The Official Denver Broncos Thread

#176
#176
They also had a tough schedule last year (predicted and actual). Didn't really matter. There's enough turnover and parity in the NFL where **** like that either isn't predictable or doesn't matter.
 
#177
#177
13. Peyton Manning

I wanted to leave him off, I fully expected to leave him off, and yet I couldn't leave him off. Even the chance of him morphing back into the old Manning has to be this season's most compelling football story. (Sorry, Every Network Trying To Cram The Jets' Backup QB Down Our Throats.)1 In my West Coast fantasy auction on Tuesday night, I threw Manning out for two bucks and the room went silent — nobody knew what to expect. He ended up going for eight bucks. Was it a steal? Was it like setting eight bucks on fire? Nobody knew.

The case against Manning's 2012 revival: Shouldn't we worry that he's throwing the ball just about as well as he did two seasons ago, before spinal fusion surgery nearly ended his career … you know, when he submitted his worst season in 12 years and secretly wasn't that good? Or that a man of routine — someone who spent his entire career in the same city, with a stable supporting cast and coaching system, with a weatherproof dome for home games — suddenly got uprooted to a West Coast team that plays outdoors? Or that there's a big difference between Marvin Harrison in his prime, Reggie Wayne in his prime … and Eric "Why the Hell Are You Taking Me So High In Your Fantasy Draft" Decker? Or that no 35-and-over QB truly carried a contender's offense with one exception (Brett Favre with the 2010 Vikings, who was playing indoors with Adrian Peterson flanking him), but Manning would genuinely have to carry the 2012 Broncos for them to accomplish anything? Or that even Manning, at one point, believed there wasn't any way he could actually make it back?

If Manning does regain his old form (or most of it), that would have to rank among the most incredible comebacks in recent sports history. Judy Battista's recent story about him banged that point home: Not only was Manning struggling to throw a basic spiral, his shame led him to play secret games of catch with college friends who weren't even football players. The guy had to think he was done, right? So it's hard not to get swept up in this comeback. I include myself — a die-hard Pats fan and Brady Kool-Aid drinker who sports-hated the Manning brothers so much at one point that I even started rooting against Danieal Manning just out of principle. I missed rooting against Peyton last year, and if you want to know the truth, I missed gambling on him watching him. Was there a surer thing in football than Peyton eviscerating some patsy on a Monday night?

So it's nice to have him back. Just don't let it shift your attention away from Denver's defense (definitely mediocre, possibly lousy), running game (shaky, to say the least) and undeniable potential for regression (severe considering how many victories Tebow pulled out from his sphincter last season). The 2012 Broncos aren't as good as the 2011 Broncos. Which means they need 2006 Manning, not 2010 Manning, just to make the playoffs. If he pulls it off, the "Greatest QB of All Time" conversation will have shifted again. I can't see it happening, but somehow, a 36-year-old QB with a fused spine and a mediocre supporting cast can't be totally disregarded, either. That's all you need to know about the Peyton Manning era.
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From Bill Simmon's Friday article.

The top signal callers in the NFL, plus Week 1 picks - Grantland

I'm not sure you could be more wrong in 500 words. I know it's only been one game. But nothing from training camp or preseason supports any of this. And he's not alone. 90% of analysts were spewing the same crap. Sports journalism has to be the biggest collection of idiot group think anywhere.

And Decker and Thomas are probably more athletically gifted than any WR the Colts ever had. And the last paragraph is a doozie. The front 7 is pretty good, and Tracy Porter over Goodman might be the biggest upgrade of the offseason. Von is healthy again. And McGahee is fine. Don't be cute, get the yards you can...Exactly what you want from a passing offense. And Tebow pulling crap out of his sphincter is a plus, considering we no longer have to hold teams to 14 points to have to pull said crap out.
 
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#178
#178
Wow, I think that article lowered my IQ. What nonsense. No way is the 2011 team better than the 2012 squad. Of course it's early, but just having Manning should be good for at least a couple of wins and IMO the defense with Del Rio will be better than with Allen. And that "shaky" run defense kept a mostly ground pounding team to 75 yards. Not too shabby for a "lousy" team.
 
