So....3rd year in a row easy win on opening day right?

[Disco Man]

So here we go again.......vs the Dolphins two years ago a loss and then only two more the rest of the regular season, vs the Rams last year was the 1st loss of a bad year. So what do you think Omane.....we going to look bad, good, get blown out, win in OT, blow them out, tie Last time Mr. Henry had almost 150 yard as a Titain going back to Buffalo.

[Crushaholic]

I don't see how anybody can take this game for granted after the stinkers we laid during the last two road openers.

[brncs_fan]

I bet we lose by 50, Cutler gets picked 4 times, and DJ doesn't record a single tackle. Oh, and Evans will catch 20 balls over both Bailey and Bly.

[smalltowngrll]

No win is an easy win! Every game should be taken seriously!

But, I'm ready to break that trend we seem to have started!

[Los Broncos]

Originally Posted by brncs_fan

I bet we lose by 50, Cutler gets picked 4 times, and DJ doesn't record a single tackle. Oh, and Evans will catch 20 balls over both Bailey and Bly.

Reverse karma?

Thats it we win

[orinjkrush]

stinky preseason. lotsa new faces. on the road.
yeah, no worries.

[Broncoman13]

This is a completely different team. I'm not overly concerned about the previous openers that have been, well fUGLY. Cautiously optimistic... but I know this team has more talent and better players at need positions than years past.

Here's what I think:

-Jay Cutler gives me confidence. Over the past 4 years and especially last year, when we were in 3 and 5 I expected a run and I expected not to get a first down. I knew that Shanny didn't trust Plummer and would rather chance getting a first on a long run as opposed to giving up an INT. Now enter Cutler. 3rd and 12 against Cleveland on the first drive. Cutler fumbled the first snap and then looked lame on 2nd down. I had confidence though. Both in Cutler and in Shanny calling a play that could give us a first down. Cutler hit Javon for about a 30 yard gain! Point being, 3rd and 5 or 3rd and 7 is not going to be a punt 85% of the time this year!!!

Henry- Tatum and Mike did 'okay' last year. Travis Henry specializes in two things. Breaking tackles and wearing your ass out in the 4th quarter! We will have very few plays that go for negative yards and when the game is on the line we have a runner that makes people cringe at the thought of tackling him. "Like trying to tackle a bowling ball with knives sticking out of it." Time of possession should once again be up in the 35 min range which will improve the defense too.

Receivers- Brandon Marshall is the best #2 we've had (healthy #2) since the Eddy Mac days. Last year Rod wasn't Rod and clearly didn't help us much. And we had Jake throwing the ball without much confidence. This year, we have Walker, 2 years removed from his ACL, ready to go for 1300-1500 and 10 TDs. Brandon Marshall who could very well prove to be another Eddy Mac type of player should go for 700-900 and 6 TDs. Stokely will be a 3rd down target and offer a very good option for Cutler. I don't think he'll blow anybody away with stats, but 300-500 yards and 3 scores is realistic. Graham, Jackson, and Scheffler should combine for another 600 yards and 5 or 6 more TD's. Meanwhile, Travis Henry will rush for 1500 and 7 or 8 TD's. Oh yes, I believe Mike Shanahan has a secret agenda to screw all Fantasy Football Owners and will give the goal line carries to either Bell, Sapp, or Young.

[DarkHorse30]

Let's just review our 1st 4 drives last year @ St. Louis:

