Now that the Super Bowl is set, it is time to look back on the Broncos 2012 season. It has been over a week since their crushing loss at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Divisional Playoffs. What better way to put the final touches on their year with a mailbag of questions.......
How are you handling the loss to the Ravens?
Bad. The game still hurts. It is all I think about. When I go to bed at night, I think about it. When I wake up, I think about it. When I am sitting around watching television, I think about. When I was watching the other playoff games, I think about it. When I am driving in my car, I think about it. It will be on my mind the entire offseason, and I won't let it go until the season starts in September. Years from now, I will still be thinking about that game. I am officially scarred from that game for the rest of my life.
What was your immediate reaction when you watched the end of that game?
Stunned silence. When the Ravens got the ball back late in the game at their own 23 with no timeouts left, I was still nervous. Joe Flacco had been killing them all game long, and I had a feeling that he was going to at least move the ball enough to get the Ravens to midfield and take some shots to win the game. I didn't expect that the Broncos would let Jacoby Jones get behind them and give up a 70 yard touchdown with 30 seconds left, but I was still nervous when Flacco had the ball late in the game. After the Ravens kicked the game winning 47 yard field goal, I just took my Broncos visor off, took off my Broncos shirt, and sat there in a catatonic state watching the Ravens celebrate on the field. I basically just stared at the television in stunned disbelief for at least a hour after the game ended. I sent out some texts, and just watched the 49ers-Packers game in numbed silence. I actually went back and read the play by play of the game on ESPN just to try to recall what I just witnessed. That night I didn't sleep at all and woke up on Sunday so upset and angry that I was a shell the entire day.
Does it hurt more that the Ravens are going to Super Bowl?
It didn't matter to me who won between the Ravens and the Patriots in the AFC Championship. In my mind the Broncos should have been playing on Championship Sunday. The result of the Pats-Ravens game certainly didn't matter to me, I was just still upset that the Broncos weren't in that game.
Now that the season is over, what team did this year's group remind you of?
That is easy: This is 1996 all over again. Both years the Broncos were a surprise 13-3 team, #1 seed in the AFC, and had homefield advantage. Both years the Broncos were big favorites at home in the Divisional Playoffs, and both teams featured future Hall of Fame QBs at the age of 36. After spending the entire year which season this year's Broncos reminded me of the answer became pretty simple: The 1996 Broncos.
Is the loss worse than the loss to Jacksonville?
Right now it is worse and not because it is fresh. The loss to Jacksonville was crushing, but the Broncos were able to quickly rebound from that game, and win back-to-back Super Bowls in 1997 and 1998. That game served as the setup for the runs in '97 and '98. We don't know how this is going to turn out the next few years, so it is hard to say that the Jacksonville game was worse. Both of these games were very tough defeats and both were harder to deal with than any of the other Super Bowl defeats in the '80s. One other aspect about the two games is that in the loss to Jacksonville the Broncos were really outplayed after the first quarter. In this year's loss to Baltimore, the Broncos had a 35-28 lead with under a minute to go and the Ravens facing a 3rd and 3 at their own 30 yard line. The Broncos should have been able to close it out.
Will you be able to look back and smile about this season at some point?
Yes, I can definitely say that I will be able to look back and reflect on this season in a positive way. I have all the games on DVR, and I am sure that I will be able to watch all the games again in the offseason. I will definitely watch all the games, and I will be able to look back and think about how cool it was to watch Peyton Manning quarterback your team. It will be fun to watch his performance this year, and it will make me get excited for next season by watching how good the Broncos played their last 11 games. Put it this way: It won't help me get over the loss to the Ravens, but it will definitely make me appreciate Manning and what he did for this franchise this year. It will set me up to get ready for the 2013 season.
Speaking of 2013, who are the key free agents for the Broncos heading into the offseason?
Here are the Unrestricted Free Agents for the Broncos:
Justin Bannan-DT
Keith Brooking-LB
David Bruton- Safety
Ryan Clady-OT
Dan Koppen-C
Jim Leonhard-Safety
Tracy Porter- CB
Brandon Stokley-WR
Kevin Vickerson-DT
Matt Willis- WR
Restricted Free Agents
Lance Ball-RB
Chris Clark-OT
Britton Colquitt-P
Chris Gronkowski-FB
Exclusive Rights Free Agents
Tony Carter-CB
Mitch Unrein-DT
Who do the Broncos need to keep in 2013?
The Broncos have to sign Ryan Clady to a long term deal. If they can't, then they will put the Franchise tag on him, so he isn't going anywhere. You would like to see them bring David Bruton back because is was so valuable on special teams. It will be interesting to see what he gets on the market. Also, I think the Broncos need to bring back at least one of the two starting defensive tackles (Bannan or Vickerson), but they will it will be tough. You would like to have Stokley back in the fold, but he is going to have to comeback for the veteran minimum and fight for a job in training camp. The other names on the list are all expendable in my opinion. Tony Carter isn't going anywhere because he is an Exclusive Rights free agent, so he should be back in 2013.
What do the Broncos need to do in free agency and the draft?
The Broncos are going to be big spenders in free agency, so expect some low level veterans to team friendly contracts to be brought in. The Broncos need to address the receiver position to give them another weapon to go with Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker. Defensively, I would continue to add depth to the defensive line, and I think the Broncos need a run-stuffing MLB for 1st and 2nd down. Plus, I would add some depth at cornerback and safety. The Broncos are picking 28th in the draft, so I wouldn't be surprised if they traded out of the first round again to accumulate more picks in the 2nd and 3rd round again.
Who are the Broncos 2013 opponents?
Home: Oakland, Kansas City, San Diego, Baltimore, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Philadelphia, and Washington
Away: Oakland, Kansas City, San Diego, New England, Indy, Houston, New York Giants, and Dallas
How many primetime games are the Broncos going to get in 2013?
They will be on primetime a lot next year. After the season they had in 2012, and with Peyton Manning once again at the helm, the Broncos were be featured in a lot of big games. They will get three Sunday Night Football games. Look for New England, Indy and the Giants in those spots. They will get two Monday Night Football games with Washington and Baltimore in those spots, and they will probably get a Thursday Night Football game with someone in their division. Also, they could be getting the Thanksgiving game at Dallas this year because CBS has that spot for the Cowboys this year and the only two choices are Denver and Oakland, so it will be hard to pass up the Broncos for CBS in that game. NBC will fight hard to get the Broncos-Pats on SNF because CBS got that game this year. You know CBS and NBC are going to fight hard for the Manning Bowl, and CBS, NBC, and ESPN are all going to jostle to get Peyton's return to Indy to take on Andrew Luck and the Colts.
With that said, it was an unforgettable year to be a Broncos fan. It will be a very long and difficult offseason, but the NFL season really never ends. Free agency always brings some interesting moves, and it will be fun to see how the Broncos try to improve their roster. The NFL Draft will be up in April, and that is always one of my favorite events of the offseason, and then next thing you know it will be time for training camp. It will be difficult to forget what happened against the Ravens, but by the time the season gets going next September it will be fun and exciting once again. Eventually, the pain will subside and the focus will be on watching the Broncos make their run at the Super Bowl in 2013. Go Broncos!
Monday, January 21, 2013
Championship Sunday Review
A year ago, the Ravens and 49ers lost very tough games on Championship Sunday. The Harbaugh brothers were so close to facing each other that you wondered if they would ever get a chance to meet each other in the Super Bowl. Well, a year later the Harbaughs got back to the same spot, and sure enough both were able to get their teams into Super Bowl XLVII. San Francisco started the day with a dramatic, comeback victory over the Falcons 28-24, and the Ravens ended the day with a statement 28-13 win over the Patriots to set up a 49ers-Ravens Super Bowl in New Orleans in two weeks. Let's take a look at the major keys and storylines from each game.......
NFC Championship
San Francisco-28 Atlanta-24
1) You have to give Matt Ryan credit because he was terrific in this game. His start to game was unreal. He hit Julio Jones on a 46 yard bomb to start the game off. He then found Jones again with a perfect pass in the corner of the endzone to make it 17-0 lead in the second quarter. Then, he hit Tony Gonzalez on a 10 yard pass to make it 24-14 before the half. Although they lost the game, Ryan stepped up big time and established himself as one of the guys going forward at the QB position in this league.
2) The Falcons will be kicking themselves all offseason after blowing a 17-0 lead at home in the NFC title game. You can't blow that kind of lead at home, and it will be interesting to see how this effects them next season. They are set up to be good for awhile, but we'll see how fast they get over this.
3) Give the Niners credit because I thought they were dead when they were down 17-0 and getting completely outplayed. From that point, the Niners just seemed to be the better team. Colin Kaepernick got hot, and the Niners were able to fight their way back into the game at 17-14. Although the Falcons made it 24-14 late in the half, you just had a feeling that the 49ers weren't going to go away quietly, and they scored right away to start the third quarter.
4) The game changed when Ryan threw an interception and fumbled a shotgun snap late in the third quarter, and both times the Falcons were driving in SF territory. Those plays didn't result in scores for San Francisco because David Akers missed a field goal, and Michael Crabtree fumbled at the Atlanta 1 yard line; however, it prevented the Falcons from scoring and extending their lead.
5) The Niners got a big play from Ted Ginn with a solid punt return to give them the ball at the Atlanta 38 yard line. That play set up Frank Gore's 9 yard touchdown run to finally give them the lead at 28-24.
6) When Navarro Bowman knocked down the 4th down pass from Matt Ryan to Roddy White, it reminded me of the 1994 AFC Championship when the Chargers swatted away a fourth down attempt of the Steelers and Neil O'Donnell. It was a great ending to a really fun and exciting game, and it was fitting that the Niners got to the Super Bowl after last year's heartbreaking loss to the Giants in overtime.
7) Give credit to Jim Harbaugh. He took this team over two years ago, and has them in the Super Bowl already. He also had the guts to go with Colin Kaepernick at midseason and it has really paid off. The Niners are headed back to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 1994 season and their demolition of the Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX.
AFC Championship
Baltimore-28 New England-13
1) I thought the Ravens would win this game, and I was shocked at how high this line was all week. The Ravens proved that they were the better team in this game, and once they started spreading the Pats out, the game was over.
2) People kill all these other coaches and quarterbacks all over the league, but Bill Belichick and Tom Brady always seem to get a pass. You have to wonder what the Pats were thinking near the end of the half. They were up 10-7 and driving deep in Ravens territory with one timeout left, and instead of taking the timeout, the Pats try to get to the line and run another play, but they took too much time, looked confused, and had to burn a timeout with 3 seconds left in the half. They had to settle for a field goal instead of taking a couple of shots in the endzone and maybe getting a 17-7 lead. The Pats totally get credit for being so prepared and well drilled, but they looked very bad in that spot and Belichick should take the hit there. Brady also didn't play that great, and on a day where they needed an A game out of him, he played more of a C game, and that wasn't enough.
3) Also, Wes Welker dropped another key 3rd down pass up 13-7 at the Baltimore 34 in the third quarter. That is two years in a row that a Welker drop possibly cost the Pats another Super Bowl.
4) Once the Ravens got the lead at 14-13 in the third quarter, I really felt that the Ravens were going to win. After they got the 21-13 lead, the game turned on the hit by Bernard Pollard on Stevan Ridley. He absolutely crushed him and forced a fumble. He knocked out Ridley and knocked out the Pats for the game. The Ravens scored on the ensuing drive to make it 28-13 and that was the game. You could go back and mark down some big plays that changed the game, but the Pollard hit on Ridley was the key play in my mind.
5) Joe Flacco won another road playoff game, outplayed Brady, and now heads to his first Super Bowl. He has won 8 playoff games in his career, and this season he outplayed Andrew Luck, Peyton Manning, and Brady in successive weeks. This may be his time, and he has definitely earned it in these playoffs.
6) The Ravens should have been in the Super Bowl last year, but they lost a really tough game in Foxborough. They were able to fight all the way back to get to the same spot, and this time they took care of business and get to their second Super Bowl in franchise history.
NFC Championship
San Francisco-28 Atlanta-24
1) You have to give Matt Ryan credit because he was terrific in this game. His start to game was unreal. He hit Julio Jones on a 46 yard bomb to start the game off. He then found Jones again with a perfect pass in the corner of the endzone to make it 17-0 lead in the second quarter. Then, he hit Tony Gonzalez on a 10 yard pass to make it 24-14 before the half. Although they lost the game, Ryan stepped up big time and established himself as one of the guys going forward at the QB position in this league.
2) The Falcons will be kicking themselves all offseason after blowing a 17-0 lead at home in the NFC title game. You can't blow that kind of lead at home, and it will be interesting to see how this effects them next season. They are set up to be good for awhile, but we'll see how fast they get over this.
3) Give the Niners credit because I thought they were dead when they were down 17-0 and getting completely outplayed. From that point, the Niners just seemed to be the better team. Colin Kaepernick got hot, and the Niners were able to fight their way back into the game at 17-14. Although the Falcons made it 24-14 late in the half, you just had a feeling that the 49ers weren't going to go away quietly, and they scored right away to start the third quarter.
4) The game changed when Ryan threw an interception and fumbled a shotgun snap late in the third quarter, and both times the Falcons were driving in SF territory. Those plays didn't result in scores for San Francisco because David Akers missed a field goal, and Michael Crabtree fumbled at the Atlanta 1 yard line; however, it prevented the Falcons from scoring and extending their lead.
5) The Niners got a big play from Ted Ginn with a solid punt return to give them the ball at the Atlanta 38 yard line. That play set up Frank Gore's 9 yard touchdown run to finally give them the lead at 28-24.
