Super Bowl Tidbits

As we start Super Bowl week, here are some interesting tidbits and nuggets to look at regarding this year's game..........

-This will be the eighth Super Bowl appearance by the Steelers. That will tie them with Dallas for the most appearances. They have a 6-1 record in previous Super Bowls. A victory gives the Steelers a seventh Super Bowl title, which would give them more than any other franchise by two wins.
-This will be the fifth Super Bowl for the Packers. They have a record of 3-1 in the four prior Super Bowls.
-The Packers are the first 6th seed from the NFC to reach the Super Bowl.
-Green Bay is the fourth team to win three straight road games to get to the Super Bowl. The '85 Patriots, '05 Steelers, and '07 Giants are the other three to do it.
-Green Bay is attempting to become just the sixth team to win the Super Bowl as a wildcard team. The other five: '80 Raiders, '97 Broncos, 2000 Ravens, '05 Steelers, and '07 Giants. Interestingly, this could be the third time a WC team won the Super Bowl in the past six seasons.
-This is the first Super Bowl to be hosted in Dallas region.
-If the Steelers win, it will be the second straight year that the Super Bowl winner missed the playoffs the year before. In 2008, the Saints finished 8-8 and then won Super Bowl XLIV in 2009. In 2009, the Steelers finished 9-7 and missed the playoffs.
-If Pittsburgh wins, Mike Tomlin would have his second Super Bowl as a head coach. He would join these 12 coaches who have won multiple Super Bowls: Vince Lombardi, Tom Landry, Don Shula, Chuck Noll, Bill Walsh, Tom Flores, Joe Gibbs, George Seifert, Jimmy Johnson, Mike Shanahan, Bill Parcells, and Bill Belichick.
-If the Steelers win, Ben Roesthlisberger will have won his third Super Bowl. He will become only the fifth QB to win at least three Super Bowls. The other four are: Terry Bradshaw (4-0), Joe Montana (4-0), Tom Brady (3-1), and Troy Aikman (3-0).

My predictions for the Thursday Night Kickoff Opener at the Super Bowl winner's stadium:

-If Pittsburgh wins, then look for New England at Pittsburgh.
The second choice would be Baltimore at Pittsburgh.

-If Green Bay wins, then look for Chicago at Green Bay.
The second choice could be New Orleans at Green Bay.

Super Bowl Week

The week in between the conference title games and the Super Bowl is usually pretty quiet and nondescript. The teams aren't at the site yet, all the media hasn't descended on the city yet, and it is kind of a calm before the storm type of feeling. Once Monday hits, then Super Bowl week is in full effect. There will be millions of stories, features, interviews, and events to fill every newspapers, website, radio show, and television program. Next week, I'm going to run three columns: A facts and tidbits column about Super Bowl XLV, a column involving some of the prop bets at this year's Super Bowl, and a column previewing the game and picking the winner. After the Super Bowl ends, I will have plenty of time to look back on the season that just ended, look ahead to the Draft and Free Agency, discuss the current labor situation, review my season picks and predictions, and look ahead to the state of the Broncos and their future. Unfortunately, for the first time since Labor Day weekend there is no football to enjoy this Sunday (No, the Pro Bowl doesn't count). If you need a football fix, I suggest watching NFL Network's marathon of Super Bowl highlights all weekend long.

Dennis Allen Named Defensive Coordinator

John Fox announced the remaining members of his staff yesterday. Dennis Allen has been named Denver's new defensive coordinator. Allen comes over from the New Orleans Saints, where he coached the secondary. The move has been applauded as a good move for Fox and the Broncos from people inside the league's circles. With the hire of Allen, expect the Broncos to go back to a 4-3 defensive front. Also, Denver hired Ron Milus as their defensive backs coach and Richard Smith as their linebackers coach.

Championship Sunday Reaction

Super Bowl XLV is set. The Steelers and Packers will square off in Dallas in two weeks in what should be a very competitive and entertaining Super Bowl. Two of the best, respected and traditional franchises meet in what will be a very exciting game to analyze and pick apart. Two great fanbases will descend in Texas and it will be a very fun two weeks leading up to this terrific matchup. I will have plenty of time to dissect the game, but today is a time to look back on a very interesting and at times bizarre Championship Sunday. Here are my thoughts on both games........







NFC Championship: Green Bay-21 Chicago-14



1) What a great drive by Aaron Rodgers and the Packers on the first series of the game. Rodgers looked terrific as he picked apart the Bears defense. He capped it off with one of my favorite plays-the naked bootleg- to send a message and give the Packers an early 7-0 lead.



2) Green Bay really ran well early in the game. James Starks touchdown run in the second quarter to make it 14-0 was a big score and it capped off a drive in which he really carved up the Bears run defense. The Packers offense looked great early in the first half.



3) At 14-0 you knew the Bears were in trouble, but give credit to their defense. Their defense kept them in this game after the Packers took the two score lead. The Bears defense is legit, and they proved it again on Sunday.



4) Jay Cutler just looked bad early and often. He was high on many throws, took some sacks, and threw a bad pick down the sideline at the end of the half. His numbers show how bad he was: 6-14, 80 yards and an interception.



5) Speaking of Cutler, everyone will remember this game for the injury that kept Cutler out for the second half. Cutler injured his knee late in the first half. He went into the locker room early, came out and started the second half, ran three plays and looked like he was favoring his knee and was limping. Cutler met with the trainers and that was it- HE WAS DONE!!! If was one of the most bizarre sequences I had seen in a long time. Many people began to question his will and toughness. I'm sure if Cutler could have continued playing, he would have played, but the way he handled himself on the sideline made it look like he just gave up and took himself out. He made no attempt to help the other QBs in the game, he looked disinterested, and made no effort to work on the knee on the bike or any other way. It was just weird. Cutler is quirky and unpopular and this is going to add fuel to his negative fire. I just kept thinking back to when Phillip Rivers played the 2007 AFC Championship on a torn ACL. Cutler will get an MRI on Monday, but it will be interesting to see the extent of his injury. It is a shame, but that will be the lasting memory of this game.



6) Give the Bears and 3rd string QB Caleb Hanie credit, they fought back to get back into this game. Todd Collins was awful in replacing Cutler, so in comes Hanie and he drives the Bears right down the field early in the fourth quarter to make it a 14-7 game. Pretty remarkable stuff and very gutsy effort by Hanie.



7) At 14-7, you figured the Packers would just need one break to put the game away. B.J Raji's pick six of Hanie with about 5 minutes to go in the game seemed to be the dagger. At 21-7, the Packers had that two score lead they needed, but Hanie and the Bears fought back, and Earl Bennett scored a touchdown very quickly to make it 21-14 and put pressure back on Green Bay's offense.



8) Green Bay has an elite QB in Rodgers and they got very conservative with their offense late in this game. The Packers ran it three plays and the Bears were ready for it and forced a punt. Not a good job by the Packers offense in the second half, and not a good job by them trying to close out this game.



9) Hanie's drive late in the game was like a script in a cheesy Disney movie. As Hanie is moving the chains, you start thinking "Could this really happen?" "Could Caleb Hanie pull this off?" "If Hanie pulls this out, will he start the Super Bowl?"It was to no avail though as Sam Shields picked off Hanie deep in Packer territory to seal the win and help the Packers advance to the Super Bowl.



