Play to win?

[SportinOne]

12:56 Pacific Time - NY Jets beat the Oakland Raiders to clinch a playoff spot.
3:03 Central Time - Jacksonville beats Kansas City, eliminating KC and clinching a playoff spot for Denver.
2:05 Mountain Time - Mike Shanahan receives word that his team has clinched.
2:15 Mountain Time - It's Game Time. Do we play to win or do we tank it?

Before you say, "Well that's ridiculous, of course we play to win!", consider the fact that if we lose, we will head to Indy to play the Colts.

What defense would you rather face right now? We play the Colts and you can pencil us in for at least 200 yards rushing. Then you add in what Jay could do against that defense. I would much rather see their D than New England's. BB would throw some pretty complex schemes at our rookie. Plus conditions will be much nicer in the dome than in Foxboro.

Now we move onto the second round. Again, travel to crappy conditions to play one of the toughest defenses in the NFL, or travel to a stable, warm climate to play a defense with a very questionable secondary. Add to that, a defense Jay has already seen.

If we are the 6 seed and we can make it to the second round, we will definitly play in San Diego. If we make it past the Chargers our confidence will be soaring. New England, Baltimore, New York, it doesn't matter at this point.

This is our easiest route to the AFC Championship game, which in alot of people's opinion is the Super Bowl this year.

That said, i don't know how we could tank this San Francisco game. I guess we could say that Jay had the flu and throw Jake back in there for "old time sake". That oughta do the trick...

[Mile High Shack]

anytime you tank on purpose, it usually backfires on your team

see 1996 Denver Broncos---wrapped up homefield early, coasted rest of season, got beat in 1st round in playoffs
see 2003 Denver Broncos--had playoff position wrapped up, rested starters, got killed in last game vs. GB, went to Indy and looked like we were still asleep

nope, Shanny has learned his lesson

[Sassy]

PLAY TO WIN...and we don't need no stinking KC team to lose...they'll do it on their own.

[rbackfactory80]

Cutler needs all the game growing experience he can get. Especially a team he should be able to build some confidence against.

[Bronx33]

Wfo

[Taco John]

There is never an ok reason to tank a game.

[smalltowngrll]

You always play to win!

[Arkansas Bronco]

Nope more prep time for the playoffs. Every snap Cutler can get helps. I may play the rookies a bit more but still go for the W.

[broncosteven]

So is KFC the only team that could knock us out if we lose? I am confused & my wife keeps asking.

[SoDak Bronco]

You Play To Win The Game

[Smiling Assassin27]

KC won't lose to Jax in their house in December. We'll need to do our part.

[Sassy]

KC won't lose to Jax in their house in December. We'll need to do our part.

Denver will win and KC will lose to the Jags in their house. :notworthy

[Smiling Assassin27]

Denver will win and KC will lose to the Jags in their house. :notworthy

and oddly, i'm OK with that! 8')

[BroncoInSkinland]

So is KFC the only team that could knock us out if we lose? I am confused & my wife keeps asking.

Yes, the only way the Broncos can be eliminated is by losing and KC winning.

As to the title of the thread, always play to win. Further the Colts are a better team than the recent meltdown suggests, and the Bronco's are just about as close as it gets to a "get well" team for them in post season play. I would much rather go against two teams that we have already beaten in the regular season as opposed to two teams we lost to. And I would rather Jay have a winning 3-2 record going into post season play.

[Hotrod]

I hate to sound like a puss but what the hell. YOU PLAY TO AVOID THE COLTS.....at any friggin cost ;D

[bpc]

We are far from perfect. We need to play to get better and win!

[Sassy]

I hate to sound like a puss but what the hell. YOU PLAY TO AVOID THE COLTS.....at any friggin cost ;D

Screw that. You just need to beat whoever you play...and I seriously think we can beat the colts...and NE...however, I am a little worried about Diego IF we FIRST beat the Niners AND whoever....

