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Broncos stand out as NFL’s most baffling team
By David Ramsey / The Gazette
Monday, December 1, 2008
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — It’s no contest. The Denver Broncos are the most baffling team in the NFL.
How do you explain a team that loses to the pitiful Oakland Raiders at home one week and then invades Jersey to trash the powerful New York Jets the next?
You don’t. This team is beyond explanation, beyond comprehension, beyond the beyond.
No doubt, the Broncos’ 34-17 pounding of the Jets was impressive. Brett Favre and his buddies had been mauling opponents, winning seven of eight while growing into a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
During November, the Jets towered as the NFL’s hottest team with wins at New England and Tennessee. Fans were even talking about the Jets’ first journey to the Super Bowl since Joe Namath led the march to the 1969 NFL title.
Meanwhile, the Broncos found ways to lose, at home, to Miami and Oakland. In Colorado, fans were wondering how their heroes had lost their way.
You can argue, with all kinds of weighty facts, the Broncos will get crushed in the opening round of the playoffs.
This is, after all, a team that has played as poorly as any team in the NFL. Losses to the Patriots and, especially, the Raiders offered football at its most gruesome.
Yet you can also argue this team could stun the football nation in the playoffs.
The Broncos have dropped Tampa Bay, Atlanta and the Jets. Champ Bailey will soon return, and Denver rises to challenges on the road.
"I guess we play better against the top teams," said Broncos cornerback Dre Bly. "We have to find a way to be more balanced."
The Broncos head into the stretch run of the season blessed with a relaxing, kick-back scenario. Be sure to thank Norv Turner for the Broncos’ peace-of-mind.
Turner coaches the San Diego Chargers, or at least he’ll be coaching them for the next few days, or maybe hours.
The Chargers waved goodbye to playoff hopes Sunday with a loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Denver enjoys a three-game lead with four games left in the regular season.
The Broncos haven’t been brilliant, but it doesn’t matter. They have all but clinched an AFC West title.
On Sunday, a day so miserable it inspired legions of Jets fans to stay home, the Broncos were steady and even spectacular.
Jay Cutler, who thrives in fearsome conditions, easily won his quarterback duel with Favre.
Last week against Oakland, Cutler was a whining, erratic mess. Against the Jets, he took his time, searching through the rain for open receivers.
Cutler is the true face of these Broncos. Like his team, when he’s on, he’s really on. And when he’s off, he’s awful.
Tony Dungy, coach of the Indianapolis Colts, could be traveling to Denver for the first round of the playoffs. If he watches tape of Cutler dissecting the Jets defense, Dungy’s heart will fill with fear.
"We’re a young team, and we’ve had a few ups and downs," Cutler said. "November and December are when you want to start to get it together."
At the dawn of December, the Broncos look ultra-together. Of course, that might mean the Broncos will lose by 28 to the lowly Kansas City Chiefs. Inconsistency defines this team.
A few seconds after the game ended, Favre and Cutler chatted on the field. Favre is one of the top half-dozen quarterbacks in NFL history. Cutler is great one week, lousy the next.
"He was the better man tonight," Favre said.
Cutler trotted away from one of his football heroes, eager to escape the rain. He wanted to join his utterly unpredictable teammates.
CanDB's comments:
I really don't mind the reviews, which in this case, have some merit. What I really like however is the fear other playoff teams will have when facing a team like the Broncos, who may be inconsistent this year, but also bring with them the potential and definite capability of beating anyone, and I dig that about this team!!!!
Broncos stand out as NFL’s most baffling team
By David Ramsey / The Gazette
Monday, December 1, 2008
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — It’s no contest. The Denver Broncos are the most baffling team in the NFL.
How do you explain a team that loses to the pitiful Oakland Raiders at home one week and then invades Jersey to trash the powerful New York Jets the next?
You don’t. This team is beyond explanation, beyond comprehension, beyond the beyond.
No doubt, the Broncos’ 34-17 pounding of the Jets was impressive. Brett Favre and his buddies had been mauling opponents, winning seven of eight while growing into a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
During November, the Jets towered as the NFL’s hottest team with wins at New England and Tennessee. Fans were even talking about the Jets’ first journey to the Super Bowl since Joe Namath led the march to the 1969 NFL title.
Meanwhile, the Broncos found ways to lose, at home, to Miami and Oakland. In Colorado, fans were wondering how their heroes had lost their way.
You can argue, with all kinds of weighty facts, the Broncos will get crushed in the opening round of the playoffs.
This is, after all, a team that has played as poorly as any team in the NFL. Losses to the Patriots and, especially, the Raiders offered football at its most gruesome.
Yet you can also argue this team could stun the football nation in the playoffs.
The Broncos have dropped Tampa Bay, Atlanta and the Jets. Champ Bailey will soon return, and Denver rises to challenges on the road.
"I guess we play better against the top teams," said Broncos cornerback Dre Bly. "We have to find a way to be more balanced."
The Broncos head into the stretch run of the season blessed with a relaxing, kick-back scenario. Be sure to thank Norv Turner for the Broncos’ peace-of-mind.
Turner coaches the San Diego Chargers, or at least he’ll be coaching them for the next few days, or maybe hours.
The Chargers waved goodbye to playoff hopes Sunday with a loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Denver enjoys a three-game lead with four games left in the regular season.
The Broncos haven’t been brilliant, but it doesn’t matter. They have all but clinched an AFC West title.
On Sunday, a day so miserable it inspired legions of Jets fans to stay home, the Broncos were steady and even spectacular.
Jay Cutler, who thrives in fearsome conditions, easily won his quarterback duel with Favre.
Last week against Oakland, Cutler was a whining, erratic mess. Against the Jets, he took his time, searching through the rain for open receivers.
Cutler is the true face of these Broncos. Like his team, when he’s on, he’s really on. And when he’s off, he’s awful.
Tony Dungy, coach of the Indianapolis Colts, could be traveling to Denver for the first round of the playoffs. If he watches tape of Cutler dissecting the Jets defense, Dungy’s heart will fill with fear.
"We’re a young team, and we’ve had a few ups and downs," Cutler said. "November and December are when you want to start to get it together."
At the dawn of December, the Broncos look ultra-together. Of course, that might mean the Broncos will lose by 28 to the lowly Kansas City Chiefs. Inconsistency defines this team.
A few seconds after the game ended, Favre and Cutler chatted on the field. Favre is one of the top half-dozen quarterbacks in NFL history. Cutler is great one week, lousy the next.
"He was the better man tonight," Favre said.
Cutler trotted away from one of his football heroes, eager to escape the rain. He wanted to join his utterly unpredictable teammates.
CanDB's comments:
I really don't mind the reviews, which in this case, have some merit. What I really like however is the fear other playoff teams will have when facing a team like the Broncos, who may be inconsistent this year, but also bring with them the potential and definite capability of beating anyone, and I dig that about this team!!!!
) is quite low, especially when compared to his average rating when we win. Like they say, Jay is a major contributor in our performances...one way or the other.
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