I'm not ready to give up yet

by dpurvis on Nov 25, 2007 6:07 PM MST Comment 7 comments

Now at 5-6 Denver is definitely behind the 8-Ball. However, not all is bleak.

We are still only one game back in the Division, alone due to the Chiefs losing to Oakland. What is more surpising is as of right now, we still control our own destiny. We don't need any help right now to get into winning our division.

IF (and that is a HUGE IF) we run the table, we win the division. That includes a game at San Diego which for all purposes may be for the division crown. Let's say San Diego also runs the table, but lose to us, and end up tied. With the season series tied at 1, we would then own the Division record, which is the second tie breaker after head to head.

Also, while it's not likely, KC still has an outside chance at winning the division, but need a bit of help.

Denver really should have won this game, much like the Green Bay game. I know people are ready to throw in the towel after a heart breaking loss, and most of that is emotion. I feel that same pain right now, but I still see a light.

I have lived threw worse situations for the Broncos in the past, and it happens from time to time. I will grant most of those were with Elway, and in single game situations. We've seen odder things happen in the NFL (Look at the Giants last year).

The offense is clicking overall. We had a hard time on third downs, and that hurt. The Defense didn't even look that bad until the final two drives. The special teams have looked absolutely horrid at times, and great at others.

Our remaining schedule, even on the road is not the hardest. The only game that scares me is the SD game. KC is getting better, and will be playing for their playoff lives, Oak will be playing for Pride. Houston and Minn may also be playing for the playoffs as well. Even with all that, we still control our destiny.

Will we go far in the playoffs? You never know, and I wouldn't bet on it.

There is a light, and it is dim, but it still there.

This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR

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Clicking????

You can't be serious here. We just lost to the Bears when our offense didn't score in 3 possessions when theirs, lead by Rex Freakin Grossman scored 3 times in a row.

"I will never be upset if the Broncos go for the win and lose. You play for the win."-TSG 11/1/07 "The Browns will be .500"-TSG 8/12/07 MHR Radio

by broncodude793 on Nov 25, 2007 6:15 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Dead Serious

Note I said our offense is clicking overall. If you want to nitpick and call that last 'drive' by the Broncos an honest drive, I'll nitpick a bit as well. However, I do not count that last 'drive' of 1 play for 7 yards a drive.

Let's take a look at our last three games:

327 Yards and 2 Touchdowns at Kansas City.

359 Yards and 3 Touchdowns at home against Tenn.

430 Yards and 4 Touchdowns at Chicago.

Do you see a trend? Do we have issues on offense? You bet we do. We still get too cute in the red zone for my taste. Run, Pass, Pass, FG attempt. We had two of those today against Chicago.

Overall though, we've been doing better offensively.

by dpurvis on Nov 25, 2007 6:27 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Side note on the last two drives

Look at the play calling? Not exactly the most aggressive play calling I've seen, even in that game. I call it a turtle offense, just tuck everything in and hope you don't get hurt.

by dpurvis on Nov 25, 2007 6:29 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Good for you Purvis

You are right. More so, we don't even have to run the table to do it. Not yet.

The playoffs are still an even shot. We are one game back, but have an easier schedule than SD AND we've won all of our division games except SD (great for a tiebreak). I'm not promising a playoff spot (I'm sure someone out there will insist I did), I'm just saying you can't get down because of some emotional games. We measure playoff possibilities by our place in the division (one game out of first), our remaining schedule and the remaining schedule of our division rivals (favors us), and the play of our guys (excellent, even in this game).

But as Dude's sig says, it's not all about the playoffs. (BTW, after Mora was dumped from INDY the team suddenly took off didn't it?)

It's also about how the team looks player by player. And if you watched the game I watched, and if you read the individual and team stats, we smoked the Bears. The game came down to two inexplicable playcalls by the STs coach, and outside of that we can be proud of each individual. Hell, our worst player (Webster) even looked better compared to any of the CHI LBs.

As a (former) coach I know what it's like for people to get frustrated with emotional losses. They also get pumped by emotional wins. I'm judging this team on two things, and they look great in both phases.

Individual performances. Solid amongst virtualy every player for three weeks running.
See number one.

We dug a hole early in the season, but we're playing well now. Our coach isn't going to feel good about losing a game we should have won, but he has to feel great about the play of our team.

My question, "Who on this offense or defense was responsible for our loss?" The answer is clearly "not a soul". O'Brien's contract just shrank by a few years.

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by Steve Nichols on Nov 25, 2007 8:58 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

If I had my way...

O'Brien wouldn't return back to Denver on the plane!

Hey O-Line!!! Block Somebody!!!

by mdierk on Nov 25, 2007 9:05 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

If I had MY way...

... O'brien would get to ride half way back on the plane. ; )

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by Steve Nichols on Nov 25, 2007 9:32 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

With what you have said. Our young guys are maturing nicely, and we really should have won that game.

I guess the point of my original post was this:

We still control our own destiny this year. I'm not ready to call the season over, or to say that the loss was a season killer as others have.
Our team has come a long way since Week 1. We should be much prouder of our team overall.
With all the injuries, poor play early, and off the field issues, we are still putting together a playoff caliber year.

I've said this before, and I'll contiue to say it:

As Bronco fans we have been spoiled with our success rate for the past 20 years. We expect our team to be competative just about every year. We are harder on our team than most fans of other teams.

I just want people to realize we still are very much in control of this season, and that we are much better now than our 5-6 record. We have five games to prove it.

by dpurvis on Nov 26, 2007 5:36 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs