I would have been just as proud if we lost.

[Popps]

Honestly, and this from a guy who referred to our defense as a "band of schmucks" earlier today.

This game defined exactly what I mean when I say it's how we were losing.
This was the polar opposite of the San Diego game. We played attacking, hard-hitting defense and it was as fired up as I've seen us... going back to early last season.

We forced turnovers, limited mistakes and while we didn't excel on special teams, we didn't allow any big runbacks and obviously Elam is the man.

I was probably as worried as anyone late in the game about the outcome. But, I would have still posted this. I hate losing, but when our guys leave it all out on the field like they did tonight, you can't begrudge them.

But, we won... even better. Maybe this is a turning-point for the season. I have no idea. Whether or not it's a turning-point as far as wins/losses go... I just hope we come out and play this brand of football every week.

Given, we've got defensive holes that are still glaringly obvious. But, this was exciting, intense football... the way the Broncos are supposed to play.

Bring on Green Bay and their one-trick-pony show. I hope we come out guns-blazing again next week.

[SoCalBronco]

Agreed. I was definitely proud of the effort, heart and determination that the team showed. The intensity...especially in the first half was rather remarkable.

[bpc]

Shanahan finally left the game in the hand of Cutler and opened up the passing game.

What happened? We knocked off a top 5 football team at home.

We need to keep growing from this point and almost a given is the fact that we'll have a learning curve, we'll stumble a little bit, make some mistakes but it is the only way to have some of these young players on this team tap their potential. That is team wide at all positions.

[Killericon]

The best part is that we did it without our best offensive player, and the best defensive player in the league. :)

[DTBLAS]

I agree i would have been just as proud but not nearly as happy as i am right now! Go Broncos!

[Dagmar]

Tonight was all about attitude, which the Broncos showed in droves.

[Garcia Bronco]

Right on Popps.

[~Crash~]

the young players on the D-line wore out glad we held on some how . these kids get better each week

[JCMElway]

Bravo. Fantastic thread. I haven't see the Broncos play without any heart in a long time. That's why the SD loss was so crippling. I would love to know what team leaders/coaches took control during the bye week and let everyone know just what Broncos foootball is all about, because we sure as hell saw it out there tonight.

We all kind of scratched our heads about DD Lewis being cut, but Shanny and the organization probably made an example out of him. Heads will roll if the fire and intensity are not present.

I bet that Simeon Rice comes out and has a great game vs. Favre next week.

[Killericon]

I bet Rice is cut this week.

[bpc]

I thought our young guys were doing fine. Why do we need Rice? DOOM is playing way better than he has all year.

[ludo21]

Great DL play, fired up rookies all game long. Doom looking like a vet out there pumping up the rooks. Man I hate and yet love how young this team is and how much room there is for improvement still.

Glen Martinez who? Man who cares, we got guys on this team who just wanna play, and I love that. Bring this intensity every week!

[The MVPlaya]

I bet Rice is cut this week.

He's still recovering from the shoulder injury, no way is he cut.

[CBF1]

I am buying this as well.

[Popps]

Shanahan finally left the game in the hand of Cutler and opened up the passing game.

Agree, totally. I even applaud the goofy end-around attempt late in the game.
That's absolutely the kind of football we should be playing. Wide open... taking chances. We've got to put up big numbers until our defense learns to play championship football. We can't do that by being conservative on offense.

[chaz]

Honestly, and this from a guy who referred to our defense as a "band of schmucks" earlier today.

This game defined exactly what I mean when I say it's how we were losing.
This was the polar opposite of the San Diego game. We played attacking, hard-hitting defense and it was as fired up as I've seen us... going back to early last season.

We forced turnovers, limited mistakes and while we didn't excel on special teams, we didn't allow any big runbacks and obviously Elam is the man.

I was probably as worried as anyone late in the game about the outcome. But, I would have still posted this. I hate losing, but when our guys leave it all out on the field like they did tonight, you can't begrudge them.

