Do or Die, Denver

Do or Die, Denver

by Joe Martinez

The Denver Broncos have one chance to secure themselves a playoff berth and resting starters week seventeen by clinching the division with a win over the Buffalo Bills.  Tomorrow’s game can help avoid a “win to get in” situation against the San Diego Chargers in the final game of the season.  No easy task, given their struggles against the Chargers in recent years.

The Buffalo Bills have yet to significantly rebound from their mid season slump, as they are mathematically out of playoff contention after starting the season off at 5-1.  The Bills will get help at the quarterback position, as Trent Edwards will return to the starting lineup after missing the past two games with a groin injury.  Marshawn Lynch is questionable as is All-Pro left tackle Jason Peters, receiver Roscoe Parrish, and cornerback Dustin Fox.  Journeyman linebacker Teddy Lehman is out as well as rookie wide receiver James Hardy, who went on injured reserve.

In reciprocation, the Mile High Men are also pretty beat up.  All-Pro cornerback Champ Bailey is still listed as questionable after missing much of the season.  Right guard Chris Kuper and left tackle Ryan Clady are both listed as questionable as well as fullback/linebacker Spencer Larsen, wide receiver Brandon Stokley, and safety Vernon Fox.

The injury report has only gotten longer and longer each week as it seems the Broncos can not keep a healthy running back to finish the season.  To start the season off, running backs Andre Hall, Anthony Alridge, and Cecil Sapp were all placed on injured reserve at the culmination of the pre-season.  Sapp has since been released and picked up by the Junior Broncos (a.k.a. the Houston Texans).  Since then, highly touted rookie running back Ryan Torain has gone on injured reserve after playing one game, which came after missing all of September and October.  Starter Selvin Young has missed much of the season with a groin injury himself, rushing only fifty four times thus far with less than three hundred yards.  Veteran Michael Pittman had been brought in to provide depth and leadership.  However, he himself wound up on injured reserve after starting only three games. 

In everyone’s absence, the Broncos discovered a diamond in the rough in seventh round pick Peyton Hillis out of Arkansas.  Being selected for his versatility (after starting at fullback while working in at tailback, wide receiver, and even returning kicks and punts), Hillis displayed such when called upon to see significant time at tailback.  This wound up with him getting the starting nod over recently signed Tatum Bell, whom the Broncos had traded to the Detroit Lions in the deal that brought Dre Bly to Denver.  Hillis surprised many, in typical Broncos running back fashion, even winning Rookie of the Week for his performance against the New York Jets.  However, he himself fell upon the plague in the backfield, having a season ending knee injury.

Running backs situation aside, Shanahan’s team has struggled to stay healthy this year.  Boss Bailey, younger brother of the All-Pro cornerback, was brought in to make a significant splash at strong side linebacker.  He managed to play in only six games before getting himself on injured reserve.

Center Tom Nalen, the last remaining member of the Super Bowl winning era, never got to play a single snap this season.  Still nursing the injury from last year, his season, and possibly career, was ended while winding up on injured reserve.

Reserve journeyman quarterback Patrick Ramsey’s season, and likely tenure with the orange and blue, has ended as well.  He only managed three pass attempts before injuries caught up to him this year.

It is likely these three men will not be back next year.  In Bailey’s absence, journeyman Jamie Winborn has made an impact at strong side linebacker and has garnered enough accolades to keep the starting role.  The Broncos need to hope that a removal of Boss Bailey from the team will not impact older brother Champ’s stand with the team.  Tom Nalen will be thirty eight at the start of next season.  The Broncos have been extremely pleased with his replacement, former Kansas City Chief Casey Wiegmann, who was acquired via free agency this past offseason.  Denver is also excited about reserve Kory Lichtensteiger, as they have worked extremely hard to give him time on the field.  Ramsey still, surprisingly, believes he has the talent to be a starting quarterback.  Denver should not re-sign him for more than minimum wage given his play since leaving Washington in the trade that sent him first to the Jets prior to signing with the Broncos.

Middle linebacker Nate Webster and weak side linebacker D.J. Williams, doubling as defensive captain, have both missed much of the season with injuries, being replaced by rookies Spencer Larsen and Wesley Woodyard.  Williams’ return is crucial as he brings a defensive leader back to the starting lineup, as Champ Bailey was the other defensive captain.  No other veterans have started on defense in their absences, with the possible exception of Dre Bly.

So how do the Broncos earn their playoff berth by defeating the Bills tomorrow?  Here is my proposal.

1. Rattle Trent Edwards – Edwards will no doubt have to shake off a bit of rust as he returns to the lineup.  J.P. Losman filled in better than anticipated, which, unfortunately, does not say much.  Edwards is without a doubt the future of the Bills, but still has trouble avoiding the rush.  Sending D.J. Williams on blitzes will be necessary, as Williams will be itching to make an impact for the team again.
2. Stop the run – Something Denver could have done all season was stop the run, so why bother now?  Denver has struggled against the run since firing Larry Coyer as defensive coordinator.  They have not adjusted well to the defensive scheme change and have since reverted back to high speed emphasized defense.
3. Control penalties – Denver ranks only 26^th in penalties committed (source: NFL&stat=penTot&stable=downs&dir=descending&season=regular">http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/sortableStatsTeam?stype=offense&div=NFL&stat=penTot&stable=downs&dir=descending&season=regular ) but Buffalo ranks 29^th.  Anticipate that this will be a low penalty game whereby the team that commits fewer penalties will therefore have a more significant field position advantage.
4. Hang onto the ball – Again, these two teams are close, as Buffalo is -9 while Denver is -13, 31^st in the league.  Ball control is going to be crucial in this game as well.  There will be turnovers committed.  The team that will have fewer turnovers and capitalize on the ones they receive is going to be the victor. 
5. Try to establish a running game – This is unlikely as the bulk of the carries will be going to Tatum Bell, who a few weeks ago was selling cell phones at the Denver Metro Mall.  Selvin Young will be working in as well.  Yet, if these two can not get it going, they will have to…
6. Let Jay Cutler win it for them – I am surprised Cutler is not walking like a hunchback this year because he is carrying the team.  This is no easy task, especially in the mile high air.  He was rewarded with a trip to the Pro Bowl, bringing with him wide receiver Brandon Marshall.  This Denver team is only in playoff contention because of this passing game.  Cutler, Marshall, rookie Eddie Royal, tight end Tony Scheffler, and receiver Brandon Stokley have all surpassed expectations for the season, Royal especially.  It is amazing what the team doctors were able to do for Cutler when it was finally established he had Diabetes.

So now, it is do or die, Denver.  Now they need to show that they want to be in the playoffs.  They control their own destiny.  They should make serious strides at returning the Lombardi Trophy to Mile High Stadium with a win tomorrow.  Let’s see what they do in the next 23 hours.