#180
#180
If Big Ben hadn't been performing miracle after miracle on 3rd down I think this would have been a 3 TD win, easily. The D was making him do really stupid things and he was getting away with it until Porter capitalized. He served up like 6 really desperate passes that the Broncos couldn't come up with. They keep playing like that and this is a 12 win team, easily.
 
#181
#181
And all I know is if the Broncos start 3-0, I'd say the outlook is pretty good. Brutal schedule to start the season.
 
#182
#182
Peyton not happy about the fake FG. Horrible play call.

1st Quarter: 4th and 1 from the 40 and the Broncos go for it.

2nd Quarter: 4th and 1 from the 47 and the Broncos line up for a FG....needless to say the Raiders were not fooled.
 
#185
#185
That's about as good as Manning has ever played and they got beat by double digits. This is not a very good team.
 
#186
#186
Seriously, Manning is putting up MVP numbers averaging 301 yards, 2.2 TDs, and .6 INTs. Besides one bad quarter against Oakland, and a few missed open receivers, he has been unbelievable, and they are 2-3. Brutal schedule, but this is not an elite team.

Patriots outrushed their passing game. There's no way you are winning that game.
 
#187
#187
eh..I'm still not worried. The AFC West will be won with a 9-ish win team, and the Bronco's have 3 losses against Atlanta, Houston, and New England with two of those on the road.

I still hate John Fox. This team runs best in the hurry up shotgun with the running game coming from draws and off-tackles. Yet Fox still loves the old run-run-run-punt in the first quarter. And that's been putting us behind early. And the defense is not meant for coming from behind as it's built on the edge with Von and Doom rushing the passer.
 
#188
#188
I'm thinking we need home-field advantage, or no Super Bowl appearance, but Broncos probably win the division as long as they split the series with SD.
 
#189
#189
I'm not worried either...for now. But the Broncos schedule is brutal and that could hurt in the end with SD having an easier schedule. SD not having to play Houston or New England plus them beating a bad Titans team and facing a struggling Jets team late in the season helps them. But Denver has been for the most part competitive in the losses to better teams while SD really hasn't played and beat anyone of significance. Whoever looks the best next Monday night is in the drivers seat to win the division.
 
#190
#190
I think Denver has shown we had no reason to be worried.

I don't think they are a Superbowl caliber team yet. The defense just bleeds yards sometimes. But if you fix the fumbling, and Demaryius keeps this up, it could be a threat. I'd like to see the Von-Doom combo get back to harassing QBs.

edit: Just looking at point differentials, the Broncos have lost to Atlanta, NE, and Houston who are all better than anybody they have left on their schedule.
 
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#192
#192
Guess everyone is too busy in the rumors forum to be posting about this game, but another good performance by Peyton and crew tonight.
 
#194
#194
Freak said:
Guess everyone is too busy in the rumors forum to be posting about this game, but another good performance by Peyton and crew tonight.
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Ive been watching, almost started a game thread about 3 times lol. In the first half he hit his thumb on a OLinemans helmet like Bray last year
 
#195
#195
Manning has been unbelievable this season. Basically he's been near flawless in 27 of 28 quarters. He's comeback POY and MVP so far. Probably Matt Ryan is the only other guy in the conversation for MVP.
 
#196
#196
n_huffhines said:
Manning has been unbelievable this season. Basically he's been near flawless in 27 of 28 quarters. He's comeback POY and MVP so far. Probably Matt Ryan is the only other guy in the conversation for MVP.
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Is this the general perception? I've watched less NFL football and coverage this year than ever in my life.
 
#199
#199
Last 4 games Manning is averaging 320 yards, 3 TDs, and completing 75% of his passes. The only pick he threw over this stretch was when Willis ran the wrong route.
 
#200
#200
WesternKyVol said:
Is this the general perception? I've watched less NFL football and coverage this year than ever in my life.
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I think everyone recognizes he is at the top of his game. Having been only 3-3 is what has kept him from being a runaway favorite, but now the Broncos are moving into the easy stretch of their schedule.
 
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