TXBRONC
10-21-2009, 08:53 AM
http://www.denverpost.com/premium/broncos/ci_13605182
Broncos' ability to hang on to football serves them well
Jeff Legwold
The Denver Post
Posted: 10/21/2009 01:00:00 AM MDT
Editor's note: NFL reporter Jeff Legwold analyzes the Broncos' victory over the Chargers and looks ahead.
There are plenty of reasons the Broncos are still in the ranks of the league's undefeated. The fact they have played smart, been physical when it was called for and somehow found a way to turn around their defense are the reasons most often cited.
But here's a vote for the fact they're selfish.
In a good way.
As in when they have the ball, they keep the ball, and when somebody else has the ball, they want to take the ball and go home.
Far more often than not in the NFL, if you simply hang onto the ball better than your opponent, your chances of winning increase.
Sure, the Broncos play their assignments, they react when they need to, they play the ball when it's necessary and — say it out loud — they:
Do. Not. Turn. The. Ball. Over.
And there's your magic dust.
The Broncos have finished a game with fewer turnovers than their opponent five times this season and obviously won all five. The only game they did not get more turnovers than their opponent was against New England, when an interception on a throwaway play to end the first half was the reason the Patriots finished with two takeaways and the Broncos one.
So, please feel free to take it one stat at a time from here on out, but turnovers will still be the biggest one when all is said and done.
Comparison shopping. The Broncos are one of two teams sitting at 6-0 after six games — Minnesota is the other, while the Colts and Saints are both 5-0.
But — thanks to the folks at the Elias Sports Bureau for this — a 6-0 start puts a team in the postseason fast lane. Since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, 43 teams started a season 6-0 before this season, and 41 made the playoffs. The only two that missed the postseason were the 1978 Redskins and the 2003 Vikings. And of those 41 playoff teams, 22 went to the Super Bowl.
Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com
Broncos' ability to hang on to football serves them well
Jeff Legwold
The Denver Post
Posted: 10/21/2009 01:00:00 AM MDT
Editor's note: NFL reporter Jeff Legwold analyzes the Broncos' victory over the Chargers and looks ahead.
There are plenty of reasons the Broncos are still in the ranks of the league's undefeated. The fact they have played smart, been physical when it was called for and somehow found a way to turn around their defense are the reasons most often cited.
But here's a vote for the fact they're selfish.
In a good way.
As in when they have the ball, they keep the ball, and when somebody else has the ball, they want to take the ball and go home.
Far more often than not in the NFL, if you simply hang onto the ball better than your opponent, your chances of winning increase.
Sure, the Broncos play their assignments, they react when they need to, they play the ball when it's necessary and — say it out loud — they:
Do. Not. Turn. The. Ball. Over.
And there's your magic dust.
The Broncos have finished a game with fewer turnovers than their opponent five times this season and obviously won all five. The only game they did not get more turnovers than their opponent was against New England, when an interception on a throwaway play to end the first half was the reason the Patriots finished with two takeaways and the Broncos one.
So, please feel free to take it one stat at a time from here on out, but turnovers will still be the biggest one when all is said and done.
Comparison shopping. The Broncos are one of two teams sitting at 6-0 after six games — Minnesota is the other, while the Colts and Saints are both 5-0.
But — thanks to the folks at the Elias Sports Bureau for this — a 6-0 start puts a team in the postseason fast lane. Since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, 43 teams started a season 6-0 before this season, and 41 made the playoffs. The only two that missed the postseason were the 1978 Redskins and the 2003 Vikings. And of those 41 playoff teams, 22 went to the Super Bowl.
Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com