But, we won... even better. Maybe this is a turning-point for the season. I have no idea. Whether or not it's a turning-point as far as wins/losses go... I just hope we come out and play this brand of football every week.

Given, we've got defensive holes that are still glaringly obvious. But, this was exciting, intense football... the way the Broncos are supposed to play.

Bring on Green Bay and their one-trick-pony show. I hope we come out guns-blazing again next week.

rep

[Taco John]

This is definitely the best win so far this season. With our backs to the wall, our team pulled together when the world had written them off. We might not be that Patriots, but our guys are showing a lot of Bronco Pride out there, and are not going to go down without a fight!

[mhgaffney]

Roethlesberger tends to get rattled under pressure -- yet Denver backed off late in the game and played prevent defense. Exactly the wrong way to play Roethlesberger -- and it could have cost us the game

Cutler saved it for us -- thankfully -- and Elam!

[epicSocialism4tw]

Thank the good Lord for Jason Elam.

Thank goodness our players showed that we have pride too.

Good win, guys!

[ZachKC]

I was working and watching this game, a similar thought came to my head. I was thinking even if they lose this game it changes the whole season for the Broncos. They haven't played with a fraction of this much heart or intensity all year...and then you pull out the win.

Changes everything.

[fontaine]

If anything else it'll maybe put an end to all the chicken little threads/posts about how our season is doomed, Cutler sucks and is like Jeff George blah blah blah blah.

At least for a week I guess.

Like I said before the only ones who are going to pull this team out of the hole it's in are the players themselves and they showed the willingness to do it. Can't ask for anything more.

With Walker/Henry/Champ/Scheff/Nalen banged up we'll need the same fire and heart all season long. Last night was a great first step.

[Northman]

Honestly, and this from a guy who referred to our defense as a "band of schmucks" earlier today.

This game defined exactly what I mean when I say it's how we were losing.
This was the polar opposite of the San Diego game. We played attacking, hard-hitting defense and it was as fired up as I've seen us... going back to early last season.

We forced turnovers, limited mistakes and while we didn't excel on special teams, we didn't allow any big runbacks and obviously Elam is the man.

I was probably as worried as anyone late in the game about the outcome. But, I would have still posted this. I hate losing, but when our guys leave it all out on the field like they did tonight, you can't begrudge them.

But, we won... even better. Maybe this is a turning-point for the season. I have no idea. Whether or not it's a turning-point as far as wins/losses go... I just hope we come out and play this brand of football every week.

Given, we've got defensive holes that are still glaringly obvious. But, this was exciting, intense football... the way the Broncos are supposed to play.

Bring on Green Bay and their one-trick-pony show. I hope we come out guns-blazing again next week.

Glad you spoke up on this, i feel exactly the same way. This was a far cry from what we saw against the Bolts. I just hope they can keep up this intensity the rest of the season win or lose. It was nice to see this team leaving it all out on the field last night. Even with his turnovers Jay never quit as well and it seemed the playcalling was more improved as well. ^5

[eddie mac]

I bet Rice is cut this week.

Why would we cut him??? His salary's guaranteed plus he's still recovering and I think he'll be vital down the stretch.

We need a rotating D-Line and Rice will be invaluable to that.

[eddie mac]

Excellent thread Popps and I felt exactly the same during the game. Obviously I'd have been raging if we'd have thrown the game away after looking so dominant for periods but I witnessed enough in the game yesterday to think we still had a chance especially in this average division.

Let's just hoped all of our dinged guys are okay and Champ and Simeon can get on the field next Monday night against Favre.

More of the same please.

[OrangeShadow]

doing that without champ is HUGE for their confidence

[theAPAOps5]

I was working and watching this game, a similar thought came to my head. I was thinking even if they lose this game it changes the whole season for the Broncos. They haven't played with a fraction of this much heart or intensity all year...and then you pull out the win.

Changes everything.

