Texans Too Much for Broncos

The Broncos season has not started as planned. Yesterday's loss to the Texans showed just how far the Broncos need to go to be an elite team. The 31-25 defeat at home drops the Broncos to 1-2. Now, they have a must win game against the rival Raiders next Sunday. Many people felt that this game would be a "measuring stick" game for Denver. Houston came in at 2-0 and they were arguably the best team in the AFC. If the Broncos could rise up to the challenge and knock off Houston, then these two teams could be battling for home games, seeding, and bye-weeks coming January. Well, Houston proved that they are the best team in the AFC, and the Broncos proved they have a long way to go to get there. This game provided a lot of answers about the Texans, and provided more questions about the Broncos. Here are my thoughts on the game......

1) After Denver jumped out to a 5-0 lead following Elvis Dumervil's sack-safety, and a field goal, the Texans responded with three straight touchdowns. Houston answered right back with a 60 yard touchdown pass from Matt Schaub to Andre Johnson. Then, Schaub and the Texans marched 95 yards and scored on a Schaub to Arian Foster hookup to take a 14-5 lead. At that point, I felt that the Broncos were done. You could just tell that the Texans were the better team. After Schaub hit Kevin Walter on a 52 yard bomb to make it 21-5, the Broncos were knocked down and really couldn't get up. The Texans made a point on those three possessions.

2) Peyton Manning's arm looked a lot stronger this week, but the Broncos offense was again inconsistent. Here is the problem: The Broncos don't know what they want to do on offense. Do they want to be no-huddle? Do they want to run the ball and be balanced? Can they even run the ball? The offense sputtered too many times on Sunday. Three first half field goals were not going to help in this game. They didn't even gain a yard in the third quarter. It is obvious that their offense is a work in progress and it will take time for Manning and his receivers to get going and gel together.

3) The Broncos were able to get back into the game in the fourth quarter, but they can't get down by so much in these games. Two weeks in a row and both times they got behind big. Can't survive like that in the NFL.

4) It doesn't matter who is coaching the defense or what personnel is out there because the Broncos defense consistently sucks every year. No one knows if there was confusion on the two big hookups in the first half, but their defense still has trouble stopping the run and they can't get off the field on third down. Anytime the Broncos defense needs a big stop, they simply can't get it.

5) The Broncos can't run the ball from regular formations. The only way they can run it is from a spread set. Why even waste your time running the ball on short yardage anymore?

6) If Demaryius Thomas did the right thing and tapped his other foot down in the endzone, then the Broncos would have had over four minutes left in the game. Thomas' touchdown was challenged and overruled and the Broncos had to waste more time to score the touchdown to make it 31-25. Denver didn't score until there was three minutes left on the clock. Thomas and Eric Decker dropped key passes in this game, and they still seem lost on some routes. They need to step up and play a lot better in order to help Manning and get this offense clicking.

7) It definitely sucks to be 1-2, but there is still a lot of football to be played. Manning looks healthy and his arm looks fine. It is going to take time to get this offense going in the right direction, but you have to think that at some point things will start to get better. It is a long, long season. Playoff berths are decided in September. All the Broncos need to do is worry about winning one game this week against the Raiders. There is a lot of football left to be played. No need to jump off the ship now.