As I'm sitting here still giddy from the Dallas game, I'm considering a point that styg made in his recent article Stretch of the Imagination:

for every challenge that the Broncos rise to meet, the "real" test will still be a game away, a future point where dreams and facts will finally meet.

As soon as the Dallas game had ended, immediately my mind was filled with the possibilities of the season, as it is after every game. "Where do they go from here?" Obviously, that question is more exciting to consider after a game like yesterday's.

So, it is with that in mind that I pose the question for this week:

Can the Broncos do it 2 weeks in a row?

This is not a question asked in doubt, but it is also not a question to be p-shawed out of hand. In any sport, emotion plays a very integral, though not complete, part of the outcome. In most of the upsets you see, the underdog team came out and played with more purpose and passion than the favorite. I'm not revealing anything new to anyone here by saying that. Look at how Marion Barber started the game yesterday, It was obvious that he felt like he should've been active fo the 'Boys last week and he came out on fire wanting to prove that he was up to the task. I would say that the entire Broncos' defense came out with that same passion and determination. "Are they for real?" was the question last week. Like it or not, agree with it or not, it obviously dominated the conversation when the topic turned to the Broncos. So, when it came time to strap it on, the Denver Broncos came out to prove they are for real.

But, just as I'm sure most would agree that playing with a greater sense of passion and purpose will fuel great performances, I think most would agree the only downside is the challenge of replicating that emotion 2 weeks in a row. There was clearly a boatload of emotion spent in yesterday's game. From the sense of meeting the challenge of disrespect leading up to the game, to the tension naturally embroiled in a tight battle, to the over-the-top exhilaration of the manner in which they won, it was a beautifully exhausting day. It met every expectation in the anxiety leading to the game.

"Now can we get a little respect?"

And therein lies the rub. The challenge for the Broncos this week will be to put the Dallas game with all of it's emotion and the conclusions that the players themselves will be tempted to draw in perspective and get focused, determined and eventually pumped for another "test" against New England.

This has historically been a significant challenge for our boys in predominately orange. Just about the time they start to believe the hype, they come crashing down to earth, losing to a team like the Lions a couple years ago. Just last year, coming off of an emotional win against KC only to get it handed to them by the Panthers. This week, the Broncos will get a lot of love from the press, and deservedly so. Can they overcome that to get up for next week's game?

My argument is yes, they can. As Brian Dawkins would ask, "Can you win a Championship by winning 4 games? I'm not trying to play with you here, that's just real." I think the combination of the veteran leadership on this team and the team-first mentality that McD has clearly been able to instill and the focus on situational football that he brings to the table, will equip them in addressing this exact challenge. I fully expect them to come out next week with a determination to prove that their 4-0 start is no fluke and I sincerely hope that the Patriots will be favored by the talking heads to help to fuel that. The Patriots, in my mind, are clearly the best team they have faced so far, so they will need to bring their "A" game again this week.

Can the Broncos do it 2 weeks in a row?