Broncos Not Only Team to Stumble

[lawdog93]

Broncos not only team to look great, stumble to an unexpected loss
By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published October 13, 2008 at 10:11 p.m.
Turn on the talk-radio stations in San Diego, New England, Indianapolis, Buffalo and other AFC strongholds this season, and you're sure to have heard many of the same rumblings as in Denver from week to week.

The Broncos have lost two of their past three games to fall to 4-2, have some serious deficiencies on defense and a recent lack of consistency on offense.

But it's called the norm this year.

"That's the NFL," Broncos running back Andre Hall said. "That's how it be. You never know how a game's going to turn out."

There has been ample proof lately.

The Broncos look like gangbusters in going 3-0 before inexplicably losing their mojo against winless Kansas City. They rebound to win a slugfest with Tampa Bay, then slip again against Jacksonville on Sunday.

The Chargers lose at Miami one week, then crush New England the next.

The Patriots lose Tom Brady and their swagger, also falling to the improving Dolphins, then, after regaining some equilibrium, are embarrassed in San Diego.

Indianapolis slogs through offensive line issues, injuries and Peyton Manning's slow start for five weeks before seemingly putting it together in a rout of Baltimore.

Buffalo wins four straight but then is knocked to earth by Arizona, in the process losing quarterback Trent Edwards to a concussion, though he's apparently on the mend.

Even 4-1 Pittsburgh has serious issues, what with the games lost to various bumps and bruises and facing a brutal schedule.

Only Tennessee (5-0) can move forward without any complaints and maintain a straight face, though the Titans deserve credit for their adept handling of the Vince Young saga.

"It's one of those years where it's wide open. It's not like one team's going to separate itself from the others," Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey said. "It's pretty even across the board."

That's not to turn a blind eye to what's happening with the Broncos in losing those two of three.

The turnovers on offense are going to have to slow to more of a trickle if the group is going to reach its abundant potential. The 30th-ranked defense has gotten some key turnovers but has allowed far too many holes in its frequent zone coverages and openings along the front seven in the running game.

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[jjflr]

well, I see where he's going with this and it's true ........... just because you lose a game in October, doesn't mean you won't still be playing in January .............

However .....................

at this point in the season, we are also beginning to see trends ............. a fluke game like last night in Cleveland isn't going to tell us anything unless the Browns go out and play like that for the next 5 weeks ................. If they go right back to crappy defense the next 5 weeks, then we know that game was a fluke ..............

the fact is ........... the broncos have not looked good defensively in 4 of their last 5 games and I'm having trouble taking anything away from the week 1 game against the Raiders because the Raiders looked like they didn't even know their own plays ...............