Denver Broncos 34 - San Diego Chargers 23 - Final Game Notes

by John Bena on Oct 19, 2009 11:15 PM MDT in 2009 Denver Broncos Game Recap

McDaniels Leads Broncos to 6-0 Start

With the win over the San Diego Chargers on Monday Night Football, Denver Broncos Head Coach Josh McDaniels became the fourth rookie head coach in the Super Bowl era (since 1966) to start 6-0. He joins Red Miller (1977) as only the second head coach in Denver history to win his first six games with the club.

ROOKIE HEAD COACHES TO START 6-0 OR BETTER, NFL, SUPER BOWL ERA (SINCE 1966)

Coach	Year	Started	Finished	Playoffs
Josh McDaniels, Den.	2009	6-0	TBD	TBD
Mike Martz, Stl.	2000	6-0	10-6	Wild Card
Red Miller, Den.	1977	6-0	12-2	Super Bowl XII
Chuck Knox, L.A. Rams	1973	6-0	12-2	Divisional Playoffs

ROYAL’S RETURN TOUCHDOWNS HELP FUEL DENVER

WR Eddie Royal became the second Bronco and just the 11th player in league history to record a kickoff return for a touchdown (93 yds. in first quarter) and a punt return for a touchdown (71 yds. in second quarter) in the same game. Royal is the sixth player to accomplish the feat since the 1970 NFL merger. Former Broncos HB Al Frazier had a kickoff return (90 yds.) and a punt return (55 yds.) for a score in the same game vs. Boston on Dec. 3, 1961.

KICKOFF RETURN TD AND PUNT RETURN TD IN SAME GAME, NFL, SINCE 1970

Player	Opponent (Date)	KO TD	PR TD
Eddie Royal, Den.	at S.D. (10/19/09)	1	1
Dante Hall, K.C.	vs. Stl. (12/8/2002)	1	1
Devin Hester, Chi.	vs. Den. (11/25/2007)	1	1
Michael Lewis, N.O.	at Was. (10/13/2002)	1	1
Eddie Payton, Det.	vs. Min. (12/17/1977)	1	1
Darren Sproles, S.D.	vs. Ind. (11/11/2007)	1	1

Royal’s 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the first quarter was the ninth overall in club history and the first since CB Deltha O’Neal scored on an 87-yard kickoff return vs. New England on Oct. 1, 2000. His 71-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter was the 28th punt return for a score in team history and the first since WR Glenn Martinez scored on an 80-yard punt return vs. Tennessee on Nov. 19, 2007.

The two plays marked the eighth and ninth special-teams return touchdowns by a unit coached by Special Teams Coordinator Mike Priefer (4 KR, 4 PR, 1 Misc.).

LONGEST SCORING KICKOFF RETURNS, BRONCOS HISTORY

	Player	Opponent (Date)	Yards
1.	Nemiah Wilson	at Kansas City (10/8/66)	100
	Goldie Sellers	vs. Houston (10/2/66)	100
3.	Vaughn Hebron	at Miami (12/21/98)	95
4.	Randy Montgomery	at San Diego (9/24/72)	94
5.	Eddie Royal	at San Diego (10/19/09)	93

DUMERVIL TAKES OVER SACK LEAD

With two sacks (7 yds.) against the Chargers, OLB/DE Elvis Dumervilrecorded his fourth multi-sack game of the season and took over the NFL lead with 10 sacks on the year. Dumervil, whose 36 sacks since his rookie season in 2006 are the fourth most in the NFL, has 11 career multi-sack games in the same span that represents the second-best mark in the league.

Dumervil finished five tackles (four solo) and a forced fumble (his second forced fumble of the season and ninth of his career).

DEFENSE DOESN’T ALLOW THIRD-DOWN CONVERSION IN 2nd HALF

The Broncos held the Chargers to 0-of-5 on third downs in the second half and have not allowed a third-down conversion by an opponent in the second half in their last four games (opponents are 2-for-35 on the season – 5.7%).

