Broncos-Panthers: Denver Looks to Sweep the Best Division in the NFL

[cutlerfan]

Broncos-Panthers: Denver Looks to Sweep the Best Division in the NFL
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/9...ion-in-the-nfl

The Denver Broncos (8-5) will travel to Charlotte, North Carolina this week to take on possibly the best team in the NFC, the Carolina Panthers (10-3).

Mike Shanahan's Broncos have been hot recently, winning their last three games on the road and four of their last five overall.

John Fox's Panthers are undefeated at home, and have won six of their last seven games. Most recently, the Panthers stuck it to then division leader Tampa Bay, running for over 300 yards en route to a 38-23 victory.

Both of these teams missed out on the playoffs last year, but are poised to win their respective divisions in the 2008 campaign.

Carolina will look to exploit a Denver run defense that ranks 26th in the NFL, but which lately has been playing inspired.

Over the last three games, Denver's rush defense has improved from 30th to 26th, and they will be getting back two Pro Bowl defenders in Champ Bailey and D.J. Williams, barring another setback in practice.

The Panthers' run combo of Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams has been phenomenal, both combining for over 1,800 yards and 21 total touchdowns.

Compare that to Denver's running game which has seen Anthony Alridge, Michael Pittman, Andre Hall, Ryan Torain, and Peyton Hillis all go down for the season, and Selvin Young who hasn't played significantly since week five.

However, Denver has a major advantage in the passing game with quarterback Jay Cutler, who has thrown for 3,679 yards and 23 touchdowns this season.
Cutler's favorite target, Brandon Marshall, eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark last week with an 11 catch, 91-yard performance.

Carolina's top receiver Steve Smith has really stepped up lately as well.

He too went over 1,000 yards in his last game.

Maybe the most important matchup will be up front, where Julius Peppers will take on Ryan Clady.

Clady has yet to give up a sack this season, and Peppers is fourth in the NFL with 12.5 sacks.

Jay Cutler has been sacked fewer times than any other quarterback in the NFL this season. If Cutler has a big game through the air, he will become the first quarterback since Jake Plummer in 2004 to throw for over 4,000 yards in a single season.

This game should be fun to watch, as both teams make their case for Super Bowl contenders.

[SportinOne]

Man, 4,000 sure does seem excessive. I'd rather have 3,200 passing yards and a great running game than over 4,000.

Here's the thing about Peppers... He scares the crap out of me, but he's not what he used to be. Also, i was watching MNF and Peppers lined up over the RT for a good portion of the plays. Ryan Harris better be ready.

[Dagmar]

Isn't that league 22 -2 at home?



:)

[Garcia Bronco]

Ryan,

Take that muscle bound Tarheel man and put his face in the sand.

[PRBronco]

Who is playing better right now: Mario Williams or Julius Peppers? Clady has faced many premier guys this season, but Williams is the closest combo of size/speed to Peppers that I can think of, and Clady's come a LONG way since then.

[Garcia Bronco]

I think Peppers will be his greatest challenge yet. And Ryan Harris will have to face him as well.

[gyldenlove]

Actually Harris and Clady have both faced some good people. John Abraham lined up at both spots and got silch. Joey Porter tried both sides as well.

Peppers will be a big challenge, but many of his sacks have come against relatively pourous offensive lines like Oakland (3), Detroit (2) and Tampa Bay. He has been shut out in half the games he has played this season. The one thing I am looking forward to more than the pass blocking which I have a lot of faith in, is how will the Ryans handle Peppers against the run. If they can keep him from disrupting the running game and isolate him it would be a massive achievement that would really once and for all prove beyond doubt that we have 2 bookend tackles who are the complete package.

[ludo21]

Bring our the BROOMS!!!!!!!

http://www.google.com/images?q=tbn:WYSXpKUOQEYJ::superpageshosting.com/jdemediocom/nss-folder/pictures/brrom_02.jpg (http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://superpageshosting.com/jdemediocom/nss-folder/pictures/brrom_02.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.jdemedio.com/services/&h=195&w=200&sz=11&tbnid=WYSXpKUOQEYJ::&tbnh=101&tbnw=104&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbrrom&usg=__vv1j06wDYJiHswdt-gleACHbc-A=&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=2&ct=image&cd=1)

[Kaylore]

Abraham is actually a more skilled defensive end than Peppers. Peppers is just more athletic. After facing Demarcus Ware, Mario Williams, John Abraham, Derrick Burgess and Gaines Adams, this will just be the next step for Clady to get to that "next level".

