Needa Pass Rush
12-14-2005, 02:29 PM
Inside Slant
With the AFC West title close at hand, the Denver Broncos can focus on beating out Cincinnati for a first-round bye.
Denver has a two-game lead over San Diego and Kansas City in the AFC West with three games to go. Barring a collapse, Denver will win its first division title since 1998.
But the Broncos are well aware how important a bye is if they want to go to the Super Bowl. Only two teams have won the Super Bowl without having a first-round bye, although the Broncos did it, in 1997. The Broncos and Bengals are each 10-3.
"It's very important to have a bye and a home game," defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban said. "You win two games and you're in the Super Bowl. That's what we're trying to get, and we got to take care of business these last three games."
The Broncos would get the second seed in the AFC if they win out. Denver would win the tiebreaker against Cincinnati if both teams win out because the Broncos would have a better conference record. Denver has lost only two AFC games, and Cincinnati has three AFC losses.
The Broncos are in good shape with tiebreakers if they finish 2-1 in their final three games and Cincinnati also loses one of its final three games. But the Broncos don't want to depend on any help down the stretch.
"If we win all our games, it really does not matter," defensive end Trevor Pryce said.
NOTES, QUOTES
—The Broncos will be without starting cornerback Darrent Williams for the remainder of the regular season with a groin injury, and he might miss the playoffs, too.
Williams hurt his groin against Baltimore on Sunday. Williams has started at cornerback most of the year for the Broncos. He also has returned punts and kickoffs for the Broncos, so losing him is a big blow. Williams was in obvious pain after the game.
"It hurts pretty bad right now," Williams said.
—Broncos offensive lineman Dwayne Carswell, who is on injured reserve after suffering injuries in a car accident in October, watched Sunday's game from the sideline. He said he wants to return to play next season.
"I got a little more football in me," Carswell said.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
PLAYER PERSONNEL NOTES
—CB Domonique Foxworth will move into the starting lineup with Darrent Williams out with a groin injury. Foxworth is a rookie, but he doesn't miss many assignments. He has played a lot, and the Broncos have confidence in him.
—CB Curome Cox is one of the players who might be Denver's nickel cornerback down the stretch. Domonique Foxworth has been the nickel back most of the season, but he will move into the starting lineup with Darrent Williams out with a groin injury. Cox was on the practice squad to start the year. He allowed a long touchdown late in Denver's game against Baltimore on Sunday.
—CB Karl Paymah hasn't played much, but he is an option to be Denver's nickel cornerback as long as Darrent Williams is out with a groin injury. Paymah is fast and physical but didn't adjust to the pro game as quickly as fellow rookies Williams and Domonique Foxworth.
—RB Ron Dayne didn't play much against Baltimore. He is not completely out of Denver's plans, but the Broncos obviously figured that splitting carries equally between three backs was difficult.
—LB Keith Burns returned to the lineup after missing one game with a knee injury. Burns is Denver's best special teams player, and the Broncos' opponent this week is Buffalo, which has dangerous returners Roscoe Parrish and Terrence McGee.
REPORT CARD VS. RAVENS
PASSING OFFENSE: B — The Broncos moved the ball at times with their passing offense, and QB Jake Plummer didn't throw any interceptions. The Broncos weren't explosive in the passing game but had three plays longer than 20 yards. FB Kyle Johnson had a nice catch for a 7-yard touchdown, Denver's only touchdown of the game.
RUSHING OFFENSE: D — The Broncos didn't rush for 100 yards and averaged only 3 yards per carry. Baltimore was physical with the Broncos and didn't allow many holes inside. RB Tatum Bell, who got most of the carries against the Ravens, had some nice runs to the outside.
PASS DEFENSE: C — Ravens QB Kyle Boller threw two bad interceptions, which turned around the game. The Broncos deserve credit for coming up with those plays. But other than those two passes, Boller played pretty well. He had 251 passing yards. The Broncos seemed to miss starting CB Darrent Williams, who was out with a groin injury.
RUSH DEFENSE: B — Ravens RB Chester Taylor averaged a little less than 3 yards per carry, and he couldn't get in the end zone on a crucial fourth down play at the 1-yard line. The Broncos were fast to the ball and pounded Taylor all day.
SPECIAL TEAMS: D-minus — The Broncos allowed an 87-yard kickoff return on the first play of the game, missed an extra point and had a punt tipped. It was probably Denver's worst special teams game of the season. Jason Elam hit two field goals, from 47 and 48 yards, which is the only reason the Broncos didn't get a failing grade.
COACHING: C — The Broncos won, but it wasn't pretty. The Ravens had many chances to win the game, but four turnovers and the inability to get in the end zone from the 1 was the difference in the game. The Broncos couldn't run the ball and gave up too many yards, but they did win to take control of the division because Kansas City and San Diego lost.