#1
J.Wilkins kicks 68 yards from SL 30 to DEN 2. M.Bell to DEN 21 for 19 yards (T.Hill).
1-10-DEN 21 (14:55) J.Plummer pass short left to S.Alexander to DEN 26 for 5 yards (F.Brown).
2-5-DEN 26 (14:26) PENALTY on DEN-C.Carlisle, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at DEN 26 - No Play.
2-10-DEN 21 (14:09) T.Bell right end to DEN 28 for 7 yards (P.Tinoisamoa).
3-3-DEN 28 (13:24) J.Plummer pass short left to J.Walker to DEN 39 for 11 yards (O.Atogwe).
1-10-DEN 39 (12:42) T.Bell left tackle to DEN 42 for 3 yards (L.Little).
2-7-DEN 42 (11:59) J.Plummer pass incomplete deep left to T.Scheffler.
3-7-DEN 42 (11:54) J.Plummer sacked at DEN 33 for -9 yards (L.Little). Penalty on DEN-G.Foster, Offensive Holding, declined.
4-16-DEN 33 (11:40) P.Ernster punts 43 yards to SL 24, Center-M.Leach, fair catch by S.McDonald.
#2
1-10-DEN 21 (3:38) J.Plummer pass short right to M.Bell to DEN 21 for no gain (W.Witherspoon) [L.Little].
2-10-DEN 21 (2:52) M.Bell right tackle to DEN 27 for 6 yards (O.Atogwe).
3-4-DEN 27 (2:11) J.Plummer pass short middle to R.Smith to DEN 35 for 8 yards (W.Witherspoon).
1-10-DEN 35 (1:31) J.Plummer sacked at DEN 27 for -8 yards (L.Little). FUMBLES (L.Little), touched at DEN 27, RECOVERED by SL-P.Tinoisamoa at DEN 3. P.Tinoisamoa to DEN 3 for no gain (C.Carlisle). Play Challenged by DEN and Upheld. (Timeout #1 by DEN at 01:19.)
#2 cont.
1-10-DEN 34 (:20) T.Bell up the middle to DEN 35 for 1 yard (W.Witherspoon). FUMBLES (W.Witherspoon), touched at DEN 35, RECOVERED by SL-O.Atogwe at DEN 34. O.Atogwe to DEN 34 for no gain (T.Scheffler).
St. Louis Rams at 00:12
#3
1-10-DEN 20 (13:21) M.Bell left tackle to DEN 24 for 4 yards (B.Chillar).
2-6-DEN 24 (12:45) M.Bell right tackle to DEN 27 for 3 yards (W.Witherspoon).
3-3-DEN 27 (12:02) J.Plummer pass short right intended for R.Smith INTERCEPTED by T.Hill at DEN 31. T.Hill to DEN 17 for 14 yards (J.Plummer).
#4
1-10-DEN 20 (10:24) T.Bell right tackle to DEN 27 for 7 yards (L.Glover).
2-3-DEN 27 (9:47) T.Bell left end to DEN 29 for 2 yards (B.Chillar).
3-1-DEN 29 (9:04) J.Plummer sacked at DEN 19 for -10 yards (F.Brown).
4-11-DEN 19 (8:37) P.Ernster punts 42 yards to SL 39, Center-M.Leach.

Anybody miss Plummer or Bell yet?

[Broncoman13]

Originally Posted by DarkHorse30

Let's just review our 1st 4 drives last year @ St. Louis:

#1
J.Wilkins kicks 68 yards from SL 30 to DEN 2. M.Bell to DEN 21 for 19 yards (T.Hill).
1-10-DEN 21 (14:55) J.Plummer pass short left to S.Alexander to DEN 26 for 5 yards (F.Brown).
2-5-DEN 26 (14:26) PENALTY on DEN-C.Carlisle, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at DEN 26 - No Play.
2-10-DEN 21 (14:09) T.Bell right end to DEN 28 for 7 yards (P.Tinoisamoa).
3-3-DEN 28 (13:24) J.Plummer pass short left to J.Walker to DEN 39 for 11 yards (O.Atogwe).
1-10-DEN 39 (12:42) T.Bell left tackle to DEN 42 for 3 yards (L.Little).
2-7-DEN 42 (11:59) J.Plummer pass incomplete deep left to T.Scheffler.
3-7-DEN 42 (11:54) J.Plummer sacked at DEN 33 for -9 yards (L.Little). Penalty on DEN-G.Foster, Offensive Holding, declined.
4-16-DEN 33 (11:40) P.Ernster punts 43 yards to SL 24, Center-M.Leach, fair catch by S.McDonald.
#2
1-10-DEN 21 (3:38) J.Plummer pass short right to M.Bell to DEN 21 for no gain (W.Witherspoon) [L.Little].
2-10-DEN 21 (2:52) M.Bell right tackle to DEN 27 for 6 yards (O.Atogwe).
3-4-DEN 27 (2:11) J.Plummer pass short middle to R.Smith to DEN 35 for 8 yards (W.Witherspoon).
1-10-DEN 35 (1:31) J.Plummer sacked at DEN 27 for -8 yards (L.Little). FUMBLES (L.Little), touched at DEN 27, RECOVERED by SL-P.Tinoisamoa at DEN 3. P.Tinoisamoa to DEN 3 for no gain (C.Carlisle). Play Challenged by DEN and Upheld. (Timeout #1 by DEN at 01:19.)
#2 cont.
1-10-DEN 34 (:20) T.Bell up the middle to DEN 35 for 1 yard (W.Witherspoon). FUMBLES (W.Witherspoon), touched at DEN 35, RECOVERED by SL-O.Atogwe at DEN 34. O.Atogwe to DEN 34 for no gain (T.Scheffler).
St. Louis Rams at 00:12
#3
1-10-DEN 20 (13:21) M.Bell left tackle to DEN 24 for 4 yards (B.Chillar).
2-6-DEN 24 (12:45) M.Bell right tackle to DEN 27 for 3 yards (W.Witherspoon).
3-3-DEN 27 (12:02) J.Plummer pass short right intended for R.Smith INTERCEPTED by T.Hill at DEN 31. T.Hill to DEN 17 for 14 yards (J.Plummer).
#4
1-10-DEN 20 (10:24) T.Bell right tackle to DEN 27 for 7 yards (L.Glover).
2-3-DEN 27 (9:47) T.Bell left end to DEN 29 for 2 yards (B.Chillar).
3-1-DEN 29 (9:04) J.Plummer sacked at DEN 19 for -10 yards (F.Brown).
4-11-DEN 19 (8:37) P.Ernster punts 42 yards to SL 39, Center-M.Leach.