6) When Navarro Bowman knocked down the 4th down pass from Matt Ryan to Roddy White, it reminded me of the 1994 AFC Championship when the Chargers swatted away a fourth down attempt of the Steelers and Neil O'Donnell. It was a great ending to a really fun and exciting game, and it was fitting that the Niners got to the Super Bowl after last year's heartbreaking loss to the Giants in overtime.
7) Give credit to Jim Harbaugh. He took this team over two years ago, and has them in the Super Bowl already. He also had the guts to go with Colin Kaepernick at midseason and it has really paid off. The Niners are headed back to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 1994 season and their demolition of the Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX.
AFC Championship
Baltimore-28 New England-13
1) I thought the Ravens would win this game, and I was shocked at how high this line was all week. The Ravens proved that they were the better team in this game, and once they started spreading the Pats out, the game was over.
2) People kill all these other coaches and quarterbacks all over the league, but Bill Belichick and Tom Brady always seem to get a pass. You have to wonder what the Pats were thinking near the end of the half. They were up 10-7 and driving deep in Ravens territory with one timeout left, and instead of taking the timeout, the Pats try to get to the line and run another play, but they took too much time, looked confused, and had to burn a timeout with 3 seconds left in the half. They had to settle for a field goal instead of taking a couple of shots in the endzone and maybe getting a 17-7 lead. The Pats totally get credit for being so prepared and well drilled, but they looked very bad in that spot and Belichick should take the hit there. Brady also didn't play that great, and on a day where they needed an A game out of him, he played more of a C game, and that wasn't enough.
3) Also, Wes Welker dropped another key 3rd down pass up 13-7 at the Baltimore 34 in the third quarter. That is two years in a row that a Welker drop possibly cost the Pats another Super Bowl.
4) Once the Ravens got the lead at 14-13 in the third quarter, I really felt that the Ravens were going to win. After they got the 21-13 lead, the game turned on the hit by Bernard Pollard on Stevan Ridley. He absolutely crushed him and forced a fumble. He knocked out Ridley and knocked out the Pats for the game. The Ravens scored on the ensuing drive to make it 28-13 and that was the game. You could go back and mark down some big plays that changed the game, but the Pollard hit on Ridley was the key play in my mind.
5) Joe Flacco won another road playoff game, outplayed Brady, and now heads to his first Super Bowl. He has won 8 playoff games in his career, and this season he outplayed Andrew Luck, Peyton Manning, and Brady in successive weeks. This may be his time, and he has definitely earned it in these playoffs.
6) The Ravens should have been in the Super Bowl last year, but they lost a really tough game in Foxborough. They were able to fight all the way back to get to the same spot, and this time they took care of business and get to their second Super Bowl in franchise history.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Championship Sunday Picks
I'm sorry if I am not so enthusiastic about the NFC and AFC Championship games. After Denver's heartbreaking loss to Baltimore last Saturday in the AFC Divisional Playoffs, my excitement and anticipation has waned tremendously. Don't get me wrong, I will be in front of my television set on Sunday watching both the NFC Championship between the 49ers and the Falcons and the AFC Championship between the Ravens and the Patriots, but I will be watching with an empty feeling. The Broncos should have been there. If their defense doesn't commit the cardinal sin of letting Jacoby Jones get behind them with 30 seconds to go and leading by a touchdown, then Denver would be hosting the Patriots this Sunday in one of the most highly anticipated AFC Championship games in NFL history. Unfortunately, they will not be there, and as a Broncos fan I am torn between who I should actually root for in the AFC title matchup. Can I root for the Ravens after they ripped my heart out last week? Do I actually have to root for the Pats to go to another Super Bowl? Put it this way: This won't be a fun AFC Championship for me by any stretch. Championship Sunday will be a tough one for me to digest, but it is the last real football Sunday, so I will have to rally up and watch the games because after this week, the NFL season is basically over and done until next September. I couldn't really get myself to give an ultimate breakdown of each game, but I have given thought to each matchup and came up with some storylines to watch for the games. Also, at this point of the postseason I like to look at what would be the best possible Super Bowl matchups out of the four possibilities that could occur. Here are the best possible matchups for this week's title games:
Best Matchup: New England vs. San Francisco (Two best teams left in the playoffs)
Worst Matchup: Baltimore vs. Atlanta (Not the juiciest or sexiest game)
2nd Best Matchup: Baltimore vs. San Francisco (The Harbaugh Bowl)
3rd Best Matchup: New England vs. Atlanta (Brady/Belichick going for 4th Super Bowl against Matt Ryan and the Falcons franchise going for first ever Super Bowl win)
Onto the picks for Championship Sunday......
Last week's record: 2-2
Overall playoff record: 5-3
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
NFC Championship
ATLANTA (+5) over San Francisco:
The Niners and Colin Kaepernick looked amazing in their playoff win over Green Bay last week. The Niners are definitely the better team, and they are looking to avenge their bitter defeat in last year's NFC Championship to the Giants. Maybe Kaepernick is going to just continue his roll through the playoffs, but will the Niners defense be able to contain the Falcons passing game? That is what this game comes down to for me. Everyone loves the Niners this week, and that always scares me. Plus, Matt Ryan and the Falcons got the monkey off their back with their dramatic win over the Seahawks last Sunday. Even if Atlanta loses this week, you can still keep your chin up if you are a Falcons fan. I think the Falcons play fast and loose, and they will keep this game close. Look for a late Falcons rally, but they will fall short and the Niners will survive and advance to their sixth Super Bowl, and their first since 1994
Final Score: 49ers-27 Falcons-24
AFC Championship:
Baltimore(+9) over NEW ENGLAND:
This line is way too high. Look, the way that Baltimore won last week makes you think that this may be the Ravens year to go to the Super Bowl. It is starting to feel like the run that the 2005 Steelers went on, and that is not even counting the Ray Lewis-Jerome Bettis retirement comparisons. This was probably the worst possible matchup for the Patriots. Every time these two teams play it is close, and the Ravens won't get intimidated by the Pats and Tom Brady. Rob Gronkowski The Patriots are the better team overall, but the Ravens are riding an tremendous amount of karma and fate right now. The Ravens were better than the Pats last year in the AFC Championship, and now they get the opportunity to go back to Foxborough and avenge last year's defeat. Sometimes you just can't go against fate, and the Ravens run to the Super Bowl continues.
Final Score: Ravens-31 Patriots-24
Best Matchup: New England vs. San Francisco (Two best teams left in the playoffs)
Worst Matchup: Baltimore vs. Atlanta (Not the juiciest or sexiest game)
2nd Best Matchup: Baltimore vs. San Francisco (The Harbaugh Bowl)
3rd Best Matchup: New England vs. Atlanta (Brady/Belichick going for 4th Super Bowl against Matt Ryan and the Falcons franchise going for first ever Super Bowl win)
Onto the picks for Championship Sunday......
Last week's record: 2-2
Overall playoff record: 5-3
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
NFC Championship
ATLANTA (+5) over San Francisco:
The Niners and Colin Kaepernick looked amazing in their playoff win over Green Bay last week. The Niners are definitely the better team, and they are looking to avenge their bitter defeat in last year's NFC Championship to the Giants. Maybe Kaepernick is going to just continue his roll through the playoffs, but will the Niners defense be able to contain the Falcons passing game? That is what this game comes down to for me. Everyone loves the Niners this week, and that always scares me. Plus, Matt Ryan and the Falcons got the monkey off their back with their dramatic win over the Seahawks last Sunday. Even if Atlanta loses this week, you can still keep your chin up if you are a Falcons fan. I think the Falcons play fast and loose, and they will keep this game close. Look for a late Falcons rally, but they will fall short and the Niners will survive and advance to their sixth Super Bowl, and their first since 1994
Final Score: 49ers-27 Falcons-24
AFC Championship:
Baltimore(+9) over NEW ENGLAND:
This line is way too high. Look, the way that Baltimore won last week makes you think that this may be the Ravens year to go to the Super Bowl. It is starting to feel like the run that the 2005 Steelers went on, and that is not even counting the Ray Lewis-Jerome Bettis retirement comparisons. This was probably the worst possible matchup for the Patriots. Every time these two teams play it is close, and the Ravens won't get intimidated by the Pats and Tom Brady. Rob Gronkowski The Patriots are the better team overall, but the Ravens are riding an tremendous amount of karma and fate right now. The Ravens were better than the Pats last year in the AFC Championship, and now they get the opportunity to go back to Foxborough and avenge last year's defeat. Sometimes you just can't go against fate, and the Ravens run to the Super Bowl continues.
Final Score: Ravens-31 Patriots-24
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Ravens Shock Broncos in Divisional Playoffs in Double Overtime
It ends just like that. One kick in overtime and the magical season in which Peyton Manning returned and led the Broncos to a 13-3 record, 11 straight wins, and the #1 seed in the AFC ended when Justin Tucker kicked a 47 yard field goal in double overtime as the Ravens shocked the Broncos 38-35 in one of the most memorable NFL playoff games in history. This game will go down as one of the greatest in NFL history, but it will go down as one of the most infamous for Broncos fans. This was worse than the 1996 Divisional Playoff loss to Jacksonville. This was worse than the Super Bowl losses with John Elway in the 1980s. This one will hurt for a long, long time. I have been so devastated and upset that I still can't wrap my head around what happened in this game. The bottom line is this: With all the twists, turns, critical plays, crucial mistakes, and amazing moments, the Broncos had the Ravens faced with a 3rd and 3 on their own 30 with 43 seconds left and no timeouts. Somehow and someway the Broncos allowed Jacoby Jones to get deep down the sideline, and Joe Flacco found him and threw it deep, and Rahim Moore completely misplayed the throw, which allowed Jones to catch it and get into the endzone for the game-tying score with 30 seconds left. Peyton Manning threw an awful interception late in the first overtime, and that directly led to Tucker's game winning kick that ended the Broncos season in heartbreak. There is so much to talk about in this game, so I decided to break down each element of this game.
Trindon Holliday's punt return in the first quarter: I sat there waiting for two weeks for this game. The anticipation was building for kickoff. After getting an early punt by the Ravens on the first possession, Holliday took the ensuing punt back 90 yards for a touchdown and an early 7-0 lead for Denver. It was one of the most exciting moments I have seen as a Broncos fan. What a way to start the game.
Torrey Smith owned Champ Bailey: When Torrey Smith burned Champ Bailey on a 59 yard pass play to answer the Holliday score, it set the tone for the day and Ravens offense. Smith wasn't done killing Bailey, and we'll get to that later.
Manning's pick-six: The next series Manning was picked off by Corey Graham, and it was returned 39 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-7. A couple of things about this play. First, Eric Decker was clearly interfered with on the play, but it was such a bang-bang play, so it was hard to see a flag being thrown there. Also, this made me realize that this game was going to be close throughout.
Manning to Stokley: Manning answered the interception return with a beautiful 15 yard touchdown pass to Brandon Stokley in the corner of the endzone to tie it up at 14. It was an amazing play, and it was a huge answer to the tough start for the Broncos. Great throw and catch.
Manning to Moreno: Two drives later, after the Broncos forced two Ravens punts, Manning put together another huge scoring drive. This time he hit Knowshon Moreno in the endzone on a great hookup because Moreno ran a double move on linebacker Dannel Ellerbe. It was a huge play, and at this point I was feeling very confident that Manning might be able to pick apart the Ravens defense the rest of the day.
The Halftime Screwup: John Fox has been burned in the past by electing to try a long field goal, that attempt missing, and the other team gaining really good field position and taking advantage as a result. Instead of punting the Ravens deep into their own territory, Fox elected to try a 52 yard field goal, and Matt Prater missed the kick which resulted in the Ravens getting the ball at their own 42 with 1:16 left i the 2nd quarter. In just three plays, Flacco hit Torrey Smith once again on a 32 yard touchdown strike to tie the game at 21. Champ Bailey got burned once again, and this is where I really felt that was the turning point of the game. Even if the Broncos just let up a field goal, they would be leading 21-17 heading into halftime. You can't give up a touchdown that late in the half.
Trindon Holliday Part 2: Holliday got into the act once again when he returned the opening kickoff of the second half for a 104 yard return to give the Broncos a 28-21 lead. That was a huge momentum play, and Holliday's performance was just amazing on Saturday.
Flacco's Fumble: The next drive for the Ravens produced a fumbled snap by Joe Flacco at the Denver 43 yard line. It reminded me of one of those moments at the old Mile High when something funny like that would happen each time in big games back in the day. At this point, the Broncos should have taken a stranglehold on the game, but unfortunately they didn't.
Jacob Hester? People have been asking me why the Broncos would run the ball on 3rd and 5 from their own 47 with over 10 minutes to go in the third quarter. The Broncos and Manning have done that all year long. Sometimes they were successful and sometimes they weren't, and this time it didn't work out. They were just doing some of the same things that they did all year long.
Manning's fumble: After a 3rd and 1 run for a first down by Hester was nullified by another awful holding penalty, Manning was faced with a 3rd and 10 at his own 46, and he tried to pull the ball back at the last second but got hit and the same time and fumbled. It looked like the Tuck Rule was in effect there, but the refs didn't overturn the play, and the Ravens got a huge turnover.
Ray Rice Ties It Up: Four plays later, Rice went in from the one yard line and once again the game was tied. Rice ran right through the Denver defense the entire drive to make it 28-28.
Manning Takes the Lead: Manning took the Broncos 88 yards on a terrific drive to give the Broncos a 35-28 lead. He hit Demaryius Thomas on a 17 yard touchdown pass to give the Broncos a seven point lead with 7:11 left to play in the game. The Broncos did benefit from a defensive holding penalty on a 3rd and 3 to keep the drive alive. Whatever the case, Manning got the Broncos into the endzone and did his job.
