Broncos Rally Past Titans and Clinch Playoff Berth

What a weird game for the Broncos on Sunday. Denver defeated the Titans 51-28 at home to clinch a playoff berth for the third straight season. It was certainly an up and down game. It was a frigid and cold day in Denver, and it was very similar to the type of day Denver had when they hosted the Ravens in the playoffs last year. John Fox returned from his heart surgery, and he proceeded to go for it three different times on offense. That was very un-Fox like to say the least. Also, Peyton Manning basically told all the reporters to shove it regarding his ability to play in cold weather. The Broncos fell down early again for the second straight week, and once again they were able to rally. The officials took away two Denver touchdowns after reviewing them, and I still think both were scores. Finally, the Broncos couldn't put the Titans away until late in the game even though Denver racked up over 550 yards of offense and ran 90 plays. In any event, the Broncos got the win and now they move closer to getting the division title and a bye in the playoffs.

Here are my quick thoughts and observations about the game....

1) Broncos defense continues to give up big plays. I know that they are banged up in certain spots, but this is the second straight week that they dug themselves a hole. Kayvon Webster continues to get picked on, and he was again taken to school on the Titans first drive which resulted in an early 7-0 lead.

2) Great response by the Broncos offense. Manning leads them right back down the field as they convert two 4th down plays. Sweet pick play as Manning hits Wes Welker for a 1 yard touchdown and a 7-7 tie.

3) For the second straight week, the Broncos give up a big return on a kickoff. This time, Leon Washington almost returns one the distance, and Chris Johnson scores on the next play for a 14-7 Titans lead. Shonn Greene busted another run early in the 2nd quarter, and the Broncos were suddenly down 21-10. I think John Fox should have went for it on 4th and 3 from the Titans 40, but he elected to punt and pin them deep. Unfortunately, it didn't work out, and the Titans went right down the field on the Broncos.

4) From that point on, the Broncos offense completed dominated the game. Montee Ball and Knowshon Moreno carried the load the next couple of series with big runs. You could make a case that outside of Manning, Moreno might be team's offensive MVP. He is definitely the heart and soul of this team right now.

5) Beautiful throw and catch from Peyton to Julius Thomas on a fade route for an 8-yard score to make it 21-17 late in the 2nd quarter.

6) Key sequence in the game near the end of the half: Denver's defense forces a 3 and out, and the Broncos get the ball back right before the half. Manning hit Jacob Tamme with a small gain, but Tamme was able to get out of bounds and set up Matt Prater for a 64-yard field goal attempt right before the half ended. Congratulations to Matt Prater as he entered the record books with the record longest field goal after hitting a 64 yarder before the half. Most importantly, it cut the Titans lead to 21-20 and Denver was getting the ball back to start the 2nd half.

7) What a great throw by Manning to Demaryius Thomas in the back of the endzone to give Denver a 27-21 lead. It was a bullet and it was perfectly timed.

8) Von Miller reasserted himself this week, and he forced a fumble of Ryan Fitzpatrick on the next series. Terrence Knighton actually caught the ball in mid-air and advanced it a few yards. Big turnover by the Broncos defense.

9) Once again Denver leaned on Ball and Moreno on the next drive, and it was capped off by Moreno's  1-yard touchdown run to give Denver a 34-21 lead.

10) You simply can't trust this Denver defense. The Titans come right back and hit a 41-yard bomb to Justin Hunter to cut the Denver lead to 34-28. Omar Bolden got sucked up from the safety spot on that play. My question is: Why the fuck is Bolden out there to begin with?

11) Jacob Tamme has stepped up the last three weeks, and he has made some big catches. He did it again in the second half this week. Julius Thomas was back in the lineup, and he finished with 5 catches and 35 yards with a touchdown, but he still doesn't look healthy.

12) After the 3rd quarter, Denver had over 30 minutes in time of possession, and they amassed 366 yards.

13) Sick hit by Nate Irving on the ensuing kickoff with Denver up 37-28.

14) Great strip by Miller on Chris Johnson early in the 4th. Broncos recovered at the Titans 32. That was a another huge sequence in the game.

15) The play of the day was Peyton Manning's perfect 20-yard strike to Eric Decker to make it 44-28. Decker ran a post-corner-post route, and Manning threw it with velocity and perfect timing. Another just beautiful throw by Manning. He killed the Titans all day on the seams and verticals down the middle of the field.

16) I loved the Broncos attacking style even up 44-28 late in the game. They went for it on 4th down again and Moreno converted. That play set up Ball's 5-yard touchdown run to effectively end the game and put Denver up 51-28.

17) The offense was on fire once again. Forget about the critics of Manning in cold weather because he was unstoppable. He finished 39-59 for 397 yards and 4 touchdowns. It was like he was trying to prove a point to everyone out there. This was a huge step for this offense to play that well in those frigid conditions.

18) Another big outing for many of the players on that Broncos offense. They ran 90 plays and accumulated 551 total yards. Decker finished with 8 receptions for 117 yards and 1 touchdown. Demaryius Thomas had 7 catches for 88 yards and 1 touchdown, and Wes Welker had 5 catches for 61 yards and a touchdown before he left the game with another concussion. Moreno had 14 carries for 78 yards and a touchdown, and Ball had 15 carries for 77 yards and a touchdown. On defense, Von Miller led the way  one sack, one tackle for loss and two forced fumbles.

19) Denver clinched a playoff berth for the third straight season, and they one step closer to winning the AFC West and getting a first-round bye. There is a lot left for them to do to get there, and it won't be easy as San Diego comes to town on Thursday night.