Flash back to pre-season criticism of the Broncos.  Amidst all the commentary about the poor defense, poor D-line, poor LBs, poor O-line, Cutler being inconsistent, and the lack of receivers, the one comment which I thought was most bogus was "Who are the leaders on the Broncos?"  "They have no one to lead them."  "Where will the leadership come from when they are in a tight game, or face adversity?"  Blah, blah, blah.

Well, our Young Broncos have shown as much maturity and leadership as any Bronco team in years.  Yes, the 2005 team was very poised, but I think this team has so far shown just as much.  Think about it.

We start the season on the road in hostile territory on Monday Night.  Most home teams play lights out on Monday Night, especially against a division rival.  Sure it was the Raiders, but we had a lousy rush defense, and the Raiders were one of the best rushing teams the previous year.  Plus we had a new offensive line, and the Raiders actually had a decent pass rush (see Derick Burgess). SO WHAT HAPPENED?  WE JUMP OUT TO A 27-0 LEAD AND GO ON TO KILL 'EM 41-14.  SOME REAL MATURITY AND FOCUS WAS DISPLAYED IN THIS GAME.

Then we face SD, who had owned us for over two years.  They had demolished us by more poinsts than any of us want to remember.  The previous four games were not even close. 

SO WHAT HAPPENS, WE JUMPT OUT TO A 21-3 LEAD.  We then proceed to lose the lead, and lose the momentum, after some good SD offense, and a turnover by JC.  SO HOW DO WE RESPOND TO THIS ADVERSITY OF LOSING THE LEAD AND TURNING THE BALL OVER?  WE MARCH RIGHT DOWN THE FIELD AND NOT ONLY SCORE A TD, BUT ALSO CONVERT A 2PT CONVERSION TO WIN 39-38.  OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP WAS DISPLAYED BY THE TEAM RESONDING TO ADVERSITY!

Then we face another one of the top QB's and offenses in the league - New Orleans.  SO WHAT HAPPENS?  WE JUMP OUT TO ANOTHER 21-3 LEAD FOR THE SECOND WEEK IN A ROW.  However, once again, due to great offense by the opponent, they make a comeback, and the game gets within 34-32.  Then as we are driving to put the game away, we have another late turnover (fumble by Scheffler).  SO HOW DO WE RESPOND TO THIS ADVERSITY?  OUR DEFENSE STOPS N.O. ON THIRD AND SHORT, AND WE FORCE A LONG FG, WHICH THEY MISS.  EVEN IF THEY WOULD HAVE MADE IT, WE HAD 2 MINUTES AND OUR TIMEOUTS LEFT TO DRIVE FOR ANOTHER WINNING FG, WHICH WE WOULD HAVE DONE, AS N.O. HAD NOT REALLY STOPPED THE BRONCOS ALL GAME.  SO OVERALL, ONCE AGAIN, GREAT MATURITY AND PERSEVERANCE WAS SHOWN!

Then in week four, we have the bad game, most experts prior to the season had expected us to have 2-3 times by now.  So, everyone says the Broncos are over-rated.  They say they can not run the ball, that JC can not manage a game, that our defense can not stop anyone.  And here comes the hot 3-1 Bucs.  SO WHAT HAPPENS?  WE HOLD THEM TO SIX POINTS UNTIL MID 4TH QUARTER, AFTER WE HAD BUILT A 16-6 LEAD.  JC MANAGES THE GAME AND DOES NOT THROW A SINGLE INT.  OUR DEFENSE GETS THREE SACKS AND AN INTERCEPTION.  PLUS WE RUN THE BALL WHEN IT MATTERS MOST - AT THE END OF THE GAME, WHEN RUNNING OUT THE CLOCK.  ONCE AGAIN, OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AND MATURITY SHOWN BY THE BRONCOS!

SO FOR THE SEASON, THE BRONCOS HAVE HAD ONE BAD GAME, BUT SHOW OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AND MATURITY IN FOUR OTHERS. 

THEY SHOW THEY CAN WIN MANY WAYS (OUTSCORING THEM, BLOWING THEM OUT, OR WINNING A CLOSE LOW SCORING GAME). 

THEY SHOW THEY CAN OVERCOME ADVERSITY (LIKE WINNING ON THE ROAD ON A MONDAY NIGHT, LIKE COMING FROM BEHIND AFTER BLOWING A LEAD, LIKE OVERCOMING SPECIAL TEAMS OR DEFENSIVE LETDOWNS,  LIKE BEATING A GOOD TEAM AT THEIR OWN GAME- THE BUCS).

THEY SHOW THEY CAN WIN WITH DIFFERENT PLAY MAKERS (CUTLER, MARSHALL, ROYAL, STOKELY, PITTMAN, SCHEFFLER).

ALL THIS SEASON, THEY SHOW GREAT CHEMISTRY AS A TEAM.  NO ONE IS SELFISHLY ASKING FOR THE BALL MORE.  NO ONE EVER BLAMES THE OTHER UNITS OR PLAYERS.  NO ONE MAKES EXCUSES, OR BLAMES THE REFS.

THIS TEAM IS TIGHT.  THEY ARE A REAL TEAM.  THEY HAVE OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AND MATURITY.  THEY WORK HARD.  THEY WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE.  THEY BELIEVE IN THE COACHES.  BEST OF ALL THEY ARE YOUNG. 

THEY DESERVE TO BE 4-1, BUT THEY AIN'T SEEN NOTHING YET.  THIS TEAM HAS GREATNESS WRITTEN ON IT'S FUTURE!  GO BRONCOS!