Broncos’ offensive line is among the best in the NFL, and when the skill players come around, this unit could be dangerous.  Kyle Orton is not staggering, by any means, but he has yet to make any mistakes, and the running game for the Broncos is finally getting healthy.

Oddly enough, Brandon Stokley and Jabar Gaffney lead this team in receiving in the first two games, which is scary for opposing defenses in a sense that Brandon Marshall has yet to fully come around, and Eddie Royal is receiving double teams more often than LeBron James.

If and when Marshall gets fully acclimated and comfortable in this offense, he will take pressure off of Royal, and this passing game just became even scarier.

Kyle Orton said on Monday that if he and his receivers could be on the same page mentally on every play, and if everybody did their job, this offense would “put up a lot of points.”

 

Keep the Turnover Margin in Your Favor

The Broncos are +4 in the turnover margin for the first two games, so it is no coincidence that they are also 2-0.

Oakland is +1 in the turnover margin, and all three of their interceptions have come from one source:  former first round safety Michael Huff.

JaMarcus Russell has thrown two picks, and has been erratic with his throws.  Over the first two games, his completion percentage is the worst in the NFL at 35.2 percent, and his overall rating is an abysmal 46.6.

I will not say it is going to be easy, but if the Broncos are going to have a field day against any quarterback, it is undoubtedly going to be against the most inaccurate one in the league, or basic logic would indicate so anyway.

While Kyle Orton’s completion percentage of just over 55 is not staggering, he has the 11th best quarterback rating in the NFL at 90.9 and also the 11th most passing yards at 506.

 

This is going to be a big game for the Broncos.  Many Denver fans felt it absolutely necessary if not mandatory to start the season 3-0 before entering an eight game stretch against seven playoff teams, and they have set themselves up to do just that.

This is a very “winable” game against the Raiders, despite the fact that it is on the road in a relatively hostile environment.

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Broncos 27, Browns 6: Denver Improves to 2-0 in Home Opener

The Denver Broncos made Shannon Sharpe Day worth the future Hall of Fame tight end’s while today as they defeated the 0-2 Cleveland Browns 27-6 and improved to 2-0 on the season.

After Peyton Hillis fumbled and lost the opening kickoff, things were looking a bit bleak for the Broncos.  Their defense stopped Cleveland from scoring a touchdown with a 22-yard field on the opening possession of the game, and Cleveland’s 3-0 lead was short-lived.

Behind the stellar play of their revamped defense and a vastly improved offense, the Broncos easily handled and continued their historic dominance over Cleveland.

 

Game Recap

The game started off with a fumble on the opening kickoff return by Peyton Hillis that was recovered by Cleveland.  Fortunately, the Broncos were able to hold the Browns to a short Phil Dawson field goal, and Denver began the game with a three-point deficit.

The Broncos followed with a drive that resulted in a nice punt by Brett Kern, pinning the Browns deep in their own territory.  Cleveland quarterback Brady Quinn fumbled a snap and Darrell Reid fell on the ball at the nine-yard line, putting the Broncos in optimal scoring position.

After two unsuccessful tries by Knowshon Moreno to punch the ball in, Kyle Orton threw a perfect strike to tight end Tony Scheffler for a two-yard touchdown to put the Broncos ahead 7-3.

Cleveland answered right back with a lengthy drive that resulted in yet another Phil Dawson field goal to cut Denver’s deficit to 7-6.

The Broncos then answered with a very long drive of their own that was capped off by a short Matt Prater field goal to make the score 10-6.

The score remained the same until halftime, as Prater was unable to connect on a field goal for the Broncos just seconds before both teams headed to the locker room.

On the opening drive of the second half, Brady Quinn hit Josh Cribbs on a short out route and he was blindsided by Elvis Dumervil, who forced a fumble that was recovered by Brian Dawkins, setting the Broncos up with great field position. 

Denver had to settle for a field goal once more, extending the lead to a touchdown at 13-6.

The score stayed the same until the fourth quarter when the Broncos got two big scores by Peyton Hillis and Correll Buckhalter and those two touchdowns provided the final score of 27-6.

This was the most complete game from a Broncos team that I have seen in a long time.  Aside from the field-goal kicking blunders, this team played an excellent game overall.

 

Elvis Dumervil

Dumervil really stood out on Denver’s defense today when he finished the game with four sacks and a forced fumble. He has really stepped up in his new role as a rush linebacker in the Broncos’ 3-4 defensive scheme.

