It's seems odd that the first thing I'd be writing about when it comes to the Chiefs game would be the Broncos D but that is were the discussion should begin. Yes, Larry Johnson had a big day (28 carries for 198 yards & 2 TD's) against the Broncos but if you put aside his gaudy numbers he wasn't really the deciding factor in the game nor was it a Broncos Defensive unit who played well enough to give themselves a chance to win.
It had more to do with 4 turnovers, the bad decisions of Jay Cutler and the Broncos game plan that didn't employ more running plays to give themselves some balance on O.
D will get a bad rap by some but not here
After giving up the 65 yard run (sprung by a Jamie Winborn missed tackle) by Johnson on the second play of the game the Broncos held the Chiefs to a FG. It was a great moral victory all things considered. Then after the Broncos first offensive series were Eddie Royal fumbled the ball away the D once again held them to just a FG. Boss Bailey made a tremendous tackle (He had 8 tackles which lead the team) on Johnson behind the line of scrimmage to keep the game 6-0 Chiefs. Not a bad way to start a game because the Chiefs could have just as easily been up 14-0 early in very unfriendly environment in which the Broncos have a bad history of losing games.
Despite coming out of the gate 3-0 the Broncos Defense had very little to do with it as we all know but yesterday I would argue they fought a good fight and didn't get any help from an offense that was very jittery, unbalanced and turnover prone. The final score was lopsided but the game was much closer than that and the final TD by Johnson was just a meaningless garbage run. Not to take anything away from Johnson or to give to much credit to the Broncos rushing D who still are the worst in the league but they played well enough to give the Broncos a chance to win in the 4th Q. What more could we have asked from this unit knowing what we know about it and what everyone knows about it for that matter?
As any long time Broncos Fan knows Arrowhead Stadium is one of the loudest toughest road games in the NFL. It didn't matter that the Chiefs had lost 12 games in a row; the Chiefs are a different team when they play at home against the Broncos. Just ask Mike Shanahan, he's lost 5 out of the last 6 games at Arrowhead.
Maybe the Chiefs who had lost 12 in a row were not as "bad" a team as everyone had thought. By the same token maybe just maybe, the Broncos who came in 3-0 were not as "good" as many had thought either.
Cutler played tight and forced the issue
Cutler had been all universe the first 3 games of the season but in this game he seemed nervous, impatient and rattled. I think Jay had convinced himself early that he was going to have to win the game on his own. The game plan sure was set up to put him in that position. I don't understand why the Broncos didn't try to slow this game down, play more of a possession game and run the ball on the Chiefs. As bad as the Broncos D is against the run the Chiefs run D may be worse. I really believe that had Selvin Young been given some more carries early in the game he could have easily shredded the Chiefs D for big yards. Instead Jay just kept airing it out even after it was clear he had lost his groove after the 2 picks.
Whether it was the crowd noise, the pressure to shoulder the offensive or just the bad outcome of several terribly throw balls for INT's, Jay was not on yesterday. Both INT's were bad decisions where the receiver was in heavy traffic or double covered. He simply tried to force it in when he shouldn't have.
Kudos to:
Champ Bailey and brother Boss Bailey both made big plays on D.
How about Spencer Larson unloading that huge hit on the kick return which sent the headgear flying? Then he was oh so close to recovering the on-side kick.
Nate Webster bull dogged then body slammed a bigger Larry Johnson to the ground on one running play. It was one of the few awesome moments for the D in the game.
Brandon Stokley had 7 catches for 80 yards. Statistically it wasn't his greatest game ever but most of his catches were important ones that kept drives alive.
Kill Shots:
Rookie CB Jack Williams got taken to school 2 times for big yards and once for a TD by Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe.
The Broncos Special Teams Unit still is giving up way to many yards on kick and punt returns.
The Broncos Defensive Line didn't take advantage of an inferior Chiefs OL and getting pressure on second rate bum QB Damon Huard.
After giving Kicker Matt Prater kudos last week he missed an important FG this week that hurt the Broncos which ultimately affected the Broncos strategy in the 4th Q. Did I say I hate Kickers?
The Good News:
Despite this tough loss, the Broncos are still in 1st place, so don't jump off the band wagon yet. The Broncos are off to great start and if the D can improve the Broncos can still be one of the playoff teams at the end of the season.
Thankfully we come back home this week to play Tampa Bay who I think they should be able to beat. After all Brian Griese is their starting QB, how could we let one of our reject QB's come into our house and steal one? NO WAY!
NFL NOTES:
I have to give Brett Favre credit, 6 TD's (Wish he'd of started in my money Fantasy League) in one game is very impressive still as I've said in earlier blogs I'll be rooting against him and the Jets and I don't see this win as a trend for him. More than likely the Jets won't make the playoffs because they just don't have the skilled players on O or D.
I'm so happy the Cowboys got beat by the Redskins. I love that Terrell Owens in the post game press conference opened his mouth up and showed us all again that he still is a narcissistic ego maniac.
How about Kerry Collins and the Titans D are they for real? Can they hold off the Colts and the Jags and win the division? I'd of said hell no at the start of the season but at least for this week you could make the argument they are the best team in the AFC and have a legitimate shot.
Maybe some might say the Buffalo Bills could be the best team in the AFC, with their tough D, great young RB Marshawn Lynch and up and coming QB Trent Edwards.
Matt Millen finally got fired as GM of the Lions. It must suck to be a fan and have had to wade thru all the miserable years that they've faced in Detroit.
Rams Head Coach Scott Linehan got the firing squad too, insert Defensive Coordinator Jim Haslett. The likely result of the change will still be a god awful team that will be just as horrible. Thankfully the Rams won't take another loss this week because it's their bye.
Will Raiders Coach Lane Kiffin be the next to get the axe? Don't you think he wants to be fired and get on with his coaching career else where? The Oakland Raiders, where good Coaches go to die or in Kiffins case hope to survive and live.
Speaking of firings when is Bengals Coach Marvin Lewis day coming? He's lost all control of that team. Don't you love that Chad Johnson aka Ocho Cinco has to eat this crappy 0-4 start? What a distraction this idiot has been for the Bengals huh?
As always I welcome your rants, your raves, your love, your discontent or whatever commentary you'd chose to spew.