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View Full Version : Loss was painful, but team needs to focus on Raiders



Lonestar
11-27-2007, 04:12 PM
By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2007/nov/27/sulking-wont-change-score/
Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Kicking to Devin Hester proved to be an unfortunate decision for the Broncos on Sunday.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Like a cornerback beaten for a touchdown, NFL coaches are supposed to have short memories and seamlessly move on to the next challenge.

They don't.

Tough losses get hardwired into their DNA, sometimes overshadowing some of the biggest wins.

And so it was Monday for Mike Shanahan after the Broncos coach had time to stew upon a lost 14-point lead and, perhaps, some developing swagger in Sunday's loss to the Chicago Bears.

"Anytime you feel like you have a game won and you give it back it sticks with you a lot of years," Shanahan said, less than 24 hours after departing the Windy City deflated. "I go back to Seattle a decade ago and it still sticks."

On Dec. 10, 1995, the Broncos led their then-division rival Seahawks 20-0 in the second quarter and by 10 with the clock ticking under five minutes. Joey Galloway and Chris Warren touchdowns pulled Seattle ahead for good. Denver finished 8-8 and a nine-win San Diego Chargers team sneaked in as one of three wild-card entrants.

In a month, the Broncos (5-6) could be pointing toward a similar loss as its postseason undoing.

"Everybody's still aware we still have a shot to take the AFC West and that'll be the motivation factor for us. And I think everybody will bounce back fine," guard Chris Kuper said. "It's a tough loss. It's one of those where you're sick to the stomach at the end because you have the game in the bag if you could run out the clock, get a stop, get field position, anything. But there was a little of everything in every phase of the game."

There was a punt block, touchdown scrum, debilitating sack, a critical penalty call and two fourth-down conversions in the final 71/2 minutes, followed by a lost coin toss and, now, a vanishing margin for error.

The weakness of the division might ultimately be one saving grace. The rest of the Broncos schedule includes one team with a winning record remaining - AFC West leader San Diego (6-5).

But the Broncos count themselves among the same basic club as those middling opponents, and the Bears loss has left the team in virtual must-win territory.

"It's kind of pinned us a little a little bit, and we've got a one- game-a-week season," defensive tackle Kenny Peterson said. "We know what kind of situation we're in. You know what kind of situation we're in. We've just got to go out and play every Sunday like that week could be our last."

The Broncos begin their push on Sunday in Oakland against the 3-8 Raiders, coming off their first division win in 18 tries.

The Broncos escaped with a 23-20 overtime win in the initial meeting Sept. 16.

"We've definitely got it in us," cornerback Champ Bailey said of the prospect of the Broncos perhaps needing to win out. "But the thing we have to understand is we've got Oakland. And if we don't take care of that game, the next one doesn't matter."

The Broncos' performance against the Bears wasn't a total loss even if it was a complete disaster. There were three touchdown drives in excess of 68 yards. The Broncos forced three turnovers. And Chicago had 166 yards before its late comeback.

Then again, the Bears didn't need the ball when Devin Hester returned a punt and kickoff for scores and a blocked punt necessitated only an 18-yard drive.

"It's one of those where you wish it was a dream, but it's not like that," Bailey said.

Some might say that with the inconsistency the Broncos have demonstrated, a five-game win streak is the product of eyes closed tightly and hoping more than potential reality, as well.

This is a team that has had a season-high win streak of two and lost games by 38 and 37 points but also has shown big-play flashes.

"Right now records don't mean anything," tight end Daniel Graham said. "It's how you play every Sunday."

The Broncos push forward with large-scale uncertainty at tailback.

Third-stringer Andre Hall suffered a high ankle sprain on the game's first play Sunday in his first NFL start but gutted it out nearly to the end.

The Broncos already were without Selvin Young and Travis Henry, both nursing knee injuries.

Henry's status with the league about substance-abuse policy issues could be resolved as soon as today, perhaps ending his season, even if he is able to return to practice.

Young is day to day and also will be re-evaluated Wednesday.

But the biggest health issue of all might be the team's overall psyche.

"There's nothing you can do about it now," Shanahan said. "The only thing you can do is get ready for the Raiders and, hopefully, when put in the same situation, get it done this time."

Nostradamus, Broncos and Bears, oh my!

Mike Shanahan and Todd Sauerbrun might have not foreseen Devin Hester's backbreaking performance Sunday against the Broncos. The Broncos should have read up on the prophecies of Nostradamus. Then maybe they could have avoided the punt and kick returns for touchdowns from Chicago's kick returner.

Many Nostradamus advocates would have you believe this quote, "Beasts wild with hunger will cross the rivers. The greater part of the battlefield will be against Hister," refers to the rise of Adolf Hitler. Not so.

The Beasts wild with hunger are definitely the Broncos, who were hungry for a share of the AFC West lead. "Cross the rivers" is in direct comparison to the Broncos crossing the Missouri and Mississippi rivers to play in Chicago.

The second sentence, "The greater part of the battlefield will be against Hister," is clear proof of the prophecy.

The greater part of the battlefield? What is the name of the Bears' stadium? Yep, Soldier Field. And as for Hister, that is a reference to Hester.

Hitler is Hister? Or Hester is Hister? The latter makes more sense. Now if only the Broncos can find a Nostradamus prophecy this week against the Raiders . .