10) I'm happy for the Packers organization. They had the guts to divorce themselves from the Brett Favre drama and they were committed to moving on with Aaron Rodgers. They went 6-10 in 2008, watched Favre go to the rival Vikings in 2009, went 11-5 last year, lost a brutal 51-45 playoff game at Arizona in Overtime, watched Favre lead Minnesota to the a 13-3 record-burying them twice in the regular season and make their way to the NFC Championship Game. They stuck to their guns and now Favre has retired and left Minnesota in a state of flux, and the Packers are headed to their fifth Super Bowl appearance.







AFC Championship: Pittsburgh-24 New York Jets-19



1) The Steelers came up and ran the ball down the Jets throats. Rashard Mendanhall was great in the first half. He had 95 yards rushing alone in the first half. The Steelers were able to move the ball at will on the Jets and their opening drive touchdown score-which took up about half of the first quarter- really set the tone for the day.


2) Once again the Jets offense started out slow. Mark Sanchez had some passes batted down early, some receivers dropped passes, and the running game was completely shut down. The Jet offense couldn't answer any of the Steeler drives and put themselves in a bind.


3) Ben Roethlisberger was sensational in the first half. He kept drives alive throughout the first half and made some big throws out of the pocket. His short touchdown run to make it 17-0 capped an almost perfect first half for Pittsburgh.


4) Down 17, the Jets needed to get points before the half. The following sequence occurred on the next three plays: Sack, incomplete almost intercepted, forced fumble sack and touchdown return. 24-0 Steelers at that point. The Steelers defense could smell the blood in the water and they attacked and forced the big turnover they needed with under two minutes to go in the half. That really was the game right there.


5) Give the Jets credit because they were able to get a drive and kick a field goal to make it 24-3 at the half. It looked like the Steelers defense got a little complacent and let up a little, and Sanchez was able to move them down the field and get the all important three points. The Jets were getting the ball back to start the second half, so that field goal was huge.


6) Sanchez was great in the second half. He comes right out and hits Santonio Holmes on a big 45 yard touchdown pass and now the Jets are within 24-10 with about 12 minutes to go in the third quarter. It reminded me of how the Alabama-Auburn game was played in November. All of sudden it was like "Here come the Jets."


7) I felt like the Steelers played tight and made some errors in the second half. None bigger was the interception by Big Ben to Brodney Pool in Jet territory. Pittsburgh was moving the ball, and all they needed was to get a field goal, and that would have probably put the game away. They just couldn't put the nail in the coffin at that point.


8) The Jets play calling and execution at 24-10 in the fourth quarter will haunt Jet fans all offseason. They took too much time off the clock as they were driving down the field. First, they were in hurry up mode. Then, they were huddling. Next thing you know they are inside the five in a goal to go situation. On the first play the Jets run it up the middle. I'm fine with that call. There was some confusion on the sideline and they had to hurry up for the second play, which was a play-action pass to Dustin Keller. It was as low throw, but it still hit his hands and fell incomplete. I'm fine with the play call there. On third down from inside the two, they throw a one-step slant to Holmes, which is batted down at the line of scrimmage. I didn't like that play at all. That play is better suited for the 10 or 15 yard line, not inside the two. On fourth down, the Jets really only had so many plays to call. They went with a Tomlinson run up the middle which was stuffed badly by the Steelers. I would have given Shonn Greene the ball on that play, but in any event the Jets get no points on that drive. Of course, they got the safety the ensuing play, but the Jets needed a touchdown there and they didn't get one.

9) After Sanchez hits Jerricho Cotchery for a short touchdown on the drive after the safety, the Jets are down 24-19 with 3:06 remaining. Here is where you give the Steelers a tremendous amount of credit. After a good kickoff return by Antonio Brown, the Steelers got the ball at about their 40 yard line. That changed the playcalling. On first down, they run the ball. On second down, a great call by the Steelers with a play fake and Big Ben hits Heath Miller for a first down. Great call and great execution. After two runs, and forcing the Jets to use timeouts, we hit the two minute warning and a 3rd and 6 for the Steelers. Run the ball and the Jets are probably going to stop it and get the ball back with over a minute and a half and no timeouts and they will have to drive at least 85 yards and the game winner. If the Steelers throw the ball and it is incomplete, then they have given the Jets even more time to score. If they throw and get a first down, then the game is over. Give Mike Tomlin credit for having the guts to throw the ball and end the game. Big Ben rolls right and finds Antonio Brown over the middle for a first down and ices the game. Great guts and decision by Tomlin and the coaching staff, and great play by Big Ben and Brown. The way the Jets were moving the ball, it would have been interesting to see what would have happened if they got the ball back, but the Steelers removed that option and won the game themselves.

10) The loss is the second consectutive loss in the AFC Championship for the Jets and their starved fanbase. In my opinion, this was the best chance to date for the Jets to get to the Super Bowl. All week I really felt that the Jets were going to win this game, but once again they come up short. This Jets team was a tough out, and really they could make a claim that they could have won this year's Super Bowl. Rex Ryan said it was "Super Bowl or Bust" this season. The Jets had the target on their chest all year long and everything was about getting to the Super Bowl. The bottom line is that they did not deliver, and they failed to get to the Super Bowl; therefore, this season is considered a disappointment in my eyes. For a franchise that hasn't been to a Super Bowl since January of 1969, and a team that was picked by many to get to the Super Bowl, then back to back AFC Championship Game appearances is simply not enough. They have had a nice two year run, but the Jets still didn't deliver on their promise. As far as the future goes, no one knows what to expect in the offseason for the Jets. With the potential lockout and no CBA, we have no idea what the system will look like or how much it is going to change. The Jets have a lot of top free agents (Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards, Shaun Ellis, David Harris, Antonio Cromartie, and Brad Smith to name a few) that they have to make decisions on. It will be hard to keep a majority of them, and they must be smart and shrewd with their distribution of the pieces of the pie. The team will definitely be different next year. The questions are these in Jetland: Is the beginning of a real championship run, or is this team going to take a step backwards? Those answr

Conference Championship Picks!

We have the reached Championship Sunday in the NFL. It is the last, really good Sunday of football until next September. Two games back-to-back with the right to go to the Super Bowl. We have two 2 seeds and two 6 seeds vying for a chance to head to Dallas and Super Bowl XLV. Also, we have both games being played in classic NFL cities, Chicago and Pittsburgh, where elements like cold, wind and snow will play a role in these contests. The NFL is happy because anyway you slice it, they will have an attractive matchup for Super Bowl. Onto to the picks for Championship Sunday........

Last Week's Record: 2-2
Overall Playoff Record: 3-5
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

NFC Championship: CHICAGO (+3) over Green Bay:
Why I like the Bears: Although Green Bay has looked really good the last month, no one is really picking the Bears at all. I just think that the Bears matchup very well with Green Bay. They beat them early in the season in Chicago, and they lost 10-3 to the Packers in Week 17 at Lambeau with absolutely nothing to play for. The Bears defense might be able to slowdown Aaron Rodgers. The homefield will play a role in this game. After watching Green Bay dismantle Atlanta last week in the Georgia Dome, many people think the Packers are a perfect dome team- and they are. Too bad this game isn't in a dome. The cold and the wind will take its toll on the Packers offense. I think it slows them down just a bit. The Bears offense has been more balanced and Jay Cutler hasn't made many mistakes lately. Think about it: The Bears have a good defense, a dangerous returner who controls field position, balance on offense, and a big-play quarterback. That is the recipe to get them to the Super Bowl and a get a victory over the Pack.

