NFL Week 3 - Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders - Quick Hits
by John Bena on Sep 22, 2009 6:32 PM MDT
in 2009 Denver Broncos Game Previews
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Winners of their last nine AFC West openers, the Denver Broncos (2-0) visit the Oakland Raiders (1-1) on Sunday for their first divisional game of 2009. Kickoff at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum is set for 1:15 p.m. PDT.
QUICKLY:
- The Broncos are the only team in the NFL to start each of the last three seasons 2-0. Denver joins Baltimore, Indianapolis and the New York Jets as AFC squads with a perfect record after Week 2.
- Denver's +26 scoring differential (39-13) is the third-best mark in the NFL. The club also is tied for second in the league in turnover ratio (+4), posting five takeaways and one giveaway.
OFFENSE:
- The Broncos' offense is the only one in the NFL to not commit a turnover this season.
- QB Kyle Orton is 5-1 in his last six starts dating back to last year- Only the Colts' Peyton Manning (6-0) has a better record among NFL starting QBs during that time. This season, Orton has thrown the second-most 25-yard completions (7) in the NFL and is the only AFC quarterback with at least 50 pass attempts and no interceptions.
- RB Correll Buckhalter is averaging 7.2 yards per rush (17-122, 1 TD) in two starts this year. Since 2007, he owns the NFL's third-best yards per rush average (5.2, 155-804, 7 TDs.
DEFENSE:
- Coached by long-time NFL defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, the Broncos lead the league in scoring defense (6.5 ppg.) and have given up only three scores (1 TD, 2 FGs) in 23 opponent possessions.
- Denver ranks first in the NFL in first downs allowed (27), second in yards per game (253.5) and third in yards per play (4.3).
- OLB/DE Elvis Dumervil tied the Broncos' single-game club record with four sacks last week against Cleveland. His four sacks came in the second half, marking the highest half sack total by an NFL LB in eight years.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
- The Broncos rank fifth in the NFL in average opponent drive start after kickoffs (21.0-yard line).
- RB Peyton Hillis is tied for third in the league with a team-high four special teams tackles.
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Impressive stats!
Of course we’re really pretenders according to the media, if they paid attention at all!
Imagination is more important than knowledge. A. Einstein
Is it really a stadium
I think ut is more a baseball park disguised as a stadium.
"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum
"Duffman is thrusting in the direction of the problem" - Duffman
"Good, bad, I'm the guy with the gun" - Ash from Army of Darkness
"H.I., you're young and you got your health, what you want with a job?" - Evelle from Raising Arizona
"It happens sometimes. People just explode. Natural causes." - Agent Rogersz from Repoman
No Broncoman... its a prison-yard disguised as a stadium.
"For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities (His eternal power and divine nature) have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." Romans 1:20
Alcatraz baby.
Conversation nonstarters: hoping McDaniels fails, comparing Bears to Broncos, Cutler to Orton, apples to oranges, and casual drinkers to Raiders fans.
by broncosmontana on Sep 22, 2009 7:54 PM MDT up reply actions
With stats like these, then why....?
Why don’t I feel all warm and fuzzy?
Why do I feel like they should have cracked by now?
Why do I think Marshall is still needed?
Why does Orton seem to look so bad with stats like this?
Why the RB changes?
Why isn’t Buchalter in on every play?
Why don’t I eat crow and get over it already?
Honestly, I am a realist, and believed they would be lucky to win five games. Now all of a sudden, there are another four or five that I feel are very winnable. The Defense is much better than I thought and most of all, the Broncos look like a different team than the one in the preseason. They do.
But lets look at the Future, this could be the team that upsets a lot of favorites. I don’t care what the MSM thinks, nor do I care. They don’t have to be praised, just win…thats all I want. I want to cheer and pull for my team and have them competetive. It’s looking up already, and the most important thing now is beating the Raiders (twice) They are going to do it, I have no doubt.
So I was outside a while ago, and looked up. Suddenly the sky was Orange in Denver when the sun went down today. Ok, so it was cloudy at first, but the the silver and black clouds gave way just enough to see an Orange lining surounding them where there was no escape but to give way to the beautiful orange and blue sky.
I BELIEVE! ………..Why not? WoW!