 

Offense

The Broncos’ offense improved greatly from their poor week one performance, more than doubling their first downs and total yardage.  In all, the Broncos had 25 first downs and 449 yards of total offense.

After somewhat of a slow start to the day, the offense really got going for the Broncos in the second half, and was led by the running game and smart decision making by Kyle Orton.

The Broncos’ running backs totaled 186 yards on the ground, 75 from Knowshon Moreno and 76 from Correll Buckhalter including a 45-yard scamper that put the Broncos ahead for good.

 

Defense

Denver’s defense continued its dominant play from the first game against Cincinnati and had four sacks, three turnovers forced, and they held the Cleveland offense to only 11 first downs the entire game.

The Browns were also only able to make one red zone appearance, and the only reason they were able to get inside the Broncos’ 20 was because they recovered a fumble at the 22-yard line.

I am consistently impressed with the Broncos’ run defense, which has significantly improved from the 2008 unit. 

Denver was able to bottle up Jamal Lewis and hold him to 2.5 yards per carry after holding Cedric Benson (who had 140 yards against GB) to only 3.6 yards per carry in the previous week.

The pass defense has also stepped up, and today they made Brady Quinn and the Browns’ passing offense non-existent in a sense.

Andra Davis had a big day today against his former team, leading the Broncos with 10 total tackles.

The Broncos have allowed only 13 points in two games, and are about to face an anemic Oakland offense in week three. 

 

Josh Cribbs

The Broncos bottled up Josh Cribbs and he had almost no impact on the game at all.  He returned a couple of kicks and was taken down almost immediately, and did virtually nothing in the punt return game.

It was also surprising that the Browns did not operate out of the wildcat even once in this game, but that could also be due to the fact that the Broncos were playing stellar run defense.

 

Other Random Thoughts

I wrote in my preview that the Broncos needed to be able to run the ball effectively and control the game clock to win this game, and they did exactly that. 

As a team, they rushed for nearly 190 yards and two touchdowns, and that really set up the passing game.

While Kyle Orton was not staggering, he was solid and did not make any mistakes.  He even looked elusive at times and made smart choices under pressure despite the fact that his completion percentage suffered because of it.

The Broncos have not gotten Peyton Hillis as involved as I anticipated before the season started, but he did have a touchdown today which was promising.

Denver has a lot of momentum right now.  They are playing inspired on defense, and the offense is finally picking it up.  When the Broncos are able to get Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal fully involved in the offense, they could be very dangerous.

Next week, the Broncos will travel to Oakland for their first divisional contest of the season after sweeping the state of Ohio and taking an early 2-0 lead on the AFC North division.

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Broncos-Browns Preview: Keys to Victory For Denver In Week Two

The Denver Broncos (1-0), coming off of their craziest victory in a long time, head home for Week Two to face off against the Cleveland Browns (0-1), who last weekend were crushed by Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings.

Many say the Broncos are “lucky” to be undefeated right now because of what is being referred to as the “Immaculate Deflection.” But if that catch happened in the first or second quarter, people would be talking about how the Broncos had a dominant defensive performance against the Cincinnati Bengals.

This week at Invesco Field at Mile High, the Broncos will play host to a Browns team characterized by the phrase, “The future is now.”

Cleveland has a bevy of young players, a new head coach, and a fanbase desperate for a return to the postseason. 

The Browns boast one of the NFL’s best left tackles, kick returners, and wide receivers, along with one of the more athletic defensive linemen I have ever seen. I am, of course, talking about Joe Thomas, Joshua Cribbs, Braylon Edwards, and Shaun Rogers.

But despite the talent that the Browns possess, they have been vast underachievers over the last decade. The 2009 season appears to be no different, especially as they try to get Brady Quinn acclimated to his first full season as a starting quarterback.

All of this being said, the Broncos hold the clear statistical advantage over the Browns. 

Offensively, the Broncos hold the edge in total yards and passing yards.

Defensively, Denver bests Cleveland in total yards allowed, rushing yards allowed, points allowed, third down conversions allowed, and turnovers.

The most interesting statistic I came across was that the Broncos and Browns are tied in terms of third-down conversions on offense.  As Bronco fans well know, Kyle Orton and company were only able to convert on three third downs. The Browns similarly struggled to move the ball on offense.