A Case for the Packers: The Packers are probably the better team, and Aaron Rodgers is playing at a Joe Montana-like level right now. Their offense is so explosive, and he spreads the ball to all different receivers. Their defense is very good, and Clay Matthews, Charles Woodson, and Tramon Williams make a few impact plays a game. You could just see them harrasing Cutler all day and forcing him into those two or three interceptions. This Packer team is hitting on all cylinders at the right time, and they just have that look of a Super Bowl team.

FINAL SCORE: I will be rooting for the Packers to win this game and they are the better team. I have nothing against them, and I feel they deserve vindication for going with Rodgers and divorcing Brett Favre. I hate Cutler and this Bears team does nothing for me. With that said, I think the Bears will win this game somehow. Maybe their defense forces an unexpected turnover, maybe Cutler makes a huge play, or maybe Soldier Field's sloppy track makes a difference. Somehow, I see the Bears winning and going to the Super Bowl.
Bears-24 Packers-17


AFC Championship: New York Jets (+3) over PITTSBURGH:
Why I like the Jets: Quite simply: It is their year. All year long they have escaped all of these close games: at Miami, at Denver, at Detroit, at Cleveland, vs. Houston, at Pittsburgh, Indy and New England in the playoffs. They just have that feel of a team that is going to the Super Bowl. All of those close games just add up to me feeling like it is their time. This Jets team reminds me of the 2005 Steelers. 11-5, six seed and on the road for the playoffs. Both made the AFC Championship with a rookie QB the year before. Steelers upset 14-2 Indy in Divisional Round. The Jets upset the 14-2 Pats in the Divisional Round. The Steelers went on the road and won an AFC Title Game. The Jets defense is playing lights out right now, and they will be able to handle the Steelers offense. Mark Sanchez will make three or four big plays in the passing game, and they will capitalize on turnovers. If the Jets get a lead, then this game is done. It is just their time.

A Case for the Steelers: They are at home and have Ben Roethlisberger, so that gives them a good shot. Troy Polamalu is playing this week, and he didn't play against the Jets in Week 15. He should be able to make a difference. The Steelers defense should be able to stop the Jets running game, and the Steelers could make some plays with Mike Wallace, Heath Miller, and Emmanuel Sanders. They have been to a Super Bowl before, and from a coaching standpoint, Mike Tomlin is a better in game coach then Rex Ryan.

FINAL SCORE: As much as I hate to admit it, the Jets are going to win this game. They are the better team, and they are playing so well right now, I just can't see the Steelers winning. It is amazing that the Jets are actually a three-point underdog because I view the Jets as the favorite. The Jets will get some turnovers, get a lead, and sit on it all game long. This one might not be as close as many people think. The Jets will win and head to the Super Bowl for the first time since Super Bowl III.
Jets-29 Steelers-13

SUPER BOWL XLV: Jets vs. Bears....a.k.a "My Worst Nightmare"

Fox's Staff Taking Shape

New Broncos Head Coach John Fox is in the midst of finalizing his staff. Here is what the Broncos staff now looks like: Mike McCoy returns as the offensive coordinator. Eric Studesville returns to coach running backs, Clancy Barone returns to coaching the tight ends, and both quality control assistants will return: Jay Rodgers and Brian Callahan. Fox has brought over Tyke Tolbert from Carolina to coach the wide receivers and Dave Magazu from the Panthers to coach the offensive line. Wayne Nunnely, who coached Denver's defensive line the past two seasons, will remain with the team as the D-Line coach. Fox still needs to add a quarterback coach, linebacker coach, a secondary coach and a defensive coordinator. Sean McDermott and Jim Mora Jr. were candidates for the DC job, but Mora decided to take another year off from coaching, and McDermott opted to go to Carolina as their DC. A name floated out there to become the new defensive coordinator is Mike Trgovac, who was Fox's defensive coordinator in Carolina from '02 to '08. Trgovac is currently the defensive line coach for the Green Bay Packers.

Divisional Round Recap

The NFL's final four is set for Championship Sunday. In the NFC, you get the Bears hosting the Packers. The NFL's longest and most storied takes another twist as these two rivals meet in the NFC Title Game. In the AFC, the Steelers, another 2 seed, will host the Jets, who upset the Patriots in Foxborough. Anyway you slice it, these Championship games have a lot of juice and starpower. Two old time teams, a traditional powerhouse, and a team from the New York market all make their way to Championship Sunday. You think the NFL office and the networks are doing a Braylon Edwards-style backflip this morning? You bet they are. I'll preview the Conference Title games on Friday, but let's look back at the divisional round..........

Pittsburgh-31 Baltimore-24

1) This game had more scoring then it normally does, but it was a very entertaining game to watch. Once again, Ben Roethlisberger comes up big in the clutch. He isn't the prettiest girl at the party, but he just gets the job done in these big games. His 3rd and 18 throw to Antonio Brown late in fourth quarter with the scored tied at 24 was one of the biggest throws I have seen in a long time.

2) The Steelers defense really came alive in the second half. Down 21-7, they forced a Ray Rice fumble, got a pick from Ryan Clark, and got another Joe Flacco fumble to turn this game around. They really stepped up in this game, and made big plays to help them win it.

3) It will take Joe Flacco to win a Super Bowl to finally win me over. I'm still not sold on Flacco in a big spot, but I have to be fair, he hit Anquan Boldin right in the numbers and TJ Houshmanzadeh in the hands on the Ravens last two drives. Those two guys have to make those catches.

4) The Ravens offense really didn't do anything all game long. Rice was a non-factor, and his fumble in the 3rd quarter was the turning point. They took advantage of Pittsburgh turnovers to take a 21-7 halftime lead, but they really didn't do a lot all game.

5) The officiating was awful. Jeff Triplette always annoys me when he is does a game. Too many flags and too many ticky-tacky calls for a playoff game.

6) The Ravens have now put together three straight playoff runs, but have not made a Super Bowl in this three year span. Their window might be closing, and there should be some major changes in store for them this offseason.

7) Give credit to the Steelers. They start the season 3-1 without Big Ben, then after they lost to the Pats in midseason, everyone kind of forgot about them in the AFC playoff picture. Now, they are back in the AFC Title Game for the fourth time in seven years.

Green Bay-48 Atlanta-21

1) Aaron Rodgers just made the leap into the elite level of QBs with this game. 31-36 for 330 yards, 3 TDs and a rushing touchdown. He looked like Joe Montana circa 1989 on Saturday Night. Down 14-7 i the second quarter, he brought the Packers right back to take a 21-14 lead right away. He is a remarkable player, and he is putting together a classic playoff run.

2) The Packers defense is a fine group with impact players on every level. Everyone talks about Clay Matthews and Charles Woodson, but Tramon Williams is an All-Pro player. Their defense is fun to watch.

3) Matt Ryan and the Falcons got a little too greedy near the end of the half. Down 21-14 late in the half, Atlanta was in field goal range, but they were trying to get closer. Ryan threw a bad pass that Williams picked off and then he takes it 70 yards as time expired in the half. Instead of a 21-17 game, the Packers took a 28-14 lead a never looked back. Combine that with the fact that the Packers got the ball to start the 3rd quarter and Rodgers drove the ball right down for touchdown to make it 35-14. That sequence was the ballgame right there.

4) The Falcons weren't getting a lot of respect as the 1 seed in the NFC, and it turns out everyone was right. 13-3 is a nice season, but getting blown out at home in their first playoff game will be a bitter pill for Falcon fans to swallow all offseason.

