Breaking down the Denver Broncos:

I’d like to bring to the forum a little dose of reality that you won’t see beyond these cyber walls.  Outside, the story is all about Belicheck’s protege making bold moves (the Cutler for Orton saga), and making the Denver Broncos into winners.

I call Bull!

Let’s take a closer look shall we?

Before you talk about stats and how good the Denver D is, you need to look at the “stat-padding” opponents that Denver has faced.

1. Cincinnati: This was the “miracle catch game”.  Without that lucky play, this is a loss.      Denver was held to field goals the entire game (in classic Kyle Orton style).  Cincy held them in check for most of the game and were winning with seconds left on the clock.  Then the miracle catch.  Denver’s stellar D?  Well it allowed over 300 yards of total offense.  Not exactly scary good, against an offense that is better than average.  This was arguably Denver’s stiffest competition this season.
2. Cleveland: In week 2, the Broncos faced off with a team so bad, that fans are planning a protest by showing up late to the Monday nighter this week.  Talk about a walk in the park.  The Browns are dead last in Defense and second last in Offense (the Raiders are dead last in that category).  So the Broncos beat a terrible team.  And their Defense stops a terrible Offense (stat padding again, allowing Brady Quinn and company to eat 200 yards of total offense).  Brady Quinn lost his job by the way...
3. Oakland: So now here we are in week 3.  The Raiders.  Worst offense in the NFL.  Another defensive stat padding game.  They allowed 137 total yards against the worst offense in the NFL.  Not that impressive actually.

So far, the Denver Defense, on paper, appears to be some dominant force to reckon with.  But look at the opponents they’ve faced.  It’s no wonder they were ranked as the so-called #1 D in the NFL.

4.  Dallas: Now they start playing some real competition!  Dallas has really come together offensively.  But fortunately for Denver, Dallas’ defense is terrible, ranking 22nd in the NFL (Detroit is 25th, just for a perspective...).  Another win.  Of note, Tony Romo is one of the most hot/cold, unpredictable QB’s in the league.  I’d say he must have had a “cold” day.

5.  Patriots: Here the Broncos are riding high, believing their own hype at 4-0.  They likely see this game in a similar fashion the Chargers see “Raider week”, and give it that extra ooooomph. It gives them the edge.   A close fought, and deserved win.  I’ll give them that one.

6.  Chargers: aaaaah damn.  This thread isn’t about Chargers vs. Broncos comparison but let’s just say that the Chargers team that the Broncos faced in week 6 was a vastly inferior, poorly coached team.  This was another stat padding win for the Broncos.

Of note:  The Chargers tallied 311 yards of total offense on Denver.

I should say that since we brought in Boone and Scott, and Nwagbuo has seemed to settle down a little, our defensive woes in stopping the run have gelled up.  Our pass rush is catching fire with Merriman healing up.  With Hart shown the door, Ellison given the nod and Gregory in on Nickel packages (not deeeep, where he is a liability), and Cromartie waking up and starting to play.... our passing D is starting to look great!  And our offense is simply amazing and getting better with LT on the mend.  Our OL will be even better when we get Hardwick back.  Rivera seems to be doing a better job as well.

7.  Ravens: REALITY STARTS TO REVEAL ITSELF against a playoff contender!

Baltimore trounced the Broncos with 30 points against that “#1 Defense”.

The cracks are starting to form.

I predict that the Steelers will TROUNCE Denver in the Steel City in week 8

I predict that the Broncos will beat Washington.  Low scoring.  14-7

I predict that the Chargers will be on a 4 game winning streak when the Broncos meet them for a second time (KC, OAK, NYG, PHI) and the Broncos will fall.

Chargers 7-3

Broncos 7-3

AFC West will be a tighter race than advertised.

Watch out:

We’ve got a healthy Merriman back

We’ve got a healthy Tomlinson back

We’ll have a healthy Hardwick back

No more Hart!

The AFC West CAN be had.  Ya got’ta believe!

Excellent post.

I believe always have always will !!!!

GO CHARGERS !!!!!!!!

Were coming for yah !!!!!!!!

Is another colossal choke on the way.They played alot of turds to get to 6-0.