Find this article at:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/broncos/home.htm
With the AFC West title close at hand, the Denver Broncos can focus on beating out Cincinnati for a first-round bye.
Denver has a two-game lead over San Diego and Kansas City in the AFC West with three games to go. Barring a collapse, Denver will win its first division title since 1998.
But the Broncos are well aware how important a bye is if they want to go to the Super Bowl. Only two teams have won the Super Bowl without having a first-round bye, although the Broncos did it, in 1997. The Broncos and Bengals are each 10-3.
"It's very important to have a bye and a home game," defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban said. "You win two games and you're in the Super Bowl. That's what we're trying to get, and we got to take care of business these last three games."
The Broncos would get the second seed in the AFC if they win out. Denver would win the tiebreaker against Cincinnati if both teams win out because the Broncos would have a better conference record. Denver has lost only two AFC games, and Cincinnati has three AFC losses.
The Broncos are in good shape with tiebreakers if they finish 2-1 in their final three games and Cincinnati also loses one of its final three games. But the Broncos don't want to depend on any help down the stretch.
"If we win all our games, it really does not matter," defensive end Trevor Pryce said.
NOTES, QUOTES
—The Broncos will be without starting cornerback Darrent Williams for the remainder of the regular season with a groin injury, and he might miss the playoffs, too.
Williams hurt his groin against Baltimore on Sunday. Williams has started at cornerback most of the year for the Broncos. He also has returned punts and kickoffs for the Broncos, so losing him is a big blow. Williams was in obvious pain after the game.
"It hurts pretty bad right now," Williams said.
—Broncos offensive lineman Dwayne Carswell, who is on injured reserve after suffering injuries in a car accident in October, watched Sunday's game from the sideline. He said he wants to return to play next season.
"I got a little more football in me," Carswell said.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
PLAYER PERSONNEL NOTES
—CB Domonique Foxworth will move into the starting lineup with Darrent Williams out with a groin injury. Foxworth is a rookie, but he doesn't miss many assignments. He has played a lot, and the Broncos have confidence in him.
—CB Curome Cox is one of the players who might be Denver's nickel cornerback down the stretch. Domonique Foxworth has been the nickel back most of the season, but he will move into the starting lineup with Darrent Williams out with a groin injury. Cox was on the practice squad to start the year. He allowed a long touchdown late in Denver's game against Baltimore on Sunday.
—CB Karl Paymah hasn't played much, but he is an option to be Denver's nickel cornerback as long as Darrent Williams is out with a groin injury. Paymah is fast and physical but didn't adjust to the pro game as quickly as fellow rookies Williams and Domonique Foxworth.
—RB Ron Dayne didn't play much against Baltimore. He is not completely out of Denver's plans, but the Broncos obviously figured that splitting carries equally between three backs was difficult.
—LB Keith Burns returned to the lineup after missing one game with a knee injury. Burns is Denver's best special teams player, and the Broncos' opponent this week is Buffalo, which has dangerous returners Roscoe Parrish and Terrence McGee.
REPORT CARD VS. RAVENS
PASSING OFFENSE: B — The Broncos moved the ball at times with their passing offense, and QB Jake Plummer didn't throw any interceptions. The Broncos weren't explosive in the passing game but had three plays longer than 20 yards. FB Kyle Johnson had a nice catch for a 7-yard touchdown, Denver's only touchdown of the game.
RUSHING OFFENSE: D — The Broncos didn't rush for 100 yards and averaged only 3 yards per carry. Baltimore was physical with the Broncos and didn't allow many holes inside. RB Tatum Bell, who got most of the carries against the Ravens, had some nice runs to the outside.
PASS DEFENSE: C — Ravens QB Kyle Boller threw two bad interceptions, which turned around the game. The Broncos deserve credit for coming up with those plays. But other than those two passes, Boller played pretty well. He had 251 passing yards. The Broncos seemed to miss starting CB Darrent Williams, who was out with a groin injury.
RUSH DEFENSE: B — Ravens RB Chester Taylor averaged a little less than 3 yards per carry, and he couldn't get in the end zone on a crucial fourth down play at the 1-yard line. The Broncos were fast to the ball and pounded Taylor all day.
SPECIAL TEAMS: D-minus — The Broncos allowed an 87-yard kickoff return on the first play of the game, missed an extra point and had a punt tipped. It was probably Denver's worst special teams game of the season. Jason Elam hit two field goals, from 47 and 48 yards, which is the only reason the Broncos didn't get a failing grade.
COACHING: C — The Broncos won, but it wasn't pretty. The Ravens had many chances to win the game, but four turnovers and the inability to get in the end zone from the 1 was the difference in the game. The Broncos couldn't run the ball and gave up too many yards, but they did win to take control of the division because Kansas City and San Diego lost.
Find this article at:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/broncos/home.htm