5) Kudos to the Packers and their organization. In 2008, they were tired of the Brett Favre drama, were looking to move on, and they made a tough call to divorce from Favre and go with Aaron Rodgers. It paid off and had to navigate some tough times, but they are back in the NFC Championship and have a legitimate shot at winning the Super Bowl this year.

Chicago-35 Seattle-24

1) Let's take a minute to thank Josh McDaniels for trading away Jay Cutler and burying our franchise. The Bears went all-in to get Cutler, and it has paid off. Cutler was tremendous yesterday. He threw a long touchdown pass to Greg Olson on his first pass, and then ran for two more scores and threw another in the fourth quarter. Cutler has silenced his critics and it is hard as a Bronco fan to watch him be so successful. Thanks a lot McDaniels.

2) The Seahawks shot their load last week in their win over New Orleans and looked like a 7-9 team yesterday. They were overmatched and outplayed in every phase. Seattle punted on their first eight possessions, and were never in the game and down 21-0 at the half. Pete Carroll did a nice job these last two weeks, but they were no match for the Bears on Sunday.

3) The Bears defense has really played great this season, and they dominated the Seahawks yesterday. Give the Bears credit because many people didn't think the Bears defense was any good, but they have proved that time after time this season.

4) It's crazy to think about how the Bears were 4-3 at midseason and looking like a team that wouldn't make the playoffs. They rebounded to finish 11-5, and now they are hosting the NFC Championship for the first time since 2006. There were many critics of Lovie Smith, Mike Martz and Cutler, but they have really responded with a great season.

New York Jets-28 New England-21

1) Give credit to Rex Ryan and the Jet defense. For the second week in a row, the Jets put together a great defensive gameplan. They sacked Tom Brady five times and intercepted him once. No one was open for Brady all day long, and a lot of those sacks were the result of the coverage in the secondary. Rex has a big mouth but he backed it up the last two weeks big time.

2) Mark Sanchez threw for less then 200 yards, but he threw three big touchdown passes. He hit Tomlinson for a short touchdown to make it 7-3 in the second quarter, he then hit Braylon Edwards on a slant for a touchdown to make it 14-3, then his touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes in the fourth quarter to make 21-11 was a thing of beauty. Sanchez is erratic at times, but he has proven that he can make big time throws in big games. I can't believe Sanchez beat Peyton Manning and Brady in back to back games in the playoffs.

3) A few key turning points took place early in this game. First, Brady got picked off by David Harris on a screen on their first drive of the game when they were moving the ball and in Jet territory. Eventhough the Jets missed a field goal on that drive, it showed that Brady is human and can make mistakes. Second, down 7-3 with under two minutes in the first half, Belichick calls for a fake punt on 4th and 5 near midfield. The risk isn't worth it in that spot. The Pats don't get it, and they give the Jets the ball back in their own territory right before the half. The Jets turned it into a touchdown and a 14-3 lead, and the Pats were in serious trouble at that point. If they punt the Jets down deep, the Jets will play to get to the half with a 7-3 lead, instead it gave the Jets the ball and chance to score and they did.

4) The Pats finally got moving late in the third quarter, score a touchdown and a two point conversion to make it 14-11. Two plays later in the beginning of the fourth quarter, Sanchez hit Jerricho Cotchery wide open over the middle for a 58 yard catch and run. He then hit Holmes for that big touchdown pass and the Jets answered right back to make it 21-11. Right there, I really thought the Pats were cooked.

5) Brady was having flashbacks to the Super Bowl against the Giants. He was harrassed, confused and out of sync all game long. The Patriots also did a terrible job in the fourth quarter. Down 21-11 and needing two scores, they ran the ball and took their time in the fourth quarter. There was no sense of urgency and held the ball for most of the quarter on that drive and came away with no points. Brady's incomplete pass to Deion Branch on 4th and 13 summed up everything that happened to the Pats yesterday. Also, when they got it to 21-14 with two minutes left, they didn't get out of bounds to let their field goal team on to try the field goal before the 2 minute warning. That made them go for the onside kick instead of kicking deep. With two timeouts left and just under two minutes, I would have still kicked it deep, played defense and use those two timeouts and try to get the ball back with decent field position and down seven.

6) Brady and Belichick have to take some heat here. They haven't won a Super Bowl since 2004. They haven't won a playoff game since the 2007 AFC Championship, and they are 0-3 in their last three playoff games and lost all three at home. Belichick got outcoached yesterday, and he got outcoached agains the Giants in the Super Bowl and last year against the Ravens. Brady is 4-5 in his last nine playoff games. The window is not closing on the Pats. They have Brady, a young defense and a multitude of draft picks, but this loss will stick with the Pats for a long, long time. It will be interesting to see how they respond next year.

7) The Jets are not the "Same Old Jets" anymore and they haven't been like that in a over a year. They advance to the AFC Championship Game for the second straight year and now have won four playoff games in two years-all on the road. It's hard to root for a Rex Ryan, Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes, Bart Scott and Mark Sanchez but it just might be their year. Now that they have beaten the Colts and Pats in consecutive weeks, if they don't get to the Super Bowl it will be a huge disappointment. In my mind they are actually the favorites next week in Pittsburgh.

Divisional Playoff Picks!

After a really good Wildcard Weekend, we now set our sights to the Divisional Weekend in the NFL. A lot of people also feel that this is the best weekend of football all year long. You have all the top seeds in action and you have a doubleheader on Saturday and a doubleheader on Sunday. This is a great weekend, but this year you have some really intriguing games. The best four teams in the AFC all year have made it this far and will square off. Baltimore at Pittsburgh on Saturday and Jets-Patriots on Sunday. Those four deserve it and were the best four AFC teams all year long, so it is fitting that they meet up this weekend. In the NFC, you have a dangerous and fun-to-watch Packers team headed to number one seeded Atlanta on Saturday Night. On Sunday, you have the Bears back in the playoffs for the first time since 2006 hosting the surprising Seattle Seahawks. It has all the makings for an interesting and fun football weekend. These games are tough to predict because all the teams got this far for a reason. Usually, you get at least one home team to lose in the divisional round. Here are the upsets-road teams winning- the last few years in this round of the playoffs:

2009: Jets over San Diego

2008: Baltimore over Tennessee, Philly over the Giants, Arizona over Carolina

2007: Giants over Dallas, San Diego over Indy

2006: Indy over Baltimore, New England over San Diego

2005: Carolina over Chicago, Pittsburgh over Indy

2004: No Upsets

2003: Carolina over St. Louis, Indy over Kansas City

2002: No Upsets



For the most part, at least one team and quite frankly two home teams and higher seeds will get picked off this week. It is tough to figure though which team will actually get beat. It is like the NCAA Tournament. You know a higher seed is going down, but it is up to you to figure out which one exactly is going to be the team to lose. With that theory in mind, here we go with the picks for the Divisional Playoffs.............



Wildcard Weekend Record: 1-3

Overall Playoff Record: 1-3

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)



PITTSBURGH (-2) over Baltimore:
Why I like the Steelers: Everyone is pretty much picking Baltimore to win this close game, but I have been very impressed with Ben Roethlisberger this year. He has a shaky line, but he has been really, really good at times this year. I think this is one of those games that Big Ben puts the Steelers on his back and wins it for them. Mike Wallace has really changed the dynamic of their passing game, and I see Wallace and Big Ben hooking up on some big throws this week. I also like the matchup of the Steelers Defense vs. the Ravens Offense more then the Ravens D vs. the Steelers O. I still don't trust Joe Flacco in a big spot, and the Steelers just seem to have an edge to them and find a way to win these close games against the Ravens.