Anybody miss Plummer or Bell yet?

Yes, I remember this well. Georgina Foster was doing his best to get Cutler on the field. He was clearly doing all he could to get Jake Killed. Probably 50% of the reason Foster was deemed tradeable was from that one game and really the first quarter of that game. Wasn't it shortly after that the Broncos took Adam Meadows walker/cane away and sent him out to play RT for us?

[brncs_fan]

Originally Posted by Lynchmob72

Reverse karma?

Thats it we win

What's Reverse Karma?

All these quality Bills posters have left me with some serious doubts

[DarkHorse30]

Let's review our 1st 4 drives 2 years ago @ Miami:

#1
1-10-DEN 29 (14:53) M.Anderson right tackle to DEN 32 for 3 yards (K.Carter).
2-7-DEN 32 (14:17) J.Plummer pass incomplete. Penalty on DEN-A.Lelie, Offensive Pass Interference, declined.
Timeout #1 by DEN at 14:08.
3-7-DEN 32 (14:08) M.Anderson left end to DEN 31 for -1 yards (S.Madison).
4-8-DEN 31 (13:28) (Punt formation) T.Sauerbrun punts 56 yards to MIAMI 13, Center-M.Leach. W.Welker to MIA 25 for 12 yards (L.Green).

a reversal of fortune provided by our defense

1-10-MIA 40 (11:28) (Shotgun) G.Frerotte pass to C.Chambers to 50 for 10 yards (C.Bailey). FUMBLES (C.Bailey), RECOVERED by DEN-I.Gold at DEN 47. I.Gold to DEN 47 for no gain (C.Chambers).

#2
1-10-DEN 47 (11:21) M.Anderson left end to MIA 50 for 3 yards (Z.Thomas; L.Schulters).
2-7-MIA 50 (10:42) M.Anderson up the middle to MIA 50 for no gain (C.Crowder).
3-7-MIA 50 (10:02) J.Plummer pass incomplete to A.Lelie.
4-7-MIA 50 (9:50) T.Sauerbrun punts 50 yards to end zone,
#3
1-10-DEN 16 (5:42) T.Bell up the middle to DEN 46 for 30 yards (awesome job, Tatum....your work for the day is done. Sure hope we score off of that big play)(L.Schulters).
1-10-DEN 46 (4:56) J.Plummer pass incomplete to A.Lelie.
2-10-DEN 46 (4:49) J.Plummer pass incomplete to K.Johnson.
3-10-DEN 46 (4:40) J.Plummer to MIA 47 for 7 yards (J.Taylor).
4-3-MIA 47 (3:52) (Punt formation) T.Sauerbrun punts 47 yards to end zone, Center-M.Leach, Touchback.
#3
1-10-DEN 20 (12:36) T.Bell right end to DEN 24 for 4 yards (Z.Thomas).
2-6-DEN 24 (11:58) T.Bell right end to DEN 22 for -2 yards (R.Howard).
3-8-DEN 22 (11:19) J.Plummer pass incomplete to T.Bell.
4-8-DEN 22 (11:14) T.Sauerbrun punts 33 yards to MIA 45, Center-M.Leach, downed by DEN-K.Burns.

