Noodle Arms
It feels so strange to say this, but it feels like the Broncos are a good QB away from being a great team.
Denver is 5-0, and it’s been all defense. Of course, this 5 game win streak has come against the Ravens, Chiefs, Lions, Vikings, and Raiders. Not exactly murderers row, but the fact that each game has been a lowish scoring slugfest for most of the match is just so weird. This is not the same team from two years ago or even the start of last year. It’s just so strange. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Peyton Manning led team that isn’t an offensive threat first and foremost. This is a scrappy defensive team that keeps managing to win games. I can’t help when I watch the Broncos but feel like if they had the Peyton of two years ago they could be the toast of the AFC and even make the current Patriots juggernaut nervous.
Watching Peyton now is just the most depressing thing. It just feels wrong. He looks so old, so beat. His throws have no velocity. The amazing brain is still there, but his body just isn’t anymore. It’s like when you have a family pet that you’ve loved for years and they are just barely hanging on, and you can’t bring yourself to end the suffering because just maybe they will get better and be okay for a while. I don’t even remember feeling this depressed watching Brett Favre’s final season. Peyton is a legend and seeing him go out this way is such a bummer. This has to be it for him. He can’t last after this season.
Honestly the weird part is they still might make the playoffs easily. The rest of their schedule:
@Browns
Packers
@ Colts
Chiefs
@ Bears
Pats
@ Chargers
Raiders
@ Steelers
Bengals
Chargers
The only obvious losses I see there are the Packers and Patriots. The Bengals and Steelers are probable losses, I’m reluctant to say surefire losses due to being so late in the schedule when things can change. The Chargers have a good chance to steal one, but the Chiefs are toast, the Raiders aren’t good, the Bears aren’t good, the Colts aren’t good, and the Browns are probably not good. This is still Denver’s division to lose.
I’m happy you still drew this. Peyton was terrible and good for Charles Woodson. Also Carr needs better aim
too much papa john’s will do that
Does Peyton Manning have to buy all of his hats from Fred McGriff?
The Law of Conservation of Manning is in full effect. Eli is on the upswing, that means Peyton is going to lose effectiveness…
Denver has the best pass rush in the NFL and you really think the Chargers have a chance to steal one? Rivers will probably have more sacks than completions when they play.
Really dude? Dallas clearly has one of the best pass rushes. They went from 1 sack in 4 games to 6
Not sure why you’re picking a fight with him out of nowhere, he wasn’t even disrespecting the Cowboys or saying anything outrageous. Saying Dallas has one of the best pass rushes after a single good game is probably a more outrageous statement than suggesting Denver is the best after they’ve looked stellar for 5 games.
That said, with Ware hurt, Denver’s pass rush looks worse.
We have 11 different players with a sack and are on track for most sacks by a team in NFL history. That Denver has the best pass rush this year is not in question.
As a Chargers’ fan, agreed. Worst OL in history, for the 3rd year in a row. I mean, egads, this is a continuing horror story.
Back when Peyton was in his prime, there were few things I enjoyed more than watching him fail. Now that he’s a battered husk of his former self, all I feel is sadness and the grim reminder of my own mortality.
It’s funny how what goes around comes around. You made that comic years ago of Peyton having to Old Yeller Austin Collie. Now it seems like John Elway will have to Old Yeller Peyton.
I feel like you’re sleeping on the Bears a little, though. They are a good match-up against them, and these are not the same Bears as last season under Trestman.
But you’re right. This is definitely Broncos’ division to lose. AFCW decided to implode this season, sans the Raiders.
The Raiders are about to implode, as they do every year under Reggie McKenzie.
Lol no they’re theBears under John. Fox, which as a Broncos fan…I wish you best of luck with that
John Fox is our transition coach to the future. He will set things in motion, so that we can attract a real coach to get us closer to being a contender.
I consider us lucky to have gotten him, considering what a dumpster fire the Bears have been for the last 3-4 years.
As a Bears fan, I have to weigh in on the state of the Bears.
