The Rivers Don't Run Through It; Tebow Does: Denver at San Diego Game Recap
by IanHenson on Nov 28, 2011 6:00 PM MST
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The Denver Broncos entered San Diego with a 5-5 record, sole possession of second place in the AFC West and more than just a glimmer of hope at moving closer to the AFC Playoffs. The only thing standing in the Broncos way was the favorite 4-6 San Diego Chargers.
Entering the game, the Philip Rivers led Chargers had gone 9-2 against the Broncos over Rivers' career as a starter. The Tim Tebow led Broncos were 4-1 in Tebow's starts this season and riding one of the hotter win streaks in the NFL.
Denver won the coin toss and based on head coach John Fox's own superstition elected to defer to the second half. Rivers, along with San Diego running backs Ryan Matthews and Mike Tolbert led a 45- yard drive which ended in a 53-yard field goal by Chargers' kicker Nick Novak.
On the ensuing kickoff cornerback Cassius Vaughn was injured, a broken fibula (which forced him to injured reserve today). For the Broncos it seemed like more of the same with running back Willis McGahee having seven rushes for 27-yards and Tim Tebow going 03- and running twice for 12-yards in the first quarter.
San Diego began a drive late in the first quarter that overlapped into the second quarter and led to a 53-yard drive culminating in a six-yard pass from Rivers to tight end Antonio Gates extending the Chargers lead to 10-0.
The Chargers and Broncos both changed possession twice with the only highlight being Denver's Elvis Dumervil sacking Rivers.
It wasn't until just under two minutes left in the first half that the Broncos were able to get things together. Following a 46-yard punt return by Eddie Royal, Tebow ran for three yards before completing his second pass of the day to tight end Daniel Fells only to have Fells fumble on the San Diego's 24. The Denver luck came through though as tackle Orlando Franklin came up with the fumble after it looked to have passed through no less than five Charger's players hands. Tebow completed the series by hitting Eric Decker in the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown pass.
Though the Broncos began the second half with the ball and a three point defecit, they were unable to capitalize and the Chargers took advantage on their next drive as Novak connected on a 25-yard field goal making the score 13-7, San Diego.
Denver did not make many waves in the third quarter until McGahee started off a possession by running for 21-yard burst up the middle, the drive ultimately ended in a 41-yard Matt Prater field goal and Denver edged closer to the Chargers at 10-13.
San Diego attempted to answer back immediately as Matthews ran for a 39-yard scamper, Novak was unable to connect on a 48-yard field goal attempt.
On the Chargers following possession Dumervil and Von Miller combined for a Rivers sack and were able to get the offense the ball back with just over five minutes remaining in the game.
Tebow again connected with Decker for the third time in the game with a 39-yard pass that was upheld after review. A 23-yard pass from Tebow to tight end Dante Rosario gave the Broncos enough field position for Prater to hit a 24-yard field goal, tying the game at 13 all and giving San Diego just under a minute forty to score.
The Chargers comeback attempt was ultimately squashed as Dumervil again reintroduced Rivers to the turf and San Diego head coach Norv Turner made a decision to end the teams misery and head to overtime.
In overtime the teams turned the possession over to each other twice before the Chargers attempted a 53-yard field goal attempt. Novak's first attempt was blocked, but a timeout called by John Fox allowed Novak to retry. On his second attempt Novak went wide right.
The Broncos began with excellent field position, but only 2:31 left on the clock. Following a first down incompletiton Tebow ran for twelve-yards and then four-yards before the two minute warning stopped the clock. McGahee busted a 24-yard bull rush coming out of the two minute warning and set up Prater with beautiful field position for his 37-yard field goal attempt and game winning field goal.
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First
I am so cool!
Q. Why doesn't St. Paul have a professional football team?
A. Because then Minneapolis would want one!
of course!
people who read Mid-Utah Radio columns about the Broncos are always cool!
Brad James
Follow me on Twitter
With Coach Zorro on our side, we will slice opponents to ribbons. Tim Tebow gives me hope and I already have faith and charity in my heart! I see a propitious future rife with Lombardis for our Broncos!
by the new Bradfather on Nov 28, 2011 6:03 PM MST up reply actions
I'm a legend in my own mind!!!
If you don’t believe me just ask me!
Q. Why doesn't St. Paul have a professional football team?
A. Because then Minneapolis would want one!
No, Defense does.
This is a team game. Tebow does nothing without a stout defense, solid running game, and what has quietly become a very solid special teams unit.
This. Is. A. Team. Game.
Tim Tebow, Tim Tebow Tim Tebow. Tim Tebow, Tim Tebow. Furthermore, Tim Tebow. Also, Tim Tebow. In conclusion, Tim Tebow. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go Tim Tebow my Tim Tebow. Everybody have a Tim Tebow Tebow, Tebow!
isnt Tebow on the team
Did he get cut and I dont know it yet?
by LC43EU on Nov 28, 2011 6:34 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
your opinion doesn't count Clompy
lol just kidding
Q. Why doesn't St. Paul have a professional football team?
A. Because then Minneapolis would want one!
of course it is
but Tebow does contribute as much as anyone else. The QB of any franchise takes all the glory and all the blame all at the same time – around most blogs, it is focused on the QB. Look at the Colts, Kansas City, Patriots, Steelers, J-E-T-S, etc. While there are some good players on the opposite side of the ball, the most talked about is the quarterback, whether it be good or bad.
Whether you are on the Tebow bandwagon, or you’re not, or somewhere in between, that’s what its about. Name another position on another team that articles are written more about. The QB is the game manager, the leader of the team. He controls the offense (which is the side of the ball that puts up the points – or at least should put up the points). He contributes to the running game (even Tom Brady contributes to the running game). He contributes to continuing drives. He contributes to touchdowns, field goals, and even the defense (by time of posession – yes it is a key stat). T.O.P. is what keeps the defense off the field and refreshed.