another brief interlude by our defense

2-10-MIA 45 (10:54) (Shotgun) G.Frerotte pass intended for C.Chambers INTERCEPTED by C.Bailey at DEN 44. C.Bailey to MIA 45 for 11 yards (R.McMichael).
#4
1-10-MIA 45 (10:47) J.Plummer pass incomplete to T.Bell (C.Crowder).
2-10-MIA 45 (10:41) J.Plummer pass incomplete to R.Smith. PENALTY on MIA-C.Crowder, Defensive Pass Interference, 2 yards, enforced at MIA 45 - No Play.
1-10-MIA 43 (10:35) T.Bell right tackle to MIA 42 for 1 yard (K.Traylor).
2-9-MIA 42 (9:53) (Shotgun) J.Plummer pass to R.Smith to MIA 34 for 8 yards (J.Seau).
3-1-MIA 34 (9:14) J.Plummer pass to S.Alexander to MIA 26 for 8 yards (T.Jones).
1-10-MIA 26 (8:35) T.Bell up the middle to MIA 22 for 4 yards (T.Jones; C.Crowder).
2-6-MIA 22 (7:57) J.Plummer pass to K.Johnson pushed ob at MIA 3 for 19 yards (Z.Thomas; T.Jones).
1-3-MIA 3 (7:31) T.Bell right tackle to MIA 3 for no gain (Z.Thomas).
2-3-MIA 3 (6:50) T.Bell right guard to MIA 3 for no gain (Z.Thomas).
3-3-MIA 3 (6:08) J.Plummer pass incomplete to A.Lelie. PENALTY on MIA-J.Taylor, Defensive Offside, 2 yards, enforced at MIA 3 - No Play.
3-1-MIA 1 (6:06) J.Plummer pass incomplete to S.Alexander.
4-1-MIA 1 (6:06) T.Bell right tackle to MIA 2 for -1 yards (Z.Thomas; J.Taylor).

Does there seem to be some sort of trend in these opening day losses? It's funny in retrospect looking at how awful Plummer tended to be when he had plenty of time to "get ready" for a big game...especially season openers. Consider that part of Shanahan's rep. has been "if he has more time to prepare his team, you're toast against them". Plummer was like the anti-shanahan.

[broncsyanks]

we will take every game seriously. is the past record in the back of my mind. hell yes. but does that mean we are not a better team

[chawknz]

After listening to NFL Radio for the week and ESPN's podcasts, the "experts" seem to be split 50/50 on this game. One side of the fence says anyone is crazy to think the Broncos won't win this game, and if we want to compete with the Chargers, we BETTER win this game.

The other side says "Oh , I smell an upset here". So, of course we need to take this game seriously and we really need to make a mark on the division after our showing this pre-season.

[footstepsfrom#27]

Shanny is 8-4 in season openers, yet people continue to act like two losses in a row are some kind of trend.

[fontaine]

Originally Posted by Crushaholic

I don't see how anybody can take this game for granted after the stinkers we laid during the last two road openers.

Easy, we don't have a joke at QB now who can shoot this team right in the foot.

[Punisher]

will break this omen this year

[BMF Bronco]

I think the rushing combo of Henry and the rook is just going to pulverize the Bills D.

[Bronx33]

I predict a close ugly win.

Those stats provided by DarkHorse are nice and all except that they dont tell the whole story of either game. Specifically that pretty much everyone but Champ Bailey played like ass in both games. EVERYONE. Bell and Plummer deserve much of the blame as the stats indicate however, the defense, special teams, and rest of the offense didnt exactly do a whole lot (with the exception of Champ of course) to help them from their own idiocy.

[cwdogg]

They should win if Shanahan spent the week gameplanning for Buffalo and not next weeks game against the Raiders

[Blueflame]

Buffalo is certainly capable of upsetting an opponent at home if the visiting team is overconfident or unfocused. This is by no means a "gimme"...however, in my opinion, it is winnable. I don't particularly like starting the season on the road, with an early game...

The winner will likely be the team that makes the fewest mistakes. Hopefully, that team is the Broncos.

[Disco Man]

24-17
Denver

[NFLBRONCO]

Unless our D has been sleepwalking and will be alot better then what we've seen in preseason the 1st month success is on offense. The thing I'm curious about this years team is

Since Shanny has been coach it has seemed our best games were when we scored at least 14 pts or more in first half. If we scored 7 or less alot of games were ugly. Do you think this present team to be like teams before or different.


This is a tough game because of position changes scheme lack of punch in front 7 maybe.

[Archie]

31-17 Denver.....

[Disco Man]

If we win the toss we need to kickoff to start the game and go on D 1st. I know Shanahan never does that, how many times have we been down starting the 2nd half on the road and we kickoff in the 3rd? I hate getting the ball 1st when we are not in Denver, c'mon lets blow the coin toss!!!!!!