They still stink.
They bear-ly won against the Raiders, and would have gotten pummeled by the Chiefs had hey not lost Charles during the game.
Look for the Lions to get their passing game worked out this Sunday as they remind us that the Chicago DBs are who we thought they were… bad.
The thing is, if your game plan is to win 17-9 or something like that it’s a very small margin of error. Defenses win you a lot of games, but if your offense isn’t putting up one freak play can break the game. I think *anyone* *could* steal a game of the broncos as they’ve looked recently.
But for my 2 bits I say the probably lose to pats/pack/bengals/steelers (in that order), but figure four “probably lose” is still a 1-3 record. Figure they probably win the other 7, but something weird happens in a game (fumble return TD, defender falls down TD, etc), and I’m still not 100% convinced that oakland or indy are *that* bad. I figure 5-2 in those 7 games
Resulting record would be 11-5. Which would win the division, but unless they beat the the Bengals week 16 I bet 11-5 puts them as 3rd seed in the AFC
Frankly, the team we are now is the team that humiliated us a few years back in the Super Bowl. If we could get some semblance of a run game going then Manning being an average quarterback won’t matter. Wonder if the Bears are willing to deal Forte?
For the record, the Patriots have never done well in Mile High and this is the first time we’ve actually gotten to play the Pats in our home territory during the regular season since Manning became our quarterback. If anyone’s going to stifle Brady it’ll be us.
I read somewhere recently (wish I could find the link, it was shortly after the Jared Allen trade) that there was strong evidence Forte was on the trading block, but I think his price might be too steep. Not sure the Broncos would want to give up a high draft pick for Forte, as I’m sure that will be what the Bears will ask for.
Forte is untradeable.
He has great numbers which will make the price a 2nd round pick.
But, he is on the wrong side of 30, on the last year of his deal and will want new money, a lot of it.
So a 2nd rd pick and a 4 year $40-45 million with 25 mil guaranteed is what the price tag will be.
Any of you armchair GMs want to pay that?
I’m selling if you’re buying.
Son of Bum’s defense is keeping the Broncos playoff chances alive. If Peyton’s arm is weak now, how will it hold up when Dec rolls around?
The Walrus and the Regional Game Manager will pick up a few wins now that everyone has written off the Chiefs. Rivers still does not have an OL but you know the Chargers will somehow get to 7/8 wins.
@CHI has some interesting angles, Foxy & Cutler vs the Broncos. I think Peyton wins against the DeathStar this time in the regular season. Broncos also get to play the Bengals at home.
Yea, Broncos likely keep the div crown for another season.
Thank god it isn’t Lady and the Tramp with Michael Vick
Who would’ve thought that four years after jettisoning Tim Tebow for a hall of fame quarterback, Denver would be back to the “Suck for most of the game on offense but do just enough to put together a late drive and let a brutal defense tear the other team apart and force a key turnover late to win by the skin of your teeth” formula from Timmy’s run?
Something about history, and being doomed to repeat itself maybe?
There’s no question he isn’t in his prime, but he definitely isn’t the only one on offense to blame against Oakland. Hillman and Thomas both dropped pretty good touchdown passes. Sanders dropped a good pass just before the 3rd and long pass that led to the 2nd int. Daniels just isn’t good about getting open and fighting for the ball, which led to that first 1nt (Manning should know better than to throw that one though). The O-line still sucks. The run game is garbage because of it. These are all things that need to be fixed, it’s not as simple as saying we’re a good QB away from being a great team.
Our offense at the very least is getting field goals, our defense carries us to victory, and Manning has had game winning drives this season. We’re the weirdest 5-0 team, but I think with some serious offensive “get your shit together” practice, we can do well in the playoffs.
I really never though we would see the regression of Peyton like this. He went from Superstar to average joe in a flash. Really makes me wonder how much longer before we see Peyton on the bench and Brock Osweiler era begin.
For the first time in a long time, I didn’t see the punch-line coming. Well played, sir.