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T.K.O.
09-18-2009, 06:03 PM
Tuesday Huddle
Posted 3 days ago163 Comments 16 Recommendations E-mail
Broncos temporarily push turbulent offseason aside
By Vic Carucci | NFL.com
Senior Columnist








The outcome will be remembered for a crazy tipped pass that Brandon Stokley -- by being in the right place at the right time -- turned into the winning touchdown.

As the 2009 season progresses, it could very well end up meaning so much more.

Not only did the Denver Broncos' 12-7 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals allow them to put aside, at least temporarily, all of the turmoil that filled their offseason, it also revealed a good portion of what could very well define their season.

Rather than discussing all that has gone wrong since Josh McDaniels replaced Mike Shanahan as the Broncos' coach -- beginning with the trade that sent pouting quarterback Jay Cutler to the Chicago Bears -- the Broncos and their fans can talk about an unforgettable road win. Never mind all of the shaking up and feather-ruffling that McDaniels has done. The Broncos, picked by many to be a disaster, are 1-0.


Al Behrman / Associated Press
Brandon Stokley's 87-yard TD catch was the longest winning reception in the final minute of the fourth quarter in NFL history.

Longest go-ahead TD pass in final 11 seconds (last 25 seasons)
Year Team Combo Yds Time
2009 Broncos Kyle Orton-Brandon Stokley 87 0:11
1999 Browns Tim Couch-Kevin Johnson 56 0:00
2002 Browns Tim Couch-Quincy Morgan 50 0:00
1991 Falcons B.J. Tolliver-Michael Haynes 44 0:01
1995 Broncos John Elway-Rod Smith 43 0:00
"It was definitely a must-win for us," second-year linebacker Wesley Woodyard said.

Besides its impact on the team's collective psyche, this was a game in which the Broncos showed they might very well have something that could carry them to much more success this season and beyond -- a tough, hard-hitting, playmaking defense.

Not exactly the first thing that comes to mind when you think of McDaniels, who made his mark with the New England Patriots as one of the NFL's top offensive coordinators. But it was his clear recognition of the vital importance of defensive strength that helped convince the Broncos to hire McDaniels.

And in his first regular-season game as a head coach, the unit that he hired renowned defensive coordinator Mike Nolan to convert from a 4-3 to a 3-4 held the explosive Bengals scoreless for all but one minute. The Broncos twice intercepted Carson Palmer, sacked him three times, and held Cedric Benson to 76 rushing yards. Nolan prepared a superb game plan, but McDaniels had a big hand in the way his defenders performed as well.

"I think we actually have a bigger advantage of having (McDaniels) being such a good offensive coach and coming from the Patriots and having a lot of (offensive) success," said Woodyard, who had an interception against Cincinnati. "He relays a lot of stuff to us that we, as defensive players, probably would never even pick up -- certain schemes, certain plays. The biggest thing is how most quarterbacks think. If you allow a defense to get a good insight on that, you'll have some success."

Mario Haggan, another Broncos' linebacker, isn't naïve enough to think that one win will make the turbulent offseason disappear from everyone's memory. He knows that a loss, and certainly a string of losses, could quickly bring storm clouds over the team's practice facility.

"I definitely think it'll be a very opinioned season inside (the building on) Broncos Parkway at Dove Valley (Business Park)," said Haggan, who had a sack against the Bengals.

Yet, in Haggan's view, the problems of the offseason resulted mostly from the focus that tends to be placed on the "negative instead of the positive" when change occurs.

"And we have a lot of positive things going with this team," Haggan said. "The work ethic, the time that the coaches put in, the leadership of (safety) Brian Dawkins and (cornerback) Champ Bailey on the defensive side of the ball. (Starting quarterback) Kyle Orton is a very business-like guy, (as is backup) Chris Simms. (Tight end) Daniel Graham and (running back) Correll Buckhalter ... they're all holding this team together."

That's one reason that there was a growing sense of optimism at Broncos headquarters on Monday as players reviewed videotape of Sunday's game.

"We have a lot of veteran guys that worked very hard in this offseason," Haggan said. "And I definitely think that we will be a team that people will be looking at and saying, 'Wow! I didn't think they'd be here.'"

Slick
09-18-2009, 06:39 PM
Remember that frozen rope Elway threw to Rod Smith? ...against Daryl Green of all corners too. Nice to see that one on the list as well.

WARHORSE
09-18-2009, 10:01 PM
Remember that frozen rope Elway threw to Rod Smith? ...against Daryl Green of all corners too. Nice to see that one on the list as well.


Anyone got video of that?