Fourth Down Stop: After the Ravens moved the ball to the Broncos 31, Mike Adams made a great play to break up a fourth down pass to Dennis Pitta with 3:12 left in the game. It was a really great play that could have cemented the game.
3rd and 7: The Broncos needed two first downs to ice the game when they took over at their own 31 with 3:12 seconds left. They got a first down on two running plays, and they forced the Ravens to use their timeouts. The Broncos ran the ball twice, and it set up a 3rd and 7 with 2:00 minutes left and a chance to win the game with a first down. I understand why John Fox ran the ball there, and the percentages play into your favor. Also, Denver did the same thing against KC in the regular season and it worked out for them, so I wasn't surprised that this played out this way. I still think you wouldn't have argued with the fact that you put the ball into Peyton Manning's hands to win the game. If it doesn't work out, then I think you at least go down with your best player trying to win the game right there.
Flacco to Jones: The fact that the Ravens took over at their own 23 with only 1:09 left, no timeouts, and needing a touchdown made me feel confident as a Broncos fan, but the way Flacco played all game it still scared me and made me feel like the Ravens were going to at least find their way into Denver territory with a shot to win it late. How the hell Flacco hits Jacoby Jones on that 70 yard hookup with 30 seconds left? It will go down as one the most infamous plays in Broncos history. Rahim Moore and Tony Carter both got caught looking in the backfield and flat-footed, and Flacco made them pay. High school teams don't give up plays like that at the end of games. It was just awful. I am still shocked by that play, and it will haunt me all offseason. I was in a state of shock, and at that point I thought the Broncos were done. There is no way you can recover from a play like that.
Taking a knee: The Broncos got the ball back with 31 seconds left at their own 20 and two timeouts, but they decided to take a knee and play for overtime. Why not just let Peyton Manning try a throw or two and try to advance the ball? Why not let him take at least one shot downfield? Maybe Manning's arm was shot. Maybe Fox was worried that he was going to throw a pick. I just wanted to see him take one shot at it, but he played for overtime.
Overtime Momentum: The Ravens got the ball first in overtime, and they were able to put together a quality drive. Baltimore drove to the Broncos 44 yard line with the aid of a bogus pass interference call on Champ Bailey, but Von Miller and Elvis Dumveril finally showed up and sacked Flacco to force a punt. On the next drive, the Broncos faced a 3rd and 1 on their own 39, and once again Denver relied on a run by Jacob Hester, and they were stuffed for no gain. I hated this call, and the conservative nature of this play would haunt the Broncos. The Broncos backed up the Ravens to their own six-yard line. On a 3rd and 13, Flacco found Dennis Pitta up the seam for a huge 24 yard pass play. Although the Broncos did force a punt, that throw by Flacco changed field position. That was a very underrated play in the game.
Manning's Final Mistake: Facing a 2nd and 6 from the Denver 38, Manning rolled out of the pocket and tried to throw back across his body, but he was picked off by Corey Graham. It was a terrible mistake by Manning, and it was the final play of his magical 2012 season. Manning very rarely makes a mistake like that, but he picked the worst time to make such an uncharacteristic throw.
There are so many other storylines to get to with this game. The lack of pass rush with Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil is one. The defensive breakdowns all game long for a defense that was so good all year long is another. Was the cold weather really a factor in Peyton Manning's performance? The conservative play call from the Broncos was another theme from this game. Look, I'll have plenty of time to look at all of those aspects as the offseason begins. I'll post my Broncos Postmortem Mailbag either later in the week or next week where I will explore these factors and other factors facing the Broncos and their 2012 season and beyond.
As a final postscript for this game, this is definitely the worst loss as a Broncos fan. It still really hurts days later. It will be hard to not think about this game as we wait for the regular season to begin next September. The lasting impact of this game will endure for a really long time. All the build up to this season when the Broncos signed Manning was exciting, then the season started, and every week it was so special to watch Manning and this team grow all year. It was a great season, but it ended so tragically on Saturday in that game to Baltimore. On Sunday morning, my son woke up and asked me if there was any football on today. I told them that there was, but then he asked me if the Broncos are playing today. Unfortunately, I had to tell him that sadly they weren't because their season is over. It wasn't supposed to be over at that point, and I should be writing about Championship Sunday with Manning and the Broncos hosting Brady and Pats. I guess time heals all wounds, but this wound will leave a very significant scar.
Trindon Holliday's punt return in the first quarter: I sat there waiting for two weeks for this game. The anticipation was building for kickoff. After getting an early punt by the Ravens on the first possession, Holliday took the ensuing punt back 90 yards for a touchdown and an early 7-0 lead for Denver. It was one of the most exciting moments I have seen as a Broncos fan. What a way to start the game.
Torrey Smith owned Champ Bailey: When Torrey Smith burned Champ Bailey on a 59 yard pass play to answer the Holliday score, it set the tone for the day and Ravens offense. Smith wasn't done killing Bailey, and we'll get to that later.
Manning's pick-six: The next series Manning was picked off by Corey Graham, and it was returned 39 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-7. A couple of things about this play. First, Eric Decker was clearly interfered with on the play, but it was such a bang-bang play, so it was hard to see a flag being thrown there. Also, this made me realize that this game was going to be close throughout.
Manning to Stokley: Manning answered the interception return with a beautiful 15 yard touchdown pass to Brandon Stokley in the corner of the endzone to tie it up at 14. It was an amazing play, and it was a huge answer to the tough start for the Broncos. Great throw and catch.
Manning to Moreno: Two drives later, after the Broncos forced two Ravens punts, Manning put together another huge scoring drive. This time he hit Knowshon Moreno in the endzone on a great hookup because Moreno ran a double move on linebacker Dannel Ellerbe. It was a huge play, and at this point I was feeling very confident that Manning might be able to pick apart the Ravens defense the rest of the day.
The Halftime Screwup: John Fox has been burned in the past by electing to try a long field goal, that attempt missing, and the other team gaining really good field position and taking advantage as a result. Instead of punting the Ravens deep into their own territory, Fox elected to try a 52 yard field goal, and Matt Prater missed the kick which resulted in the Ravens getting the ball at their own 42 with 1:16 left i the 2nd quarter. In just three plays, Flacco hit Torrey Smith once again on a 32 yard touchdown strike to tie the game at 21. Champ Bailey got burned once again, and this is where I really felt that was the turning point of the game. Even if the Broncos just let up a field goal, they would be leading 21-17 heading into halftime. You can't give up a touchdown that late in the half.
Trindon Holliday Part 2: Holliday got into the act once again when he returned the opening kickoff of the second half for a 104 yard return to give the Broncos a 28-21 lead. That was a huge momentum play, and Holliday's performance was just amazing on Saturday.
Flacco's Fumble: The next drive for the Ravens produced a fumbled snap by Joe Flacco at the Denver 43 yard line. It reminded me of one of those moments at the old Mile High when something funny like that would happen each time in big games back in the day. At this point, the Broncos should have taken a stranglehold on the game, but unfortunately they didn't.
Jacob Hester? People have been asking me why the Broncos would run the ball on 3rd and 5 from their own 47 with over 10 minutes to go in the third quarter. The Broncos and Manning have done that all year long. Sometimes they were successful and sometimes they weren't, and this time it didn't work out. They were just doing some of the same things that they did all year long.
Manning's fumble: After a 3rd and 1 run for a first down by Hester was nullified by another awful holding penalty, Manning was faced with a 3rd and 10 at his own 46, and he tried to pull the ball back at the last second but got hit and the same time and fumbled. It looked like the Tuck Rule was in effect there, but the refs didn't overturn the play, and the Ravens got a huge turnover.
Ray Rice Ties It Up: Four plays later, Rice went in from the one yard line and once again the game was tied. Rice ran right through the Denver defense the entire drive to make it 28-28.
Manning Takes the Lead: Manning took the Broncos 88 yards on a terrific drive to give the Broncos a 35-28 lead. He hit Demaryius Thomas on a 17 yard touchdown pass to give the Broncos a seven point lead with 7:11 left to play in the game. The Broncos did benefit from a defensive holding penalty on a 3rd and 3 to keep the drive alive. Whatever the case, Manning got the Broncos into the endzone and did his job.
Fourth Down Stop: After the Ravens moved the ball to the Broncos 31, Mike Adams made a great play to break up a fourth down pass to Dennis Pitta with 3:12 left in the game. It was a really great play that could have cemented the game.
3rd and 7: The Broncos needed two first downs to ice the game when they took over at their own 31 with 3:12 seconds left. They got a first down on two running plays, and they forced the Ravens to use their timeouts. The Broncos ran the ball twice, and it set up a 3rd and 7 with 2:00 minutes left and a chance to win the game with a first down. I understand why John Fox ran the ball there, and the percentages play into your favor. Also, Denver did the same thing against KC in the regular season and it worked out for them, so I wasn't surprised that this played out this way. I still think you wouldn't have argued with the fact that you put the ball into Peyton Manning's hands to win the game. If it doesn't work out, then I think you at least go down with your best player trying to win the game right there.
Flacco to Jones: The fact that the Ravens took over at their own 23 with only 1:09 left, no timeouts, and needing a touchdown made me feel confident as a Broncos fan, but the way Flacco played all game it still scared me and made me feel like the Ravens were going to at least find their way into Denver territory with a shot to win it late. How the hell Flacco hits Jacoby Jones on that 70 yard hookup with 30 seconds left? It will go down as one the most infamous plays in Broncos history. Rahim Moore and Tony Carter both got caught looking in the backfield and flat-footed, and Flacco made them pay. High school teams don't give up plays like that at the end of games. It was just awful. I am still shocked by that play, and it will haunt me all offseason. I was in a state of shock, and at that point I thought the Broncos were done. There is no way you can recover from a play like that.
Taking a knee: The Broncos got the ball back with 31 seconds left at their own 20 and two timeouts, but they decided to take a knee and play for overtime. Why not just let Peyton Manning try a throw or two and try to advance the ball? Why not let him take at least one shot downfield? Maybe Manning's arm was shot. Maybe Fox was worried that he was going to throw a pick. I just wanted to see him take one shot at it, but he played for overtime.
Overtime Momentum: The Ravens got the ball first in overtime, and they were able to put together a quality drive. Baltimore drove to the Broncos 44 yard line with the aid of a bogus pass interference call on Champ Bailey, but Von Miller and Elvis Dumveril finally showed up and sacked Flacco to force a punt. On the next drive, the Broncos faced a 3rd and 1 on their own 39, and once again Denver relied on a run by Jacob Hester, and they were stuffed for no gain. I hated this call, and the conservative nature of this play would haunt the Broncos. The Broncos backed up the Ravens to their own six-yard line. On a 3rd and 13, Flacco found Dennis Pitta up the seam for a huge 24 yard pass play. Although the Broncos did force a punt, that throw by Flacco changed field position. That was a very underrated play in the game.
Manning's Final Mistake: Facing a 2nd and 6 from the Denver 38, Manning rolled out of the pocket and tried to throw back across his body, but he was picked off by Corey Graham. It was a terrible mistake by Manning, and it was the final play of his magical 2012 season. Manning very rarely makes a mistake like that, but he picked the worst time to make such an uncharacteristic throw.
There are so many other storylines to get to with this game. The lack of pass rush with Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil is one. The defensive breakdowns all game long for a defense that was so good all year long is another. Was the cold weather really a factor in Peyton Manning's performance? The conservative play call from the Broncos was another theme from this game. Look, I'll have plenty of time to look at all of those aspects as the offseason begins. I'll post my Broncos Postmortem Mailbag either later in the week or next week where I will explore these factors and other factors facing the Broncos and their 2012 season and beyond.
As a final postscript for this game, this is definitely the worst loss as a Broncos fan. It still really hurts days later. It will be hard to not think about this game as we wait for the regular season to begin next September. The lasting impact of this game will endure for a really long time. All the build up to this season when the Broncos signed Manning was exciting, then the season started, and every week it was so special to watch Manning and this team grow all year. It was a great season, but it ended so tragically on Saturday in that game to Baltimore. On Sunday morning, my son woke up and asked me if there was any football on today. I told them that there was, but then he asked me if the Broncos are playing today. Unfortunately, I had to tell him that sadly they weren't because their season is over. It wasn't supposed to be over at that point, and I should be writing about Championship Sunday with Manning and the Broncos hosting Brady and Pats. I guess time heals all wounds, but this wound will leave a very significant scar.
Friday, January 11, 2013
Broncos-Ravens Divisional Playoff Preview!!!!!!
When the Ravens defeated the Colts on Sunday, and it was
determined that Baltimore was heading to Denver to take on the Broncos in the
Divisional Playoffs, I immediately began to break this game down in my head.
One thing continuously stuck in my mind: I really wish the Ravens weren’t the
team coming to Denver this weekend. This game scares me a lot. Why does it
scare me? Here are my reasons why this game has kept me up all night all
week long……………..
1) The
Ray Lewis factor: Lewis is retiring at the end of the playoffs, and that fact
alone has me nervous. Is this going to be a situation where Lewis rides that
retirement sentiment all the way to New Orleans and the Super Bowl? I hope not,
but you know how these storylines can become so impactful. Lewis and the Ravens
will be so pumped up for this game because no one wants to let Lewis done in
what could be his final game ever.
2) The
Ravens playoff savvy: The Ravens have won a playoff game in five straight
postseasons, and they have won big games on the road before (New England 2009).
They are not afraid of playing on the road, and it seems like they almost
relish it. Even when they lose on the road in the playoffs, they tend to play
very well (AFC Divisional Playoff at Pittsburgh in 2010 and the 2011 AFC
Championship).
