Sassy
10-24-2005, 09:15 AM
East Rutherford, N.J. - Down in the dank, cemented bowels of Giants Stadium, cleat-protected behemoths could not disrupt the echoing silence.
The Broncos slowly shuffled one-by-one into the visiting locker room. Some shook their heads. Most were expressionless. Everybody was stunned.
How in the dang-blasted gene pool of Archie Manning did the Broncos lose this game? They had played so well for most of the game. Played their game of run, play-action pass, defensive aggression and field position. They had a big lead in the fourth quarter, yet in the end, the down-to-5-final-seconds end, the Broncos lost to the New York Giants 24-23 on Sunday before a raucous, bundled-up crowd of 78,516 at the Meadowlands.
"Unbelievable," said Broncos tight end Stephen Alexander, an eight-year veteran. "I don't remember ever losing one like that."
When the Giants' Eli Manning, son of Archie and younger brother of another Broncos nemesis, Peyton, hit Amani Toomer for a 2-yard touchdown pass with 5 ticks on the clock, everything changed.
The Broncos' were unable to get beyond the 5-1 hump that had haunted their past two seasons. Instead of extending their winning streak to six, the Broncos were left with a 5-2 mark for a third consecutive year.
As for the NFL record streak of not committing a turnover for five consecutive games, Manning's pass killed that, too, for it put the Broncos' kickoff return team in a state of desperation. Given little choice, Charlie Adams lateralled to the wrong guy, and on the final play, the Broncos officially fumbled. Their no-turnover streak reverted to four consecutive games, where the Broncos are tied with several others.
"Even Superman has a weakness," Giants linebacker Carlos Emmons said. "We needed this win a lot more than they did."
The kryptonite to the Broncos' season has been playing ahead. This is the third consecutive week they had at least a two-score lead in the fourth quarter, only to leave fingertip shavings strewn across Denver-area living rooms. They nearly blew a 21-10 lead against Washington two weeks ago and a 28-3 cushion against the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots last week.
Although the Broncos held on to win those two games, there was no mighty biceps of Broncos linebacker Ian Gold to save the Broncos this time, as it did against Washington on a deflection in the end zone.
"We've got to learn to finish people; there's no doubt about that," safety John Lynch said. "That's something we're going to have to focus on, and today it came to light."
After Jason Elam kicked his third field goal with 13:18 remaining, the Broncos led 23-10.
There was no hint of a Broncos collapse. Mike Anderson moved back to the chairman's chair of the Broncos' running-back committee and rushed for 120 yards. Quarterback Jake Plummer had another no-mistake, highly efficient game, completing 18-of-29 passes for 194 yards and a touchdown. The defense was giving Manning and running back Tiki Barber fits.
But then Manning moved the Giants on a 65-yard drive that Barber finished with a 4-yard touchdown run. The Broncos now led 23-17, but they would have another big chance to put the game away with about seven minutes remaining.
Anderson had just pounded his way down to the 19-yard line, but the play was brought back when Broncos right tackle George Foster was called for holding star defensive end Michael Strahan, who was otherwise rendered ineffective most of the game.
"I'm going to have to watch the film to see if the call was valid or not," Foster said. "It came at a bad time."
The penalty not only stalled the drive, it left Elam with a 49-yard
SOUND OFF
What do you think of the Broncos' self-destruction at Giants Stadium? Will they rebound Sunday at home vs. Philly? Share your thoughts on DenverPost.com's message boards.
try. He missed wide to the right.
Although Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey killed the Giants' next drive by intercepting a Manning pass, the offense went three-and-out.
"We haven't been taking advantage of drives in the third and fourth quarter that can put games away," Plummer said. "We've got to figure it out because we can't keep depending on our defense to stop the other team in the last minutes." Manning went back on the field with 3:29 remaining and the ball at his 17-yard line. Too much time for a quarterback who was getting too much time.
This was the third consecutive game the Broncos haven't had a sack. They almost had him once on third down, but Manning scrambled adroitly to his left and completed a first-down pass.
"Give that kid a lot of credit because he stayed poised," Lynch said. "He was under a lot of duress, but we're coming this close whether it be sacks or turnovers. We had all kinds of pressures but no sacks. We've got to turn those almosts into what would be a win."
