Broncos Blitz Chiefs 49-29!

Where the hell was that team all season long? That was the question I kept asking as I watched the Broncos dismantle the Chiefs 49-29 on Sunday at Invesco Field. The Broncos jumped out to a 21-0 first quarter lead, with Kyle Orton throwing three touchdown passes. From there, the Broncos capitalized on a KC missed field goal, and Tim Tebow added another touchdown run to give the Broncos a 28-0 lead. Denver made it 35-0 when Jason Hunter picked up a Matt Cassel fumble and returned it 75 yards for a touchdown. With the score 35-10 in the third quarter, Tim Tebow threw his first NFL pass, a two yard touchdown pass, to give Denver a 42-10 lead. Brandon Lloyd added a sensational fingertip and toe catch in the corner of the endzone to give Denver a 49-17 fourth quarter advantage. The Chiefs tacked on two meaningless touchdowns and the final score ended up 49-29. It was a great day for the Broncos and their fans. Here are my quick thoughts about the win over KC:

1) The Broncos started the game with an offensive onslaught, and the Chiefs could not recover. That start reminded me of how past Broncos teams would start games at home. Even in the post-Elway era, the Broncos always seemed to jump out to a big lead early in the first quarter or first half, and the crowd would take over and the game would be out of reach. 21-0 after the first quarter was fantastic and something we have not seen a lot in the McDaniels Era.
2) Kyle Orton was sensational. I'm very critical of Orton, and I am not the biggest fan, but he played lights out on Sunday. 22-34 for 296 yards and 4 touchdowns is a great day, and Orton's throws were all crisp and right on the money. Now, he has to follow this up with a good game on the road next week.
3) Josh McDaniels did a great job game planning and calling plays. Part of the reason for the success in the first half was how McD called the offensive plays. He kept KC off balance and he mixed in plenty of running and play action passes. It was one of the better games McD has called all season.
4) The Broncos defense came to play and showed up. They were flying around to the football, they played fast and aggressive and shut down the Chiefs number one running attack. They even got four sacks and returned a fumble for a touchdown. It looked completely different then what we saw against the Raiders. I'm not happy about giving up 29 points, but let's face it, the Broncos were in soft coverage the entire second half, and they were protecting a big lead. The way you play defense changes when you have a huge lead.
5) The Broncos just looked crisp, sharp, and quicker then the Chiefs. Maybe it was the bye week or maybe it was playing at home, but Denver just looked flat out good on Sunday. If they play to this level every week, they could be win any game left on their schedule.
6) I'm all for the orange jerseys becoming our dominant jersey for home games. I love the orange alternates. I'm a fan of the blue too, but the orange jersey just looks good, and it feels like the Broncos should be wearing them. Here is what my plan would be: Wear the orange as the main home jersey for six games. For two games wear the blue jerseys. If the Broncos are playing at home on SNF, MNF, or TNF, then wear the blue jerseys and the blue pants. In any event, bring back the orange for good.
7) I'd like to welcome Todd Haley to the All-Douchebag Team. What a disgrace by Haley on Sunday! I can't believe he didn't shake McDaniels' hand after the game was over. I'm sorry by McDaniels didn't do anything in the game that could be perceived as cheap, bush league, or running up the score. Haley is a whiny coach, and his persona is that of someone who can't control his emotions. I didn't like Haley in Arizona, and now it is on. I can't stand him. I think Haley was just pissed at how his first place team got completely dominated by the last place Broncos. I think he was embarrased and was taking his frustrations out on McDaniels. I don't care what happens in the game, it is the NFL. After the game, walk over to midfield and shake the other coaches hand.
8) I'm not going to put too much stock in this game but it was a great win. The Broncos and their fans needed that. It was one of those games where everything went the Broncos way. It was simply their day. They find themselves at 3-6 and only two games out of the lead in the AFC West with seven games to play. The Broncos travel to San Diego this week for a huge game on Monday Night against the 4-5 Chargers. It will be a very tough test and hard task for Denver on the road, but at least we have another week to stay alive and fight.