Broncos Dismantle Eagles To Improve to 4-0

Denver’s 52-20 win over the Eagles on Sunday was a full display of a dominant performance on all three levels. The game also featured another ridiculously brilliant performance by Peyton Manning. The Broncos jumped out to a 14-3 lead, watched the Eagles fight back to make it a 14-13 game, and then they went into overdrive and blew the doors off the Eagles the rest of way. After Knowshon Moreno scored to make it 21-13 near the end of the first half, the Broncos scored on three straight 3^rd quarter possessions (Two TD passes from Manning to Demaryius Thomas and one to Wes Welker) to turn the game into a 42-13 rout. A blocked punt for a touchdown from Steven Johnson gave Denver a 49-13 lead, and Matt Prater added the final three points for a franchise record 52 and the Broncos improved to 4-0 in the process. There are so many mind-blowing stats about Denver’s run with Peyton Manning, but I will save them for my Friday column with Week 4 picks. Here are my quick thoughts and observations on this week’s game….

1) What can you say about Peyton Manning? Final numbers: 28-34 for 327 yards with 4 touchdowns and 0 Interceptions. He has 16 touchdown passes and no picks in his first four games this year. He is off to arguably the best start any QB has had in a season…..ever. Manning is so brilliant that he makes it looks easy. His first drive was beautiful with a 6-yard hookup to Wes Welker to give Denver an early lead. He really didn’t have the ball in the 2^nd quarter, but when he did he was able to move the ball down the field and set up Moreno’s 4-yard run to make it 21-13. His throw to Eric Decker for 52 yards was a thing of beauty and put many questions about his arm strength to rest. The second half was a clinic once again for the fourth straight game. When everything works, it looks amazing for an offense, and Manning and the Broncos are on that level right now.

2) Another impressive effort by Knowshon Moreno this week. He rushed for 78 yards on 12 carries with a touchdown. The thing that impressed me with Moreno is that he ran really hard. They will need a running game down the stretch, so Moreno needs to continue to run the ball the well.

3) Another week and another impressive passing performance with the receivers. Eric Decker had 5 catches for 88 yards, Demaryius Thomas had 9 catches for 86 yards and 2 touchdowns, and Wes Welker add 7 receptions for 76 yards and 2 touchdowns. Manning continues to spread the ball around to this trio, and every week it seems like each guy makes his own significant contribution. By the way, Demaryius Thomas is a beast in the redone.

4) The Denver defense was once again impressive as well. They got 3 sacks: 1 each by Shaun Phillips and Derek Wolfe, and Wesley Woodyard and Robert Ayers each added a half a sack. They also added 5 total tackles for a loss. They only time they seemed to struggle was in the 2nd quarter when they were on the field for most of the time because of the Trindon Holliday kickoff return for a touchdown.

5) Speaking of Holliday, this guy is really amazing. Not only do the Broncos have a great offense, but their return game is led by arguably the best return man in the sport right now. Holliday took a kickoff back 105 yards for a touchdown to give Denver a 14-3 lead in the 2nd quarter. Everytime he touches the ball it is the possibility for a big play. He is must watch television when he gets the ball. Also, Steven Johnson added a blocked punt and return for a touchdown. One thing that stands out is that the Broncos special teams have been really solid the last two years.

6) The Broncos are flying right now and they look like the best team in the NFL. There will be some ups and downs, and they will run into some adversity at some point, but let's face it, this team in loaded. Manning is playing some of the best ball of his career, and the team has a lot of really good players in a lot of key positions. Plus, Champ Bailey and Von Miller still are due to return this year. It has been a great start for the Broncos, and I just will keep on enjoying this run each and every week.