Still think there are only 2 teams worse than the Broncos or are you ready to retract that assinine statement?

[Sassy]

Bravo. Fantastic thread. I haven't see the Broncos play without any heart in a long time. That's why the SD loss was so crippling. I would love to know what team leaders/coaches took control during the bye week and let everyone know just what Broncos foootball is all about, because we sure as hell saw it out there tonight.

We all kind of scratched our heads about DD Lewis being cut, but Shanny and the organization probably made an example out of him. Heads will roll if the fire and intensity are not present.

I bet that Simeon Rice comes out and has a great game vs. Favre next week.

Darrent & Damien anybody! ;D !Booya!

[theAPAOps5]

Darrent & Damien anybody! ;D !Booya!

They should have been playing their asses of for them all season. I hope last nights intensity wasn't because it was the night they were honored. Or, actually I hope last night brought back who they were playing for and this intensity continues.

[Sassy]

Yes. They should have...but here's to hoping the intensity continues!

[crawdad]

Right on Popps, Never say never. The Broncos impressed me and although worried, I never lost faith. This could well be the turning point.

I am sure that Damien and Darrent had something to do with it, but certainly that should have happened before the night they were honored.

I just think the Broncos finally realized that they better start pissing on there own trees.

[Rock Chalk]

Honestly, and this from a guy who referred to our defense as a "band of schmucks" earlier today.

This game defined exactly what I mean when I say it's how we were losing.
This was the polar opposite of the San Diego game. We played attacking, hard-hitting defense and it was as fired up as I've seen us... going back to early last season.

We forced turnovers, limited mistakes and while we didn't excel on special teams, we didn't allow any big runbacks and obviously Elam is the man.

I was probably as worried as anyone late in the game about the outcome. But, I would have still posted this. I hate losing, but when our guys leave it all out on the field like they did tonight, you can't begrudge them.

But, we won... even better. Maybe this is a turning-point for the season. I have no idea. Whether or not it's a turning-point as far as wins/losses go... I just hope we come out and play this brand of football every week.

Given, we've got defensive holes that are still glaringly obvious. But, this was exciting, intense football... the way the Broncos are supposed to play.

Bring on Green Bay and their one-trick-pony show. I hope we come out guns-blazing again next week.

Me too. I was tellin the wife, I didnt care if we lost or not when Pitt tied the game. The way the team played yesterday, with heart and fire was more than enough to make me happy. I still dont think we are going to make any noise this year, and I noticed that we are still prone to giving up huge run plays that can hurt us badly, but at least they didnt freakin quit. There was no blaming each other for missed assignments. Everyone shrugged off bad plays and moved on.

And kudos to the rookie D-linemen + Dumervile. These guys all made outstanding plays and who knew Crowder was so fast?

[defenseman]

They appeared pretty inspired, and were playing to win, vice playing "not to lose". Not bad at all....we'll see if it carries forward to the GB match. Long way to go, they have some good stuff to build on, let's see if shanahan can find a way to inject some improvement week to week....dman

*Good call Popps.

[cmhargrove]

I agree completely. Last night was a fun night to be a fan, again... I was yelling so much, i'm surprised my neighbors didn't call. And, WOW, how quickly have we gone from an "old" team to a "young" team.

Dumervil looks like he will be the rock of our D-line. The younger guys look like they really respond to his leadership and are starting to perform. We even had some good things happen with our four man front. We need to get better, but they sure made it fun to watch.

How about our O-line? Everyone new except Lepsis, new Center (props for Chris Myers) - no muffed snaps! The line only gave up two sacks (coverage sacks) against the number one defense in the NFL. That was big!

I'll shut up, but our season just got a lot more fun...

[Hogan11]

Very impressed as well. The O-Line especially w/out Nalen held it's ground admirably.

You can see the kids on the D-Line jelling last night...very impressive against a team that some were considering in the Indy/NE tier of teams. I, like most, thought they were going to be for a long night, especially without Bailey..I, like most, was wrong.....thankfully so. Hopefully it was a "signpost" game that signals a turning of the corner for the unit. Rice? Barring injury, I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't touch the field again this season.

