Denver Native (Carol)
11-04-2010, 10:06 PM
http://www.denverbroncos.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Accountable-to-Each-Other/c1a1d0d7-5042-4d2c-a427-069dbe12165b
The Broncos are not happy with their progress thus far, but a bye week gives them time to band together and tackle the second half of the season.
LONDON -- The Broncos were blunt.
No member of Denver's team made any excuses for posting a 2-6 record in the first half of the season, but one team leader shared his determined outlook following a 24-16 loss to the 49ers.
Brian Dawkins said he knows his teammates have the character to put the past behind them and play winning football during the team's final eight games.
"We have to make sure that this second half of the season does not mirror this first half," Dawkins said.
"It will change. It's up to us. We have to take those things and make the plays that count when they count. It's only going to happen if we decide it's going to happen. It's not going to happen if we're worrying about or looking for anybody else to give us anything."
The Broncos have a bye week, providing some time for soul searching before the Kansas City Chiefs visit Denver for a game on Nov. 14. The break comes at the halfway mark in the team's schedule, perfect timing for Brandon Lloyd.
"It's really good when the bye week comes in the middle of the season as opposed to the first couple weeks, because you're really being able to push the reset button," he said.
Refreshing the team's mentality is a key part of Dawkins' message as well.
He said the men in the locker room have no choice but to forge ahead without dwelling on each loss. That means getting ready to play Kansas City without getting caught up in every mistake that may have contributed to a defeat.
"We can't cry over that spilt milk," he said. "We just have to make sure when we come out of this bye week -- as much as this thing hurts -- dust ourselves off, have a smile on our face, a song in our heart and go out and play some inspired football."
Some of that inspiration stems from a schedule that includes matchups against AFC West rivals in five of their final eight games. In Mario Haggan's eyes, the team has a shot at the division crown.
A little extra time in the ice tub doesn't hurt either.
"We'll take this opportunity to heal up and understand that we still have an opportunity to win the division," Haggan said. "Right now the only people that believe in us are inside our locker room. That's the way we've got to handle it."
A look at each of the past four losses brings to light two different types of defeat that have plagued the Broncos.
While the team fell in double-digit margins to the Ravens and the Raiders, they lost by a combined 12 points to the Jets and the 49ers due to similar circumstances.
In the game against New York, a pass interference penalty enforced against Denver set up the Jets for the game-winning touchdown. In London against the 49ers, penalties negated a touchdown catch by Jabar Gaffney and a 78-yard punt return for a touchdown by Eddie Royal that would have given the Broncos an opportunity to tie the game with the ensuing two-point conversion.
Justin Bannan thinks his team won't fall on the wrong end of those plays for too long. He believes in his teammates' fortitude to compete without a drop in intensity for the rest of the season.
"Eventually it's going to come our way," Bannan said. "The feeling is we're going to keep fighting. We're not letting it slip away. You've got a bunch of prideful men, and we're not going out like that."
The Broncos are not happy with their progress thus far, but a bye week gives them time to band together and tackle the second half of the season.
LONDON -- The Broncos were blunt.
No member of Denver's team made any excuses for posting a 2-6 record in the first half of the season, but one team leader shared his determined outlook following a 24-16 loss to the 49ers.
Brian Dawkins said he knows his teammates have the character to put the past behind them and play winning football during the team's final eight games.
"We have to make sure that this second half of the season does not mirror this first half," Dawkins said.
"It will change. It's up to us. We have to take those things and make the plays that count when they count. It's only going to happen if we decide it's going to happen. It's not going to happen if we're worrying about or looking for anybody else to give us anything."
The Broncos have a bye week, providing some time for soul searching before the Kansas City Chiefs visit Denver for a game on Nov. 14. The break comes at the halfway mark in the team's schedule, perfect timing for Brandon Lloyd.
"It's really good when the bye week comes in the middle of the season as opposed to the first couple weeks, because you're really being able to push the reset button," he said.
Refreshing the team's mentality is a key part of Dawkins' message as well.
He said the men in the locker room have no choice but to forge ahead without dwelling on each loss. That means getting ready to play Kansas City without getting caught up in every mistake that may have contributed to a defeat.
"We can't cry over that spilt milk," he said. "We just have to make sure when we come out of this bye week -- as much as this thing hurts -- dust ourselves off, have a smile on our face, a song in our heart and go out and play some inspired football."
Some of that inspiration stems from a schedule that includes matchups against AFC West rivals in five of their final eight games. In Mario Haggan's eyes, the team has a shot at the division crown.
A little extra time in the ice tub doesn't hurt either.
"We'll take this opportunity to heal up and understand that we still have an opportunity to win the division," Haggan said. "Right now the only people that believe in us are inside our locker room. That's the way we've got to handle it."
A look at each of the past four losses brings to light two different types of defeat that have plagued the Broncos.
While the team fell in double-digit margins to the Ravens and the Raiders, they lost by a combined 12 points to the Jets and the 49ers due to similar circumstances.
In the game against New York, a pass interference penalty enforced against Denver set up the Jets for the game-winning touchdown. In London against the 49ers, penalties negated a touchdown catch by Jabar Gaffney and a 78-yard punt return for a touchdown by Eddie Royal that would have given the Broncos an opportunity to tie the game with the ensuing two-point conversion.
Justin Bannan thinks his team won't fall on the wrong end of those plays for too long. He believes in his teammates' fortitude to compete without a drop in intensity for the rest of the season.
"Eventually it's going to come our way," Bannan said. "The feeling is we're going to keep fighting. We're not letting it slip away. You've got a bunch of prideful men, and we're not going out like that."