East Rutherford, N.J. – Down in the dank, cemented bowels of Giants Stadium, cleat-protected behemoths could not disrupt the echoing silence.
The Broncos slowly shuffled one-by-one into the visiting locker room. Some shook their heads. Most were expressionless. Everybody was stunned.
How in the dang-blasted gene pool of Archie Manning did the Broncos lose this game? They had played so well for most of the game. Played their game of run, play-action pass, defensive aggression and field position. They had a big lead in the fourth quarter, yet in the end, the down-to-5-final-seconds end, the Broncos lost to the New York Giants 24-23 on Sunday before a raucous, bundled-up crowd of 78,516 at the Meadowlands.
“Unbelievable,” said Broncos tight end Stephen Alexander, an eight-year veteran. “I don’t remember ever losing one like that.”
When the Giants’ Eli Manning, son of Archie and younger brother of another Broncos nemesis, Peyton, hit Amani Toomer for a 2-yard touchdown pass with 5 ticks on the clock, everything changed.
The Broncos’ were unable to get beyond the 5-1 hump that had haunted their past two seasons. Instead of extending their winning streak to six, the Broncos were left with a 5-2 mark for a third consecutive year.
As for the NFL record streak of not committing a turnover for five consecutive games, Manning’s pass killed that, too, for it put the Broncos’ kickoff return team in a state of desperation. Given little choice, Charlie Adams lateralled to the wrong guy, and on the final play, the Broncos officially fumbled. Their no-turnover streak reverted to four consecutive games, where the Broncos are tied with several others.
“Even Superman has a weakness,” Giants linebacker Carlos Emmons said. “We needed this win a lot more than they did.”
The kryptonite to the Broncos’ season has been playing ahead. This is the third consecutive week they had at least a two-score lead in the fourth quarter, only to leave fingertip shavings strewn across Denver-area living rooms. They nearly blew a 21-10 lead against Washington two weeks ago and a 28-3 cushion against the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots last week.
Although the Broncos held on to win those two games, there was no mighty biceps of Broncos linebacker Ian Gold to save the Broncos this time, as it did against Washington on a deflection in the end zone.
“We’ve got to learn to finish people; there’s no doubt about that,” safety John Lynch said. “That’s something we’re going to have to focus on, and today it came to light.”
After Jason Elam kicked his third field goal with 13:18 remaining, the Broncos led 23-10.
There was no hint of a Broncos collapse. Mike Anderson moved back to the chairman’s chair of the Broncos’ running-back committee and rushed for 120 yards. Quarterback Jake Plummer had another no-mistake, highly efficient game, completing 18-of-29 passes for 194 yards and a touchdown. The defense was giving Manning and running back Tiki Barber fits.
But then Manning moved the Giants on a 65-yard drive that Barber finished with a 4-yard touchdown run. The Broncos now led 23-17, but they would have another big chance to put the game away with about seven minutes remaining.
Anderson had just pounded his way down to the 19-yard line, but the play was brought back when Broncos right tackle George Foster was called for holding star defensive end Michael Strahan, who was otherwise rendered ineffective most of the game.
“I’m going to have to watch the film to see if the call was valid or not,” Foster said. “It came at a bad time.”
The penalty not only stalled the drive, it left Elam with a 49-yard try. He missed wide to the right.
Although Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey killed the Giants’ next drive by intercepting a Manning pass, the offense went three-and-out.
“We haven’t been taking advantage of drives in the third and fourth quarter that can put games away,” Plummer said. “We’ve got to figure it out because we can’t keep depending on our defense to stop the other team in the last minutes.”
Manning went back on the field with 3:29 remaining and the ball at his 17-yard line. Too much time for a quarterback who was getting too much time.
This was the third consecutive game the Broncos haven’t had a sack. They almost had him once on third down, but Manning scrambled adroitly to his left and completed a first-down pass.
“Give that kid a lot of credit because he stayed poised,” Lynch said. “He was under a lot of duress, but we’re coming this close whether it be sacks or turnovers. We had all kinds of pressures but no sacks. We’ve got to turn those almosts into what would be a win.”
The win evaporated when Manning drove the ball down to a first-and-goal at the 8 with 21 seconds remaining. An incomplete and a short pass to Barber that was stuffed by Lynch left the Giants at the 2 with 10 seconds left.
After a timeout, Toomer shook free of rookie cornerback Domonique Foxworth just long enough to give Manning a game-winning target.