All of this being said, let’s take a look at the key matchups the Broncos will have to win to obtain a victory at home on Sunday.

 

Broncos’ Special Teams vs. Joshua Cribbs

To me, this is a key matchup.  Cribbs already proved why he was a Pro Bowl return man last season.  He can cause serious problems for opposing defenses by giving his offense great field position.

Cribbs is extremely versatile, fast, and deceptively powerful as a return man.  The Broncos will undoubtedly have their hands full.  Head Coach Josh McDaniels had this to say about Cleveland’s All-Pro performer:

“He is the best in the league, in my opinion. He and [Chicago WR Devin] Hester are certainly guys that, when they touch the ball—I don’t care if it is on offense or in the kicking game—you have got a chance to score if you are on their sideline. [He is a] very explosive player, hard to tackle, great vision, and awareness in the return game.”

“Sometimes, he may not go where the return is blocked to go because he sees that people are over-pursuing or squeezing too hard. We are going to have a huge challenge with him because he is so dangerous, so explosive. If you are playing in tight games and that guy is back there returning kicks, it could be one play that changes the result of the game. [He is] one of the most dangerous players we will play all year, no doubt about it.”

Broncos punter Brett Kern saw a lot of action on Sunday against the Bengals and sources have indicated that Denver was not extremely impressed with his performance.  In fact, the Broncos brought in a couple of punters, including Britton Colquitt, for a tryout this week.

Kern’s average of just around 42 yards per punt is not great. He is going to need to get a lot of hangtime on his kicks in order to keep Cribbs in check.

Unless wind is a major factor, kickoffs should not be a problem. Matt Prater is able to consistently drive the ball out of the end zone, especially in the thin air of Denver.  Punts are a different story.   

 

Broncos’ Pass Defense vs. Brady Quinn

The Broncos were able to shut down Carson Palmer, for the most part, in their win last week in Cincinnati.  Early indications are that they will have no problems with Brady Quinn and the Browns’ receivers, including Braylon Edwards, Mike Furrey, Mohamed Massaquoi, and Brian Robiskie.

If I had to guess, I would say the matchups will be as such:

Champ Bailey—Edwards

Andre’ Goodman—Furrey

Alphonso Smith—Massaquoi, Robiskie, etc.

I think the Broncos match up favorably in this area and, because of that, I expect Cleveland to come out running the ball early and often—a perfect lead-in to my next matchup.

 

Broncos’ Run Defense vs. Jamal Lewis

Jamal Lewis was shut down against the Vikings, who have one of the better run defenses in the league led by Kevin and Pat Williams.  The Broncos, obviously, do not have defensive tackles of that caliber, but they proved against the Bengals that they are far more capable against the run than they are credited for.

The Broncos’ run defense was impressive throughout the preseason, and they followed it up by holding Bengals running back Cedric Benson to 76 yards on 21 carries.  (And 20 of those yards came on one run.)  For those keeping score at home, that is 3.6 yards per carry.  If you take out Benson’s 20-yarder, Denver held him to roughly 2.5 yards per carry.

Jamal Lewis is a load for opposing defenders to take down, but it appears the Broncos have the personnel to defend against him. 

He may break a big run, maybe two, but the Broncos should be able to keep Lewis in  check for the most part throughout this game.

If they can do that, they will force Cleveland to pass, opening up the game for the rush linebackers and defensive linemen that can pin their ears back and pressure Quinn.

The gameplan for the Browns is probably similar to this one, oddly enough.  Looking at the Broncos, it seems the most effective way to win will be to shut down Denver’s running game and pressure Kyle Orton.

 

Knowshon Moreno/Correll Buckhalter vs. Browns’ Run Defense

This is going to be a huge matchup for the Broncos, and one that could neutralize the Browns’ tactics defensively.

I fully expect the Broncos to come out running the ball in the early stages of this game. Cleveland’s run defense, well, they could not stop Adrian Peterson to save their jobs on Sunday.

The Broncos have a completely healthy Knowshon Moreno, and Correll Buckhalter seems to be running inspired lately.

If the Broncos can establish the run early, the passing game will set itself up.  Orton needs pressure taken off of him, and he has proven throughout the preseason and even at times on Sunday that he can be effective with time in the pocket.

 

If the Broncos can establish the run early on, they should be able to control the game from the outset.  Denver appears to have a superior defensive unit.  If they can keep Brady Quinn under pressure, they can come away from their first home game with a victory and improve to 2-0.