A Case for the Ravens: They always play the Steelers tough-no matter where the game is played. Their defense is really good, and their offense can grind out a win on the road. There will be no secrets in this game, and the Ravens are a great road playoff team. They can match the physicality of the Steelers.

Final Score: How many times will the CBS announcers (Gumbel and Dierdorf) refer to this game as a "Bloodbath" or "Slugfest?" I'm thinking at least 50 references by halftime. Anyway, this is a great matchup, and I can't wait to watch it. It should be physical from the start, and it should be close. Usually, their games end up with the winner winning by three late. I think the margin in this game will be decided by more than a field goal. Big Ben makes his statement at home in this game. STEELERS-20 RAVENS-10


ATLANTA (-2) over Green Bay:
Why I Like The Falcons: Atlanta is the home team, and they are really good in the dome. Matt Ryan has only lost two games at home as a starter in three years. I just don't see them losing their first playoff game at home. Plus, throw in the fact that the Packers are now the sexy pick in the NFC, and everyone is forgetting that the Falcons won 13 games this year.I love the balance on the Falcons offense, and their pass rush at home can make life miserable for Aaron Rodgers. I just think that Matt Ryan's time might have come. He may not be a household name yet, but after this playoff run, I think he will be.

A Case for the Packers: You have to think the Packers have a great shot to win the game because of Aaron Rodgers and that offense. Their offense is portable and they can throw to win this game. The Packers defense is very good as well, and I can see Clay Matthews and Charles Woodson giving Matt Ryan fits-especially early in the game. The Packers are a legitimate Super Bowl team, and it would fun to see what they can do if they win this game.

Final Score: I would love to see the Packers winning, and I will be rooting for them, but my mind says that Atlanta will do enough to win this game. They are at home, and I would take Mike Smith coaching a big game over Mike McCarthy any day of the week. The Falcons get to the NFC Championship. FALCONS-24 PACKERS-17



Seattle (+10) over CHICAGO:
WHY I LIKE THE SEAHAWKS: I know Seattle isn't great, but after last week haven't we learned our lesson? Although they are a bad road team, 10 points is a lot to give Seattle. They outplayed the Saints last week and put up 41 points. Seattle also went into Soldier Field and defeated the Bears in October 23-20. I know that game doesn't have too much impact on this playoff game, but at least you know Seattle can win there. It is just too many points to trust the pairs, and there is no reason to believe that Seattle can't keep this game close. Throw in a couple of turnovers, and it has the makings of another upset for the Seahawks.

A Case for the Bears: The Bears are a different team than the one that lost to Seattle earlier in the year. They run the ball better, Jay Cutler is more efficient, and their defense is playing really well. They are at home in a playoff game for the first time since 2006, so that should also be a factor. You have to like the matchup from a Bears standpoint, and they should be able to move the ball easily on the Seahawks. The Bears played hard down the stretch and they are due for a big week from their offense.

Final Score: I know a lot of people will pick the Bears, and let's be honest: The Bears SHOULD and probably WILL win this game, but this has all the makings of a close game. The Bears could be rusty, Cutler's first playoff game, Seattle's underdog mentality, and Lovie Smith in a big game could all play a role in making this a wild and fun game on Sunday. The Bears win, but they won't cover. BEARS-27 SEAHAWKS-20


NY Jets (+9) over NEW ENGLAND:
WHY I LIKE THE JETS: A top team usually gets upset on divisional weekend, and with the way the NFL goes why not the Jets over the Pats. A lot of objective fans and analysts are not giving the Jets a chance this week. Everyone saw how the Pats destroyed the Jets at home a month ago 45-3 on that Monday Night. I have to give Rex Ryan credit for game-planning Peyton Manning last week in their win at Indy. I would think that he will do a good job changing up the plan for Tom Brady and Pats this week. I just have this feeling that the Jets are going to make some plays on defense, run the ball effectively, and get a timely play from Mark Sanchez to pull this thing out.

A Case for the Patriots: How about Tom Brady and Bill Belichick at home vs. their bitter rivals? That alone should be enough to back the Pats. Plus, they do have the best team this season, and the Patriots offense has been unstoppable the past eight games. Throw in all the motivation the Pats have after the Jets have talked trash all week long, and the Pats won't be coming out flat. Their defense has played a lot better in the second half, and they look like a classic Super Bowl team. Certain teams have the Super Bowl look, and the Patriots have that look to them right now.

Final Score: The Patriots should win this game, even if it is a lot closer than 45-3. I will be rooting hard for the Pats, but as I have said about the Jets all year: It is Super Bowl or Bust for them. I didn't think they would make the playoffs, and they made it. Before last week I said that the Jets were either going to get eliminated in the first round or go all the way to the Super Bowl. I can't back off that opinion now. For some reason, and I hope I'm wrong, I think the Jets pull off the shocker and win this game in Foxboro. Crazier things have happened, and the Jets move on to the AFC Championship. JETS-26 PATS-24

Broncos Name John Fox Head Coach

The Broncos concluded their coaching search on Thursday. John Elway announced that John Fox will be the next head coach of the Denver Broncos. Fox, 55, spent nine seasons in Carolina as their head coach. He is 73-71 with a 5-3 playoff record. Fox led Carolina to Super Bowl XXXVIII following the 2003 season. Fox also led Carolina to the NFC Championship in 2005, and a division title in 2008. I like this move a lot because he was clearly the best option available. Jon Gruden and Bill Cowher weren't coming to Denver. Jim Harbaugh, the best college coach available, headed to San Francisco. Coaches like Leslie Frazier and Jason Garrett stayed with their respective teams. Instead of going with the hot assistant or the up and coming assistant, Denver went with experience and hired the right man. Fox is a solid choice and a good choice. His teams always seemed to play hard and overachieve. He can come in and fix that terrible Broncos defense, and perhaps get the Broncos back to running the ball consistently on offense. Already with the Fox hire, Denver has the best HC in the AFC West. That will certainly help regardless. Who knows what he will do with Tim Tebow, but there are some good signs for Tebow fans with the Fox hiring. Fox got to know Tebow very well before last year's draft, and there were some rumblings that the Panthers were going to take Tebow. Also, Denver's current OC, Mike McCoy, worked with Fox in Carolina as a QB coach for 6 seasons before joining Josh McDaniels in Denver. Perhaps McCoy stays on staff and continues to develop Tebow. There is plenty of time for those discussions all offseason, but for now let's give a mile high salute to John Elway and Pat Bowlen for getting the right guy in Denver. Will he be successful? Who knows, and there are a lot of factors that go into play, but overall as a Denver fan you have to be happy with this choice. Fox is the man in Denver now, and their is hope on the horizon. Welcome to Mile High, John Fox. Go Broncos!

Broncos Coaching Search

The Broncos coaching search is in full swing this week. On Sunday, Denver interviewed Eric Studesville and Perry Fewell. On Tuesday, Denver interviewed Rick Dennison and Dirk Koetter. Wednesday John Fox will interview with the Broncos. John Elway, Joe Ellis, Pat Bowlen, and Brian Xanders are overseeing the interviews. The Broncos website, www.denverbroncos.com, is really taking fans on an inside look at the interview process. They have videos in the meeting room and interviews with the candidates before they go into the room with the Broncos front office. If you are a Bronco fan, you have to check out this videos. As far as the search goes, here is who I want in Denver in order:

1) John Fox-Proven coach, teams always play hard and well, brings name credibility, could fix defense right away.

