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If the NFL were based solely on performance, the Broncos might have been spending this week defending their seemingly uninspired, lackluster play at home Sunday against an inferior opponent.
The NFL is foremost a results-oriented business, and at the end of an otherwise forgettable Sunday at Invesco Field at Mile High, the Broncos wound up with perhaps their most productive day of the season.
Not only did the Broncos hang on to defeat the battered – and heavy underdog – Baltimore Ravens, 12-10, before a chilled, sellout crowd, but they scurried back into their locker room to see their two closest challengers for the AFC West title, the Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers, lose games that weren’t decided until the final gun.
With a 10-3 record, the Broncos have a two-game lead in the division with three games to go. And their next two games are against 4-9 Buffalo and 4-9 Oakland.
Something else comes with the division title the Broncos have all but clinched: the guarantee of the first playoff game to be played at 5-year-old Invesco Field.
No wonder Broncos coach Mike Shanahan graciously delayed his postgame news conference so he could join his media pals in watching the Dallas Cowboys score the winning touchdown against the Chiefs.
Who could fault the whoop in the locker room after several players gathered around the TV watched the Chiefs’ Lawrence Tynes miss a potential game-tying field goal at the final gun in Dallas?
The Broncos win. The Chiefs and Chargers lose. In the standings, it was nothing less than a perfect day. Of all days.
“That’s great, but if we win all our games, it really doesn’t matter,” Broncos defensive end Trevor Pryce said. “That’s the approach we have to take. Asking them to help us – I don’t think any of them would (give me water) if I was on fire.”
Strange how great things came to the Broncos after playing what probably was their worst game since they stunk it up at Miami in the opener. On Sunday, had the Broncos played anybody other than a team ranked 31st in the 32-team NFL in points scored, or took on a quarterback just slightly less pitiful than Kyle Boller, this could have been one of the season’s most shocking upsets.
What most people don’t understand about the 4-9 Ravens, though, is that even without injured superstar linebacker Ray Lewis, they have a large, physical, aggressive defense that is ranked an impressive seventh in the league.
All the Broncos could muster offensively was two long field goals by Jason Elam in the first half and a short touchdown pass from quarterback Jake Plummer to fullback Kyle Johnson after a Ravens fumble in the second half.
This was the first time in 13 years the Broncos won a home game by scoring no more than 12 points.
“People thought just because they have a sorry offense their defense was not good,” Broncos running back Tatum Bell said. “But they showed up and played good, just like they have all season.”
Bell led the Broncos’ suddenly slumping running attack with 63 yards, and Plummer had another efficient game, passing for 236 yards.
But the Broncos would not have won this game had their defense not harassed Boller into one of the most sorry quarterback performances ever witnessed in the relatively brief history of Invesco Field.
To help illustrate Boller’s woes, note that Ravens receiver Mark Clayton had a QB rating of 39.6 by virtue of throwing one incomplete pass. Had Clayton thrown several more incomplete passes, his rating would have remained 39.6, the figure that is to QB ratings what 0 degrees is to Celsius.
Boller? He had a 31.4 rating after the third quarter. The Ravens had first-and-10 at the Broncos’ 24 in the first half, but after two incompletions, Boller fell down on his dropback, scrambled to his feet and then scrambled left. As he approached the Broncos’ sideline, Boller chucked a floater into the end zone, where Broncos safety Nick Ferguson waited patiently before corralling it for an interception.
In the second half, Boller spoiled a chance on first-and-goal at the Denver 5 by throwing an interception to Champ Bailey. Boller also couldn’t make a play on another opportunity at first-and-goal from the 5 that ended on downs, and fumbled away the first play of another drive that started near midfield.
Bailey’s interception extended his pick streak to five consecutive games, so the Broncos’ defense deserves considerable credit for stopping the Ravens and producing the win. But it’s equally difficult to absolve Boller of blame.
“I can’t turn the ball over,” Boller said. “If I could never turn the ball over, I’d love it. But I make mistakes. I am human.”
He’s human, and as Chargers fans can attest after their team’s shocking home loss Sunday to Miami, a win is a win is a win. The Broncos are 7-0 at home and a Christmas Eve win against the Raiders from completing their first undefeated season in their fairly new stadium.
And with three weeks remaining, the Broncos also have the tiebreaker in place against 10-3 Cincinnati for the AFC’s No. 2 playoff seed, which would bring a first-round bye, second-round home playoff game and delay until the last possible moment a potential meeting with the Indianapolis Colts.
So just because it’s possible the Broncos can clinch the AFC West title next week doesn’t mean they will have little to play for in the regular season’s final two weeks.
“It’s big, but it’s not the title we want,” Pryce said. “It’s (being the champion of) four teams, rather than being a champion of 32 teams. Big difference. I think this organization isn’t one that would be celebrating that (AFC West title) too much. We expect to do that.”
Staff writer Mike Klis can be reached at 303-820-5440 or mklis@denverpost.com.