About playing against Joe Namath "He's the best in the Business, he can do everything, but I've never seen a Quarterback yet that can throw on his back." - Dave Costa 1969
by Denver Diehard on Sep 22, 2009 7:29 PM MDT reply actions 3 recs
Hold off on the crow for a few weeks but I HEAR YA!!
Looking better than I’d have guessed too …so far
I’m beginning to believe!!
by Whidbey Bronco on Sep 22, 2009 10:23 PM MDT up reply actions
"This season, Orton has thrown the second-most 25-yard completions (7) in the NFL"
Maybe. But if you look at the film you’ll find that most of those throws were actually made behind the line of scrimmage. Laterals. Practically handoffs.
Noodle armed Orton can’t throw an out. And he only wins because Chicago had the greatest defense ever to line up on an NFL field.
You Koolaid guzzlers need to RECOGNIZE!
you spilled a little sarcasm on your jersey there JG ; )
Conversation nonstarters: hoping McDaniels fails, comparing Bears to Broncos, Cutler to Orton, apples to oranges, and casual drinkers to Raiders fans.
by broncosmontana on Sep 22, 2009 7:56 PM MDT up reply actions
Well, they've got one game before they're possibly tested.
Orton needs to TORCH Jokeland. I’ll feel better after that.
by SoCalBroncsFan on Sep 22, 2009 8:04 PM MDT up reply actions
agree
Even though they played a much improved Cinci team and won on that lucky catch, Cleveland was not much of a team. If they beat Oakland and host Dallas riding on a 3-0 record, I’m sure the confidence has got to be up by that time. They can only get better and will keep adjusting to the new offensive and defensive schemes. If only the offense can get Marshall to step up, the sky’s the limit
Favorite Blogs:
www.spongereport.com
www.yardbarker.com
www.milehighreport.com
www.bleacherreport.com
Oh I don't know about that
Jeffrey, Jeffrey, Jeffrey, vs. Cincy Orton had a perfect 25 yard strike to Gaffney just before the half and vs. Cleveland he had a at least one nice 20 yard toss downfield so I guess you ought to reconsider your incorrect “facts,” Man.
If people aren't supposed to eat animals, why are they made out of meat??
I don't care how he gets them.
All that the stats and the score board care about is that he does get them.
"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe
by Steve Nichols on Sep 23, 2009 4:54 PM MDT up reply actions
Off topic but old friend alert
Redskins signed RB Anthony Alridge off the Houston Texans’ practice squad and to their 53-man roster. (as per Adam Schefter)
The commenter formerly known as "Dashiell".
Jeff:
you give pessimists a bad name. Orton’s just good enough to win. Isn’t that enough? I don’t understand all the negativity. Would you be happier if Orton looked great while losing? Ask Chad Pennington how it feels. Not to mention the fact that you seem to have put the 1985 Bears defense in the 2007 Bears team! Their defense was middle-of-the-pack ordinary when Orton was winning all those games with the Bears. I’m not saying we all need to line up at the Kool-Aid stand, but, come on; let’s at least give credit where credit is due. Even the folks at NFLN seem to be coming around a little bit. Let’s enjoy this while it’s happening.
Knowing what Jeff usually posts here
I am quite sure he was being sarcastic there, 42. Mocking the mockers.
The commenter formerly known as "Dashiell".
lol
Jeff’s wife posted under his name I think…
by Whidbey Bronco on Sep 22, 2009 10:26 PM MDT up reply actions
We haven't accomplished anything yet!
The Broncos have a lot of work to do to improve. Don’t get comfortable where we are at, it’s only the beginning.
WE have son two games n the NFL
Aska bout 28 other teams just how hard that proved to be over the last wwo weeks. Ask the Lions if that is an accomplishment.
We have a long ways to go, but hthey have definitely accoplished someting so far. Beat eh Raiders on the road and someone will start to take notice of that.
"My team's on the floor"
Gene Hackman - Hoosiers
we played the browns and bangles
I hope we keep winning its been fun to watch the defense go nuts!
I just wonder how the team holds up in a situation when they are playing from behind.
The offense looked better last week.
Should win this week.
Dont think we will get a miracle play again any time soon.
"Iron sharpens Iron."
My favorite teams are:
Broncos
and anyone playing against Da Bears!
