Orchard Park, N.Y. – The Broncos gave an indication of their plan of attack on the first play of the game Saturday night.
Denver wasn’t trying to re-establish a dominant running game after a two-game lull. The Broncos were trying to cut through the freezing upstate New York air with a barrage of passes by Jake Plummer, a departure from their usual attack.
On that first play from scrimmage, Denver lined up with an empty backfield. The Broncos then used the alignment several times on their way to a 28-17 victory at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
“We had some success with the passing game early, and then late with the running game,” Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said.
Yes, Plummer – who advanced to the playoffs for the third time in three seasons with Denver – passed the Broncos into the postseason Saturday night. Plummer completed 20-of-37 passes for 259 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
His most frequent target was venerable receiver Rod Smith, who made a season-high 11 catches for 137 yards. Smith, making a late push for his third Pro Bowl berth, eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for the eighth time and moved by Stanley Morgan and into 17th place all-time in NFL receiving yardage. Smith was the focal point of the offense when the game was in doubt as Plummer dropped back and looked for Denver’s team leader several times each series.
“Rod had a great game, but that’s Rod,” Broncos linebacker Al Wilson said. “He’s our leader.”
Instead of Mike Anderson through the gut and Tatum Bell to the right and the occasional dose of Ron Dayne through the middle, it was Smith, Smith and a little more Smith.
It was such a passing fancy evening for Denver that tight end Wesley Duke caught a 1-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. It was the first career reception by the rookie, who was a basketball standout at Mercer and didn’t play football.
Another stunning passing strategy saw Plummer throw twice in a row from the Bills’ 1-yard line.
“You never know how the game is going to go,” Shanahan said. “We’ve talked before, that any team can stop the run if they try. But as the game went on, we started to have some success.”
Through the first three quarters, Denver had only two series in which it ran more than it threw.
The first, in the second quarter, was a three-and-out series on three consecutive Anderson runs.
On the final drive of the third quarter, Denver incorporated its running game more as Anderson scored on an 11-yard run that included great blocking at the line and by receiver Ashley Lelie. Bell contributed to that drive with a 22-yard run. Anderson also added a 6-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter and finished the game with 97 yards rushing on 21 carries. Bell gained 49 yards on 12 carries.
“I think the pass really set up the run late,” tight end Jeb Putzier said. “We had some good passing success early, which helped the running game get going later.”
Late in the game, Denver relied on the run. On fourth-and-1 in the fourth quarter, deep in Buffalo territory, Anderson went straight up the gut for 2 yards and the first down. Even though the emphasis was on the pass, it was Anderson’s best game in several weeks.
Bill Williamson can be reached at 303-820-5450 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com.
Smith sure catches attention
Rod Smith’s performance against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday night – 11 catches for 137 yards and a touchdown – was one of the best of the wide receiver’s 11-year career with the Broncos. Smith’s five best games in yards gained:
|
Date |
Opponent | Receptions | Yards | TDs |
|
Oct. 31, 2004 |
Atlanta Falcons | 9 | 208 | 1 |
|
Nov. 19, 2000 |
San Diego Chargers | 11 | 187 | 1 |
|
Dec. 6, 1998 |
Kansas City Chiefs | 8 | 165 | 0 |
|
Sept. 23, 2001 |
at Arizona Cardinals | 14 | 162 | 2 |
|
Oct. 1, 2000 |
New England Patriots | 13 | 160 | 0 |