Here is a position-by-position breakdown the two teams’ advantages:

Quarterback:  Browns

Running Back:  Push

Wide Receiver:  Broncos

Tight Ends:  Broncos

Offensive Line:  Broncos

Defensive Line:  Browns

Linebackers:  Broncos

Cornerbacks:  Broncos

Safeties:  Broncos

Specialists:  Browns

 

My Pick:  Broncos

 

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Broncos 12, Bengals 7: Denver Broncos Defense Leads Way in Crazy Win

The Denver Broncos are 1-0.

How sweet does that sound Broncos fans?

After the longest verbal beating I can remember, the Denver Broncos proved their skeptics wrong on Sunday, and they did it with an unexpected strength: their defense.

In fact, the Broncos’ defense was so on point that the home team Bengals only reached the red zone twice in the entire game, and did not score a point for 59 minutes, 19 seconds (as Henry Gula earlier pointed out).

The new-look Broncos defense forced three turnovers, seven punts, and sacked Carson Palmer three times.  Steelers fans and Giants fans may laugh that the Broncos are proud of those statistics, but one must realize that this kind of defensive performance is not commonplace for the Broncos over the last three years.

In addition to the great play of the defense, the Broncos had stellar play from their special teams, namely Matt Prater who made both of his field goals from 48 and 50 yards.

The low spot of the game for the Broncos was the abysmal play of their offense, which was only able to get 10 first downs the entire game.

While those who did not watch the game will blame the ineptitude of the offense on quarterback Kyle Orton, anyone who actually saw the game knows that the offensive struggles came from an inability to effectively run the ball and a large amount of dropped passes.

This was a very boring game to watch until the last two drives of the game if you were an unbiased third party. Neither team scored a touchdown until late in the fourth quarter, but the scoring was totally worth the wait.

After a long drive by the Bengals culminated in a one yard touchdown run by Cedric Benson, the Broncos defied incredible odds.

Trailing 7-6, the game clock read 0:20 and Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels realized that the time remaining should be nearly doubled because of a failed challenge attempt by the Bengals with 41 seconds remaining. The ensuing touchdown play only took three seconds off the clock, and McDaniels’ pleading paid off.

The game clock was reset to 0:38 and that proved to be absolutely crucial for the Broncos.

After a pass by Orton that was nearly intercepted by Jonathan Joseph, he heaved up a pass to Brandon Marshall that was tipped in the air by Leon Hall and subsequently caught by fellow Bronco Brandon Stokley who ran 87 yards for the game-winning touchdown.

The game-winning drive took 27 seconds off the clock, so it was huge that Denver got the clock reset to 0:38 before the game resumed.

A crazy finish, and one for the ages to be sure.  Broncos fans will remember this one for a long time, and unfortunately, so will Bengals fans. 

Kyle Orton did about as expected with his stat line which saw him complete 17-of-28 passes for 243 yards, a touchdown, a 100.7 QB rating, and most importantly:  no interceptions.

Orton effectively managed the game, and the Broncos did not make any mistakes, and it is even more impressive that he did it all with a dislocated pointer finger on his throwing hand.

The Broncos were absolutely shut down in the running game, partly because they did not run it very much, and had a lot of trouble with dropped passes.  In fact, every Broncos receiver had a dropped pass today except for Daniel Graham.

Defensively, there is a lot to talk about for the Broncos. 

The team finished the game with three sacks from Andra Davis, Mario Haggan, and Darrell Reid, all of whom are from the linebacker position.

Denver also forced three turnovers, two interceptions from Wesley Woodyard and Tony Scheffler, and a botched field goal attempt by Cincinnati.

This game has to be looked at as somewhat of a reality check for the Broncos who will host Cleveland in week two. They did some great things defensively, but the defense can only hold so much weight on its shoulders. Eventually, the offense is going to need to be able to score points on a more consistent basis, and eventually means by next week. 

Cincinnati’s defense looked vastly improved from what we have seen in recent years, and they were very stingy against the pass. Their defensive backfield is very solid, and they were able to get three sacks on one of the best pass protecting defensive lines in the NFL.

Granted, Kyle Orton’s indecision and inability to get rid of the ball at times were the cause of those sacks, it is still an impressive feat by the Bengals.