I think that it is still possible to win the division with some help from denver, but iv done a quick calculation of the remaing games, and trying to be as realistic as possible i see us still at 1 game behind the broncos after week 17. But all things going to plan we would still be well in contention for a wildcard spot. Lets keep the faith and hope for a denver collapse or a chargers revival, but im looking at a wildcard at the moment.......

We can win this division again by week 15.  Look at the schedule, and tell me if you agree or concur with this

I see Denver's season going 10-6.  The second half of their schedule is MUCH tougher.  They'll beat KC and OAK as well as WAS, but will have a tough time with the rest of the teams on their schedule.

Remember.  This is ORTON!  Just because he changed uniforms doesn't make him a good QB.

Look at Kerry Collins.  Awful QB in Oakland, goes to the Titans and has a "dream year", and then falls HARD back to Earth this year.

Orton is about to fall.  Mark my words.  He was terrible in Chicago and lost time to another terrible QB Rex Grossman....

He's not a new person.  He's still terrible.

And Denver's D is only "that good" because of the stat padding they enjoyed playing the Raiders, Cleveland etc.....

Denver will fall.

The Chargers are having a typical California "slow start".....  Playing KC and OAK is all they needed.  They got a taste of victory.

We're healthy again.  And hungry.

Cromartie is dreaming of Hawaii.......  watch out.

My question is this:  If the Chargers and Broncos both go 10-6 and we beat the Broncos next time around how does the tiebreaker work?

Who wins the "strength of schedule" battle?

What?  Give them credit.  They beat  the PATs,  Dallas, then they came and beat  San Diego at our house.  they still beat a very good Cincy team away.  I hope they choke as well but I wouldnt say they beat a bunch of turds.

Melo09 wrote:

Is another colossal choke on the way.They played alot of turds to get to 6-0.

Doc the first tiebreaker after head to head  record  is going to be wins within the division.  Since they both may win all their games against KC and the Faiders.  Then the next tiebreaker is the best win-loss record against common opponents so if they beat Pitt and say we lose to Cincy  since they beat both  etc they would likely  have a better common opponent record.  I think after that its the best record within all AFC opponents.

DoctorFootball wrote:

My question is this:  If the Chargers and Broncos both go 10-6 and we beat the Broncos next time around how does the tiebreaker work?

 

Who wins the "strength of schedule" battle?

Thanks Slammer

DoctorFootball wrote:

 

1. Oakland: So now here we are in week 3.  The Raiders.  Worst offense in the NFL.  Another defensive stat padding game.  They allowed 137 total yards against the worst offense in the NFL.  Not that impressive actually.

 

 

Game 1: Oakland amassed 366 yards in toatl offense against your Chargers and you won on a bad call by the refs by only 4 points. We blew them out of the stadium just like a good team is supposed to do to a bad team

Game 2: In a much effort by the Chargers, the Faiders amassed 180 yards in total offense and you still only managed to beat them by one score (TD + 2 pt. conversion).

Yor team is still not up to snuff, especially that three of your wins come against two of the bottom five teams in the NFL (Chefs and Faiders).

doctor football, you need to quit talking smack until your team actually beats a playoff contender. The Broncos have already beaten four playoff calibre teams (Bolts, Bengals, Cowboys and Pats) and you haven't. Let's see how wins you get in your next three games before you start spewing some more of your garbage.

Rooster31 wrote:

 

DoctorFootball wrote:

1. Oakland: So now here we are in week 3.  The Raiders.  Worst offense in the NFL.  Another defensive stat padding game.  They allowed 137 total yards against the worst offense in the NFL.  Not that impressive actually.

 

 

Game 1: Oakland amassed 366 yards in toatl offense against your Chargers and you won on a bad call by the refs by only 4 points. We blew them out of the stadium just like a good team is supposed to do to a bad team

 

Game 2: In a much effort by the Chargers, the Faiders amassed 180 yards in total offense and you still only managed to beat them by one score (TD + 2 pt. conversion).

 

Yor team is still not up to snuff, especially that three of your wins come against two of the bottom five teams in the NFL (Chefs and Faiders).

 

doctor football, you need to quit talking smack until your team actually beats a playoff contender. The Broncos have already beaten four playoff calibre teams (Bolts, Bengals, Cowboys and Pats) and you haven't. Let's see how wins you get in your next three games before you start spewing some more of your garbage.

LOL.  I'm an optimistic fan.

Sue me!

