Horse Tracks - 12/18/09
by John Bena on Dec 18, 2008 5:45 AM MST
in Horse Tracks
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When the game is big — and they don't get much bigger than when a victory guarantees the playoffs while a defeat means potentially missing the postseason — nothing about the process matters. Not even a pick-six. It's all about the outcome.
On Wednesday at Dove Valley, Broncos coach Mike Shanahan mentioned a botched fumble call in the 2006 regular-season finale against the San Francisco 49ers that arguably cost Denver a playoff spot.
The Broncos made it through 14 games with its offensive line intact, yet they began preparations Wednesday for Sunday's game against Buffalo without two starters. Left tackle Ryan Clady missed practice with an ankle injury suffered in the final minutes of Sunday's loss to Carolina, while right guard Chris Kuper was held out because of a broken bone in his left hand.
Denver center Casey Wiegmann and cornerback Champ Bailey were named alternates at their positions for the Pro Bowl.
The Broncos will likely face Buffalo quarterback Trent Edwards, who said Wednesday he is hopeful he will make his first start since injuring his groin three weeks ago.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS
"It's a big game," Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler said Wednesday as preparation began for a contest Sunday against the visiting Buffalo Bills that would vault Denver into the playoffs with a victory.
Broncos center Casey Wiegmann was oh, so close to being named to the AFC's Pro Bowl team earlier this week, but having been selected as a first alternate, he won't get to go unless one of the two centers named to the team - the Titans' Kevin Mawae or the Jets' Nick Mangold - can't play because of injury.
This week will present the biggest game ever in the careers of many of the Denver Broncos’ young players
OTHER
On paper, a chilly forecast should help the Broncos as they try to lock up their first AFC West championship in three years on Sunday.
Broncos right guard Chris Kuper got his left hand stuck in a facemask against Carolina, fracturing a finger in the fourth quarter and leaving the game. Rookie left tackle Ryan Clady twisted his ankle on the final play.
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Porkchop from ESPN misses the point.
He writes that Denver won’t be advantaged by the cold weather, because the Bills are a cold weather team too. That’s not reading the situation correctly at all!
Yes, both teams are “cold weather” teams, but the advantage has little to do with the weather itself. Even Favre admits that the Packers (a very cold weather team) don’t just ignore the elements better than anyone else. Everyone gets cold, despite where they play.
The key difference in a cold weather game is that the home team has the benefit of better comfort measures. Sure, both teams bring heaters and specialized equiptment. But the home team has much more space for their stuff, better locker room facilities, and they’re living out of a multi-million dollar facility (and not out of semi trailers packed with more football gear than comfort gear). Factor in also the stresses of travel and being away from ones regular training routine, and this plays a minor role in driving up how much the elements come into play.
I attended arctic survival school while in the army. I didn’t become impervious to the cold as a result of my training. I just learned how to stay warmer than everyone else. Attitude plays a role, as does staying warm (it is easier to stay warm than to warm up). Denver has more gear and more facilities to keep their players warm than the visiting team.
Also, the altitude is a factor. It is hard enough for those who haven’t been aclimated to get enough oxygen / carbon dioxide exchange. It is harder in the cold. And that’s where the real key lies for Denver. It’s not the cold that matters, it’s how the altitude advantage is enhanced by the cold.
"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe
Oh yea....
and Trent Edwards went to Stanford and is a California kid. To quote Brian G from Buffalo Rumblings when talking about the weather —
“MHR: It is going to be DAMN COLD in Denver on Sunday
bgalliford: which means Edwards is going to struggle, just FYI”
Every little bit helps!
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Of course,
Elway was a Stanford / California kid too. I wonder if the irony is lost on bgalliford?
"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe
by Steve Nichols on Dec 18, 2008 7:00 AM MST up reply actions
But,
when Elway played in Denver, he also lived in Denver year-round (I’m not sure where Edwards actually lives) so I’m sure that helped him overcome the whole Stanford/California thing somewhat.
I was surprised earlier this year that during the bye week several of the players went “home” (most notably was DOOM going home to Miami for the break to get away from the cold) so I don’t know how much advantage there is to a team in a cold weather climate if not all of the players spend their entire time in the cold weather. Considering the really bad stuff doesn’t happen until the NFL’s off-season (at least in Denver), I wonder how much the home field advantage to a cold weather team there is.
I guess it does cut down on snow blower accidents (a la Joe Sakic, who you would think would have enough money to pay the neighbor kid $20 to clear his driveway for him – but I digress).
"It's all over Fat Man" - Tom Jackson to John Madden 1977 AFC Championship Game
"Superman wears Peyton Hillis pajamas" - FlaBronco
by DesertBroncoFan on Dec 18, 2008 10:34 AM MST up reply actions
Does Brian actually live in Buffalo?
I can’t imagine him saying that teens and single digit temperatures are DAMN COLD if he’s from Buffalo (where those are almost balmy temps)!
"It's all over Fat Man" - Tom Jackson to John Madden 1977 AFC Championship Game
"Superman wears Peyton Hillis pajamas" - FlaBronco
by DesertBroncoFan on Dec 18, 2008 10:35 AM MST up reply actions
Your Army training taught you well my friend.
That is exactly what I have found in living 38 years in the arctic.
It all starts in the trenches HT 11/11/08
Do the visiting teams have to bring their own stuff?
I’m amazed if the visitors have to bring the heated benches, etc., in cold weather, and the cooling fans in hot weather. I had assumed that the home team had to provide the same amenities for the visitor as they provide for themselves.
When the Gods are angry with someone, they give him what he asks for.
Greek Proverb
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