MISCELLANEOUS GAME NOTES

CB André Goodman recorded his first career sack in the second quarter on a third down that led to Royal’s 1-yard punt return for a touchdown...
CB Champ Bailey led all Denver defenders with seven tackles (all solo) to go along with a pass breakup and a forced fumble...
TE Tony Scheffler (6 rec. 101 yds., TD)recorded his second 100-yard receiving game of his career (7-100, 1 TD at Hou., 12/13/07) and his second touchdown of the season in the third quarter to put the Broncos on top 24-23...
QB Kyle Orton (20-of-29 for 229 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT) finished with a passer rating of 115.4. It marked the third time this year he has recorded a passer rating of 100.0 or higher...
San Diego finished with 73 rushing yards (3.5 avg.). Denver is the only team in the NFL that has not allowed an opponent to rush for 100 yards this season.

Compliments of the Denver Broncos P.R. Staff

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Comments

Woot . Get used to it.

by Colby on Oct 19, 2009 11:25 PM MDT reply actions

Orton is 30-2 in the red zone.....how much nicer is that?

by Flying Dutchman on Oct 19, 2009 11:26 PM MDT reply actions

i love how confident u can by letting him pass anytime, anywhere, knowing hes gonna take care of the ball

by Welcome2DumerVille on Oct 19, 2009 11:29 PM MDT up reply actions

The right guy for the job

Did anyone else feel like me, that when we were behind and had the ball, I had this feeling that I wouldn’t want anyone else taking the snap? I had great confidence in the qb, making the right decision, making the accurate throw, either that can be caught by us or not caught by them, and moving the club when the situation is crucial. He might waste a throw, but you know in the next play, something good will happen. What a difference a year makes!

Give a man a fish, and he'll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he'll eat for a lifetime.
"Losing stinks" - Josh McDaniels

by azbroncomaniac on Oct 20, 2009 8:31 AM MDT up reply actions

TAKE IT from Rivers

Just fanshotted this but wanted to make sure everyone saw it:

“That team out there is a different Denver team, in the sense that they aren’t going to fall apart. That’s a team that’s here to stay.”

Quarterback Philip Rivers, after being sacked a career-high five times.

Respect taken.

Conversation nonstarters: hoping McDaniels fails, comparing Bears to Broncos, Cutler to Orton, apples to oranges, and casual drinkers to Raiders fans.

by broncosmontana on Oct 19, 2009 11:33 PM MDT reply actions

Nolan is pretty good

Goes along with Romo’s career high in sacks. 5 each, 4 each in the 2nd 1/2. They both wanted to go home.

by nedanderthal on Oct 20, 2009 12:26 AM MDT up reply actions

exactly ...

It’s funny because I was thinking in the 2nd half when we had a 1 point lead, that last year Shanahan and Cutler would have pressed too much and would have turned the ball over.. but not this year.

Ironically Buckhalter fumbled on the very next play – but we got the ball back.

by hallandnash on Oct 20, 2009 7:49 AM MDT up reply actions

Thanks Montana

For bring that up. You could just tell Rivers & LT believe Denver is not going to fade this year. They know the Cutler/Shanahan Broncos are gone. Replaced by the Orton/McDaniels Broncos.

Talk is for Losers and Fools.

by Victim of Love on Oct 20, 2009 8:01 AM MDT up reply actions

cool

thanks for sharing that one, montana. Phyllis played a great game, I thought, given all the pressure he was under. The guy’s got talent, and now, for once, a little humility too.

Give a man a fish, and he'll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he'll eat for a lifetime.
"Losing stinks" - Josh McDaniels

by azbroncomaniac on Oct 20, 2009 8:35 AM MDT up reply actions

Kudos to McDaniels (and Nolan)

The rest of the Staff…And, We got ourselves a Football TEAM here fellas!!!

Go Broncos…13-3 Baby, and lookin’ like more!

by BroncoSense72 on Oct 19, 2009 11:35 PM MDT reply actions

halfway there ; )

Conversation nonstarters: hoping McDaniels fails, comparing Bears to Broncos, Cutler to Orton, apples to oranges, and casual drinkers to Raiders fans.

by broncosmontana on Oct 19, 2009 11:37 PM MDT up reply actions

Royal and Scheffler Shine

since they’re my two favorite players on the team, it’s nice to see them make numerous big plays. Being 6-0 is excellent. I hope everyone enjoys their week off and comes back ready to work against Baltimore. The AFC West is ours until proven otherwise. GO BRONCOS!!!