3) The
Flacco Factor: Joe Flacco is not one of the elite level Quarterbacks, but he
does have the ability to rise up and outplay some of the great ones in these
playoff games. He actually outplayed Tom Brady last year in New England in the
AFC Championship Game, so it is not crazy to think that he can’t go shot for
shot with Peyton Manning this week in Denver.
4) Week
15: Denver-34 Baltimore-17: Throw the first game between these two out the
window. The Ravens were missing five starters for that game including Lewis.
The game was actually closer than people think, but Flacco’s killer
interception to Chris Harris swung the game and gave Denver a 17-0 lead right
before halftime. Also, the Ravens were breaking in a new offensive coordinator
in Jim Caldwell. You really can’t put too much stock into that game even if the
Broncos won convincingly.
5) The
“Nobody Believes in Us” angle: Most people have picked the Broncos to win very
easily, and that will provide plenty of bullentin board material for the
Ravens. You don’t think it will fire up Ray Lewis and that defense this week?
It definitely will, and look for a very inspired Baltimore team to come to
Denver with a chip on their shoulder.
6) Peaking
at the right time: Remember when the Ravens were struggling at 9-5 and they
lost three in a row? They righted the ship, destroyed the Giants the next week,
rested their starters in Week 17, and took care of business last week over the
Colts. Maybe they were not too worried about the regular season, and they were
just focused on getting into the postseason and making their run. The Ravens
are healthier than they were a month ago, and now they might have some
confidence moving forward like the Giants and the Packers the last two
postseasons.
7) Pressure
is on Denver: The pressure in this game is squarely on the Broncos. Denver and
Peyton Manning won’t have too many chances together, and how many chances are
they going to get as the #1 seed in the AFC? Denver has everything to lose in
this one, and sometimes when a team is the favorite they play tight, make some
mistakes early, and then it snowballs on them. The Ravens come in as a huge
underdog, and they can play fast and loose. Plus, don't forget that the Broncos make a lot of mistakes that include fumbles, dropped passes, and wrong routes. Trindon Holliday basically fumbles once every game for Denver as a punt or kick returner. One bad break like that and the Broncos could start to unravel.
8) Upsets
in the Divisional Round: Every year one of the top four seeds gets knocked off
in this round in the playoffs. Did anyone see the 15-1 Packers going down at home to the Giants last year? Was their anyone who suspected the Jets somehow defeating the Patriots in 2010? The Jets shocked the world in 2009 with their Divisional Playoff upset of the 13-3 Chargers. No one thought the Arizona Cardinals were going to go into Carolina and knock off the 12-4 Panthers in 2008. Every year there is a big upset in this round. The real shocker this weekend would be if the Broncos got knocked off in this spot. It could happen and sometimes it takes place in one of the most unlikely game of the weekend.
Now, that I am done basically painting the 2012 Ravens as a better team than the 2000 Ravens, here are my reasons why I can be confident going into this game........
1) Peyton Freaking Manning: This is why John Elway and John Fox recruited Manning to come to Denver. He can give us the best shot to go to the Super Bowl. Manning had a great season, led the team to a 13-3 record, and helped get us homefield advantage. Now it is time for Manning to really make his mark in Denver. Manning needs to play not like the superb 2012 version of Peyton, but he needs to play like the cyborg 2009 version of Peyton in this one. I want to see one of those classic 7-8 for 75 yards and a touchdown type of drives to start the game. Follow that with a 6-7 for 88 yards and another touchdown to basically put the Ravens away early in the game. Manning can do that, and he needs to set the tone early and not be denied all game long.
2) Mile High: Last year, Denver's new Mile High was rocking for the Wild Card game against Pittsburgh. The crowd was loud, noisy, and pumped up the entire game. This game has to be at another level. The fans will be loud and crazy, but the mystique of Mile High has to comeback. We can use the crowd to get some false starts and force timeouts, and all of those factors can play a role in this game.
3) Denver Defense: This is one of the best Bronco defensive units in a long, long time. Von Miller needs to wreak havoc in this game. Elvis Dumervil needs to make Flacco's day miserable. Their defense can shut down the Ravens offense. The Ravens receivers are good, but you have to like the matchup for the Broncos with their secondary. Champ Bailey, Chris Harris, and Tony Carter have all done an excellent job this year of shutting down an opponent's passing game, and this week can not be any different.
4) Manning vs. Brady: Come on, everyone wants to see Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady in the AFC Championship. The Ravens got their last year, and they had their shot. Now it is time for a duel for the ages between these two great quarterbacks. The last time Manning and Brady faced off in the playoffs was the 2006 AFC Championship. It is about time we got this matchup again. The fans want it, the public wants it, the NFL wants it, and you know CBS wants it. This has to happen.
The Pick: Baltimore (+9) over DENVER:
There are so many things that scare me about this game, but the one thing that I can hang my hat on is the fact that the Broncos have the homefield and the altitude, they have a really good defense, and they have Peyton Manning. The Ravens will keep it close, but I can't go against my team at home. Lets Go Broncos!
Final Score: Broncos-27 Ravens-23
Divisional Round Picks
We set the stage for the Broncos and Ravens in a separate post, but it is time to look at the other three Divisional Playoff games for this weekend. Divisional weekend is always special because the top seeds in each conference get into playoff action, and it is the last great weekend of football for the year. Usually, at least one top four team gets upset in this round, so the Broncos, Patriots, Falcons and 49ers must be on high alert. Last weekend's games were not the greatest, but I have a feeling that this weekend will produce some great games, high drama, and certainly some surprises. Onto the games in the Divisional Playoffs........
Last Week's Playoff Record: 3-1
Overall Playoff Record: 3-1
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
(3) Green Bay at (6) San Francisco
A Case for the Packers: If the Packers can somehow protect Aaron Rodgers in this game, then there is a chance that Rodgers goes off and simply takes the game over and wins it himself. He is probably the best player on the field for both teams, and he has proven to be very dangerous on the road in the playoffs. If he gets it going, then watch out. Plus, the Packers defense is getting healthy at the right time, and they are going to go into this game as the underdog, and I think they will play fast and loose. Can't you just see them getting after Colin Kaepernick and rattling the young QB making his first playoff start?
A Case for the 49ers: Overall, they are better team, and they are at home. That defense could definitely reek havoc on Rodgers and the Green Bay offensive line. The Niners defense seems to play with a chip on their shoulder, and they must love the fact that they get to prove it again against Rodgers and the Packers offense. Although Kaepernick is a young player, he has played really well since he took over for Alex Smith. Perhaps he doesn't know any better and the moment won't be too big for him. The Niners are going to obviously force the issue with Frank Gore, and if their defense gives them a lead, then it will play right into their hands.
The Pick: Green Bay (+3) over SAN FRANCISCO: The Niners are the better team, and I could see them just smothering Rodgers all night long, but this game has the feel of a classic. Niners-Packers in the playoffs on a Saturday night in Candlestick. I think this game is close to the end, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Rodgers makes a few big plays down the stretch to pull the upset.
Final Score: Packers-27 Niners-24
(5) Seattle at (1) Atlanta
A Case for the Seahawks: Seattle is one of the best teams in the entire NFL right now. They have the running game with Marshawn Lynch, their defense is very stout, and Russell Wilson just continues to make things happen. They are road tested after their playoff win in Washington last week, and they even overcame adversity after they were down 14-0 in the first quarter. They are the team that no one wants to play right now in the NFC, and they will ride that momentum this week once again. Also, maybe the Falcons are like the Chiefs from the late 1990s: Two times in three years KC had a 13-3 record and homefield advantage (1995 and 1997) and both times they lost their first playoff game in the Divisional Playoffs to Indy and Denver. Maybe the Falcons will crumble under that pressure like those Chiefs teams did back then.
A Case for the Falcons: The Falcons have the most pressure to win a playoff game that I can remember in recent memory. Also, they are the #1 seed in the NFC, and they are playing at home. Everything is riding on this game for Mike Smith, Matt Ryan, and that entire Falcons organization. They simply can't lose this game. Also, a lot of people around the NFL are picking the Seahawks in this game, and the Falcons can really use that to their advantage. How many 13-3 teams are only 2.5 favorites at home in their first playoff game? You could just see the Falcons coming out hot, getting an early lead, and letting the crowd in the Georgia Dome will them to a victory.
The Pick: ATLANTA(-2.5) over Seattle: This is definitely a game that Seattle can win, but I have a feeling that the Falcons will play great from the very beginning and never look back. They need this game badly, and I think they will get it.
Final Score: Falcons-26 Seattle-20
(3) Houston at (2) New England:
A Case for the Texans: They got so thoroughly destroyed by the Patriots a month ago in Foxborough that it can't get any worse for them in this game. Maybe they just needed to get the monkey off their back with their win over the Bengals last weekend. Now, they get to come into New England and play with some confidence and try to prove that they are the same team that steamrolled to a 11-1 start this year. If they can stabilize the game early, weather the storm by the Patriots offense, and get Arian Foster going in the run game, then they have a chance. Remember in 2010 when the Patriots killed the Jets in December at home, then got upset by them in the Divisional Playoffs a month later? The Texans can use that as motivation in this one.
A Case for the Patriots: The Texans are not playing the way that they played early in the year, and the Patriots are the better team. The Pats finally get Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez together again healthy, and their offense is such a different animal when those two are full speed. Can't you just see a repeat of their prior meeting a month ago? I can just envision the Pats taking an early lead, getting after Matt Schaub because the Texans are forced to throw the ball every down, and CBS showing about 1,000 shots of Tom Brady pumping his fist emphatically after every touchdown throw.
The Pick: NEW ENGLAND (-9) over Houston: The Patriots are rested and ready for this game, and I bet they were a little excited knowing that they are getting the Texans here instead of the Ravens. I just can't see the Patriots coming out and laying an egg in this one.
Final Score: Patriots-34 Houston-17
Last Week's Playoff Record: 3-1
Overall Playoff Record: 3-1
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
(3) Green Bay at (6) San Francisco
A Case for the Packers: If the Packers can somehow protect Aaron Rodgers in this game, then there is a chance that Rodgers goes off and simply takes the game over and wins it himself. He is probably the best player on the field for both teams, and he has proven to be very dangerous on the road in the playoffs. If he gets it going, then watch out. Plus, the Packers defense is getting healthy at the right time, and they are going to go into this game as the underdog, and I think they will play fast and loose. Can't you just see them getting after Colin Kaepernick and rattling the young QB making his first playoff start?
A Case for the 49ers: Overall, they are better team, and they are at home. That defense could definitely reek havoc on Rodgers and the Green Bay offensive line. The Niners defense seems to play with a chip on their shoulder, and they must love the fact that they get to prove it again against Rodgers and the Packers offense. Although Kaepernick is a young player, he has played really well since he took over for Alex Smith. Perhaps he doesn't know any better and the moment won't be too big for him. The Niners are going to obviously force the issue with Frank Gore, and if their defense gives them a lead, then it will play right into their hands.
The Pick: Green Bay (+3) over SAN FRANCISCO: The Niners are the better team, and I could see them just smothering Rodgers all night long, but this game has the feel of a classic. Niners-Packers in the playoffs on a Saturday night in Candlestick. I think this game is close to the end, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Rodgers makes a few big plays down the stretch to pull the upset.
Final Score: Packers-27 Niners-24
(5) Seattle at (1) Atlanta
A Case for the Seahawks: Seattle is one of the best teams in the entire NFL right now. They have the running game with Marshawn Lynch, their defense is very stout, and Russell Wilson just continues to make things happen. They are road tested after their playoff win in Washington last week, and they even overcame adversity after they were down 14-0 in the first quarter. They are the team that no one wants to play right now in the NFC, and they will ride that momentum this week once again. Also, maybe the Falcons are like the Chiefs from the late 1990s: Two times in three years KC had a 13-3 record and homefield advantage (1995 and 1997) and both times they lost their first playoff game in the Divisional Playoffs to Indy and Denver. Maybe the Falcons will crumble under that pressure like those Chiefs teams did back then.
A Case for the Falcons: The Falcons have the most pressure to win a playoff game that I can remember in recent memory. Also, they are the #1 seed in the NFC, and they are playing at home. Everything is riding on this game for Mike Smith, Matt Ryan, and that entire Falcons organization. They simply can't lose this game. Also, a lot of people around the NFL are picking the Seahawks in this game, and the Falcons can really use that to their advantage. How many 13-3 teams are only 2.5 favorites at home in their first playoff game? You could just see the Falcons coming out hot, getting an early lead, and letting the crowd in the Georgia Dome will them to a victory.
The Pick: ATLANTA(-2.5) over Seattle: This is definitely a game that Seattle can win, but I have a feeling that the Falcons will play great from the very beginning and never look back. They need this game badly, and I think they will get it.
Final Score: Falcons-26 Seattle-20
(3) Houston at (2) New England:
A Case for the Texans: They got so thoroughly destroyed by the Patriots a month ago in Foxborough that it can't get any worse for them in this game. Maybe they just needed to get the monkey off their back with their win over the Bengals last weekend. Now, they get to come into New England and play with some confidence and try to prove that they are the same team that steamrolled to a 11-1 start this year. If they can stabilize the game early, weather the storm by the Patriots offense, and get Arian Foster going in the run game, then they have a chance. Remember in 2010 when the Patriots killed the Jets in December at home, then got upset by them in the Divisional Playoffs a month later? The Texans can use that as motivation in this one.
