What a difference one year makes. Last season the Denver Broncos last year were ranked at the end of the season as the number three pass defense statistically averaging 186.3 yards per game against. This season through ten games the Broncos average 232 yards per game and ranked twentieth. It can be debated of what that reason is. There are a few arguments that could be brought up:

1. The departure of Mike Nolan
2. A year older on our veteran defense
3. Too many injuries to the secondary

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     When the Broncos played the Kansas City Chiefs, our offense was not like anything we have seen in our 25 games with Josh McDaniels. For once, the Broncos were successfully able to run the ball and effectively run an offense that involved the play action as our main weapon. Thanks to the 100+ yard performance by Knowshon Moreno, the Chiefs could not cheat and drop their secondary knowing that a run game was not a reliable option for us.

     If the Broncos want to continue to win this season and get themselves back into contention into the AFC West, it has to start Monday night, and it has to start with first establishing a run game. Once we can do that, the play-action will open up and we should have no problem moving the ball down field against the Chargers. To put it simple, Kyle Ortons stats on play-action this season is 52/77, 12 Yards per play, 4 touchdowns and a QB rating of 120. Simply. Incredible.

More after the jump..

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FINAL

And just like that, poof, the season is over.  It is a harsh reality for football fans especially so for those of us like me that spend so much time revolving around the Broncos.  Let the blame game begin, afterall, this has to be someone's fault.  Blame Josh McDaniels, blame Kyle Orton, or Brandon Marshall.  All had a hand in this, as all three had a hand in any success the Broncos had.

Football is the ultimate team game - win as a team, lose as a team.  From the start of off-season conditioning, the Broncos had a problem with Brandon Marshall.  Josh McDaniels was consistent in how he was dealt with - be it the off-season or training camp or the final game of the season.  In the end, in all parts of life, that is all you can ask for, consistency.

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FINAL

This one hurts.  No other way to put it, no way to spin it.  There are no moral victories in the NFL and today was no exception.  Sure, the Broncos fell way behind, by 17 at one point in the 2nd half, and yes they came all the way back to tie the game at 27.  Perhaps you can talk about the officiating - some of the worst I have seen in 30+ years watching football, but that is a practice in futility as well.

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DENVER BRONCOS HEAD COACH JOSH MCDANIELS

General

"I give the Raiders credit. We knew coming in, it would be a good, tough-fought hard division game, similar to the first one. They certainly did more than we did at the line of scrimmage. They took advantage of the opportunities down low in the red zone, we struggled to do that. Any time you have to kick field goals in a game it's going to be close, it's going to be costly in the end. They made a few more plays than we did and I give the coach credit. And their staff, they did a nice job and had a good game plan and I give them credit, we have to go back to work."

On the Raiders running game

"They have good backs. We didn't play the running game nearly as well as we would've liked to. There's no question about that. They had a bunch of big runs and that was really key. They changed the field position in two or three plays there on two or three drives. We had them backed up at the eleven and three plays later they are in the end zone. Any time you are going to give up 25-30 yard runs or more in a game, those are going to pile up on you. I think they may have had half their yards on four carries. We didn't play sound enough. We didn't play fundamentally as well as we would like to play and they took advantage of it."

On Kyle Orton's pass to OT Ryan Clady

"It was a gadget play...I wouldn't have called if I didn't think it would work."

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Final

The Denver Broncos have had one flaw all season - short yardage running.  It has been a season-long struggle that reared it's ugly head again today as the Broncos lost to the hated Raiders, at home, AGAIN, 20-19.  There was plenty to be annoyed with in this game - the defense against the run for much of the game as the Raiders chalked up 241 yards on the ground.  How about 3rd Down Conversions?  The Broncos are in the bottom half in the NFL in converting 3rd Downs.  Today?  4-15.  Not Good.    The plain inability of the Broncos offense to score touchdowns in the Red Zone - they were 1-4 on the day, and of course, short yardage running.  From 1st and Goal at the 3 in the 4th quarter, the Broncos were unable to score a touchdown, choosing instead to pass the ball 2 out of 3 times before kicking a FG.

That has been the moral of this Broncos season and because of it the Broncos are once again staring right in the face of a season lost - missing the playoffs for a 4th straight season when having it's destiny squarely in its hands.

Perhaps most frustrating is why JaMarcus Russell chooses the Broncos to give Raiders fans any hope that he might one day become a decent quarterback.  Coming in for the injured Charlie Frye, Russell once again led the Raiders to a crushing defeat of the Broncos in Denver.  The same Russell that was benched for, first Bruce Gradkowski, then Charlie Frye.  The same Russell that is being run oout of town by his once-loyal fan-base.

So now the Broncos once again have their backs against the wall.  They knew coming in to the game, after the Jets and Dolphins had both lost, that 2 wins in their final 3 games would be good enough to get the #5 seed.  Now, they need both wins - in Philadelphia next week before a home game with Kansas City - just to hang on to the 6 seed.  A loss in either?  Well, nothing is certain then.

Mike Shanahan, and in large part, Jay Cutler, were run out of town for their inability to close late in the season.  New coach, new quarterback, yet the same results in a late season disappointment at home.  No time to feel sorry for ourselves, however, a tough game in Philadelphia awaits.

Congratulations to the San Diego Chargers, 2009 AFC West Champions.

HC JOSH MCDANIELS

(opening comments)
"Start out with giving credit to the Colts.  They certainly set the bar here in the AFC.  We found out why when you play sixty minutes and make the mistakes we made today it is going to be difficult to beat a winning, top-caliber football team that plays well under pressure.  That team is extremely well coaches, Coach Caldwell and his staff do a great job and I want to give them credit today- they forced us in to making a lot of mistakes in situations that ultimately determined the outcome of the game."

(on whether it was the game plan to throw to WR Brandon Marshall so much)
"It is part of it but not necessarily the game plan to throw it to him that many times.  We knew we'd have our chances to get the ball outside to the receivers.  It just so happened to be Brandon a lot more than usual."

(on costly mistakes)
"You can't set yourself back the way we did today.  We had a few third and short opportunities there and end up with third and six- whether it is a delay or false start.  There was also that big penalty in the two minute offense right before the half that put us with the ball instead of on the fifty on the thirty-five.  You can't give them yards and opportunities because they take advantage of them.  We knew that coming in that they are the best team in football at taking advantage of your mistakes and they did that."

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FINAL

Here are the final numbers.  Talk about the game.  This one stings, to be sure, because the Broncos had their chances - but as this team continues to grow, and tries to get into the playoffs, this is a growth opportunity as well.  The Broncos could have folded, down 21-0 early in the 2nd Quarter, and been embarrassed by the Colts.  They didn't.  They fought for 60 minutes.  The Colts were better, and they won the game. 

Each week we learn a little more about these Broncos, what they are, and what they will become as Josh McDaniels continues to build the roster in his image.  Anyone not like what they see? 

Congrats to Brandon Marshall for breaking Terrell Owens' single-game receptions record with 21 passes caught.  Marshall was a Beast today.  Kyle Orton played well, and the defense was awesome after a slow start.  Too many missed opportunities, however, in short-yardage situations, to go along with sloppy game-management at times was too much to overcome when playing a team like the Colts, a quarterback like Peyton Manning.

Again, I know there is frustration, but I feel good about the BIG PICTURE.