Cutler finally treated Stokley as more than some kind of afterthought....been saying it all season long and will continue to do so, throw to that man more often!

[epicSocialism4tw]

It looks as though the defense felt free of pressure and just went out and had fun. If they would have been able to wrap up Benburger, this game wouldnt have even been close.

That was the type of pressure that would beat Manning.

[orinjkrush]

lemme chime in too. its nice to see 'em fired up for a change. mastermind tactics alone don't win consistently...you also gotta be just plain aggressive. And with the smashmouth steelers too. woohoo!!! saw a lot of attitude out there. if they can keep that going, well...

[BroncoSoja]

I hate losing, but when our guys leave it all out on the field like they did tonight, you can't begrudge them.




Exactly what I feel, I could careless if we loose the rest of the games all season as long as we do the above and not what we did agianst San Diego I have no problem in the world.

When this team plays with that fire and emotion we saw last night its a wonderful thing.

[watermock]

They showed some character! About time!

[Kid A]

I was almost crying tears of joy after the first quarter when it became obvious they were actually going to fight this one out to the end.

[ScottXray]

I also would have felt good about the game...even with a loss. Frankly though, a loss would not have helped the team carry momentum forward, so the win was MUCH more important, then a good performance.

Momentum MAY help us next week against Green Bay....Good play will help even more.

I was just happy to see the team play as if they cared.

They still have to continue and lets hope the injuries to Bly, Sheffler, and Henry aren't serious enough to keep them off the field. Especially Sheffler, who somehow seems to spark Cutler.

Shanahan started to try and sit on the lead in the late third and 4th quarters...when will he develope a killer instinct? We almost ran out of time after Pitt tied it up. Cutler is Ice in those situations...!

[Los Broncos]

We showed great heart out there, DJ seems to be getting he played a great game.

Gold didn't play to bad either, and Cutler was dead on most of the night.

[OrangeDoofus]

Well said Popps, and everyone else.

I didn't think this team was a contender yesterday before the game, and still don't think they're a contender. But they've got the soul of a championship team, and that's what I like to see out there, win or lose.

[ZachKC]

Still think there are only 2 teams worse than the Broncos or are you ready to retract that assinine statement?

As I said elsewhere on the board this game changed everything.

Before the Pitt game I don't think there was anything asinine about it.

[Cito Pelon]

Ok, now the warm & fuzzy has worn off, can I be critical? The D staff about blew it going prevent instead of aggressive in the 4th Q. You don't want to be outscored 14-3 in the 4th Q playing soft.

[theAPAOps5]

Ok, now the warm & fuzzy has worn off, can I be critical? The D staff about blew it going prevent instead of aggressive in the 4th Q. You don't want to be outscored 14-3 in the 4th Q playing soft.

Well people were calling for Coyer to return! :wiggle:

[Cito Pelon]

Well people were calling for Coyer to return! :wiggle:

Yeah, it's interesting and irritating that they played soft in the second half, in the 4th Q particularly, went to the little nickel or whatever it's called. 3 man rush, not aggressive when they went four man rush, got scared of the screens, soft everywhere, the D staff got out-coached. 14-3 in the 4th Q, that's the complete opposite of what you want when the opening whistle blows.

[DenverBrit]

Yeah, it's interesting and irritating that they played soft in the second half, in the 4th Q particularly, went to the little nickel or whatever it's called. 3 man rush, not aggressive when they went four man rush, got scared of the screens, soft everywhere, the D staff got out-coached. 14-3 in the 4th Q, that's the complete opposite of what you want when the opening whistle blows.

During the second half, I thought the D line was wearing down a bit.
They really don't have quality depth and were leaving it all on the field........probably getting too tired in the 4th Qtr.
I hate prevent D, it only prevents a win.