A lot of the offensive struggles can be attributed to a pure lack of chemistry, as the team welcomed for the first time at the same time a group that included Knowshon Moreno, Brandon Marshall, and Russ Hochstein as irregulars.

The Broncos should come out more aggressive offensively against the Browns next week who were absolutely crushed by the Minnesota Vikings 34-20. Adrian Peterson had his way with the Cleveland run defense, and the Broncos need to take advantage with their new group of backs.

This was one of the best finishes to a game the NFL will see all season long, and it helps that the Broncos got win number one off their chests, and if the defense continues to play like they did today, there will be many more wins to come. 

It also helps that the only people who thought Denver would win this game were fans of the team, and even some of them were skeptical because of the loss of quarterback Jay Cutler.

By the way, Cutler threw four interceptions in his Chicago Bears debut against Green Bay, and the Bears lost 21-15. I know it is only the first game of the season, but Kyle Orton and the Broncos are heading home winners, and the Bears are staring Pittsburgh in the face at 0-1.

Somewhere Josh McDaniels is smiling, and he should be.

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Broncos-Bengals Preview: Keys to Victory For Denver

The Denver Broncos will kick off their 2009 season at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio on Sunday, and the anticipation for Broncos fans is arguably at an all-time high.

Aside from the highly anticipated debut of quarterback John Elway, the season debut of head coach Josh McDaniels and his revamped Broncos squad is going to be one of the most talked about Denver debuts in a long time.

Cincinnati receiver Chad Ochocinco has already made things interesting by Tweeting he would “embarrass” the Broncos and star cornerback Champ Bailey.

The last time Denver played Cincinnati was on a cold day in 2006 when the Bengals bobbled a snap on the potential game-tying extra point, and the Broncos held on to a close 24-23 victory.

Denver has won 10 of its last 12 meetings with the Bengals, and is dominating the overall series between the two teams with a record of 16-8.

With all of the negative publicity surrounding the Broncos heading into this season, how can they make their way to the winner’s circle on Sunday afternoon?

 

Key Matchups

• Broncos front seven vs. Bengals offensive line:  Let’s face it:  The Bengals’ offensive line is horrible, and the Broncos’ defensive front seven has been among the worst in the NFL over the last two years.  The Bengals have not proven to be able to protect their franchise quarterback the last couple of years either, so Denver’s improved front seven should take advantage of this matchup. Outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil has really excelled as a pass rusher in his new role, and the Denver defensive line looks vastly improved.  Cincinnati has really bulked up on their frontline, but first round draft pick Andre Smith is not going to be playing.  This is an area the Broncos need to really take advantage.
• Bengals receivers vs. Broncos defensive backs:  The Bengals suffered a huge loss this offseason when T.J. Houshmandzadeh left for Seattle, but they were able to replace him with veteran Laveranues Coles and some developmental prospects taken in the 2008 draft.  Their trio of Chad Ochocinco, Coles, and Chris Henry is among the best in the NFL, but Denver’s defensive backfield is greatly improved from 2008.  The Broncos added safeties Brian Dawkins, Renaldo Hill, Darcel McBath, and David Bruton, and cornerbacks Andre’ Goodman and Alphonso Smith.  The Broncos have some favorable matchups with Bailey on Ochocinco, Goodman on Coles, and the only question will be who covers the 6’4″ Chris Henry.  The Broncos could choose to match him up with David Bruton, a bigger safety, but the safe bet is on Smith.  This will be a fun matchup to watch, providing the Broncos can put adequate pressure on Carson Palmer.
• Broncos’ run offense vs. Bengals’ run defense:  This could be the absolute biggest and most crucial matchup of this game.  If the Broncos can control the line of scrimmage and run the ball with consistency, they could potentially dominate this contest.  The Bengals’ run defense has not been known to be elite over the last couple of years, and the Broncos’ offensive line is among the best in the NFL.  Rookie tailback Knowshon Moreno is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game, but is expected to play.  Correll Buckhalter is set to start anyway, and the Broncos also have Peyton Hillis to take some carries.

This game, unlike most Broncos contests from 2008, does not appear poised to be decided by the big play.  The Broncos are going to have to rely on a steady dose of intermediate passes and a solid running game to beat the Bengals offensively, and they are going to have to be aggressive on defense.

Denver’s cornerbacks are good enough to the point where they can take risks in coverage against Cincinnati’s deep receiving core.