[SureShot]

Abraham is actually a more skilled defensive end than Peppers. Peppers is just more athletic. After facing Demarcus Ware, Mario Williams, John Abraham, Derrick Burgess and Gaines Adams, this will just be the next step for Clady to get to that "next level".

Clady's next level would require a cape.

[Doggcow]

Clady's next level would require a cape.

Lol nice.

[MechanicalBull]

Isn't that league 22 -2 at home?



:)

Tampa and Carolina are the only 2 teams unbeaten at home and NO and ATL have 1 loss each at home with the Falcons loss being to Denver.

[Rock Chalk]

Isn't that league 22 -2 at home?



:)

And one of the losses came against us. We beat Atlanta at home.

[Rock Chalk]

Abraham is actually a more skilled defensive end than Peppers. Peppers is just more athletic. After facing Demarcus Ware, Mario Williams, John Abraham, Derrick Burgess and Gaines Adams, this will just be the next step for Clady to get to that "next level".

Clady hasnt faced Mario Williams in a real game. Not that he couldnt do the job mind you, but a preseason pass rush is entirely different than a regular season pass rush.

[fontaine]

The Panther have the better running game, better STs, way better defense and excellent WR-QB combo.

It's going to take a near perfect game for Denver to get it done.

And I'm talking about Cutler/RBs not coughing up the ball and the defense coming up with turnovers and STs actually contributing instead of gifting 40 yard field positions starts to the other team.

[rmsanger]

If that division doesn't include the Giants, Eagles, Cowboys, and Skins then it isn't the best division in football.... lawl as the Panthers are the only "good" team in their division.

[rovolution]

Abraham is actually a more skilled defensive end than Peppers. Peppers is just more athletic. After facing Demarcus Ware, Mario Williams, John Abraham, Derrick Burgess and Gaines Adams, this will just be the next step for Clady to get to that "next level".

dont forget Joey Porter, the current NFL sack leader, who Clady completely stonewalled.

[broncofan2438]

Peppers is going to kill us......and their RB duo

[Man-Goblin]

Clady will eat peppers for lunch.

Hopefully, he won't regret it as they have been known to cause indigestion.

[TonyR]

If that division doesn't include the Giants, Eagles, Cowboys, and Skins then it isn't the best division in football.... lawl as the Panthers are the only "good" team in their division.

Per Sagarin the NFC South is #1 and NFC East #2, but it's very close.

1 (NFC SOUTH) = 24.51 24.46 ( 1) 4
2 (NFC EAST) = 24.30 24.46 ( 2) 4
3 (afc south) = 23.30 23.35 ( 3) 4
4 (afc north) = 21.74 21.31 ( 4) 4
5 (NFC NORTH) = 20.15 19.15 ( 5) 4
6 (afc east) = 19.06 18.72 ( 6) 4
7 (afc west) = 14.33 14.35 ( 7) 4
8 (NFC WEST) = 13.78 14.20 ( 8) 4

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/nfl08.htm

[mr007]

This is going to be a great game to watch. We can't afford many (if any) mistakes on offense... as long as that happens, I think it'll be a really close game. Hopefully Champ and DJ will be full speed, that will help a lot.

[rovolution]

Man, 4,000 sure does seem excessive. I'd rather have 3,200 passing yards and a great running game than over 4,000.

Here's the thing about Peppers... He scares the crap out of me, but he's not what he used to be. Also, i was watching MNF and Peppers lined up over the RT for a good portion of the plays. Ryan Harris better be ready.

4000 is actually pretty standard in todays league.

Look at last seasons stats for example: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2007/leaders.htm

7 QBs threw for 4000+ and others came extremely close to it.


You need to have a 4000+ yrds passing QB to be a competative ballclub unless you have a suffocating defense ie the G-Men last season.

[Chris]

Clady's breakfast

http://www.doliferight.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/11192606.JPG

[Man-Goblin]

http://www.acceleratedsoftware.net/heartburn/reflux-diagram.gif