Extra points
TURNING POINT: Reversal of fortune
Baltimore’s four turnovers were crucial for Denver, but the game got dicey late after a Ravens’ touchdown with 1:52 to go. Denver sealed it with an 8-yard run by receiver Ashley Lelie on a reverse for a first down with 1:29 remaining. The Broncos were able to down the ball on three consecutive plays to run out the clock.
“I just dove for it,” Lelie said. “I thought I had a chance.”
HIT OF THE DAY: Putzier’s pounding
Good thing for Jeb Putzier that he is a big, strong fella, because he’s been getting pounded this year. For the third time this season, the Denver tight end was the recipient of the hit of the day. As he was going up for a reception in the third quarter, Putzier was pounded by Baltimore star safety Ed Reed. Putzier didn’t make the catch, but he handled the hit well.
CRAZY PLAY OF THE DAY: Pick under pressure
Late in the second quarter with the scored tied 3-3, Baltimore was driving to take the lead. On third-and-10 from the Denver 24, Ravens quarterback Kyle Boller dropped back and tripped. He got back on his feet and got out of the pocket, then heaved the ball toward the end zone. It was a dying duck that was easily intercepted by Denver safety Nick Ferguson. Instead of Baltimore taking the lead, Denver drove for a Jason Elam field goal and a 6-3 lead at the half.
“I wasn’t surprised he threw the ball,” Ferguson said. “He had Todd Heap in the end zone with two defenders. He trusted his guy more than he trusted our two guys.”
BESTS: Carswell returns
Welcome back: Denver offensive lineman Dwayne Carswell was on the sideline Sunday. It was his first appearance since he was lost for the season in a serious car accident in October. Carswell will attempt to come back next season.
Bounce: The Broncos saw a nearly disastrous blocked punt turn into a decent effort by Todd Sauerbrun. Instead of bouncing back, the ball rolled another 30 yards to the Denver 49.
Scoreboard watching: It’s that time of the season. In the third quarter, the scoreboard showed that Kansas City was leading Dallas. Of course, that led to a chorus of boos. Then it showed that San Diego was losing to Miami. That led to a chorus of cheers. Both K.C. and San Diego eventually lost.
Pass: In the third quarter, Jake Plummer hit fullback Kyle Johnson for a 7-yard touchdown pass. It was a perfect strike in the corner of the end zone that the Ravens couldn’t defend.
Save: Broncos rookie Darrent Williams had a touchdown-saving tackle at the Denver 10 on Baltimore returner B.J. Sams on the opening kickoff. The Denver defense then held the Ravens to a field goal.
Unit: The top unit on the field was the Denver defense. Series after series, it came up with turnovers or stops.
WORSTS: Where’s the flag?
Non-call: In the second quarter, Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey nearly had an interception that he could have returned more than 80 yards for a touchdown. However, Baltimore receiver Derrick Mason was clinging on to him. It appeared to be offensive pass interference, but no penalty was called, much to the dismay of Bailey, who passionately pleaded his case to the officials.
Fourth-down execution: In the third quarter, Denver went for it on fourth-and-1 from the Ravens’ 35. A high pass from Plummer to Johnson went incomplete and gave the Ravens possession.
Report card
Offense: C
It was a fairly efficient game against a strong defense. But the offense needs to be crisper as the playoffs approach, including fine-tuning its running game. The Broncos ran for only 96 yards on 32 carries, an average of 3 yards a carry.
Defense: B
Denver forced four Baltimore turnovers – two interceptions and two fumbles. It seemed Denver came up with huge defensive plays when needed. There were occasional lapses, such as Ravens rookie Mark Clayton making seven catches for 105 yards, including a 39-yard touchdown.
Special teams: D
It was a bad day for the Denver special teams. There was an 87-yard kickoff return by B.J. Sams to open the game, a blocked Todd Sauerbrun punt and a missed extra point by Jason Elam. However, Elam kicked crucial field goals of 47 and 48 yards that saved the day for the unit and perhaps the team.
Coaching: B
The Broncos’ coaches knew this would be a grind-it-out game. They used a conservative game plan on offense and an attacking plan on defense. It was just enough.
Overall: B
Broncos coach Mike Shanahan called the win ugly. But it was monumental because of what happened elsewhere Sunday afternoon. Both San Diego and Kansas City lost and fell two games behind the Broncos in the AFC West with three games to go. The Broncos would need a colossal stumble not to win their first AFC West crown in seven years. Thus, it was a huge day.
Shanahan the man
With Sunday’s victory, Mike Shanahan became the winningest coach in Broncos history. A look at the team’s coaches ranked by wins (including playoffs):
Coach Tenure Record
Mike Shanahan 1995-pres. 118-66-0
Dan Reeves 1981-92 117-79-1
Red Miller 1977-80 42-25-0
John Ralston 1972-76 34-33-3
Lou Saban 1967-71 20-42-3
Wade Phillips 1993-94 16-17-0
Jack Faulkner 1962-64 9-22-1
Frank Filchock 1960-61 7-20-1
Mac Speedie 1964-66 6-19-1
Ray Malavasi 1966 4-8-0
Jerry Smith 1971 2-3-0