A Case for the Patriots: The Texans are not playing the way that they played early in the year, and the Patriots are the better team. The Pats finally get Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez together again healthy, and their offense is such a different animal when those two are full speed. Can't you just see a repeat of their prior meeting a month ago? I can just envision the Pats taking an early lead, getting after Matt Schaub because the Texans are forced to throw the ball every down, and CBS showing about 1,000 shots of Tom Brady pumping his fist emphatically after every touchdown throw.
The Pick: NEW ENGLAND (-9) over Houston: The Patriots are rested and ready for this game, and I bet they were a little excited knowing that they are getting the Texans here instead of the Ravens. I just can't see the Patriots coming out and laying an egg in this one.
Final Score: Patriots-34 Houston-17
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Early Thoughts and Opinions of Broncos-Ravens
It is only Wednesday and the anticipation will start to build for the Broncos as they get closer to their Divisional Playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. As we get closer the game, here are my thoughts, opinions, and updates related to game.
1) Of the three possible opponents that the Broncos could have faced this weekend, the Ravens were the team that I least wanted to see come to Denver. I think the Broncos would have handled the Colts and Bengals rather easily, but now we get the Ravens coming to town instead. They are a veteran team with a ton of playoff experience, and now they have the Ray Lewis retirement factor that could pose some problems for the Broncos in this game. The nine point spread in this game just seems too high for me, but I hope I am wrong.
2) The Broncos are relatively healthy heading into this game. Ryan Clady and Chris Kuper were back at practice on Wednesday, and they are slated to start the game on Saturday. Apparently, Clady has been nursing a shoulder injury and he was held out of practice during the Broncos bye week, and Kuper should be ready to go with his ankle injury.
3) The weather for Denver on Saturday looks downright cold. The forecast calls for the temperature to be 15 degrees at kickoff. I don't know how much this will affect Peyton Manning and the Broncos, but I would rather have the temperature around the 40 degree mark for the game.
4) The Broncos seem to be an overwhelming favorite in the public's eye. It seems that most of the national media is really backing the Broncos this week, and I haven't seen too many people think that it will even be a close game. I hate that. I want more and more people to start jumping on the Ravens bandwagon by the weekend. I really don't want the Ravens using that "Nobody Believes in Us" mentality going into this one.
5) The Ravens will be a lot healthier in this game than the prior meeting with the Broncos in Baltimore on December 16th. Bernard Pollard, Ray Lewis, Dannell Ellerbe, and Marshal Yanda are all expected to play, and those guys did not play in the Week 15 game.
6) Speaking of that last game, I went back and watched that game once again and a few things stood out to me. The game was pretty even in the first half. Denver had trouble moving the ball in the passing game, and the Ravens got to Manning a few times. Down 10-0, the Ravens were moving the ball deep into Denver territory, but Joe Flacco threw a crushing 98 yard interception return to Chris Harris, and at 17-0 the Broncos were able to get a huge game-changing score. The Ravens moved the ball quite effectively the first drive of the third quarter, but they had to settle for a field goal. Trindon Holliday fumbled the ensuing kickoff, but the ball squirted out of bounds. If the Ravens recover that fumble deep in Denver territory, then that game all of sudden gets really close. The Broncos did manage to run the ball down the throats of that Baltimore defense, but will that be the same story will Lewis, Pollard and Ellerbe back for this game? Also, Manning made two amazing throws to put the game away in the third quarter. One went to Eric Decker for a touchdown down the sideline to make it 24-3, and the other was a perfect pass to Joel Dressen down the seam to set it another score to make it 31-3. He didn't have the greatest game statistically, but those two throws by Manning really put the game away.
1) Of the three possible opponents that the Broncos could have faced this weekend, the Ravens were the team that I least wanted to see come to Denver. I think the Broncos would have handled the Colts and Bengals rather easily, but now we get the Ravens coming to town instead. They are a veteran team with a ton of playoff experience, and now they have the Ray Lewis retirement factor that could pose some problems for the Broncos in this game. The nine point spread in this game just seems too high for me, but I hope I am wrong.
2) The Broncos are relatively healthy heading into this game. Ryan Clady and Chris Kuper were back at practice on Wednesday, and they are slated to start the game on Saturday. Apparently, Clady has been nursing a shoulder injury and he was held out of practice during the Broncos bye week, and Kuper should be ready to go with his ankle injury.
3) The weather for Denver on Saturday looks downright cold. The forecast calls for the temperature to be 15 degrees at kickoff. I don't know how much this will affect Peyton Manning and the Broncos, but I would rather have the temperature around the 40 degree mark for the game.
4) The Broncos seem to be an overwhelming favorite in the public's eye. It seems that most of the national media is really backing the Broncos this week, and I haven't seen too many people think that it will even be a close game. I hate that. I want more and more people to start jumping on the Ravens bandwagon by the weekend. I really don't want the Ravens using that "Nobody Believes in Us" mentality going into this one.
5) The Ravens will be a lot healthier in this game than the prior meeting with the Broncos in Baltimore on December 16th. Bernard Pollard, Ray Lewis, Dannell Ellerbe, and Marshal Yanda are all expected to play, and those guys did not play in the Week 15 game.
6) Speaking of that last game, I went back and watched that game once again and a few things stood out to me. The game was pretty even in the first half. Denver had trouble moving the ball in the passing game, and the Ravens got to Manning a few times. Down 10-0, the Ravens were moving the ball deep into Denver territory, but Joe Flacco threw a crushing 98 yard interception return to Chris Harris, and at 17-0 the Broncos were able to get a huge game-changing score. The Ravens moved the ball quite effectively the first drive of the third quarter, but they had to settle for a field goal. Trindon Holliday fumbled the ensuing kickoff, but the ball squirted out of bounds. If the Ravens recover that fumble deep in Denver territory, then that game all of sudden gets really close. The Broncos did manage to run the ball down the throats of that Baltimore defense, but will that be the same story will Lewis, Pollard and Ellerbe back for this game? Also, Manning made two amazing throws to put the game away in the third quarter. One went to Eric Decker for a touchdown down the sideline to make it 24-3, and the other was a perfect pass to Joel Dressen down the seam to set it another score to make it 31-3. He didn't have the greatest game statistically, but those two throws by Manning really put the game away.
Wild Card Weekend Thoughts
This Wild Card Weekend was not exactly the greatest weekend
in NFL playoff history. Although three out of the four games were within one
possession of a score in the fourth quarter, none of these games could be
considered instant classics. There were real no surprises as all four favorites
won. Here is my look back at Wild Card Weekend….
Houston-19 Cincinnati-13
1) The
Texans completely dominated this game throughout, but they played very
tight-especially Matt Schaub. If the Texans could have converted some of their
early scoring chances instead of kicking field goals, then this game would have
been over at the half.
2) When
Schaub threw the interception to Leon Hall, who returned it for a touchdown and
a 7-6 Cincy lead, you could hear the crowd get nervous and everyone else get
tense in that building.
3) As
badly as they were outplayed, the Bengals still had a chance to win this game
late. Andy Dalton had A.J. Green open deep late in the fourth quarter, but he
over threw him. That pass will bother Dalton all offseason. On a 4th
and 11, Dalton threw the ball underneath and the Bengals were not even close to
converting. It was a bad sequence for Dalton and the Bengals offense. Just
throw the ball where you have a chance to convert the first down please!
4) The
Texans got the first down they needed and they ran out the clock. You could see
the relief in Schaub’s eyes after they got that first down. The whole Texans
team looked very happy just to get by this one game. We shall see how they fare
next week as they head to New England and the Divisional Playoff game next
Sunday.
5) Andy
Dalton really needs take the next step in this type of games. This was a big
game for him and he failed to deliver. You give him a pass for last year’s loss
because he was a rookie, but this year this was no excuse.
Green Bay-24 Minnesota-3
1) In
this age of technology and Twitter, how did the Vikings hide Christian Ponder’s
elbow injury until gameday? I was shocked to find out that Ponder was in danger
of missing the game when I found out on Saturday afternoon. Even if Ponder did
play, there was no way he was changing the outcome.
2) Joe
Webb was put into a tough spot, but I thought it was funny how pumped up he was
on the Vikings first drive. Webb led the team down the field with some key runs
and he celebrated a first down run like he won the Super Bowl. He led them to
an early field goal and an early 3-0 lead, but that was it for the Vikings the
rest of the way.
3) The
Packers did a much better job on Adrian Peterson this time around, and their
defense harassed Webb all night long. They were prepared for what Webb could
do, and they got after Peterson in the run game.
4) Aaron
Rodgers didn’t have to be sensational because he knew his defense would get the
best of Webb, but he did what he had to do in this game. He threw for a couple
of scores and moved the ball when they needed it.
Baltimore-24 Indianapolis-9
1) Joe Flacco's numbers weren't great, but he was able to hit the big play to Anquan Boldin and that was the big difference in the game. Flacco's throws to Boldin killed the Colts and their chances.
2) Andrew Luck played well enough to win, but his receivers didn't really help him out. I felt like the receivers-especially Donnie Avery- just killed their chances all day long. If they had converted some more of those plays, then maybe this game would have come down to last few minutes.
3) The Ravens are playing a lot better the last month, and Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce might be a reason for that. Rice has two costly fumbles, but his catch and run near the end of the half was a huge play to set up a touchdown to give them 10-3. Pierce added over 100 yards rushing and played a major role in this win.
4) Ray Lewis return from injury was inspiring and I thought he played well. He did drop a really easy interception, but overall his play was solid.
5) Adam Vinatieri's missed field goal was a huge play in this game. Down 17-9 in the fourth quarter, Vinatieri missed a 40 yard field goal. I thought it took the momentum away from the Colts, and Flacco hit Boldin with a touchdown pass to make it 24-9 to take control the game.
6) Although the Colts moved the ball pretty well all game long, it seemed that the Ravens defense smelled blood at that point in the fourth quarter and shut the door on the Colts and their season.
7) The Ravens head to Denver to take on the Broncos in the Divisional Playoffs next Saturday, and they will try to keep the Ray Lewis Retirement Show to last at least one more round.
Seattle-24 Washington-14
1) Mike Shanahan always comes out with a great game plan in these big games, and this game was no different. The Redskins were flawless on their first two drives. Robert Griffin III was making great throws, Alfred Morris was just chewing up yardage, and the Skins jumped out to a 14-0 lead.
2) From that point, the Seahawks settled in and completely dominated the game. Russell Wilson started to make plays, Marshawn Lynch started to get it going on the ground, and the defense started to take the game over.
3) The key to this game was definitely the injury to RG III. Once he was hobbled by that knee injury, the Redskins were done. They didn't do anything the rest of the way, and the game was a formality.
4) You can't kill Mike Shanahan for keeping RG III in the game. RG III said he could play, the doctors said he could play, so Shanny keep him in the game because he is their franchise player. The discussion should end right there.
5) It must have killed the Skins fan to watch RG III on the ground and failing to pick up a bad shotgun snap as the Seahawks recovered the fumble deep in Washington territory. A field goal put Seattle up 24-14 and the game was pretty much over at that point.
6) The Seahawks will head to Atlanta to take on the Falcons next week, and Seattle will become a very trendy upset pick this weekend.
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Wildcard Weekend Picks!
When the NFL playoffs begin, there is a feeling of excitement that surrounds the playoffs, the games, the teams, and the storylines that develop as the 12 teams prep for their shot at the Super Bowl and the Lombardi Trophy. It is hard to decide which is the better weekend for the diehard NFL fan: Wildcard Weekend or Divisional Weekend. I tend to side with the Wildcard round because I feel that there is more of a chance of better games and wilder finishes. Plus, it is the first taste of the playoffs and it always seems that the games have a different feel to it than the games in the Divisional round. Don't get me wrong, I love both weekends, but there is something about the Wildcard round that is just different and special at the same time. Before I get to the games and the picks, it is so nice how as a Broncos fan I can just sit back, relax, and enjoy the games this weekend knowing that the Broncos are waiting in the wings and getting ready for their Divisional Playoff game next weekend. It is about as good of a feeling that you can have as a NFL fan this time of the year. Here are the picks for the Wildcard Weekend
(6) Cincinnati at (3) Houston
A Case for the Bengals: The Bengals made a surprising move to get back to the playoffs for the second year in a row. They get a rematch in the same stadium one year later against the Texans, and this Bengals team is better than the team that the Texans pounded in last year's Wildcard game. We know about Geno Atkins and this Bengals defense, but the Bengals also possess one of the best offensive players on the field in this game in wideout A.J. Green. He could simply take over the game. Andy Dalton has some playoff experience after last year's game, so he should play a lot better in this year's contest. Plus, aren't the Bengals due for a playoff win? They haven't won a playoff game since 1990, and they are now making their fourth playoff appearance in seven years. Don't you think they are just about ready to finally get that long-awaited playoff win?
A Case for the Texans:
Although they have lost three out of their last four games after starting the season 11-1, the Texans are still a really good team. This team was the frontrunner for homefield advantage all year long. All of a sudden they are sitting here as the 3 seed, and they have to play in the first round of the playoffs. Also, a lot of the sentiment this week has been towards the Bengals going into Houston and beating the Texans. Did you forget that the Bengals beat the Steelers two weeks ago only because Ben Roethlisberger handed the game to them on a platter? Don't forget that the Bengals were having trouble with the Ravens backups in Week 17. Also, the Texans have a decided edge in the coaching department with Gary Kubiak over Marvin Lewis.
The Pick: HOUSTON (-4) over Cincinnati
As much as Houston has fallen apart the last two weeks, but I still think they are simply the better team in this matchup. They are at home, and I see them coming out with a really big first half and taking it to the Bengals early. Look for the Texans to win and send themselves to Foxborough for a date with Patriots in the Divisional Playoffs.
