Broncos Fall to 8-5 with Loss at Indy

The Broncos bid to topple undefeated Indianapolis did not come to fruition as the Colts beat Denver 28-16 in Indy on Sunday. The Colts raced out to a 21-0 lead early into the second quarter. The Broncos rallied to make the game a 21-16 affair with just over nine minutes left in the fourth quarter. From there it was all Peyton Manning. He directed an 80 yard drive and nailed Dallas Clark with the game-clinching touchdown pass. The loss puts Denver at 8-5, but the Broncos still hold on to one of the wild card spots in the AFC. Here are some of my game points regarding Sunday's game against Indy.....

1) I don't understand all of the hoopla surrounding Josh McDaniels' decision to defer to the second half and give Peyton Manning the ball to start the game. The Broncos even had an opportunity to take advantage of that decision because they were trailing 21-7 with the ball at the end of the half, and they received the ball first in the second half. The Broncos failed to convert those opportunities into points. If they did, they might have won this game.

2) The Broncos offense has been inconsistent all season long, and it will prevent them from beating a good team on the road or in the playoffs. The Broncos moved the ball up and down the field on the Colts, but the same miscues keep stalling drives. Penalties, short-yardage issues, a turnover, and a missed field goal really killed Denver in the second half. Their offense really had the chance to win this game, and they weren't able to capitalize.

3) Kudos to Brandon Marshall for breaking the NFL single game record for receptions. Marshall's 21 catches were amazing, and it seemed like he was open every throw. Now, please pay the man this offseason, and give him an offer more than someone like Roddy White in Atlanta got.

4) Tip your cap to the Broncos defense. They picked off Manning three times and really kept him and the Colts offense out of rhythm from the beginning of the second quarter until the last drive of the game in the fourth quarter. If the Bronco defense can play like this, especially their secondary, they will have a very good chance of making the playoffs.

5) Josh McDaniels didn't have his best day calling a football game. When you play Indy, you have to take chances and play for touchdowns and not field goals. You have to call plays with a gambler mentality- high risk and high reward. McD failed to do that. Twice he was conservative on third down calls the first three series of the game. At that point the Broncos were down 21-0. Also, his play calling on short-yardage situations was awful. It was obvious that they weren't going to be able to run the ball in those key moments on the Colts defense, and he still called runs up the middle, and Indy stuffed it every time.

6) Denver now stands at 8-5. Three games left and two of those three games are at home against Oakland and Kansas City. If they can't beat the Raiders and Chiefs at home, then they don't deserve to make the playoffs.