Broncos Pound Browns Get 10th Straight Win

The Broncos handled their business once again on Sunday as they handled the Browns easily at Sports Authority Field at Mile High with a dominating 34-12 win to improve to 12-3. The Broncos have now won 10 straight games, and they are still alive for the #1 seed in the AFC. This game featured a fast start for the Broncos. Peyton Manning hit Demaryius Thomas on a beautiful 22 yard touchdown pass to give the Broncos an early 7-0 lead. After the Browns moved the ball effectively enough to get a field goal and cut the lead to 7-3, but Manning and the Broncos answered once again when he hooked up with Eric Decker for a 10 yard touchdown pass to make it 14-3. At that point, the Broncos pretty much had the game at hand. You never really felt like the Broncos were in trouble the rest of the way. An endzone interception of Peyton Manning and a 53 yard field goal by Phil Dawson cut the lead to 14-6. The Broncos came back and answered with a Manning to Decker on an 8 yard touchdown hookup to give the Broncos a 21-6. Add a couple of Matt Prater field goals sandwiched by a Jacob Hester touchdown run put this game away for good in the fourth quarter. It was another dominating win for the Broncos over an inferior opponent at home and combine that with the fact that Houston lost to Minnesota, and Denver has a chance at the number 1 seed in the AFC. It would be a real nice post-Christmas gift if the Broncos were able to somehow earn that number 1 seed and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. Here are my thoughts and observations from the victory over Cleveland:

1) The Broncos offense has had trouble starting off games, but this week was a perfect start for Peyton Manning and the offensive unit. Two drives and two touchdowns. It was 14-3 right off the bat, and the Browns could never catch up. That is how the Broncos need to start these games at home-especially when they hit the playoffs next month.

2) Manning was really sensational on Sunday. His numbers were fantastic. He finished 30-43 with 339 yards and 2 touchdowns. He did have an interception in the endzone in the second quarter, but that was pretty much the only blemish on his day. He spread the ball around once again and his two big weapons, Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker, each caught scoring passes. More importantly, the Broncos passing game looked crisp and their weren't many mistakes.

3) Knowshon Moreno continued his solid play replacing Willis McGahee. Moreno added 78 yards rushing on 22 carries. He also caught five passes for 49 yards. Moreno continues to run hard every week and gets a lot of tough yards. He is not going to break off many big runs, but his efficient running has really helped the balance on their offense.

4) Once the Broncos grabbed that 14-3 lead, there was no way the Browns were coming back against this Broncos defense. After giving up an early field goal, the defense held the Browns to 3-12 on third down conversions, and they added 6 sacks. Elvis Dumervil got 2 sacks, and Von Miller and Wesley Woodyard both added 1.5 sacks. Give the Broncos defense a lead, and they will tee off on an offense-especially at home.

5) In what has become a weekly occurrence, Trindon Holliday fumbled another punt return. Fortunately, the Broncos were able to recover. His replacement, Jim Leonhard, also fumbled a punt return, but he was able to recover it as well. This has been a major problem for the Broncos, and I still feel that Holliday's fumbling issues will somehow come back to haunt the Broncos in a big spot in the playoffs.

6) It feels like a long time ago that the Broncos couldn't finish off seasons in December. Once you add Peyton Manning, then all of those late season collapses goes out the window.

7) The Broncos finish off the regular season with a home game against Kansas City in Week 17. If the Broncos win, then they are assured of at least a first round bye and the 2 seed. If they win and Houston loses, then Denver gets the 1 seed. If the Broncos lose, and Houston and New England win, then the Broncos are the 3 seed, and they will host the Bengals on Wild Card weekend. The Broncos can certainly use the bye in the first round of the playoffs, so they will be playing all-out this last game. There will also be some scoreboard watching because Houston plays Indy early and New England plays Miami at the same time the Broncos play the Chiefs.