Don’t think we will need one, and we won’t give it back!
by Flying Dutchman on Sep 22, 2009 10:38 PM MDT up reply actions
Sweet.
If you don’t give the ball away, everything about your team will be better. I still see this as an 8-8 team give or take a game, but there’s plenty of reason to be optimistic. I hope we don’t overlook the Raiders, but the real test will be the Cowboys in Week 4. The schedule sets up nicely, with a soft first three games to work the kinks out, a tough middle to gauge the team’s potential and a weaker end built for a late playoff push if possible. Nothing has change for me, though the defense is better than expected and the offense perhaps a bit worse. Good stuff, Broncos!
"A player who conjugates a verb in the first person singular cannot be part of the squad, he has to conjugate the verb in the first person plural. We. We want to conquer. We are going to conquer. Using the word 'I' when you're in a group makes things complicated." ~ Wanderley Luxemburgo, 1999
Im right there with ya ej.
I told my brother before the year started that the Broncos had to win the first 3 games on the schedule to have any opportunity to even sniff the playoffs. Well 2 down 1 to go. I am very impressed with the defense so far, especially since cincy went into green bay and scored 31 in a victory. What a difference a year makes now it is the defense carrying this team. But as much as I am impressed with the defense this year we all better hope the offense catches up and starts producing more. Those stats are all well and good but to me they are a little deceiving and there is more than room for improvement. The good thing is that I do believe this offense will get better as the year goes along. Will it be enough to sniff the playoffs, I don’t know but it will be interesting to see. Go Broncos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by broncosorbust on Sep 23, 2009 5:55 AM MDT up reply actions
I keep waiting for the wheels to come off
I’m way too attuned to the previous Broncos teams, starting tough and then collapsing. It’s hard to change the mindset of eventually being dejected at the Broncos collapse or unveiling as a pretender. If we find a way to be competitive with and beat good teams it will go a long way to restore my shattered faith. There have been other years where the defense was touted as good and then the weaknesses were exposed and we were crushed. This is new management so I hope week in and week out we are ready to play. I don’t think anyone is looking past the Raiders. I don’t think that’s what McD will look past them and there is so much, “the Broncos are paper tigers” that they’ll be have a chip on their shoulders (I hope). I think we’ll beat down the Raiders. We’ll work to stop the run and make Russell beat us with his highly inaccurate arm.
We are winning early
and that builds confedence within the team. We just need BMarsh and ERoyal to get going. Our offense opened up some last week when BMarsh was in the game. He opened up our running game. We really do need him to help us win and keep our O going. Im not worried about our D. the D will have another BIG game against Russell, i cant beleave he is a pro QB.
live and die blue and orange
Containing Miller
Stopping Zach Miller will be the key to Denver winning in OAK.
Thre 5-2 actually matches up relatively well against Oakland, as it negates their big up front running game. The extra passrush also helps clamp down on the speed demons and deep passing game they emphasize.
The trick is being able to contain Miller, who is a very good TE to stop Russel from easily checking down to the flats, etc. If the LBs and safetys can stop Miller, Russel should fall apart (see KC vs. Oakland).
I’m wondering if we’ll see more Woodyard and perhaps even Barrett playing LB to do this… that, or I think we could bring the safetys down and have Champ and goodman more one-on-one against their young guy receivers telling the CBs to contain the deep ball and force Oakland’s young WRs to run good routes, etc to have success in the short/mid passing game (which also forces Russel to hit those throws accurately and on time, which he is horribly inconsistent with).
Get pumped
Prior to every Bronco/Raider game I have to watch the into to the 2003MNF game:
by DickVMI on Sep 23, 2009 1:10 PM MDT reply actions 2 recs
THAT IS AWESOME!!
lol! Like good hates evil and evil hates good.
Gotta love Raiders week! Go Broncos!
"Take what you can. Give nothing back!"
by Colorado_Kitten on Sep 23, 2009 3:33 PM MDT up reply actions
That is one of the best MNF
intros ever. thanks for link, I had to just tweet that.
The commenter formerly known as "Dashiell".
The Oakland Alameda County Coliseum
Hi John:
Just a note about your graphic. It’s cool and all, but it’s actually the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum. It hasn’t been McAfee for close to a year now.
See ya in OakTown kids.
Peace, Love & Happiness,
RaiderLovinGal
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