2) Rick Dennison-Bronco Alum, great offensive line/running game coach, knows a lot of the personnel, new and energetic leader.

3) Dirk Koetter-Has head coaching experience, believes in Tebow, offensive coordinator built around running game.

4) Eric Studesville-Was interim coach for last four games, part of the old regime and players need a new voice, not enough name factor.

5) Perry Fewell-No head coaching experience, seems like a players coach, not a good fit in Denver.

Wildcard Weekend Reaction

Wildcard Weekend turned out to be a great weekend of football. Three road teams advanced to the next round, and the only home team to win was of course Seattle. Three out of the four games were very competitive and fun to watch. This sets up a great slate of games for divisional weekend. Baltimore heads to Pittsburgh on Saturday at 4:30pm, and Green Bay travels to Atlanta at 8:00pm. On Sunday, Seattle goes to Chicago and 1:00pm, and the Jets head back to Foxboro to take on the Patriots at 4:30pm. I will dive into all the divisional games later in the week, but let's look back on Wildcard Weekend...........

Seattle-41 New Orleans-36
1) Seattle's upset of New Orleans was a classic moment of the playoffs. What a job by Seattle and Matt Hasselback played lights out throwing for four touchdown passes. Great job by Jeremy Bates and the entire Seattle staff and offensive unit.
2) Marshawn Lynch's run to clinch the game is one of greatest runs in NFL history. He broke 8 tackles on the way, and it will be remebered for a long time in Seahawks lore.
3) The Saints went down swinging, but just got outplayed by Seattle. It looked like New Orleans was going to roll when it took a 10-0 and 17-7 lead early in the game, but the Seahawks roared back. The injuries to Malcolm Jenkins and their running backs really hurt the Saints.
4) Good for the Seahawks getting this win. At 7-9, they were the worst team ever to reach the playoffs, but they justified it by beating the Saints on Saturday. I actually thought this win was good for the league. Forget about reseeding, just keep the system the way it is.

Baltimore-30 Kansas City-7
5) Baltimore continued their road dominance in the playoffs. The 30-7 win over Kansas City was their 4th road win in the last three postseasons. Their gameplan on offense was executed well, and their defense forced turnovers and shut down Dwayne Bowe.
6) I'm not the biggest Joe Flacco fan, but he absolutely played great yesterday. He killed the Chiefs down the middle of the field and made big throws time after time-Todd Heap was unstoppable. The Ravens are a very dangerous team, and when Flacco gets going, they are a tough out.
7) The Chiefs unraveled yesterday like many other sleeper teams do when they get to the playoffs. The Cheifs turned it over 5 times and they only turned over something like 14 times in the regular season. Matt Cassel was awful and Dwayne Bowe was a non factor. The Chiefs have now lost 7 consective playoff games, a NFL record, haven't won a playoff game since 1993, and haven't won a home playoff game since '93 as well.

Green Bay-21 Philly-16
8) The Packers and Aaron Rodgers held on to defeat the Eagles 21-16. The Packers have to be happy with their running game, which was on fire against Philly.
9) This game might have been over at the half, but James Jones dropped a touchdown pass from Rodgers that would have made it 21-3. With the score 14-3 Green Bay, you knew Mike Vick and Philly were going to make a run.
10) Vick's storybook season ended instantly yesterday. His endzone interception with 33 seconds left sealed the game, and put to rest the Eagles season. Who knew that at 10-4 after the Giant game, that Philly would lose three straight at home and get ousted in the first round.
11) If Desean Jackson doesn't get tripped up near the Packer 40 late in the game, he might have scored. It was a shoestring tackle, and that might have saved the Packers season.

New York Jets-17 Indianapolis-16
12) The Jets and Rex Ryan deserve all the credit for devising a gamplan to limit Peyton Manning. The Jets forced Manning into more running plays, as a result of their alignment in the box, and took the ball out of Mannin's hands on some critical downs.
13) If Manning completes the third down pass to Blair White late in the game, then the Colts win. The incompletion stops the clock and made the Colts kick a 50 yarder instead with 53 seconds left instead of taking the clock all the way down and making the Jets use timeouts.
14) Jim Caldwell's timeout with 35 seconds left was horrible and shows how shaky Caldwell can be. He got exposed as a game coach last year in the Super Bowl and got exposed on Saturday Night. If it weren't for Peyton Manning, Caldwell would probably be coaching in the UFL.
15) Mark Sanchez was awful in the first half, but made the plays to win the game late. His throw to Braylon Edwards was a big time play, and Sanchez has the ability to play well down the stretch late in these games. The big key was that the Jets went back to the running game in the second half and dominated with Shonn Greene and LaDaininan Tomlinson.
16) I don't think the window is closing on Peyton Manning. Next year, he will get Austin Collie, Dallas Clark, and Anthony Gonzalez back from injury. Eventhough he turns 35, the Colts will make the right moves to fill the holes on this team. Manning will be back and the Colts will be a contender again next year. This loss wasn't Manning's fault but his playoff record now stands at 9-10.

Wildcard Weekend Picks!

The NFL's second season is here, and the wildcard round gets going this weekend with four interesting matchups. Saturday has the Saints at Seattle in the early game, and the Jets at Indy in primetime. Sunday's games have Baltimore heading to Kansas City early, with Green Bay at Philly in the late afternoon. There are a couple of things to remember heading into the wildcard round: 1) At least one road team usually wins 2) At least two of the four games will be good, the other two won't be as competitive 3) We really have no idea how this weekend is going to play out. That brings me to my bigger point. The NFL Playoffs have become like the NCAA Tournament: A crapshoot. In 2005, the Steelers were a six seed and won three road games on their way to the Super Bowl. In 2007, the Giants did the same exact thing. Neither team was exactly on a real hot streak entering the playoffs. In 2008, the Cardinals got hot and won three NFC playoff games on their way to the Super Bowl. They were 9-7 and playing terrible down the stretch of the regular season. Last year, the Jets were a 9-7 wildcard team only because their last two opponents, Indy and Cincy, rested their starters the last two games. What happened when the Jets got into the playoffs? They went on the road and won at Cincy and upset San Diego. Anything can happpen because it is a one game scenario. Forget about who is hot going into the playoffs it really doesn't matter. Just look at the game and that specific matchup and once a team wins one game, everything goes out the window and you start fresh in the next round. I would expect more of the same this playoff season. The fun begins with Wildcard Weekend on Saturday and Sunday.


Onto to the picks........

Final Regular Season Record: 130-119-9

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

New Orleans (-9) over SEATTLE:

Why I like the Saints: They are the better team. I know they are banged up, but all you need is DrewBrees at the controls, and the Saints should be fine. They are the defending Super Bowl Champions, and they will not feel any pressure on the road at Qwest Field.

A Case for Seattle: Really, the only thing the Seahawks have going for them is that they are at home. Eventhough that stadium is a tough place to play, they got bombed quite a few times there already this season (NYG and KC).

Final Score: New Orleans-27 Seattle-17

INDY (-2) over New York Jets:

Why I like the Colts: They have Peyton Manning as their QB. I know the Colts are banged up, and their defense isn't playing that well, but as long as Manning is back there, I can't bet against them. They played basically four straight playoff games to get into the playoffs, and they have been here before. Joseph Addai will help their running game, and Manning will find the weak spots in the Jet defense and exploit it. Plus, I'm not sold on Rex Ryan's shaky in game management or Mark Sanchez.

