Lonestar
12-06-2009, 10:29 PM
Denver tallies 20 points in third quarter of 44-13 triumph
By Mike Klis
The Denver Post
Posted: 12/06/2009 02:12:00 PM MST
Updated: 12/06/2009 02:45:39 PM MST
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Stephen Alexander and Jeb Putzier were the tight ends. Charlie Adams was the No. 3 receiver. Kyle Johnson was a frequently used fullback.
Jake Plummer was the quarterback.
It's been so long since the Broncos participated in the playoffs, only three starting players, two assistant coaches and no front-office executives involved in roster decisions remain from that 2005 season.
It should be safe to at least plan for those January football parties. After embarrassing the Kansas City Chiefs 44-13 on an otherwise gloomy December — that's right, December — afternoon at Arrowhead Stadium — that's right, Arrowhead — the Broncos are now in great position to extend their season beyond the regular 16 games.
The win was only the Broncos' second in 17 December games in Kansas City. Win later in Denver, and the playoffs must no longer be a mirage for a Broncos team that has suffered through a postseason drought of three consecutive seasons. The Broncos are 8-4 with home games remaining against 4-8 Oakland and 3-9 Kansas City.
Take care of business against those poor teams at home, and the Broncos would have attained the magic win total of 10 that is so common among playoff qualifiers.
Where have you gone, Lenny Walls? The only starters remaining from that Broncos' 2005 team are left guard Ben Hamilton, linebacker D.J. Williams and left cornerback Champ Bailey. And only the two defensive players are still starting today.
But never mind whether the Broncos can make the playoffs. It's time to get greedy. Do the Broncos have what it takes to beat Peyton Manning and the 12-0 Indianapolis Colts next week in the domed facility that is Lucas Oil Stadium?
The run game may be the key. If the Broncos can sustain the run — they had 131 yards rushing by halftime against the Chiefs, Correll Buckhalter had 114 yards on just 11 carries through three quarters, and Knowshon Moreno rushed for two touchdowns
Chiefs linebacker Tamba Hali, back, forces a fumble by knocking the ball from the passing hand of Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton during the second quarter Sunday. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)— they can play keep away from Manning.
And when Manning does have the ball, he will find that Denver isn't Roc Alexander's secondary anymore.
Perhaps Elvis Dumervil, Bailey and the Broncos' fifth-ranked pass defense can negate the Colts' strength.
Dumervil ran down Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel in the second quarter for his NFL-best 15th sack of the season. Unlike the Broncos teams that took trips to Indy in recent years, Dumervil offers the chance to apply pocket pressure on Manning, and Bailey appears to have considerably improved secondary mates.
Right cornerback Andre' Goodman and safety Renaldo Hill, each signed as free agents from Miami during the offseason, each picked off Cassel in the third quarter to set
Chiefs defensive back Travis Daniels, right, chases Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)up game-clinching scores.
Goodman also returned a fumble for a touchdown. And another Broncos safety, Brian Dawkins, blew up a Chiefs' first-and-goal-from-the-1 chance in the second quarter by tackling Jamaal Charles for a 3-yard loss, then delivering a blindside-blitz hit to disrupt Cassel's third-down pass attempt.
The only time the Chiefs scored a touchdown came after Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton fumbled while hit in the pocket on his own 3-yard line.
Orton had three turnovers against the Chiefs, the only blemish in an otherwise dominant Broncos performance. The last time the Broncos were in a playoff game, against Pittsburgh in the AFC championship game, Plummer had four turnovers in a 34-17 loss.
In that game, Wesley Duke got the only start of his career. These are not the same Broncos that will be taking on Manning next week.
Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com
http://www.denverpost.com/premium/broncos/ci_13936231
By Mike Klis
The Denver Post
Posted: 12/06/2009 02:12:00 PM MST
Updated: 12/06/2009 02:45:39 PM MST
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Stephen Alexander and Jeb Putzier were the tight ends. Charlie Adams was the No. 3 receiver. Kyle Johnson was a frequently used fullback.
Jake Plummer was the quarterback.
It's been so long since the Broncos participated in the playoffs, only three starting players, two assistant coaches and no front-office executives involved in roster decisions remain from that 2005 season.
It should be safe to at least plan for those January football parties. After embarrassing the Kansas City Chiefs 44-13 on an otherwise gloomy December — that's right, December — afternoon at Arrowhead Stadium — that's right, Arrowhead — the Broncos are now in great position to extend their season beyond the regular 16 games.
The win was only the Broncos' second in 17 December games in Kansas City. Win later in Denver, and the playoffs must no longer be a mirage for a Broncos team that has suffered through a postseason drought of three consecutive seasons. The Broncos are 8-4 with home games remaining against 4-8 Oakland and 3-9 Kansas City.
Take care of business against those poor teams at home, and the Broncos would have attained the magic win total of 10 that is so common among playoff qualifiers.
Where have you gone, Lenny Walls? The only starters remaining from that Broncos' 2005 team are left guard Ben Hamilton, linebacker D.J. Williams and left cornerback Champ Bailey. And only the two defensive players are still starting today.
But never mind whether the Broncos can make the playoffs. It's time to get greedy. Do the Broncos have what it takes to beat Peyton Manning and the 12-0 Indianapolis Colts next week in the domed facility that is Lucas Oil Stadium?
The run game may be the key. If the Broncos can sustain the run — they had 131 yards rushing by halftime against the Chiefs, Correll Buckhalter had 114 yards on just 11 carries through three quarters, and Knowshon Moreno rushed for two touchdowns
Chiefs linebacker Tamba Hali, back, forces a fumble by knocking the ball from the passing hand of Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton during the second quarter Sunday. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)— they can play keep away from Manning.
And when Manning does have the ball, he will find that Denver isn't Roc Alexander's secondary anymore.
Perhaps Elvis Dumervil, Bailey and the Broncos' fifth-ranked pass defense can negate the Colts' strength.
Dumervil ran down Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel in the second quarter for his NFL-best 15th sack of the season. Unlike the Broncos teams that took trips to Indy in recent years, Dumervil offers the chance to apply pocket pressure on Manning, and Bailey appears to have considerably improved secondary mates.
Right cornerback Andre' Goodman and safety Renaldo Hill, each signed as free agents from Miami during the offseason, each picked off Cassel in the third quarter to set
Chiefs defensive back Travis Daniels, right, chases Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)up game-clinching scores.
Goodman also returned a fumble for a touchdown. And another Broncos safety, Brian Dawkins, blew up a Chiefs' first-and-goal-from-the-1 chance in the second quarter by tackling Jamaal Charles for a 3-yard loss, then delivering a blindside-blitz hit to disrupt Cassel's third-down pass attempt.
The only time the Chiefs scored a touchdown came after Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton fumbled while hit in the pocket on his own 3-yard line.
Orton had three turnovers against the Chiefs, the only blemish in an otherwise dominant Broncos performance. The last time the Broncos were in a playoff game, against Pittsburgh in the AFC championship game, Plummer had four turnovers in a 34-17 loss.
In that game, Wesley Duke got the only start of his career. These are not the same Broncos that will be taking on Manning next week.
Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com
http://www.denverpost.com/premium/broncos/ci_13936231