[Hotrod]

Screw that. You just need to beat whoever you play...and I seriously think we can beat the colts...and NE...however, I am a little worried about Diego IF we FIRST beat the Niners AND whoever....

Oddly the chuggers dont scare me. I think we take them in their own house. The Pats hell we own them but the Colts will shread us up period. We simply dont match up well at all. Now if we can avoid them for as long as possible then when the time comes we face that demon.

[Garcia Bronco]

I got a ticket and they better play to win. :)

[bronco_diesel]

you play to win and cutler needs the experience before the playoffs.

here are my thought on denver vs.

the chargers - i do think denver can beat them. the first game they had the game then a total meltdown. the next time they played cutler was in his 2nd game...

the colts - the colts have not been so tough lately, yet they are still a good team. indy can't stop the run - and that's what any team is going to do. the difference with denver now is they have a qb that can throw the long ball and complete a 3rd down. this should really hinder indy's ability even more to stop the run - i think denver has a legit shot here + i think indy's confidence is wavering.

NE - denver seems to have their number...and i think it's still a good matchup..having said that - i think BB is the best coach we'd meet in the playoffs and having beat them last year in the playoffs (at home) NE will have a chip on their shoulder.

baltimore - when we met baltimore they were going through some growing pains..since then the team has responded and is on a roll. i think their defense could create problems for cutler.

[broncsyanks]

this thread doesnt make sense to me. why? we win and we are in. its that simple. lose abd we might not make it in. that being said all this goes along with whether or not kc loses. just win the damn game.

[bronco_diesel]

this thread doesnt make sense to me. why? we win and we are in. its that simple. lose abd we might not make it in. that being said all this goes along with whether or not kc loses. just win the damn game.

uhhh...you might wanna re-read the first post...

[watermock]

Oddly enough...KC has the tie breaker even tho they have a horrible AFC record of 4-7, their divisional record is 4-2. They haven't won a game out of our division in the AFC.

Doesn't matter, that's the first tie breaker I think.

The KC game is early. They lose I think we are in.

If we lose and KC wins, they go. Lord no.

[watermock]

"You PLAY to WIN the GAME!"

http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/topstory/sports/edwards_herman0108.jpg

[Garcia Bronco]

Hello...you Play...to...play Against Ne...and Not Indy

Why? We have the Colts right where we want them:~ohyah!:

[orange crusher]

Oddly enough...KC has the tie breaker even tho they have a horrible AFC record of 4-7, their divisional record is 4-2. They haven't won a game out of our division in the AFC.

Doesn't matter, that's the first tie breaker I think.

The KC game is early. They lose I think we are in.

If we lose and KC wins, they go. Lord no.

It's not that easy for KC. They need to win and need losses by Denver, JVille and Tenn. before they can get in.

[Los Broncos]

Win this one early, rest the starters. Does anyone remember Shannan sharps bring in the national guard talk, what was that about?

[Dagmar]

Win this one early, rest the starters. Does anyone remember Shannan sharps bring in the national guard talk, what was that about?

Cutler needs as much experience as he can get. Have Mike Bell as starting RB and Marshall and Kircus as 1 and 2...

[Los Broncos]

Cutler needs as much experience as he can get. Have Mike Bell as starting RB and Marshall and Kircus as 1 and 2...

True, didnt think of that.

[Fusionfrontman]

Play to win, play to gain confidence. I dont buy into that...they are due for a win soon ccrap. The whole Detroit Lions franchise has been due for a win too as well...for like 20 years! Give me a break

Get this team hot just like the ravens and how on a roll they are and watch how scary they can be in the postseason

[watermock]

It's not that easy for KC. They need to win and need losses by Denver, JVille and Tenn. before they can get in.

Perhaps, but we get locked out with a loss and a KC win because of divisional record. Your right, they have a crap conference record, but it won't help us if we lose and they win.

[fatcard]

Rest Cutler and start Plummer... he could use the practice :)