Tears filled Larry Coyer’s eyes and he choked as he spoke.
He had just been part of what he described as the greatest defensive half of football he’d ever seen. It couldn’t have come at a more critical time.
“I just feel privileged to have been a part of this,” the Broncos’ defensive coordinator said. “What these guys just did was incredible. It was the greatest half of football I’ve ever seen.”
Coyer, under scrutiny after a lackluster defensive performance in a season-opening 34-10 loss at Miami, orchestrated a brilliant second half for a 20-17 victory over San Diego – a crucial AFC West game Sunday at Invesco Field at Mile High.
His adjustments, or perhaps lack thereof, forged the defense into a different unit in the second half. Trailing 14-3 at halftime, Denver’s defense held San Diego – one of the most dynamic units in the NFL – to 41 total yards in the second half.
The Broncos, who didn’t get a sack in Sunday’s first half or all game at Miami, registered four sacks in the second half.
“I don’t know who was out there in the first half,” said cornerback Champ Bailey, the star of the game. “But I like what I saw in the second half.”
He and his teammates also liked what they heard at halftime.
Coyer said he poured his soul into his defense, telling it how much he cared and how much he believed in it. He told his players he believed they could win the game and save the season.
And then he told them to go win the game and save the season.
“That’s it,” defensive end Trevor Pryce said. “That’s all that was needed.”
Pryce said Coyer usually spends halftime drawing up plays and making adjustments. Pryce said there was none of that Sunday. It all came down to heart.
Coyer told his defense he was going to be more aggressive, blitzing Pro Bowl quarterback Drew Brees more. He told the cornerbacks to play man coverage. He told the defense to get off the field on third down. He told the defense to tighten up and just play free and aggressively.
“It worked,” cornerback Lenny Walls said. “Sometimes, I like it when they just let us go. They let us go, and we won. I love Coach Coyer. He put me and the rest of us in the position to win the game.”
In a column that appeared Sunday in The Denver Post, some Denver players were said to be critical of Coyer’s scheme.
“It’s not true,” Coyer said. “That’s all I’m going to say about that. I love my players.”
Walls said the second-half performance proves the unit is coming together.
“We wouldn’t have been able to do what we did if we didn’t believe in each other,” Walls said. “This unit is together.”
Added defensive co-captain and middle linebacker Al Wilson: “We love Coach Coyer and what he does and how dedicated to us he is. Does every man always agree with what every other man says? No. That’s just being honest.
“But we all believe in what he’s doing. We all showed that today.”
Denver dominated San Diego’s offense in the third quarter, and the Chargers were 0-for-6 on third down in the second half.
“It all started on third down,” safety John Lynch said. “That’s where it all began for us.”
Actually, the defensive resurgence began with 1:46 left in the first half. From that point to the 8:46 mark of the fourth quarter, San Diego had seven possessions and minus yardage.
“I really hope in a few months we look back at this as the start of something big,” Wilson said. “I really think this could be a moment like that. It was really big.”
It was exactly what Coyer and his defense needed.
Staff writer Bill Williamson can be reached at 303-820-5450 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com.