Slammer8 you seem like a smart intelligent man/women. I agree with you.

slammer8 wrote:

What?  Give them credit.  They beat  the PATs,  Dallas, then they came and beat  San Diego at our house.  they still beat a very good Cincy team away.  I hope they choke as well but I wouldnt say they beat a bunch of turds.

Melo09 wrote:

Is another colossal choke on the way.They played alot of turds to get to 6-0.

 

By the way, the game next week against the Steelers is not in Steel City.  It is in Mile High on Monday night.  I think that game is a toss up.  To also conclude that the Chargers beat the Giants and Eagles in consecutive weeks flying back and forth to the East Coast is optimistic.  I think it can be done, especially because the Giants are reeling and the locker room is starting to split in regards to Coughlin.  If the Chargers win that one, they ride high and have the hometown crowd once again believing for the game against Philly, who is beatable, especially on the West Coast.

No problem.  Lets hope there is a 11-5 tiebreaker needed.

DoctorFootball wrote:

Thanks Slammer

Nice game against Baltimore there.  Orton should take you all the way to the SB now  Not.   The word I have for you is  EXPOSED!.   We may not be going to the SB this year but I sleep well knowing that the Donkeys wont either.  Go crow somewhere else rooster. 

Rooster31 wrote:

 

DoctorFootball wrote:

 

1. Oakland: So now here we are in week 3.  The Raiders.  Worst offense in the NFL.  Another defensive stat padding game.  They allowed 137 total yards against the worst offense in the NFL.  Not that impressive actually.

 

 

 

 

Game 1: Oakland amassed 366 yards in toatl offense against your Chargers and you won on a bad call by the refs by only 4 points. We blew them out of the stadium just like a good team is supposed to do to a bad team

 

Game 2: In a much effort by the Chargers, the Faiders amassed 180 yards in total offense and you still only managed to beat them by one score (TD + 2 pt. conversion).

 

Yor team is still not up to snuff, especially that three of your wins come against two of the bottom five teams in the NFL (Chefs and Faiders).

 

doctor football, you need to quit talking smack until your team actually beats a playoff contender. The Broncos have already beaten four playoff calibre teams (Bolts, Bengals, Cowboys and Pats) and you haven't. Let's see how wins you get in your next three games before you start spewing some more of your garbage.

I have no expectation of going to the SB this year and never did. I had the Broncos going 6-10 at best (4-12 at worst) this season. And yes they were exposed as they finally played an elite defense and lost the battle in the ttrenches for the first time this season. Again when the Chargers actually beat someone with a winning record this season, you let me know. Your next three are pretty tough games and you could go 0-3 or you could go 3-0. As it stands now, I'll be happy with 10-6 with what's on our remaining sked (four very probable wins, two versus KC plus Faiders and the Foreskins. Five possible losses vs Pitt, SD, NYG, Philly & Indy).

I see you going 10-6 and most likely winning the division  or at least a wild card if the Bolts can pull their head out of their  a**. and you are right that we have not done anything yet.  The next three games are the season for us.  If we win them all then we are for real and we should win the division.  If we lose them all then bye bye Norv.

slammer8 wrote:

Nice game against Baltimore there.  Orton should take you all the way to the SB now  Not.   The word I have for you is  EXPOSED!.   We may not be going to the SB this year but I sleep well knowing that the Donkeys wont either.  Go crow somewhere else rooster. 

Noone had US picked as Superbowl Favs!

Noone went around acting like we were practically a lock for the Superbowl(a certain fanbase will remain nameless here.)

Im sorry, but this is laughable.

Sure, the division is by NO MEANS a lock(well, maybe locked AGAINST KC and Oak) but coming out and trying to find ways to discredit each loss simply reeks of desperation.

Not to mention being pathetic.

Combined record of Denvers schedule SO FAR:26-23

Combined record of SDs sched.: 23-28

Den: 6-1 against a winning schedule

SD 4-3 against a losing schedule

Number of teams with losing records that Denver has played:2

Number of teams with a losing record that SD has played : 4

Worth noting, Denver gives SD the biggest bump with 6-1.  Chargers not much of anything, tied for 3rd on our list.

Hell if it wasn't for Oakland and KC, you guys would have 1 win....Against a losing team.

So maybe we should revisit the whole Denver is a fluke thing?

Discuss.