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Posted 10/13/2009 at 01:31 AM
Well, at least I’m not alone. Yes, I was one of those analysts who didn’t give the Denver Broncos much of a shot at accomplishing anything positive this season. I looked at them and figured that this would be a transitional year at best for the Broncos. I felt they were weaker at QB, an unknown quantity at RB, uncertain at WR with the Brandon Marshall situation, and awful on defense. While I did state that I thought it was time for a coaching change as the team seemed to tune Mike Shanahan out last season, I wondered about whether new head man Josh McDaniels was alienating his team with his bizarre handling of the Jay Cutler situation.
I’m evidently going to be wrong on every count. The Broncos are 5-0, Kyle Orton is playing some terrific QB, the running game seems fine, Marshall is a happy camper and is playing very well, and the defense has been superb. As for McDaniels, he’s the runaway Coach of the Year through the first five weeks of the season.
Let it be said that most of the Bronco fans didn’t think much of McDaniels or the team prior to the start of the campaign. Lots of the Denver faithful who are crowing “I told you so” said no such thing. On my radio show (DC & The Sunshine Man, 4-7PM weekdays on ESPN1100 in Las Vegas, online at http://werlv.com) we received loads of text messages from very unhappy Denver fans still upset at the coaching change and highly pessimistic about their favorite team’s 2009 fortunes. I’m not sure I can recall even one positive text regarding the Broncos prior to the season.
Five weeks is less than one third of the entire season, so the Broncos have a long way to go before they are locked into the playoffs. But they have a chance to increase their lead in the division to three games if they beat the Chargers this Sunday. If they pull that win off, Denver will be very hard to catch.
The most unappreciated player on the Broncos is their QB. Kyle Orton may not have the power arm or much mobility, but all he does is win football games. Orton is now 26-12 lifetime as a starter, and it is becoming crystal clear that he is an excellent game manager who consistently puts his team in a position to get victories. And Orton was just plain outstanding in Sunday’s win over New England. He threw for 330 yards in the overtime win, led the Broncos on four lengthy drives and never rattled, even when Denver was down double digits and seemingly on its way to a defeat. Orton’s TD/Int ratio is now a dynamite 7/1 on the year, and maybe it’s time to start giving him his just due.
The Broncos are off to a great start in what looks like a very daunting four-game stretch. Beating the Patriots was huge as Denver’s next three games are at San Diego, at Baltimore and home vs. Pittsburgh. Prior to the season, I would have confidently surmised this would be an 0-4 stretch for the Broncos. Instead, they’re 1-0 and heading into Southern California with a full head of steam.
Could it all go the other way over the next few weeks for the Broncos? Sure, and it would not be a shock if they drop their next three games. But I’m also not about to rule out the possibility they could be 8-0 in early November. Once a team really starts to believe in itself, the sky’s the limit and I think it’s fair to assume that’s the current mindset in Denver.
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