One question surrounding the Broncos was regarding the coverage skills of their linebackers, which will not be tested too much by Cincinnati, who lacks a serious threat at the tight end position.

Even though the Bengals do not appear to pose a serious threat to the AFC in 2009, this is an absolutely huge game for the Broncos.  They need to get off to a good start to the season to take advantage of a relatively weak part of a difficult schedule.

 

Injury Report

Cincinnati

OUT:  CB David Jones, OT Andre Smith

QST:  OT Scott Kooistra

PRB:  WR Chris Henry, S Roy Williams, QB Carson Palmer

 

Denver

OUT:  S Josh Barrett, DL Le Kevin Smith

QST:  WR Jabar Gaffney, QB Chris Simms, G Chris Kuper, RB Knowshon Moreno

PRB:  S Brian Dawkins, QB Kyle Orton

 

Line:  Cincinnati by five

 

Team Comparisons

QB:  Bengals

RB:  Broncos

WR:  Broncos

TE:  Broncos

OL:  Broncos

DL:  Push

LB:  Broncos

DB:  Broncos

ST:  Broncos

Coaching:  Bengals

Advantage:  Broncos

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Denver Broncos Practice Notes 9/8/09: Brandon Marshall Back in Action

Well, Brandon Marshall is back at practice, and he does not appear to be wearing pajama pants.

In all seriousness, this is a huge boost for the Denver Broncos, who also welcomed quarterbacks Kyle Orton and Chris Simms, running back Knowshon Moreno, and wide receiver Jabar Gaffney back to practice on Tuesday.

Head coach Josh McDaniels offered only a single word when asked about the attitude of Marshall—”Great.”

He also offered a one word response when asked if Marshall would be ready to contribute on Sunday, saying “Absolutely.”

It would appear as though Marshall and the Broncos have put their situation behind them for the time being.  McDaniels seems to think so anyway.

“I have talked to him more than once,” McDaniels said, “We are looking forward to moving past this, and he’s out there practicing hard. That’s what we’re looking for.”

This is a huge boost for the Broncos. 

If Marshall is physically ready, he is an imposer of fear on the football field.  He has been called “The Beast” and a “Whirling Dervish” for a reason.  The dude can play some ball, and the Broncos realize that they have a much better chance of winning with him on the field.

“I think he is a good football player. If he is ready to go and we go through this week of practice and we feel like that’s the direction we should play on Sunday, then certainly we all know what he can do as a football player. It is a matter of getting acclimated to enough of the game plan and him understanding what’s going on, but we’ll see as we go through the week.”

Marshall’s presence on the field will surely be a boost for whichever quarterback lines up under center for the Broncos on Sunday.  The team is not guaranteeing Orton will be ready, but all systems appear to be “go” for the quarterback who suffered a very disturbing injury two weeks ago to his pointer finger.

“Obviously, there is a little bit of restriction for a quarterback when you’ve got something on your hand,” McDaniels said, “but for the most part, everything was clean. Hopefully, everybody that was out there today will be ready to go on Sunday.”

Virtually the same response was given by McDaniels when asked if rookie tailback Knowshon Moreno would be available for the Cincinnati game.

“He is getting better every day, doing everything he can do to be ready to go on Sunday. He was in there today and worked in and out of the drills today and some of the team periods, too. He is not totally there yet, but he is getting better every day. Hopefully, we will have him ready to go on Sunday.”

It will be a huge development for Denver if they can begin the season with the roster we all anticipated at the outset of training camp, and Moreno is certainly part of that group.

It was also nice to see wide receiver Jabar Gaffney at practice despite his broken thumb.  If you are unable to believe that someone could return to catching passes after suffering a broken thumb this quickly, here is proof.

The team is also very excited about Vonnie Holliday, a veteran defensive lineman who was brought in for a visit back in March.

“Vonnie has got some familiarity with the system that we run. We had him in earlier in the year. He was coming off of a little bit of a cleanup in terms of a little procedure and wasn’t quite ready to do a workout and all that kind of stuff.”

“We brought him back in, stayed in touch and I think it worked out for the best for everybody. He is excited to be here. We are excited to have him. I think he can help improve our depth on the defensive line. He has obviously played that position. He has got some knowledge about how to play it, and I think that is helpful for some of our younger players, too.”

Check back tomorrow evening for my preview of the Broncos-Bengals game.

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