After five weeks you begin to see what your team is made of. There are many aspects that go into being GMC Professional Grade: Focus, precision, consistency. In one word - one word - can you describe your team right now? C'mon, c'mon, give it to me. And let me know, how long will it last?
My one word for the 2014 Denver Broncos is playmakers.
No one said it had to be an adjective.
When I looked at the four games of their season so far, that's the consistent theme: someone, anyone, steps up and makes the play when it matters.
First, there was Bradley Roby in Week 1, the Broncos' first round rookie cornerback, defending a fourth down pass from Indianapolis Colts QB Andrew Luck to WR Reggie Wayne. Luck has been on a tear since that Week 1 loss, punctuating Roby's big play.
In Week 2, there was defensive tackle Terrance Knighton, deflecting Kansas City Chiefs QB Alex Smith's fourth down pass at the line of scrimmage to give the Broncos a one-score win. Pot Roast has proven to be a playmaker since the middle of last year, and he is thriving in a leadership role in 2014.
In Week 3, the playmaker was Peyton Manning, connecting on pass after pass in the game's final minute to force overtime against the Seattle Seahawks. Unfortunately, he didn't see the field in the game's extra period, the first and only time the defense has failed to step up this season. They were simply gassed and on the road.
Then, in Week 5, wide receiver Demaryius Thomas stepped up and found another gear. How he caught 226 yards Sunday against a previously undefeated Arizona Cardinals defense is still remarkable.
The good news is that the impact of these playmakers appears to be sustainable; the 2014 Denver Broncos have a lot of them on this roster. Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware, Emmanuel Sanders, Wes Welker, Julius Thomas, Danny Trevathan, T.J. Ward. Aqib Talib, and Chris Harris Jr. have yet to make that truly clutch, fourth quarter, game-winning or game-tying play, but you know they could any time. And those who have made plays could see themselves doing it again.
This roster is talented from top to bottom, and that on-paper talent exists to make big plays on Sunday. The 2014 Denver Playmakers should continue to thrive as the season moves forward.
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