I know that:
This. Is. A. Team. Game.
but Tebow, Rivers, Sanchez, Moore, Cutler, Brees, Brady, Manning (even this season), contributes to both success and loss more than any other position on the field at any given time.
This game is a team effort, yes; however the quarterback has the biggest effect on the game. Ask anyone with more knowledge than either you or I. Heck, even Elway admitted that QB is the #1 thing a team needs for success. Yes there are other factors; heck, the practice squad players are just as important as any other position. Why? They are the ones that get the first stringers ready to play the opposition. Anyone who has played at a high level will tell you that. If the P.S. players suck and don’t try, you are not going to be ready.
To wrap up this mini article of a rant, I conclude that QB has the biggest impact whether you like it or not. The games are won in a team effort, and everyone has a part to play. If they don’t play it well, the team will lose, but QB still has the biggest impact. Ask any team. Look what not having Manning did to the Colts – or losing both Shaub and Leinart will do for the Texans. Or look what the Patriots look like with Brady. Now take Brady away – look what they look like – they look more like the Colts. Plain and simple.
Q. Why doesn't St. Paul have a professional football team?
A. Because then Minneapolis would want one!
by Broncs55 on Nov 28, 2011 6:36 PM MST up reply actions 6 recs
btw - I played college ball on defense
I’m a pro defense kind of guy – but I still know the QB is the most important position. Why? Because if I could rattle the QB, I could make the opposition easy.
It was hard to rattle anyone from the bench tho lol
Q. Why doesn't St. Paul have a professional football team?
A. Because then Minneapolis would want one!
D and ball possession
are the most important parts of the game to me too. if they can win those two phases consistently, i believe that will continue to win more then they lose.
is it to early to start campaigning for Te’o or Jenkins with what is looking like a pick in the 20’s?
by OrangeCrushT.O on Nov 28, 2011 7:14 PM MST up reply actions
Green'd
:)
All generalizations are false, including this one. ~Mark Twain
If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves. ~Thomas A. Edison
by BroncoFanInLakewood on Nov 28, 2011 9:13 PM MST up reply actions
Becoming way too predictable.
Rivers? the SD QB? You don’t see the relationship he was trying to build in the title? Did the article itself neglect the team or expound on things Tebow did not do? Gad, you have a knee jerk reaction to anything that has Tebow in the text. Really, this is getting ridiculous.
Cue the strawman argument when you say what you think everybody is saying as an excuse for your comment.
by idahobronc on Nov 28, 2011 8:46 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
It was a great game!
It was so nice to walk out of Qualcom with the win. The NFL channel is replaying the game on Tuesday BTW if anyone wants to see it again. I want to see those sacks and the (I think) 3 dropped passes. I felt that Tim improved his passing a little, as he appears to do each week. I also tried to focus on Doom and Von and I have to say that they effectively shut up the really loud dude who was spitting out “DEFENSE!” right behind me. Great game. A real nail biter.
We conquered this territory with our bodies and souls, then we watered it with our tears.
Go Denver!
thanks for the info
I’ll be glued to my seat watching the game AGAIN! I want to relish in the moment, but look for things that I wasn’t adherent to while watching it live.
Q. Why doesn't St. Paul have a professional football team?
A. Because then Minneapolis would want one!
Yeah, it's really hard to take it all in live
But the excitement level is over the top! It’s so crazy when you are a fan of the ‘other’ team. The Charger fans are okay though. Not like going to a Raider game ugh…
We conquered this territory with our bodies and souls, then we watered it with our tears.
Go Denver!
That is because there is consistently a large number of opposing fans at every Charger game
If they got into fights at every game, there would be more “fans” in the hospital than in the seats. Like their team, their fans are weak and fold under pressure. A little rain, a sunny day, another Turner nose dive… it does not take all that much.
The Denver luck came through though as tackle Orlando Franklin came up with the fumble after it looked to have passed through no less than five Charger’s players hands.
Nobody funks with Deebo. I bet he was on the bottom of the pile biting ears like MIke Tyson.
Great recap, I would only add that Von MIller’s sack in OT was pretty clutch and should probably have been mentioned. Opps, not a sack, but that TFL for about four yards probably put them out of field goal range. They probably make it from four yards closer. Tough to say, but that tackle in the backfield was clutch.
In the locker room after their 16-13 victory over the Chargers on Sunday, the Broncos were screaming like teenage girls at a Justin Bieber concert. ~Woody Paige.
Maybe odd that I love that, but I love that they're having fun. The sky is the limit. I won't say it, but dare to dream.
what has meril hodge said of tebow lately—like after the win on sunday?
"They’re a very special group of men. Cherish them, you will not see their like again."
Tebow
Tebow is a natural leader and just plain wins. He doesn’t turn the ball over and is progressing each week. He will only get better and it’s near impossible to find someone with character and talent. Humility goes a long way and he makes those around him better.
Merril
Meril is complementing Tebow.He and Hasselbeck got into an argument about what Mgahee said about Tebow isn’t the only player on the team , it’s the whole team winning the game. It was a real heated argument. But they are praising the defense. I was surprised Hasselbeck got so pissed , he’s usually real laid back, I don’t think he likes Merril
the point I got is...
Rivers slunk out of the stadium through a sewer hole, trying to avoid being seen by Miller Or Doom, still fearfully looking over his shoulder, But both Miller and Doom were busy carrying Tim Tebow through the Opponents Parking Lot, in Full Veiw of a large Fan Base full of Bronco Fans, who are celebrating IN THEIR HOUSE!!!
It is better to keep silent, and appear to be wise, then to ramble on aimlessly and remove all doubt! The Wisest Man, Solomon.
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