2013 Denver Broncos Season Week 15


Week 15: Chargers 27, Broncos 20
Season Record: 11-3 (7-1 Home)
Key Play: In the fourth quarter, trailing 24-17, Peyton Manning sought to rally the Broncos. After beginning backed up deep in their own territory, the Broncos hit some passes and moved toward mid-field. On first down at the 33, Manning stepped up and was hit by Chargers' defensive lineman Corey Liuget as he threw, causing the pass to be tipped and intercepted by Thomas Keiser. That resulted in a field goal that salted the game away.

Recap: Good teams take care of their business. They win division games. They win games they're supposed to win. And they win at home. Before Thursday night, the Broncos had played like a good team. In his two years with the Broncos, Manning had been perfect against the AFC West. In addition, the team had won 13 straight regular season games at Mile High. All that came to a crashing halt as the Chargers ran the ball, controlled the clock, and frustrated the Broncos. That combined with ill-timed defensive penalties that extended drives and the Broncos' lack of big plays, and the team just couldn't perform. It was the worst offensive performance of the season. But all that is relative. The Broncos scored 20 points, despite the lack of a run game, and little time of possession. At some point the Broncos were going to have to win a tight game thanks to the defense. A Super Bowl contender can't rely on always outscoring people — that was the problem that reared it's head for the 2007 Patriots at the worst possible moment. The Broncos haven't been able to overcome some of its weaknesses, and it showed on Thursday night. The Broncos could still be the top seed in the AFC, but that won't matter if the team can't improve on its weaknesses.

Game Balls:
* Andre Caldwell. Absent Wes Welker, who was out with a concussion, Caldwell stepped up. He had several big catches for 59 yards and a touchdown. He was a big part of the offense, and really made clutch plays for the Broncos.

* Shaun Phillips. Against his former team, Phillips got a sack for the Broncos — his 10th of the season. The Broncos have struggled to rush the passer, but Phillips has been a good signing and a rare bright spot.


Areas of Concern:
* Defensive Play. The Broncos' defense continues to struggle. The team struggles to get a pass rush. With the injuries up front to Kevin Vickerson and Derek Wolfe, the team has struggled to stop the run too. That led to the Chargers dominating time of possession, which is the biggest weapon a team can have in trying to stop Peyton Manning. The defense doesn't make enough big plays, force enough turnovers, or get enough stops. That has to improve if Denver is to win in the playoffs.

* Special Teams. I still have big questions about the Broncos' special teams. The team didn't give up any big returns on Thursday, but there is a lack of production and explosiveness here. Trindon Holliday had a few nice kick returns, but he's lost some of the coaches confidence, as evidenced by Eric Decker going back on punt returns late in the game.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Burial a courtroom drama with heart

Image
Willie Gary (Jamie Foxx) is a brash trial lawyer who is good at rallying a jury to his cause. Jeremiah O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones) is a quiet grandfather who is trying to ensure the business his family built remains viable after he’s gone. These two don’t appear to have much in common on the surface. But when they’re brought together by young lawyer Hal Dockins (Mamoudou Athie) brings them together, a connection is formed over their shared background of working hard to become self-made men. And it turned out that Willie was just who Jerry needed in his corner to win the fight of his life. The new Prime Video film The Burial, which opened in theaters October 6 and started streaming October 13, captures that trial against the Loewen Group that changed the course of their lives. The film is based on the true story and covers the trial, but more importantly captures the relationship between the men. The film plays out like a traditional courtroom drama. Foxx is solid as Willie Gary, while Ju
Read more

Broncos Draft Targets

Image
  The NFL Draft is just a few days away. On April 25, the Denver Broncos will head into the draft in the midst of something of a rebuild. In the draft, the Broncos have the No. 12 pick in Round 1, then have a Third Round Pick, Fourth Round Pick, three Fifth Round Picks, a Sixth Round Pick, and a Seventh Round Pick. So, what might they be targeting? Let's dive in and look at possible positions. Quarterback : The team clearly needs a long-term quarterback. Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci are there but the team could certainly use someone else. Could they move up for Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy? Yes, they could. Will the take Bo Nix at 12? It's possible. Or will the Broncos wait until next off-season to make a move? Anything is in play for the Broncos in 2024, but quarterback is surely a need. Tight End: The team brought back Adam Trautman and still has Greg Dulcich, but it's still a need. Dulcich hasn't been able to get on the field and Trautman hasn't been great. Co
Read more

Favorite Westerns, No. 43

Image
  Do you like a good Western? It's a classic genre in film and this year I've decided to look at some of my favorite Westerns. So, join me each Friday as I count down my favorite Westerns from No. 50 to No. 1. Rooster Cogburn : [ watching Mattie ford the river hanging on the back of her horse] By God. She reminds me of me. True Grit (1969) Starring : John Wayne, Kim Darby, Glen Campbell, Robert Duvall, and Dennis Hopper Director : Henry Hathaway About: This is the third straight week with a film from Wayne. As you might guess, we're not done. As I've mentioned, he sets a standard for the genre. Here, we seen him bring to life an iconic character. This one is based on a novel, and it has endured. He's great as Rooster Cogburn, so good that he got a sequel in the same character. But this is a later film in his career. This is a different, more grizzled Wayne. He's still quite good and this is a film that really has stood the test of time. It's not the only ve
Read more