Orchard Park, N.Y. – Improbable as it seems, there will be a time when Rod Smith is no longer playing football.
The end might come closer to a decade from now, the way the 35-year-old receiver is producing.
It sure didn’t come on a chilly Saturday night at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Smith had a game for the ages in leading the Broncos not only past the Buffalo Bills, 28-17, but into the NFL playoffs for the third consecutive season, and the seventh time in his highly productive career.
Making 11 catches for 137 yards and a touchdown that grabbed momentum from the upset-minded Bills near the end of the first half, Smith brought the Broncos to the doorstep of their first AFC West title in seven years.
“He’s a consummate pro,” Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. “He’s a great competitor. He’s big in the running game and passing game. He makes plays. He’s one of the reasons we’re having the success we’re having this year.”
The division title will be Denver’s if either the San Diego Chargers lose to the 13-0 Colts today at Indianapolis, or if the Broncos defeat the 4-9 Oakland Raiders Saturday at Invesco Field at Mile High.
Should the Broncos take care of the AFC West title, as expected – bringing the first playoff game to 5-year-old Invesco – they can go about the task of holding off the Cincinnati Bengals for the AFC’s No. 2 playoff seed.
“That’s fine, man, but I’ve been to the playoffs before and that doesn’t do anything for me,” Broncos middle linebacker Al Wilson said. “We’ve got to make it happen once we get in there and bring some light back to Denver. I think the fans of Denver deserve a home playoff game, they deserve to be world champions again. We’re going to shoot to do that for them.”
Should the Broncos wind up as the No. 2 seed, they would join the Colts in having a first-round playoff bye and second-round home playoff game.
Where have you gone, John Elway?
Smith is one of the few current Broncos players who remember Elway as a quarterback, not a car dealer pitchman. Smith’s first 1,000-yard season came in 1997 when Denver won its first Super Bowl with Elway at the helm. Smith played Saturday as if determined for more.
“What else can you say about Rod?” Wilson said. “He’s a guy who understands how to play this game and how to prepare to play this game.”
At halftime, it appeared the Broncos could be beat, but there was considerable doubt whether the Bills would be the team to do it. The Bills had three excellent scoring chances by then, but only one decent drive. The Broncos were struggling in their kicking game, pass defense and run offense – but they still had Smith.
Thanks to Smith and a Wilson-led defense that stiffened after a bad start, the Broncos were fortunate to begin the second half with a 7-7 tie.
Where the Bills let this game slip away was their first two drives of the second quarter. They had a third-and-short from the Broncos’ 28, but wound up punting from the 33. On their next possession, the Bills had first down at the Broncos’ 32, but a penalty and sack by Wilson sent them backward before they punted again.
“This is the time to turn it up,” Wilson said. “We’ve got to make a statement.”
The Broncos finally began to take control of the game when they got the ball with 5:34 remaining in the half. On a 14-play drive that was stopped and started several times by penalties on both sides, the Broncos finally made the play, and got the break, they needed.
On third-and-goal from the 3, Plummer threw over the middle, but the ball was tipped high in the end zone by cornerback Eric King. The ball fell into the hands of Smith, who held on through a tight scrum while keeping his feet inbounds and tying the score 7-7.
In the second half, the Broncos used Smith’s prolific first half to help set up others. Mike Anderson rushed for two touchdowns while the biggest catches in the second half were made by Ashley Lelie and Wesley Duke.
On the Broncos’ first possession of the second half, Lelie adjusted to a deep Plummer pass for a 40-yard gain to the Bills’ 4-yard line.
On the play, Lelie was well-covered by Bills cornerback Terrence McGee, but Plummer threw the ball toward the right sideline. Lelie looked over his right shoulder and made a falling snag just inches off the turf.
Three plays later, the Broncos introduced Duke to the nationally televised audience. The rookie tight end didn’t play football at Mercer University, but was a four-year starter in basketball. Naturally, Duke scored on a jump-ball play of sorts, catching a 1-yard fade in the left end zone on a beautiful lob from Plummer.
It was not only the first reception of Duke’s NFL career, it was his first catch since high school.
“They didn’t have football at Mercer,” Duke said. “I didn’t want to play football in college, then when I stopped growing, I figured I better come up with something else.”
Duke gave the Broncos a 14-7 lead, and after Anderson scored the next two touchdowns, they were a step closer to clinching their third playoff berth in the three-year reign of Plummer at quarterback.
“That is so beautiful,” Anderson said. “Over the years, fighting, fighting, trying to get in and worrying about what somebody else has to do. But to finally get a win on the road and know leaving here we clinched a playoff spot, that is truly a blessing. But it is only the first step.”
The last time an 11-3 Broncos team won their division, in 1998, they went on to win their second consecutive Super Bowl.
Smith remembers. He caught a long touchdown pass from Elway in that game.
Elway is retired. Smith seems far from it.
Staff writer Mike Klis can be reached at 303-820-5440 or mklis@denverpost.com.
Offense – B
Receiver Rod Smith was the star of the game with a season high in catches (11) and yards (137). Smith set the tone early, and Denver running back Mike Anderson followed suit with a dominant performance in the second half.
Defense – B
The defense was strong for much of the game though injury-replacement quarterback Kelly Holcomb had some success early. The defense slowly started to overpower the Bills. It was a solid effort by the secondary without rookie Darrent Williams. Middle linebacker Al Wilson had a great night.
Special teams – C
Jason Elam and Todd Sauerbrun had some kicking troubles and the Bills’ Terrence McGee had some decent returns, giving the Bills solid starting field position. But special-teams play didn’t hurt the Broncos, though they need to improve heading into the postseason.
Coaching – B
After learning midweek that Kelly Holcomb – not mistake-prone youngster J.P. Losman – would start at quarterback, the Broncos’ defense adjusted. Offensively, the plan was to start with the pass, then continue with the run. It may have taken a while, but it worked.
Overall – A
An 11-point victory on the road – in the cold – is a good night. The fact that it sealed a playoff berth for the third straight year and reduced the Broncos’ magic number to one to win their first AFC West Division crown in seven years makes it a great night.