“That Denver team was coming off some big wins and playing really well,” Manning said. “To go in there and get a two-minute drive and score a game-winning touchdown is definitely the biggest play so far of my career.”
Staff writer Mike Klis can be reached at 303-820-5440 or mklis@denverpost.com.
Extra points
TURNING POINT – Giants come up big
On the final drive of the game, the Giants were in a third-and-4 situation from their 23-yard line. Quarterback Eli Manning was chased for several seconds before finding receiver Plaxico Burress for a first down. It was the first of several big plays on a 15-play, 83-yard drive that culminated with a 2-yard touchdown pass with five seconds remaining to give the Giants the unlikely victory.
“They just made big plays,” Denver linebacker Al Wilson said. “We could have stopped them, but we didn’t.”
HIT OF THE DAY – Putzier nailed again
In the first quarter, Denver tight end Jeb Putzier got rocked for the second consecutive week. Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce smacked into Putzier so hard that both went airborne. Putzier was shaken up a bit and left the field for a short period. He did a great job of holding onto the ball. Last week, against New England, Putzier was hit hard and required stitches on his chin after the game.
CRAZY PLAY OF THE DAY – Field goal on camera
On the Broncos’ first possession of a goofy game, kicker Jason Elam connected for a 49-yard field goal, but it was much more than that. Holder Jake Plummer awkwardly put the ball on the turf, then Elam muscled the ball up. It hit the camera on the goal post and bounced past the goal for three points.
BESTS – Johnson caps drive
Start: The Broncos needed to establish themselves on the opening drive of the third quarter – and they did. They had a three-play drive after a 30-yard kickoff return by Darrent Williams. The big play was a 33-yard pass from Jake Plummer to Kyle Johnson. The quick drive ended on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Plummer to Johnson giving the Broncos a 20-10 lead.
Catch: Giants receiver Plaxico Burress made a nice catch deep in the corner of the end zone over Denver cornerback Champ Bailey to give the Giants a 7-3 lead in the first quarter. Not bad for a guy with a bum back.
Use of the tight end: Denver used a three tight end set often Sunday with Stephen Alexander, Putzier and Nate Jackson. Often, in the set, Denver would not line up a running back. The Broncos were so committed to the scheme, long snapper – and part-time tight end – Mike Leach played tight end when Putzier went out after being shook up.
WORSTS – Sauerbrun’s shank
Kickoff: While he has been excellent on kickoffs, Sauerbrun shanked one out of bounds at the Giants’ 18 in the second quarter. Because of a 15-yard penalty on the Giants, Sauerbrun was given the advantage of kicking off at the Broncos’ 45 instead of the 30. When the ball was placed 30 yards from the spot of the kick, the Giants got it on their 25.
Temper: New York defenders Antonio Pierce and Michael Strahan were called for penalties on back-to-back plays at the goal line.
Route: In the third quarter, Lelie appeared to make a wrong turn on a long pass attempt by Plummer. Coach Mike Shanahan stopped and talked to Lelie on his way back to the bench after the third-down play.
No call: In a game where officials were quick to throw a flag, the officials missed a holding call on New York when lineman Shaun O’Hara grabbed Warren’s jersey for several seconds. The Giants utilized the freebie by converting a third down.
Report card
Offense: C
The Broncos’ offense didn’t lose this game. However, it didn’t win it, either. The offense has been efficient, but for the third straight game, it stalled late. But in the two previous games, wins over Washington and New England, Denver’s offense was able to make a key play late to extend a drive. Sunday, it couldn’t. The Broncos had a chance to burn some time after Champ Bailey’s interception with 4:46 remaining. The offense went three plays and out.
Defense: C
Once again, the defense was good most of the game. The Giants got 148 of their 311 total yards in the fourth quarter. For the first time this year, the Broncos’ defense busted in the fourth quarter, allowing two touchdowns.
Special teams: C
After a penalty on tackle George Foster, Jason Elam was forced to try a 49-yard field goal with 5:24 left that would have given Denver a nine-point lead. Elam missed wide right. Otherwise, the special teams were decent.
Coaching: C
The Broncos had an excellent game plan on both sides of the ball. Most of the game, the plan was executed. But things fell apart in the fourth quarter.
Overall: C
The Broncos must drop this one from their mind-set immediately. It was a tough loss that can mess with a mentally fragile team. This doesn’t appear to be a weak team, though with Philadelphia coming to Denver on Sunday, the Broncos have to quickly move on. A 6-2 mark at the bye would be terrific. A 5-3 record would invoke memories of recent stumbles after 5-1 starts.
