Turnovers Ruin Perfectly Passable Broncos

I'm not saying the Broncos would have been going to the Super Bowl or anything this year, but I am saying that what might have been a perfectly passable NFL season for the Broncos has quickly spiralled into a painful disappointment because of their inability to win the turnover battle.

The season started off with more than just an average Broncos team filled with youth and small-time free agency acquisitions.  What transpired in the first quarter of the season was a blistering 3-1 record with the promise of big time rookies and a studly offense, albeit an underwhelming defensive unit.  Jay Cutler, the AFC Player of the Month in September, was keeping pace with Drew Brees and a historical abundance of yardage.  Brandon Marshall, despite missing his first game was easily the league's reception leader, hauling in passes and signature YAC yardage left and right.  Rookies Eddie Royal and Ryan Clady took the offensive game plan by storm, along with a surprisingly capable offensive line which allowed only 2 sacks, one of which was a mere fumble behind the line of scrimmage.  With such promise on the offensive side of the game, the Bronco' porous defense was nothing to worry about, if nothing else it made the games a little exciting for the automatic scoring offense.  The Broncos were pleased to report in media conference calls and interviews that despite a horrendous hiccup against the sorry Chiefs, they were 3-1 in the first quarter of the season, obviously a indication of things to come in the rest of the season, right?  We all remember the Broncos fast starts, leading to mediocre seasons, but at least the 2008 campaign promised offensive firepower and exciting finales.  A lot can change in a few weeks, but the Broncos did their best in a losing effort against the Chiefs to give us a hint as to forthcoming troubles.

With four costly offensive turnovers in K.C behind them, the Broncos set out to prove against the Buccaneers that indeed, a week of focus and strategy could effectively eliminate those turnovers, and not only could the Broncos win the shootout games with a little luck and alot of offense, they could win the defensive struggle, the coaches chess game, and most importantly, the turnover battle.  What happened?  Since that time the Broncos are a mess of inconsistency and turnovers. 

Jay Cutler, though swank and confident, seems downright reckless with the ball, ignoring a plethora of useful offensive weapons and forcing his throws into double and triple coverage for Brandon Marshall.  Brandon Marshall himself has seen his share of sharing the wealth, as it were, putting the ball on the turf more often than he's brought it into the endzone in the last four games.  Add to these, two consecutive Andre Hall fumbles, and the Broncos have themselves a losing battle, the turnover battle.

Week after week Mike Shanahan assures us that, of course a team won't overcome piles of turnovers, but the Broncos look like a team that might have to bite the bullet and do just that.  The turnovers are not going away anytime soon apparently.  With  three  interceptions in the last game alone, the Broncos have shown about the extent of their ability to hold onto the ball, and with three defensive interceptions all year, (one by a man twice the size of most corners) things are not looking good. 

So what can we take away from the Broncos midseason 4-4 performance?  For one the offense is prone to streaks.  Luckily they're keeping their pants on, not that type of streak, but they're going to have to keep possession as well as their clothing.  The defense, well, they've been put in tight spots by the offense, but with injuries mounting and yards coming in big play bunches, they absolutely have to improve.  Finally, what would've been a perfectly enjoyable season, with highs and lows and hopes for young players to develop, has become a frustrating attempt to sick with average teams.  We're in for a long season, don't let the turnover bug bite.