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_3145925
Lynch and Plummer seem to be taking it as a "team" loss.
The Broncos slowly shuffled one-by-one into the visiting locker room. Some shook their heads. Most were expressionless. Everybody was stunned.
How in the dang-blasted gene pool of Archie Manning did the Broncos lose this game? They had played so well for most of the game. Played their game of run, play-action pass, defensive aggression and field position. They had a big lead in the fourth quarter, yet in the end, the down-to-5-final-seconds end, the Broncos lost to the New York Giants 24-23 on Sunday before a raucous, bundled-up crowd of 78,516 at the Meadowlands.
"Unbelievable," said Broncos tight end Stephen Alexander, an eight-year veteran. "I don't remember ever losing one like that."
When the Giants' Eli Manning, son of Archie and younger brother of another Broncos nemesis, Peyton, hit Amani Toomer for a 2-yard touchdown pass with 5 ticks on the clock, everything changed.
The Broncos' were unable to get beyond the 5-1 hump that had haunted their past two seasons. Instead of extending their winning streak to six, the Broncos were left with a 5-2 mark for a third consecutive year.
As for the NFL record streak of not committing a turnover for five consecutive games, Manning's pass killed that, too, for it put the Broncos' kickoff return team in a state of desperation. Given little choice, Charlie Adams lateralled to the wrong guy, and on the final play, the Broncos officially fumbled. Their no-turnover streak reverted to four consecutive games, where the Broncos are tied with several others.
"Even Superman has a weakness," Giants linebacker Carlos Emmons said. "We needed this win a lot more than they did."
The kryptonite to the Broncos' season has been playing ahead. This is the third consecutive week they had at least a two-score lead in the fourth quarter, only to leave fingertip shavings strewn across Denver-area living rooms. They nearly blew a 21-10 lead against Washington two weeks ago and a 28-3 cushion against the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots last week.
Although the Broncos held on to win those two games, there was no mighty biceps of Broncos linebacker Ian Gold to save the Broncos this time, as it did against Washington on a deflection in the end zone.
"We've got to learn to finish people; there's no doubt about that," safety John Lynch said. "That's something we're going to have to focus on, and today it came to light."
After Jason Elam kicked his third field goal with 13:18 remaining, the Broncos led 23-10.
There was no hint of a Broncos collapse. Mike Anderson moved back to the chairman's chair of the Broncos' running-back committee and rushed for 120 yards. Quarterback Jake Plummer had another no-mistake, highly efficient game, completing 18-of-29 passes for 194 yards and a touchdown. The defense was giving Manning and running back Tiki Barber fits.
But then Manning moved the Giants on a 65-yard drive that Barber finished with a 4-yard touchdown run. The Broncos now led 23-17, but they would have another big chance to put the game away with about seven minutes remaining.
Anderson had just pounded his way down to the 19-yard line, but the play was brought back when Broncos right tackle George Foster was called for holding star defensive end Michael Strahan, who was otherwise rendered ineffective most of the game.
"I'm going to have to watch the film to see if the call was valid or not," Foster said. "It came at a bad time."
The penalty not only stalled the drive, it left Elam with a 49-yard
SOUND OFF
What do you think of the Broncos' self-destruction at Giants Stadium? Will they rebound Sunday at home vs. Philly? Share your thoughts on DenverPost.com's message boards.
try. He missed wide to the right.
Although Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey killed the Giants' next drive by intercepting a Manning pass, the offense went three-and-out.
"We haven't been taking advantage of drives in the third and fourth quarter that can put games away," Plummer said. "We've got to figure it out because we can't keep depending on our defense to stop the other team in the last minutes." Manning went back on the field with 3:29 remaining and the ball at his 17-yard line. Too much time for a quarterback who was getting too much time.
This was the third consecutive game the Broncos haven't had a sack. They almost had him once on third down, but Manning scrambled adroitly to his left and completed a first-down pass.
"Give that kid a lot of credit because he stayed poised," Lynch said. "He was under a lot of duress, but we're coming this close whether it be sacks or turnovers. We had all kinds of pressures but no sacks. We've got to turn those almosts into what would be a win."
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_3145925
Lynch and Plummer seem to be taking it as a "team" loss.