Brad James

by the Bradfather on Oct 19, 2009 11:40 PM MDT reply actions

marshalls actions speak volumes.

first the jackass move of kicking the ball after being interfered with and wanting a call…

then later in the game he was interfered with but with no call, and he got up, and with stokely at his side quietly ran back to the huddle.

tame the beast. focus the beast. win.

"I just looked across the huddle to see the guys in the huddle with me: great offensive line, great talent at wide receiver, great tight ends, great running backs. If we execute and play the way that we should, it should be tough to stop us."
-K.O.

by Jay Fin Anderson on Oct 19, 2009 11:41 PM MDT reply actions

yay for Stokely!!

"Take what you can. Give nothing back!"

by Colorado_Kitten on Oct 19, 2009 11:42 PM MDT up reply actions

The man is clutch!

Conversation nonstarters: hoping McDaniels fails, comparing Bears to Broncos, Cutler to Orton, apples to oranges, and casual drinkers to Raiders fans.

by broncosmontana on Oct 19, 2009 11:45 PM MDT up reply actions

Seriously

The man should get half of Marshall’s big contract.

I mean how many times have we seen Stokely calm Marshall down and stop him for either doing something stupid or continue doing something stupid???

He just seems like a first class person and player.

by trumanj on Oct 20, 2009 4:16 AM MDT up reply actions

Brandon "The Conscience" Stokley

"Don't feed the trolls. Remember to be polite. And please show self-restraint in comment length!" -Me, to myself, because I need constant reminding.

by Disco_Stu on Oct 19, 2009 11:46 PM MDT up reply actions

No kidding. Remember the glove?

by dextermilo on Oct 19, 2009 11:51 PM MDT up reply actions

+1

by BroncosBassist on Oct 20, 2009 4:52 AM MDT up reply actions

It seemed to me

that after BMarsh’s little tantrum, there was a teammate there to pick him up and guide him back after every play.

by MakeCents on Oct 20, 2009 12:27 AM MDT up reply actions

Story of this team.

If one falls down, the other 52 guys help him up.

John Clayton is the head Dean at Fail University (known as F.U. in short)

by Joe Medina on Oct 20, 2009 2:08 AM MDT up reply actions

Amen

I just got goosebumps

by BroncoFanInLakewood on Oct 20, 2009 7:00 AM MDT up reply actions

I'm exhausted, canI go rest now?

by bfree2bronc on Oct 20, 2009 12:43 AM MDT reply actions

Feelin' 77

and it feels good….

by Flying Dutchman on Oct 20, 2009 1:11 AM MDT reply actions

from a chargers fan..

got my heart broken, but must give respect where it is due. the broncos are for real.
congrats you guys, thats one solid team the broncos have.

hopefully we (the chargers) can get a wild card spot.
at least there is some respect in the afc west for once in a long time.

congrats, enjoy the win, wish i was on the other side of it.

PS: what did you guys think of our new SS Ellison? i think he is a stud in the making..

by cameronm on Oct 20, 2009 1:22 AM MDT reply actions

Thanks and good luck carenonm,

the Chargers looked pretty danged good, and they came to play for sure.

by bfree2bronc on Oct 20, 2009 1:26 AM MDT up reply actions

hey cam

Thanks for stopping by, i’m sure things must be feeling a little raw right now.

I’ll say this: SD may have been coming off a down period, but I thought they were very very up for this game. That was at least as intense as the Patriots game last week. You guys will be fine once you stomp the Chiefs a little bit. ^^

Only caught Ellison a few times. It would be nice to see him follow in the footsteps of Harrison or someone like that. Is that how you see him?

Conversation nonstarters: hoping McDaniels fails, comparing Bears to Broncos, Cutler to Orton, apples to oranges, and casual drinkers to Raiders fans.

by broncosmontana on Oct 20, 2009 1:34 AM MDT up reply actions

i hope so..

and i appreciate your hospitality, you guys have been quite classy in victory and i really respect that..

I thought it was a very competitive game, thought the chargers shoulda won at home but the better team won tonight. (damn o-line and special teams).