Final Score: Texans-26 Bengals-16
(6) Minnesota at (3) Green Bay
A Case for the Vikings: Two words: Adrian Peterson. What Peterson did this year was simply amazing. He showed that he can run all over the Packers defense. He did it in Lambeau earlier in the season, and he did in the season finale in Minnesota last week. We know the Vikings will get off the bus handing the ball to Peterson, and it will be up to the Packers to stop him. Also, no matter what happens in this game, this Vikings season is a success. From 3-13 to the playoffs is quite an accomplishment for this franchise, and they can play this game fast and loose-especially since they defeated the Packers just one week ago. The Vikes are playing with the proverbial "house money" in this game for sure.
A Case for the Packers: The Packers are at home, in Lambeau Field, on a Saturday night, in the playoffs against the Vikings. The Packers are getting Charles Woodson back this week, and I think that will certainly help out their secondary. Don't you think the Packers looked at Sunday's loss and said "Enjoy it Minnesota, but let's see what happens next week." Plus, don't forget about the Aaron Rodgers factor. You know how good he is, and he can be the difference maker. He is in the level of QBs that you really can't go against in the playoffs. Rodgers vs. Christian Ponder is a bit of mismatch in the playoffs in my opinion. Lastly, the Packers have been waiting to get back to the playoffs after their one and done debacle at home last year following their 15-1 season. They will be very fired up and ready to go for their playoff opener. I would expect their best game this Saturday night.
The Pick: GREEN BAY (-7) over Minnesota
The Packers will win this game outright, and my sneaky surprise for the game is that the Packers will find a way to slow down Adrian Peterson. Like they did in the 1994 Playoffs when they shut down Detroit's Barry Sanders, I could see their defense playing committed football and flying to the ball all night long to stop Peterson. It is hard to see the Pack losing this one.
Final Score: Packers-31 Vikings-17
(5) Indianapolis at (4) Baltimore
A Case for the Colts: There are three big factors for the Colts in this game. First, the whole Chuck Pagano and Chuckstrong storyline. We have seen before how an inspirational storyline can carry a team in the playoffs. The Pagano angle is something that has really taken a national appeal, and it just seems like it adds to the overall play of their football team. Sometimes you just can't mess with fate. Second, Andrew Luck could actually win this game on his own. Usually, it takes the great Quarterbacks some time to win their first playoff game. John Elway lost his first playoff game. Peyton Manning lost his too. Can't you see Luck finding a way to win this game late though? He will have no fear in this game, and he might be really dangerous as a result. Lastly, the Colts have nothing to lose in this game. They can go out, play loose, and play with nothing to lose because all the pressure will be on the Ravens to advance. Those three factors could all make the difference for the Colts on Sunday.
A Case for the Ravens: Ray Lewis will return for this game, and it will be a playoff game in front of the home crowd. Also, he just announced that he is retiring at the end of the playoffs. There is no way that Lewis is losing is final game of his career in the playoffs at home. The Ravens will be getting healthy at the right time, and they are playoff savvy. This is their fifth straight season in the playoffs, and as a group they have won five playoff games the last four seasons. We know how tough they are at home, Joe Flacco plays better at home, and they get a very young team coming to their building. When they needed a big win late in the year, they dominated the Giants at home in Week 16. They didn't play great all year long, but after reaching the AFC Championship last year and losing, it wasn't about the regular season for them. This year was about advancing in the postseason, and now the postseason has arrived, and they could be primed for big win to start the playoffs this Sunday.
The Pick: Indianapolis (+8) over BALTIMORE:
The Ravens will win this game outright, but the Colts have nothing to lose in this contest, and I think they will at least grab a backdoor cover late. Luck keeps coming and it is hard to fully put the Colts away. I look for the Ravens to grab an early lead and extend it into the third quarter. The Colts will make the margin closer than the game appeared, but look for the Ravens to advance to the Divisional Round for the fifth year in a row.
Final Score: Ravens-31 Colts-24
(5) Seattle at (4) Washington
A Case for the Seahawks: Other than the Broncos, has anyone been more dominant than the Seahawks the last part of the season? I really like Russell Wilson's moxie, and I don't think being on the road in the playoffs will affect him. You also have to love the ability of Marshawn Lynch to pound the Redskins defense all day long. When you break down the Seahawks, you have to start with the play of their defense. This will be very interesting to see how Seattle plays Robert Griffin III, Alfred Morris, and the Redskins Pistol formation. You have to like the Seahawks chances in the secondary of completely shutting down this Redskins passing attack. Is RG III healthy enough to make plays against this defense? Overall, the Seahawks are the better team.
A Case for the Redskins: When you have a combination like RG III and Alfred Morris, then you can put fear in the hearts of the Seattle defense. If the Redskins ran a more traditional offense, then maybe they would really struggle to move the ball on Seattle, but the style of play by Washington might confuse and frustrate the Seahawks all day long. RG III is a gamer, and you would expect him to make a few big plays in this game. Plus, don't forget the Redskins have climbed out of a 3-6 hole, won seven straight games, and head into the playoffs as one of the hottest teams in the NFL. Haven't we seen this formula work before for the hot team that gets into the playoffs late and then goes on a run?
The Pick: Seattle (-3) over WASHINGTON:
One road team has to win this game, so I'll go with the Seahawks. Either way this game is fascinating to me. I love the matchup between these two teams, but I envision the Seahawks defense making one more play than the Redskins offense. This game should be very close, but look for a Seattle stop late on RG III to seal the win on the road for Pete Carroll's squad.
Final Score: Seahawks-24 Washington-20
(6) Cincinnati at (3) Houston
A Case for the Bengals: The Bengals made a surprising move to get back to the playoffs for the second year in a row. They get a rematch in the same stadium one year later against the Texans, and this Bengals team is better than the team that the Texans pounded in last year's Wildcard game. We know about Geno Atkins and this Bengals defense, but the Bengals also possess one of the best offensive players on the field in this game in wideout A.J. Green. He could simply take over the game. Andy Dalton has some playoff experience after last year's game, so he should play a lot better in this year's contest. Plus, aren't the Bengals due for a playoff win? They haven't won a playoff game since 1990, and they are now making their fourth playoff appearance in seven years. Don't you think they are just about ready to finally get that long-awaited playoff win?
A Case for the Texans:
Although they have lost three out of their last four games after starting the season 11-1, the Texans are still a really good team. This team was the frontrunner for homefield advantage all year long. All of a sudden they are sitting here as the 3 seed, and they have to play in the first round of the playoffs. Also, a lot of the sentiment this week has been towards the Bengals going into Houston and beating the Texans. Did you forget that the Bengals beat the Steelers two weeks ago only because Ben Roethlisberger handed the game to them on a platter? Don't forget that the Bengals were having trouble with the Ravens backups in Week 17. Also, the Texans have a decided edge in the coaching department with Gary Kubiak over Marvin Lewis.
The Pick: HOUSTON (-4) over Cincinnati
As much as Houston has fallen apart the last two weeks, but I still think they are simply the better team in this matchup. They are at home, and I see them coming out with a really big first half and taking it to the Bengals early. Look for the Texans to win and send themselves to Foxborough for a date with Patriots in the Divisional Playoffs.
Final Score: Texans-26 Bengals-16
(6) Minnesota at (3) Green Bay
A Case for the Vikings: Two words: Adrian Peterson. What Peterson did this year was simply amazing. He showed that he can run all over the Packers defense. He did it in Lambeau earlier in the season, and he did in the season finale in Minnesota last week. We know the Vikings will get off the bus handing the ball to Peterson, and it will be up to the Packers to stop him. Also, no matter what happens in this game, this Vikings season is a success. From 3-13 to the playoffs is quite an accomplishment for this franchise, and they can play this game fast and loose-especially since they defeated the Packers just one week ago. The Vikes are playing with the proverbial "house money" in this game for sure.
A Case for the Packers: The Packers are at home, in Lambeau Field, on a Saturday night, in the playoffs against the Vikings. The Packers are getting Charles Woodson back this week, and I think that will certainly help out their secondary. Don't you think the Packers looked at Sunday's loss and said "Enjoy it Minnesota, but let's see what happens next week." Plus, don't forget about the Aaron Rodgers factor. You know how good he is, and he can be the difference maker. He is in the level of QBs that you really can't go against in the playoffs. Rodgers vs. Christian Ponder is a bit of mismatch in the playoffs in my opinion. Lastly, the Packers have been waiting to get back to the playoffs after their one and done debacle at home last year following their 15-1 season. They will be very fired up and ready to go for their playoff opener. I would expect their best game this Saturday night.
The Pick: GREEN BAY (-7) over Minnesota
The Packers will win this game outright, and my sneaky surprise for the game is that the Packers will find a way to slow down Adrian Peterson. Like they did in the 1994 Playoffs when they shut down Detroit's Barry Sanders, I could see their defense playing committed football and flying to the ball all night long to stop Peterson. It is hard to see the Pack losing this one.
Final Score: Packers-31 Vikings-17
(5) Indianapolis at (4) Baltimore
A Case for the Colts: There are three big factors for the Colts in this game. First, the whole Chuck Pagano and Chuckstrong storyline. We have seen before how an inspirational storyline can carry a team in the playoffs. The Pagano angle is something that has really taken a national appeal, and it just seems like it adds to the overall play of their football team. Sometimes you just can't mess with fate. Second, Andrew Luck could actually win this game on his own. Usually, it takes the great Quarterbacks some time to win their first playoff game. John Elway lost his first playoff game. Peyton Manning lost his too. Can't you see Luck finding a way to win this game late though? He will have no fear in this game, and he might be really dangerous as a result. Lastly, the Colts have nothing to lose in this game. They can go out, play loose, and play with nothing to lose because all the pressure will be on the Ravens to advance. Those three factors could all make the difference for the Colts on Sunday.
A Case for the Ravens: Ray Lewis will return for this game, and it will be a playoff game in front of the home crowd. Also, he just announced that he is retiring at the end of the playoffs. There is no way that Lewis is losing is final game of his career in the playoffs at home. The Ravens will be getting healthy at the right time, and they are playoff savvy. This is their fifth straight season in the playoffs, and as a group they have won five playoff games the last four seasons. We know how tough they are at home, Joe Flacco plays better at home, and they get a very young team coming to their building. When they needed a big win late in the year, they dominated the Giants at home in Week 16. They didn't play great all year long, but after reaching the AFC Championship last year and losing, it wasn't about the regular season for them. This year was about advancing in the postseason, and now the postseason has arrived, and they could be primed for big win to start the playoffs this Sunday.
The Pick: Indianapolis (+8) over BALTIMORE:
The Ravens will win this game outright, but the Colts have nothing to lose in this contest, and I think they will at least grab a backdoor cover late. Luck keeps coming and it is hard to fully put the Colts away. I look for the Ravens to grab an early lead and extend it into the third quarter. The Colts will make the margin closer than the game appeared, but look for the Ravens to advance to the Divisional Round for the fifth year in a row.
Final Score: Ravens-31 Colts-24
(5) Seattle at (4) Washington
A Case for the Seahawks: Other than the Broncos, has anyone been more dominant than the Seahawks the last part of the season? I really like Russell Wilson's moxie, and I don't think being on the road in the playoffs will affect him. You also have to love the ability of Marshawn Lynch to pound the Redskins defense all day long. When you break down the Seahawks, you have to start with the play of their defense. This will be very interesting to see how Seattle plays Robert Griffin III, Alfred Morris, and the Redskins Pistol formation. You have to like the Seahawks chances in the secondary of completely shutting down this Redskins passing attack. Is RG III healthy enough to make plays against this defense? Overall, the Seahawks are the better team.
A Case for the Redskins: When you have a combination like RG III and Alfred Morris, then you can put fear in the hearts of the Seattle defense. If the Redskins ran a more traditional offense, then maybe they would really struggle to move the ball on Seattle, but the style of play by Washington might confuse and frustrate the Seahawks all day long. RG III is a gamer, and you would expect him to make a few big plays in this game. Plus, don't forget the Redskins have climbed out of a 3-6 hole, won seven straight games, and head into the playoffs as one of the hottest teams in the NFL. Haven't we seen this formula work before for the hot team that gets into the playoffs late and then goes on a run?
The Pick: Seattle (-3) over WASHINGTON:
One road team has to win this game, so I'll go with the Seahawks. Either way this game is fascinating to me. I love the matchup between these two teams, but I envision the Seahawks defense making one more play than the Redskins offense. This game should be very close, but look for a Seattle stop late on RG III to seal the win on the road for Pete Carroll's squad.
Final Score: Seahawks-24 Washington-20
Broncos Year End Review
The moment the Broncos signed Peyton Manning in March the stakes were raised for this year's team. The expectation level increased, and if the Broncos missed the playoffs, then it would be a colossal failure. It has been a great season, and every week has be fun to watch. There are so many things and aspects to talk about with this Broncos season, so I figured a good question and answer session would be fitting to wrap up the 2012 regular season.
After all the talk and the hype surrounding Peyton Manning, did he exceed your expectations?
I felt all along that if Manning was healthy, then he would play well and the Broncos would be a playoff team. Manning was better than I thought he would be. His numbers were sensational. He finished with 400 completions on 583 attempts for a completion % of 68.6. He threw for 37 touchdowns with 11 interceptions and a QB rating of 105.8. The amazing thing about him was that he was able to figure out his limitations with his arm strength, adjusted with new receivers and a new offense, and reinvented himself. His ability to get the offense into the right play in so many occasions was a pleasure to watch week after week. It also seemed like he would start slow every game, and then just tear up the defense once he adjusted in the second half. He is such a joy to watch, and he cemented himself as one of the greatest Quarterbacks to ever play the game. It was a franchise altering move when they got him, and he has been better than advertised. What he did this year really can't be overstated.
