After the 'Miracle in Miami' last Sunday, in which the Denver Broncos made a 15-point comeback in the last 4 minutes against the Miami Dolphins (talk about a good 4-minute Offense) and having the fortitude to finish off their opponent in Overtime, there are Game Balls and Horseshoes to be given. It wasn't all that pretty at times, but the end result will be a lasting memory in the annals of Bronco history. This time, the focus will be on the Offense, but a Special Teams Game Ball will be given as well. I had plenty of input from the staff on this one and so there are 3 Game Balls and 3 Horseshoes. So if you are ready, jump over the Horseshoes and lets get started.
The Broncos had just scored with 2:44 left in the game, making the tally 15-7. If they were to have any shot at winning the game, they had to take their chances with an On Side Kick. Matt Prater bounced a nice kickoff and Miami Wide Receiver Marlon Moore leaped to catch the ball, but he bobbled it and the Broncos' Virgil Green recovered at their 44 with 2:31 left. In a post game interview Moore, gave credit to the Broncos, saying, "They made the play. I didn't. It was just a bang-bang play. I had it, the dude turned the corner, hit me, it came out, they got it."
The 4th year offseason Free Agent pickup has been a sorely needed welcome addition for the Broncos this year. Fells had two catches in Sunday's contest and they both mad an impact. With less than a minute to go in the game and the Broncos trailing 15-7, Tim Tebow threw deep over the middle to a diving Fells, who made a terrific diving catch for 28 yards that put the Broncos at the 3-yard line. Two plays later, Tebow rolled left and threw back to the right to a wide open Fells in the flat. Daniel dove across the goal line to bring the the score 15-13. Denver completed the 2-point conversion to cap the comeback and send the game into Overtime.
Game Ball number three does to Wide Receiver Demaryius Thomas.
It's been a long wait for Bay Bay's return to game action and the Broncos did their best to get last year's #1 draft pick involved in the game. Demaryius was targeted 10 times on Sunday, though not all were catchable. He finished with 3 receptions, including a diving catch in the end zone for a 5-yard Touchdown to get the Broncos on the scoreboard with just under 3 minutes left in the 4th Quarter.
Now for the Horseshoes. One is an Honorable Mention and the other two are for Redemption.
The first Horseshoe goes to Quarterback Tim Tebow.
Tebow had a miserable game going up until the last 5 or 6 minutes of the 4th Quarter.
Then came the rally.
Prater missed Field-Goal attempts of 49 and 43 yards in regulation, but he redeemed himself by kicking a 52-yarder at the 7:24 mark in overtime that gave the Broncos their second win of the season, stunning the Dolphins in the process. Three of his four Kickoffs went for Touchbacks. The 4th was part of the redemption. A successful On side Kick enabled the Broncos to have a shot at tying the game with less than a minute to go in the 4th Quarter. That is why Matt Prater gets a Horseshoe.
The last Horseshoe of the game goes to Running Back Willis McGahee.