I thought Ellison played great tonight, except that BS pass interference call, which they “made up for” by calling another BS call on the broncos the next drive. he led the team in tackles and looks miles ahead of Hart.

i see the broncos winning the division with the chargers getting a wild card.. hopefully thats not wishful thinking.

by cameronm on Oct 20, 2009 1:42 AM MDT up reply actions

+1

The rules are skewed to enhance the NFL passing game, but it certainly has provided for a ton of BS calls on pass plays – “Let the boys play!”

I TOTALLY agree on Ellison. I’m a former SS and I like this kid a lot. He’ll be a staunch defender for SD for years if they keep him around..

"A man can fail, but he is not a failure until he blames someone else." J. Paul Getty

by SteveAssassin on Oct 20, 2009 8:13 AM MDT up reply actions

classy post, cameronm

I think you guys have a stud back 4. Cromartie played really well, I thought. If you can get people healthy up front, you’ll be tough…er, than you already are. Kick butt on the rest of the division, and maybe we’ll have a third go round in the playoffs.

Give a man a fish, and he'll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he'll eat for a lifetime.
"Losing stinks" - Josh McDaniels

by azbroncomaniac on Oct 20, 2009 8:44 AM MDT up reply actions

hey guys!!

i just got back from the game. sooo intense. let me know if you guys have any questions

by Calibroncoboy on Oct 20, 2009 1:25 AM MDT reply actions

You lucky dog you!

I had to work during the game (bar tending) and it was aswesome. I was ready for 5-1 and it wouldn’t have bothered me too much. I knew the Chargers were going to bring the kitchen sink, which they did, but we held in there with some help on special teams and pulled it out. No 3rd down conversions in the 2nd half? Wow, is all I can say…Wow.

by bfree2bronc on Oct 20, 2009 1:30 AM MDT up reply actions

Anybody else like this

finish strong and win thing. While I’ll always be a Mike Shanahan fan, his get out fast and hold on for dear life approach was hard on my heart. At least a game like tonight’s, and this would be true even if we’d lost, I feel like I watched my team put a quality product on the field. I feel like this team will compete for the whole game whether things start well, bad, or in between.

by jaffe28 on Oct 20, 2009 2:42 AM MDT reply actions

I was just thinking about that

There is no quit in this team, because they all know they will keep getting better as the game goes on. How scary is that for for the up coming opponents.

by Bronkfan on Oct 20, 2009 6:04 AM MDT up reply actions

Shanahan – Win by scoring more points than your opponent.

McDaniels – Win by scoring, preventing the other team from scoring, and playing good special teams.

How do you keep the Broncos Humble?
"Just show them the film. Show them the film." - Josh McDaniels

by Kfustud on Oct 20, 2009 10:08 AM MDT up reply actions

Just wanted to drop by

and say thanks for the great discussion this week.

I’m the first to admit that the Broncos won because they’re a better team than the Chargers. At least the Chargers looked as good as they have all season and kept it competitive.

"I did not invent the wheel, I was the crooked spoke adjacent." - Aesop Rock

by John Gennaro on Oct 20, 2009 6:30 AM MDT reply actions

You guys will bring it again when we play at Mile High..

.. I think that this will show your guys, in a good way, that they have to show up for 60mins each game if they want to stay in it..

Plus as someone else said.. you have two division games coming up which if you play like you did in the first half, should be wins.

Now for a little gloat..

Gotta love the smack that rivers and co. were talking.. And Merriman’s pre game smack.. turned out to just be empty threats and broken promises.. I think they where shocked after the second half of this game.. i mean 0/5 on third down in the second half..

OK enough of that.. thanks for the respectful discussions as well. ;-)

by HorseStance on Oct 20, 2009 6:41 AM MDT up reply actions

Aside from all the talking

It was a great game. Don’t sweat all the BS about the Chargers being dead either. Toss Norv, bring some discipline and you guys are going to be great real fast.

You have good young talent, a good QB, just need a few pieces here and there to fill the lines and LBs. If Denver can do it SD can too.

How do you keep the Broncos Humble?
"Just show them the film. Show them the film." - Josh McDaniels

by Kfustud on Oct 20, 2009 10:11 AM MDT up reply actions