A Case for the Jets: Maybe it is destiny for the Jets to go through Manning to get to the Super Bowl this year. The Jets Special Teams could be a huge advantage in this game. Mark Sanchez could also make plays on this Colts defense. The Jets corners can take away a lot of what Reggie Wayne and Pierre Garcon want to do. This Colts team is not the same as the team (Injuries to Dallas Clark and Austin Collie)that the Jets played in last year's AFC Championship. The Jets played three road games last year, so they shouldn't play tight. Maybe, just maybe, this is finally the Jets year.

Final Score: The Jets seemed to get lucky breaks all season long, but their luck might have run out when Indy won last week and KC lost, forcing the Jets to go to Indy in round one. I had a feeling that the Jets season was going to be boom or bust: Super Bowl or no playoffs. Well, they got into the playoffs, but I don't see this team going to the Super Bowl. They could easily win this game, but I won't take my chances against Peyton Manning.

Colts-27- Jets-23

Baltimore (-2) over KANSAS CITY:

Why I Like the Ravens: They can stop KC's running game and make Matt Cassel beat them, which plays right into their hands. The Ravens have been here before and know how to win on the road in the playoffs. Overall, they just have the better team, and won't be affected by the noise in Arrowhead.

A Case for the Chiefs: They are at home, and Arrowhead Stadium will be rocking on Sunday. They haven't won a playoff game since 1993, so they are due. The Chiefs are underdogs and could play the whole "No One Respects Us" angle. If they get their running game going, watch out.

Final Score: This game will be closer than people think. I expect the Chiefs to play very well at the beginning of the game. The Ravens will get the Chiefs' best shot, but I just don't think it will be enough. The Ravens will do enough to win this game.

Ravens-20 Chiefs-17

PHILLY (-2) over Green Bay:

Why I Like the Eagles: I think Mike Vick will have one of his patented off the chart type of games. He will make big plays in the passing game, and he will use his legs to make some critical third downs. He is the X-factor in this game, and the Eagles will live and die with him. I think he has 2002 Mike Vick in him for this one (Remember that one Packer fans). I think the Eagles are due for a big effort. They haven' t played well the last two weeks, and this is actually their third home game in a row.

A Case for the Packers: If Aaron Rodgers doesn't get a concussion in Week 13, then the Pack are probably the 2 seed in the NFC right now. This team could make a Super Bowl run. Rodgers is that good of a QB to win three games on the road. Their passing game is portable, and their defense is very solid. I could see them smothering Vick and slowing down the Eagle offense. Then, watch Rodgers just pick apart the suspect Eagle defense.

Final Score: My heart is telling me to pick the Packers, but something just tells me that Vick will lead the Eagles to victory. Somehow and someway Vick is going to do something to break the hearts of the Packer fans. This should be a close game, and a great setting on Sunday. I'll go with the Eagles late.

Eagles-26 Packers-22

Broncos Postmortem Mailbag Part 2

What players will be back on this awful defensive unit?
Well, the Broncos need to improve their defense in all levels and in all areas. They need better coaching, a sound scheme, and upgrades in the front seven and in the secondary. They need to get younger and faster. I would try to find at least 7 new starters for defense. I would resign Champ Bailey, keep DJ Williams and Robert Ayers at LB, and keep Justin Bannan on the Defensive Line. Don't forget that Elvis Dumervil comes back next year too. Other players like Darcel McBath, Wesley Woodyard, Mario Haggan, Kevin Vickerson, Jamal Williams, Perrish Cox, Andre Goodman, David Bruton, and Syd'quan Thompson might have a role on the defense, but you can't count on them as starters. Everyone else should go, and the Broncos need an impact Dlineman, a legit run-stuffing inside linebacker, and a ball-hawking safety. A lot will be determined on what kind of defense the Broncos run next year. They could go back to the 4-3.

What players on offense will be back next year?
I would hope and expect Kyle Orton to be traded, so he shouldn't return. Tebow, Knowshon Moreno, Spencer Larsen, and either Lance Ball or Correll Buckhalter will be back. The O-line is set the way it is, but Ryan Harris could leave via free agency. Daniel Graham and Dan Gronkowski should be back at TE, but Richard Quinn has to go. The Broncos need to get a pass catching TE in their offense badly. The receivers should pretty much stay the same, maybe a guy like Jabar Gaffney gets jettisoned, but the offense doesn't need too much of a shakeup. There is talent and potential on this offense to help the new regime next year.

What do you think of the hiring of John Elway as VP of Football Operations?
I think it is a good move and a positive move for the franchise. Elway will oversee the football operartions, but he will not play the Matt Millen role and make every personnel decision. He will leave that to Brian Xanders, who will actually function as a real GM this time, and the rest of the personnel department. Elway will be influential in hiring the new HC, which is good because Joe Ellis handpicked Josh McDaniels and we all saw how that turned out. Obviously, Elway has a lot of work to do, but I think he will go about it the right way, and let's hope that he can assist Xanders and the rest of the personnel department in picking the best and right players for the Broncos. Overall, I like the move, and as some people put it, it could have a Mario Lemieux-Penguins type of effect on the team.

Who will be the Broncos next head coach?
The Broncos are interviewing Mike Mularkey, Perry Fewell, and Eric Studesville. Out of those three, I would think that Mularkey would be the best choice. I don't think that Fewell or Studesville would be good fits in Denver. Obviously, Elway said he is interested in Jim Harbaugh but it looks like Harbaugh is headed to either San Francisco or Miami. There are other candidates to be interviewed, but the Broncos aren't landing a big name like Bill Cowher or Jon Gruden. Mularkey intrigues me and he could be a good fit (Heck he led Buffalo to a 9-7 season in 2004), but there are some more names that could surface. At this point, I wouldn't be surprised by any hire.

Who should the Broncos look for in the draft?
The Broncos have the number two overall pick in April's draft, and you would have to think they are going to be thinking about defense. The top defensive players in the draft are: Defensive Lineman D'Quan Bowers from Clemson, Defensive Lineman Nick Fairley from Auburn, and Cornerback Patrick Peterson from LSU. Those are the names at the top of the list, but so much can change from now until the draft. Plus, things could always change if Andrew Luck is not taken at number one overall.

How far away are the Broncos from competing for a playoff berth?
The Broncos haven't been to the playoffs in five seasons. They are what their record says they are: A 4-12 team. They have many holes on the roster and are going to be getting a new head coach. With that said, they probably aren't as far away as many people think. You can turn things around very quickly in the NFL. The Chiefs were 4-12 a year ago and won the AFC West this season at 10-6. Every year, teams improve dramatically and make a playoff run. The key is going to be at QB. If Tim Tebow (Or whoever the QB is) develops greatly next year, then Denver has a real shot of turning it around. The Broncos are gettting Elvis Dumervil back next year, so that can only help their defense. If Denver make some shrewd moves in free agency and selects some impact players in the draft to go along with a new coaching staff, the Broncos could be back in business as soon as 2011. The AFC West isn't great. The Raiders were much improved and finished 8-8, but of course Al Davis decides to fire Tom Cable. The Chiefs are good, but they have the look of a team that probably won't stay on top of the division every year now. The Chargers are still the class of the West, but maybe their window is closing. The Broncos could be closer to returning to prominence than people think. The real key is Tebow.