What was your favorite Manning moment of the season?
I thought it was really cool how he came out and played that first game of the season against Pittsburgh. He started slow in the first half, but then he was unstoppable in the second half. He ended up throwing two touchdowns, and he was classic Manning as the game went on. The other great moment for me was when he brought the Broncos back from the 24-0 hole at San Diego. He was in the zone in the second half, and once he got hot, you could see that the Chargers had no answer. His touchdown pass to Brandon Stokely to give the Broncos a 28-24 lead in the fourth quarter was one of the best passes of the entire season in the NFL. Those two moments stand out for me.
How good is this Broncos offense with Manning?
He changed the Broncos from a run-oriented team to a no-huddle passing threat. They had two receivers finish with over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns. Their offense alone averaged just over 27 points per game, but the key to this offense was the fact that whenever they needed a big drive or points, Manning and the offense responded. It is probably not the best offense Manning directed, but it is certainly a solid one. Here are some of the offensive numbers the Broncos put up:
Points Scored: 481
Total Offense: 4th
WR Stats-
Demaryius Thomas: 94 receptions for 1434 yards and 10 touchdowns
Eric Decker: 85 receptions for 1064 yards and 12 touchdowns
Jacob Tamme: 52 receptions for 555 yards and 2 touchdowns
Brandon Stokley: 45 receptions for 544 yards and 5 touchdowns
Joel Dressen: 41 receptions for 356 yards and 5 touchdowns.
RB Stats-
Willis McGahee: 167 rushes for 731 yards and 4 touchdowns
Knowshon Moreno: 138 rushes for 525 yards and 4 touchdowns
Ronnie Hillman: 85 rushes for 330 yards and 1 touchdown
Who is the unsung hero of this Broncos offense?
You could make the case for the two Tight Ends, Dressen and Tamme, and you could make the case for Brandon Stokley as the slot receiver, but my vote is for Knowshon Moreno. Moreno actually scored the first Broncos touchdown of the season against Pittsburgh. He fumbled against Atlanta in the second quarter and he was inactive all the way until Week 12 against Kansas City. He ran for over 80 yards against KC that day, and he was solid every game since that point. The Broncos wanted to be balanced in the run game, and when Willis McGahee went down with a knee injury in Week 10, Moreno stepped up and has played really well. He averaged over 60 yards a game, and he is very valuable in the passing game. He has to play a role in the playoffs, and he has shown that he can carry the load when called upon.
Is this Broncos team really that good or is their record deceiving?
Any time you win 13 games then you have a very good season, but take a look at some of the numbers the Broncos put up this year:
-11 game winning streak
-#4 overall offense
-#2 overall defense
-Scored 30 or more points 11 times
-Converted 45.1% of third downs (3rd in the NFL)
-Gave up fewest sacks (21) in the NFL
-Recorded 52 sacks to tie for first in the NFL
-Tied for third in the league with 18 forced fumbles
-Led the NFL in third-down defense with a 30.6% success rate
-Swept the AFC West with a 6-0 record
-7-1 record at home
-6-2 record on the road
Where do you compare this Broncos teams to other teams in the past?
Obviously, the script still needs to be written for this team, but all year I compared this team to the 1997 Broncos. You had John Elway running the show for the '97 team, and that team was very dynamic on offense. The '97 team scored 30 or more points nine times, and they let their defense tee off with a big lead-especially at home. The '97 team had Terrell Davis, Shannon Sharpe, Ed McCaffrey, and Rod Smith at their skill positions. The '97 team also scored a lot in the return game and on defense just like the 2012 team. This team doesn't have the skill players around Manning that the '97 team had around Elway, but it is also a different era of football in the NFL. This team has to win a Super Bowl to finish off their status amongst the great Broncos teams of all time.
How good is this defense?
The most underrated aspect of this team has been the defense. Everyone talks about Manning, but if you watch the Broncos week after week, their defense has really improved, and they really stabilized this team. There were many times where the offense was not in sync, and the defense bailed them out on most of those occasions. Von Miller is the second best player on the team next to Manning, and he had a great season. He single handedly destroyed offensive gameplans, and at times was unblockable in the passing game and the running game. He finished with 18.5 sacks on the season. Here are some of the other defensive stats that are worth noting:
Sacks
Miller: 18.5
Elvis Dumervil: 11
Wesley Woodyard: 5.5
Derek Wolfe: 6
Interceptions
Wesley Woodyard: 3
Chris Harris: 3
Champ Bailey: 2
Tony Carter: 2
Jim Leonhard: 2
Plus, this defense was able to convert and score big touchdowns for them. From the first game of the season when Tracy Porter put the game away with an interception return on Ben Roethlisberger, the Broncos defense made the big play at the right time. Chris Harris added two interception returns, and Tony Carter added a huge fumble return against San Diego and an interception return against the Panthers. This defense really has a knack for shutting down the opposing offense in the red zone. When they need a stop, they usually get it. They also go through some stretches where their defense will just force a bunch of three and outs and give Manning and the offense and chance to score some points. Jack Del Rio has done a great job with this defense as the year went on, and they will be very tough if they get a lead at home.
What was the great moment for this defense this year?
I thought the interception return to seal the game against the Steelers by Tracy Porter really set the tone for the season. My other favorite moment was the two interception returns by Chris Harris. The first one sealed the comeback win over San Diego to make it 35-24, and the other one put the Raven game away and made it 17-0 at the half.
When the Broncos started 2-3, were you nervous about this team and this season?
No, I was really patient when the season started. I knew Denver had a very tough schedule early, and the second half of their schedule was weak, so I just wanted them to basically tread water through the first six weeks. Plus, I knew it was going to take some time for Peyton Manning to get going with his new team. The three Bronco losses were to Atlanta, Houston and New England. I wasn't really worried at all at that point, and you could see signs of Manning coming together with this offense. The only point I got really upset with this team was when they were down 24-0 at San Diego in Week 6. They played so bad in the first half, and they looked like a team that was in disarray, but once Manning got hot in the second half, everything clicked and it was all uphill from that point. After they got to 3-3, they really took off and dominated the teams that were inferior all year long.
What was your favorite game of the entire season?
There were so many great games from to choose one. The season opening win over Pittsburgh was great. The demolishing of the Saints to get to 4-3 was satisfying. The tough road win over Cincy to get to 5-3 was a really fun game. The division clinching win over Tampa Bay was a good one too. If I had to pick one that really defined this season, then it would have to be the comeback win over the Chargers in San Diego. At 2-3, Denver couldn't afford a loss at that point to the Chargers. They were down 24 points, on the road, and their season was at a crossroads. The way that Peyton Manning took the game over was just amazing. He made about four or five throws that were just amazing in that game. Their defense also took over in the second half, ravaged Philip Rivers, got two defensive touchdowns and put the game away. That game will be the most unforgettable game of the year for me.
Were you surprised where the NFL scheduled the Broncos to begin their playoff run?
I was a little surprised by what transpired. The Broncos open up the playoffs in the Divisional Round with a home game on Saturday January 12th at 4:30pm EST. CBS and the NFL had a bit of a dilemma with this scheduling situation. A couple of things to note here. First, if Houston had won and Denver was the #2 seed, then I think there was no doubt that both CBS and the NFL would have put Denver on Sunday 1/13 in the 4:30 pm slot because they would have gotten a great shot at getting New England at Denver in that position. They would have put Houston on Saturday at 4:30 pm, and left the Broncos to play on Sunday. When the Texans lost, it changed a lot of factors. CBS rotates the timeslots every year with FOX, so CBS didn't have the primetime window during the Divisional Round. This year, they have the 4:30pm slot on Saturday and the 4:30pm slot on Sunday. With Houston losing, it gave Denver and the Patriots the bye week and both of them were in play for the Divisional Round. The NFL and CBS both figured that New England would have a better matchup against someone like Houston than the matchup that Denver would have in their game, so they decided to go with the Pats on Sunday and the Broncos on Saturday. Throw in the bigger market factor with New England, and that is why the Broncos are playing on Saturday afternoon. The only way the NFL and CBS get burned is if the Colts beat Baltimore and Houston beats Cincy, then Indy will travel to Denver on Saturday and the Pats and Houston will battle on Sunday. The Indy-Denver game would be a better game storyline wise, and CBS would have loved to have that in the late window on Sunday. You have to figure that it will be tough for that situation to happen, so the league went with the most likely scenario. I don't mind Denver playing at that time on Saturday, but if they lose that game, then it will ruin the rest of my weekend.
Where does this regular season rank in your terms as a Broncos fan?
It is hard to rank this season because the playoffs haven't started yet, and so much will depend on how far the Broncos go to determine how great this season was overall. If they lose in the divisional round, then it is comparable to the 1996 team. If they lose in the AFC Championship then it is comparable to the 1991 season and the 2005 season. If they lose in the Super Bowl, then it is related to the 1986,87, and 89 teams. If it wins the Super Bowl. then it is in the same class as the 1997 and 1998 Broncos teams. Overall, this season has been very special so far. It has been amazing to watch Peyton Manning every week, and on paper this team has been as good as their record shows. As I stated earlier, it has been such a pleasure to watch week after week. Right now it probably ranks third behind the 1997 and 1998 Broncos as far as seasons go. It has been better than the '86,'87,'89,'91 and '96 seasons because this team is flat out better than those teams. It is better than 2005 because in that season we all waited for Jake Plummer to implode, and he didn't until we got all the way to the AFC Championship game against Pittsburgh. As great as last year was with Tim Tebow and Tebowmania, the Broncos were still only 8-8 and only got in the playoff because Oakland lost to San Diego in Week 17. As it stands now, this season ranks third behind the 1997 and 1998 seasons, but that ranking could change depending on what happens in the postseason.
After all the talk and the hype surrounding Peyton Manning, did he exceed your expectations?
I felt all along that if Manning was healthy, then he would play well and the Broncos would be a playoff team. Manning was better than I thought he would be. His numbers were sensational. He finished with 400 completions on 583 attempts for a completion % of 68.6. He threw for 37 touchdowns with 11 interceptions and a QB rating of 105.8. The amazing thing about him was that he was able to figure out his limitations with his arm strength, adjusted with new receivers and a new offense, and reinvented himself. His ability to get the offense into the right play in so many occasions was a pleasure to watch week after week. It also seemed like he would start slow every game, and then just tear up the defense once he adjusted in the second half. He is such a joy to watch, and he cemented himself as one of the greatest Quarterbacks to ever play the game. It was a franchise altering move when they got him, and he has been better than advertised. What he did this year really can't be overstated.
What was your favorite Manning moment of the season?
I thought it was really cool how he came out and played that first game of the season against Pittsburgh. He started slow in the first half, but then he was unstoppable in the second half. He ended up throwing two touchdowns, and he was classic Manning as the game went on. The other great moment for me was when he brought the Broncos back from the 24-0 hole at San Diego. He was in the zone in the second half, and once he got hot, you could see that the Chargers had no answer. His touchdown pass to Brandon Stokely to give the Broncos a 28-24 lead in the fourth quarter was one of the best passes of the entire season in the NFL. Those two moments stand out for me.
How good is this Broncos offense with Manning?
He changed the Broncos from a run-oriented team to a no-huddle passing threat. They had two receivers finish with over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns. Their offense alone averaged just over 27 points per game, but the key to this offense was the fact that whenever they needed a big drive or points, Manning and the offense responded. It is probably not the best offense Manning directed, but it is certainly a solid one. Here are some of the offensive numbers the Broncos put up:
Points Scored: 481
Total Offense: 4th
WR Stats-
Demaryius Thomas: 94 receptions for 1434 yards and 10 touchdowns
Eric Decker: 85 receptions for 1064 yards and 12 touchdowns
Jacob Tamme: 52 receptions for 555 yards and 2 touchdowns
Brandon Stokley: 45 receptions for 544 yards and 5 touchdowns
Joel Dressen: 41 receptions for 356 yards and 5 touchdowns.
RB Stats-
Willis McGahee: 167 rushes for 731 yards and 4 touchdowns
Knowshon Moreno: 138 rushes for 525 yards and 4 touchdowns
Ronnie Hillman: 85 rushes for 330 yards and 1 touchdown
Who is the unsung hero of this Broncos offense?
You could make the case for the two Tight Ends, Dressen and Tamme, and you could make the case for Brandon Stokley as the slot receiver, but my vote is for Knowshon Moreno. Moreno actually scored the first Broncos touchdown of the season against Pittsburgh. He fumbled against Atlanta in the second quarter and he was inactive all the way until Week 12 against Kansas City. He ran for over 80 yards against KC that day, and he was solid every game since that point. The Broncos wanted to be balanced in the run game, and when Willis McGahee went down with a knee injury in Week 10, Moreno stepped up and has played really well. He averaged over 60 yards a game, and he is very valuable in the passing game. He has to play a role in the playoffs, and he has shown that he can carry the load when called upon.
Is this Broncos team really that good or is their record deceiving?
Any time you win 13 games then you have a very good season, but take a look at some of the numbers the Broncos put up this year:
-11 game winning streak
-#4 overall offense
-#2 overall defense
-Scored 30 or more points 11 times
-Converted 45.1% of third downs (3rd in the NFL)
-Gave up fewest sacks (21) in the NFL
-Recorded 52 sacks to tie for first in the NFL
-Tied for third in the league with 18 forced fumbles
-Led the NFL in third-down defense with a 30.6% success rate
-Swept the AFC West with a 6-0 record
-7-1 record at home
-6-2 record on the road
Where do you compare this Broncos teams to other teams in the past?