What are your final thoughts?
Eventhough Denver finished 4-12, it is still fun to watch them and follow them week to week. At times it was very frustrating, but that is expected when you are a fan of the team. Tim Tebow and John Elway give us fans hope for the future and it will be a fun offsesaon to watch all the moves the Broncos make. The Broncos will turn this around, let's just hope next year at this time I will be previewing a Broncos playoff run.

Broncos Postmortem Mailbag Part 1

The end of the Broncos 2010 season comes with renewed optimism and hope for 2011. Let's dive into the issues surrounding Denver's 2010 season and look ahead to 2011 with good old fashioned mailbag.





How tough was it to watch this 4-12 edition of your beloved Broncos?

This was by far the worst season in my lifetime of being a Broncos fan. I can't tell you how many times I yelled at the television things like "This defense is so bad" "What an awful team" "This team will drive me to drink." It was so frustrating and the team just seemed to not even compete at times. The lowpoint for me was obviously the 59-14 loss to the Raiders at home in October. After that game dropped Denver to 2-5, you knew the Broncos were headed for a down year. One thing about being so bad all season long is that you really prepare for next season. For me the Broncos season was done by Halloween, so I starting thinking about 2011 right at that point. It is obviously easier to deal with a non-playoff season when your team is 2-6 or 3-8, then when your team gets eliminated in Week 17. Overall, it was just a really crummy season and a year to forget if your a Bronco fan.



What were the highlights of this season? Were there any at all?
Yes, there were a few bright spots in this forgettable season. The Week 4 win at Tennessee to get to 2-2 was a great victory. The game against the Jets, eventhough they lost 24-20, was a great game and one of those "Stand Up All Game" type of moments. The blowout home win over KC in November was a good one too. Of course, the watershed moment was the win over Houston at Invesco in Week 16. The day after Christmas, Tim Tebow's first home start, down 23-10 in the 4th quarter and Tebow leads them back to a 24-23 win. That is the enduring moment of 2010. Just seeing Tebow start the final three games was a highlight itself.

Do you feel bad about what happened to the Josh McDaniels Era?
I don't feel bad about what happend to McD. He brought a lot of this on himself. The final nail in the coffin was the Spygate incident in November. That did him in. His personnel moves didn't work out and it turns out he was in over his head. His legacy in Denver will always be linked to the Jay Cutler trade. I liked the hire, I liked his plan, and I liked his game management as a Head Coach, but a lot of his moves were questionable and a lot of his moves didn't work out. I don't know if he would have been able to fix this team from a personnel standpoint in 2011.

Who will be the Broncos starting QB in 2011? I hope it is Tim Tebow. I really hope he is the guy moving forward next year. I hope it isn't Kyle Orton. I would like to see Orton traded to a team that is desperate for a QB (Minnesota or Miami?) and hopefully the Broncos could get a second or third round pick for him. I wouldn't mind seeing the QB Depth Chart look like this next year: Tim Tebow-Starter Brady Quinn-Backup Undrafted Free Agent/Journeyman-3rd QB. All this can change if the new Broncos HC decides to go after Andrew Luck in the draft or trade for someone like Kevin Kolb. I just hope Tebow gets a shot next year to start.

Denver's Rally Falls Short in Season Finale Loss to San Diego

The Broncos concluded their 2010 season with a 33-28 loss to the San Diego Chargers at Invesco Field on Sunday. Denver took a 7-0 lead early on a Tim Tebow touchdown pass to Brandon Lloyd; however, from that point it was all San Diego. Ryan Matthews ran through and around the Broncos to help give the Chargers a 26-7 lead. Tebow brought Denver back with a touchdown pass to Eric Decker to make it 26-14 late in the third quarter. Matthews scored on a fourth and one play midway through the fourth quarter to give SD a 33-14 lead. Denver's Cassius Vaughn returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown, and Tebow added a touchdown run with 30 seconds left to make it 33-28. The Broncos recovered the onside kick, but Tebow's last two hail mary passes fell incomplete and the Chargers defeated Denver once again at Invesco. Denver finished at 4-12 and in last place in the AFC West. Here are my quick thoughts on the game.........

1) Tebow definitely struggled in this game. He didn't play well from a throwing standpoint. He was 16-36 for 208 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. He also ran for 94 yards and a touchdown. He was very inaccurate throughout most of the game, and his two interceptions were the result of misreading the coverage and throwing into to double coverage, and throwing the ball late on a slant route. It wasn't the best day he had throwing the ball, but he still made some nice throws from inside and outside the pocket. His ability to make plays when the play breaks down will be his biggest asset as he heads into the offseason. Overall, Tebow will definitely improve in my opinion, and he kept us in the game throughout. Young QBs are going to have tough days and this is just another learning experience for him.
2) Our defense just sucks so bad I can't even believe it. Poor tackling, poor angles, stupid penalties, and just bad fundamental football all around. Watching Robert Ayers miss that tackle on Ryan Matthews' 4th down touchdown run just summed up everything that went wrong for Denver's defense in 2010. We need new coaching, a better scheme, and faster and younger players at every level of our defense.
3) Our offensive line play wasn't very good this year, especially in the run game. The Broncos couldn't run the ball at all this year and yesterday they were once again beat at the line of scrimmage. Ryan Clady and Ryan Harris both took steps back this year, and I'm not sold on JD Walton or Zane Beadles. We may have to look at some OL spots in the draft this year.
4) Denver lost to SD for the 8th time in the last 10 meetings. The Broncos are still very far away from competing with the Chargers.
5) Denver finished 3-5 at home this year and 1-7 on the road. The 12 losses is the most ever by a Denver Broncos team in franchise history.
6) Denver finished last in the AFC West and the 2011 opponents are set: HOME-SD, Oak, KC, NE, NY Jets, Cincy, Detroit, and Chicago. AWAY-SD, Oak, KC, Miami, Buffalo, Tennessee, Green Bay, and Minnesota.
7) The Broncos will select #2 in the 2011 NFL Draft. The Panthers will select #1, the Broncos are at #2, and the Bills are at #3.
8) John Elway will be announced as Vice President this week. I will make my statements on that when that is officially announced.
9) Whatever happens this season, I just hope that we get a good Head Coach in here and keep Tim Tebow as our starting QB. Tebow did enough the last three weeks to earn a chance to start for the Broncos in 2011. If you put the right pieces around him (Coaching, Running game, and a better defense) you can build your franchise around him. Let's hope he is the guy going forward.
10) Random thoughts on the end of the NFL season: A)I like the playoff matchups: Jets at Colts and Ravens at Chiefs in the AFC and New Orleans at Seattle and Green Bay at Philly in the NFC. We'll talk more about those matchups later in the week. Once it was determined that the Colts and Jets would be playing each other, NBC had to grab that game for primetime and the NFL made the right choices for all the playoff spots. B) Kudos to the Bears for playing all out against Green Bay. It was good for the NFL. C) 10-6 usually gets you in the playoffs, but the Giants and Buccaneers both miss out this year at 10-6. What a job by Raheem Morris in Tampa. D) The Lions will be everyone's sleeper team heading into 2011. They won four straight to finish at 6-10. E) The Raiders might actually get rid of Tom Cable, which is a mistake. Marvin Lewis will probably be gone in Cincy, Eric Mangini is out in Cleveland, and perhaps Jeff Fisher in Tennessee. F) I'll have a Broncos postmortem mailbag for tomorrow and Wednesday, and a playoff picks column on Friday!!!!