Obviously, the script still needs to be written for this team, but all year I compared this team to the 1997 Broncos. You had John Elway running the show for the '97 team, and that team was very dynamic on offense. The '97 team scored 30 or more points nine times, and they let their defense tee off with a big lead-especially at home. The '97 team had Terrell Davis, Shannon Sharpe, Ed McCaffrey, and Rod Smith at their skill positions. The '97 team also scored a lot in the return game and on defense just like the 2012 team. This team doesn't have the skill players around Manning that the '97 team had around Elway, but it is also a different era of football in the NFL. This team has to win a Super Bowl to finish off their status amongst the great Broncos teams of all time.
How good is this defense?
The most underrated aspect of this team has been the defense. Everyone talks about Manning, but if you watch the Broncos week after week, their defense has really improved, and they really stabilized this team. There were many times where the offense was not in sync, and the defense bailed them out on most of those occasions. Von Miller is the second best player on the team next to Manning, and he had a great season. He single handedly destroyed offensive gameplans, and at times was unblockable in the passing game and the running game. He finished with 18.5 sacks on the season. Here are some of the other defensive stats that are worth noting:
Sacks
Miller: 18.5
Elvis Dumervil: 11
Wesley Woodyard: 5.5
Derek Wolfe: 6
Interceptions
Wesley Woodyard: 3
Chris Harris: 3
Champ Bailey: 2
Tony Carter: 2
Jim Leonhard: 2
Plus, this defense was able to convert and score big touchdowns for them. From the first game of the season when Tracy Porter put the game away with an interception return on Ben Roethlisberger, the Broncos defense made the big play at the right time. Chris Harris added two interception returns, and Tony Carter added a huge fumble return against San Diego and an interception return against the Panthers. This defense really has a knack for shutting down the opposing offense in the red zone. When they need a stop, they usually get it. They also go through some stretches where their defense will just force a bunch of three and outs and give Manning and the offense and chance to score some points. Jack Del Rio has done a great job with this defense as the year went on, and they will be very tough if they get a lead at home.
What was the great moment for this defense this year?
I thought the interception return to seal the game against the Steelers by Tracy Porter really set the tone for the season. My other favorite moment was the two interception returns by Chris Harris. The first one sealed the comeback win over San Diego to make it 35-24, and the other one put the Raven game away and made it 17-0 at the half.
When the Broncos started 2-3, were you nervous about this team and this season?
No, I was really patient when the season started. I knew Denver had a very tough schedule early, and the second half of their schedule was weak, so I just wanted them to basically tread water through the first six weeks. Plus, I knew it was going to take some time for Peyton Manning to get going with his new team. The three Bronco losses were to Atlanta, Houston and New England. I wasn't really worried at all at that point, and you could see signs of Manning coming together with this offense. The only point I got really upset with this team was when they were down 24-0 at San Diego in Week 6. They played so bad in the first half, and they looked like a team that was in disarray, but once Manning got hot in the second half, everything clicked and it was all uphill from that point. After they got to 3-3, they really took off and dominated the teams that were inferior all year long.
What was your favorite game of the entire season?
There were so many great games from to choose one. The season opening win over Pittsburgh was great. The demolishing of the Saints to get to 4-3 was satisfying. The tough road win over Cincy to get to 5-3 was a really fun game. The division clinching win over Tampa Bay was a good one too. If I had to pick one that really defined this season, then it would have to be the comeback win over the Chargers in San Diego. At 2-3, Denver couldn't afford a loss at that point to the Chargers. They were down 24 points, on the road, and their season was at a crossroads. The way that Peyton Manning took the game over was just amazing. He made about four or five throws that were just amazing in that game. Their defense also took over in the second half, ravaged Philip Rivers, got two defensive touchdowns and put the game away. That game will be the most unforgettable game of the year for me.
Were you surprised where the NFL scheduled the Broncos to begin their playoff run?
I was a little surprised by what transpired. The Broncos open up the playoffs in the Divisional Round with a home game on Saturday January 12th at 4:30pm EST. CBS and the NFL had a bit of a dilemma with this scheduling situation. A couple of things to note here. First, if Houston had won and Denver was the #2 seed, then I think there was no doubt that both CBS and the NFL would have put Denver on Sunday 1/13 in the 4:30 pm slot because they would have gotten a great shot at getting New England at Denver in that position. They would have put Houston on Saturday at 4:30 pm, and left the Broncos to play on Sunday. When the Texans lost, it changed a lot of factors. CBS rotates the timeslots every year with FOX, so CBS didn't have the primetime window during the Divisional Round. This year, they have the 4:30pm slot on Saturday and the 4:30pm slot on Sunday. With Houston losing, it gave Denver and the Patriots the bye week and both of them were in play for the Divisional Round. The NFL and CBS both figured that New England would have a better matchup against someone like Houston than the matchup that Denver would have in their game, so they decided to go with the Pats on Sunday and the Broncos on Saturday. Throw in the bigger market factor with New England, and that is why the Broncos are playing on Saturday afternoon. The only way the NFL and CBS get burned is if the Colts beat Baltimore and Houston beats Cincy, then Indy will travel to Denver on Saturday and the Pats and Houston will battle on Sunday. The Indy-Denver game would be a better game storyline wise, and CBS would have loved to have that in the late window on Sunday. You have to figure that it will be tough for that situation to happen, so the league went with the most likely scenario. I don't mind Denver playing at that time on Saturday, but if they lose that game, then it will ruin the rest of my weekend.
Where does this regular season rank in your terms as a Broncos fan?
It is hard to rank this season because the playoffs haven't started yet, and so much will depend on how far the Broncos go to determine how great this season was overall. If they lose in the divisional round, then it is comparable to the 1996 team. If they lose in the AFC Championship then it is comparable to the 1991 season and the 2005 season. If they lose in the Super Bowl, then it is related to the 1986,87, and 89 teams. If it wins the Super Bowl. then it is in the same class as the 1997 and 1998 Broncos teams. Overall, this season has been very special so far. It has been amazing to watch Peyton Manning every week, and on paper this team has been as good as their record shows. As I stated earlier, it has been such a pleasure to watch week after week. Right now it probably ranks third behind the 1997 and 1998 Broncos as far as seasons go. It has been better than the '86,'87,'89,'91 and '96 seasons because this team is flat out better than those teams. It is better than 2005 because in that season we all waited for Jake Plummer to implode, and he didn't until we got all the way to the AFC Championship game against Pittsburgh. As great as last year was with Tim Tebow and Tebowmania, the Broncos were still only 8-8 and only got in the playoff because Oakland lost to San Diego in Week 17. As it stands now, this season ranks third behind the 1997 and 1998 seasons, but that ranking could change depending on what happens in the postseason.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Broncos Dominate Chiefs End Up as #1 Seed in AFC
The road to the Super Bowl in the AFC runs through Mile High. It definitely has a good sound to it, and Broncos earned the #1 seed in the AFC and homefield advantage after they dismantled the Kansas City Chiefs 38-3 on Sunday. The Texans lost early to the Colts, and the Broncos were able to clinch the #1 seed with their victory over the Chiefs. This game was completely dominated by Denver from start to finish. The only reason that this game was competitive in the first half was because Ronnie Hillman fumbled deep in Chiefs territory, and Brandon Flowers returned the fumble all the way to the Denver 12 yard line. The Broncos defense stepped up and held the Chiefs to a field goal and a 7-3 lead, and they took care of business the rest of the way. Peyton Manning hit Eric Decker with an 11 yard touchdown pass to make it 14-3 in the second quarter. Decker followed that play with a gorgeous one-handed diving catch from Manning to make it 21-3 right before the half. In the third quarter, Demaryius Thomas got into the act of one-handed catches when he made a ridiculous one-handed grab in the back of the endzone to make it 28-3. A Lance Ball 1 yard run late in the third quarter made it 35-3. A final 42 yard field goal by Matt Prater closed out the scoring for the Broncos. The game could have been even worse than the margin of victory, but Denver pulled most of their key players in the fourth quarter. The Broncos defense got beat on a couple of runs early in the game, but they completely manhandled the Chiefs the rest of the way. They limited Brady Quinn to only 7 completions the entire game. The victory gives the Broncos a 13-3 record, 11 straight wins to end the season, and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. It was a perfect beatdown to end the season, and I will do a final year end review of the Broncos magical season towards the end of the week. Before we get to that, here are my quick thoughts and observations on the game.........
1) Manning completely carved up the Chiefs defense. He finished 23-29 for 304 yards and three touchdowns. He set the tone early when he hit Brandon Stokley on a bullet down the middle for a first down. He was sensational all day. The thing I liked the most was that he is really gaining a chemistry with Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker. Even when Thomas is covered, Manning puts the ball in the perfect spot and it is only where Thomas can get it. Manning is my choice for MVP, and continued his stellar play on Sunday.
2) Decker and Thomas both had big games. Decker finished with seven catches for 76 yards and two touchdowns. Thomas had seven receptions for 122 yards and one touchdown. They even added two spectacular one-handed catches. Their offense runs through them, and they completely dominated the Chiefs secondary.
3) The Broncos offense was superb all game long. They finished 7-12 on third down, compiled 488 yards of total offense and put up 38 points. They came out and scored on their first drive to make it 7-0.
3) The Broncos defense teed off on Brady Quinn and the Chiefs offense. I loved how the Broncos forced an early three-and-out to setup the Broncos first scoring drive. They did get beat on some big runs early on, but once again they stiffened up in their own end to force field goals. They were even better in the second half, and they added four sacks on the day-one by Von Miller. Quinn only completed seven passes the entire game. They limited the Chiefs to a 3rd down rate of 4-14 and only 119 yards of total offense.
4) The signature play on the defensive side of the ball during the game was when Kansas City was deep in Denver territory after the Hillman fumble. On 2nd down, Charles went up the middle and got completely stuffed by Kevin Vickerson. It basically stated that the Broncos were done given up yards on the ground, and the Chiefs were not going to score a touchdown.
5) It was pretty cool how Sunday played out. I thought the Colts would keep it close, but I figured the Texans would pull it out late. The Colts battled back and forth with the Texans, but finally put the game away late to win it 28-16, and all of sudden the Broncos had the #1 seed in their grasp by the time their game kicked off late. You could feel the excitement in the stadium knowing that the Broncos were one win away from grabbing homefield advantage. It made the game much more exciting than originally anticipated.
6) The Broncos get the first round bye, and they open up the playoffs on Saturday January 12th at 4:30pm EST against either the Bengals, Ravens, or Colts. It will be fun to watch all the playoff games next weekend knowing that the Broncos are waiting in the wings for their opponent in the Divisional round.
7) I'll address all of the aspects of this Broncos season later in the week, but this Broncos season definitely ranks up there as one of the best ever for me as a Broncos fan. This team reminds me of the 1997 Broncos who won Super Bowl XXXII. This team is not as good as the '98 Broncos, but they are definitely better than the 2005 Broncos. This team is very similar to the 1996-1997 Bronco teams.
1) Manning completely carved up the Chiefs defense. He finished 23-29 for 304 yards and three touchdowns. He set the tone early when he hit Brandon Stokley on a bullet down the middle for a first down. He was sensational all day. The thing I liked the most was that he is really gaining a chemistry with Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker. Even when Thomas is covered, Manning puts the ball in the perfect spot and it is only where Thomas can get it. Manning is my choice for MVP, and continued his stellar play on Sunday.
2) Decker and Thomas both had big games. Decker finished with seven catches for 76 yards and two touchdowns. Thomas had seven receptions for 122 yards and one touchdown. They even added two spectacular one-handed catches. Their offense runs through them, and they completely dominated the Chiefs secondary.
3) The Broncos offense was superb all game long. They finished 7-12 on third down, compiled 488 yards of total offense and put up 38 points. They came out and scored on their first drive to make it 7-0.
3) The Broncos defense teed off on Brady Quinn and the Chiefs offense. I loved how the Broncos forced an early three-and-out to setup the Broncos first scoring drive. They did get beat on some big runs early on, but once again they stiffened up in their own end to force field goals. They were even better in the second half, and they added four sacks on the day-one by Von Miller. Quinn only completed seven passes the entire game. They limited the Chiefs to a 3rd down rate of 4-14 and only 119 yards of total offense.
4) The signature play on the defensive side of the ball during the game was when Kansas City was deep in Denver territory after the Hillman fumble. On 2nd down, Charles went up the middle and got completely stuffed by Kevin Vickerson. It basically stated that the Broncos were done given up yards on the ground, and the Chiefs were not going to score a touchdown.
5) It was pretty cool how Sunday played out. I thought the Colts would keep it close, but I figured the Texans would pull it out late. The Colts battled back and forth with the Texans, but finally put the game away late to win it 28-16, and all of sudden the Broncos had the #1 seed in their grasp by the time their game kicked off late. You could feel the excitement in the stadium knowing that the Broncos were one win away from grabbing homefield advantage. It made the game much more exciting than originally anticipated.
6) The Broncos get the first round bye, and they open up the playoffs on Saturday January 12th at 4:30pm EST against either the Bengals, Ravens, or Colts. It will be fun to watch all the playoff games next weekend knowing that the Broncos are waiting in the wings for their opponent in the Divisional round.
7) I'll address all of the aspects of this Broncos season later in the week, but this Broncos season definitely ranks up there as one of the best ever for me as a Broncos fan. This team reminds me of the 1997 Broncos who won Super Bowl XXXII. This team is not as good as the '98 Broncos, but they are definitely better than the 2005 Broncos. This team is very similar to the 1996-1997 Bronco teams.
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