Orchard Park, N.Y. – It could have been the soft schedule, the big lead or just the inevitable point in every season when all teams not named the Indianapolis Colts hit a lull.
Whatever the reason, these were not the same Broncos who had so thoroughly dominated opponents for much of their 11-3 season. The Broncos had lost to Kansas City, struggled to beat the lowly Baltimore Ravens and then they were trailing late in the first half against the anemic Buffalo Bills on Saturday.
The team leaders seemed to sense it. Was it just a coincidence that Rod Smith, the captain of the Broncos’ offense, and Al Wilson, the undisputed leader of the defense, picked this game to play their best of the season?
Smith and Wilson starred as the Broncos took control late in the first half against the Bills, then cruised to a 28-17 win that clinched Denver a playoff spot.
Smith dominated the first half, catching nine passes for 119 yards and a game-tying touchdown. He finished with 11 catches to give him 791 in his career, which ranks 15th in the NFL.
“It was just a lot of quick stuff to let him get involved and get his big body and get up the field,” Bills cornerback Terrence McGee said of Smith’s big game.
Wilson was everywhere, making tackles, sacking the quarterback, almost making interceptions.
“Definitely want to catch that one,” Wilson said of his first-half drop near the end of the first half. “But that’s what your leaders need to do in a game like this. It’s not like we do it by ourselves. It’s a team effort. It takes the guys up front to give me the opportunity to run to the football.”
Elam getting his kicks
Jason Elam’s four extra points moved him over the 100-point mark for the 13th time in his 13 NFL seasons, a league record. Not only that, he kicked off to open the game, a rare development in recent seasons.
So why did Elam kick off? It came down to the Broncos’ respect for the Bills’ McGee, one of the elite kick returners in the league.
“We were doing a little pooch and he’s pretty good in that area,” said Denver coach Mike Shanahan. “We were trying to put it over the numbers or to the sideline, but Jason hooked it a little bit to the middle. Once you give that number 24 (McGee) a little room, you’re in trouble. So we hooked him (Elam) after he hit it right down the middle on the hash marks.
“But the first player in the history of the game to go 100 points in every season, that’s a heck of a milestone and a great accomplishment for Jason, so I’m very happy for him.”
Bailey’s streak over
Denver cornerback Champ Bailey didn’t have an interception. It broke his run of five consecutive games with an interception, a team record. Bailey has eight interceptions this season. The NFL record for consecutive games with an interception (eight) was set by Oakland’s Tom Morrow (1962-63).
Not impressed
When Wesley Duke scored his touchdown, the former college basketball player tried to dunk the ball over the cross bars, but didn’t quite make it.
“That was horrible,” Denver tight end Jeb Putzier said. “That was a slam dunk.”
Putzier then picked up the rookie by retrieving the ball.
“I got an offensive assist on that one,” Putzier said.
Injury report
The Broncos didn’t report any major injuries. Cornerback Curome Cox left the game with a shoulder injury but returned. Fullback Kyle Johnson had a mild concussion. Linebacker Keith Burns aggravated a knee injury. None appears serious.
Carswell update
Injured offensive lineman Dwayne Carswell went home to Jacksonville, Fla., for the holidays. He plans to support his teammates in person if Denver earns a home playoff game.
“I’ll be back,” Carswell said. “I have to support the guys.”
Carswell was on the sideline for Denver’s victory over Baltimore at Invesco Field at Mile High last Sunday, his first appearance at a game since he was seriously injured in a car accident Oct. 27. He was hospitalized for eight days. Carswell said Friday he plans to come back next season, but he doesn’t know when he will be able to start the process.
“It all depends on my ribs, but I should be back for training camp,” Carswell said.
False weather alarm
Saturday’s forecast was scarier than reality. School districts in the Buffalo, N.Y., area postponed classes Friday in anticipation of a predicted Lake Erie-caused snowfall. However, the area got only a couple inches Friday and Saturday.
The Bills’ field at Ralph Wilson Stadium was clear of snow but frozen and slick in spots. The temperature at kickoff was 28 degrees with light wind.
Footnotes
Mike Anderson scored two touchdowns, giving him 35 for his career. He went into the game tied for fourth place in franchise history with John Elway. … Strange is it looked, the Broncos coming out throwing against the 31st- ranked run defense in the league, there was a very specific reason for it: The Bills employed a safety near the line of scrimmage. Said Shanahan, “They had a good game plan. They were going to take that run away.” … Anderson had 32 yards at the half, but finished with 21 carries for 97 yards. That was 8 more yards than he had combined for in his previous three games. He has 968 yards for the season, leaving him 32 away from his first 1,000-yard season since his rookie year of 2000, when he ran for 1,487. … The Broncos didn’t get any turnovers while the offense committed one. Denver is plus-17 on turnovers, which is second behind Cincinnati, which enters today at plus-24. … With starting rookie cornerback Darrent Williams out because of a groin injury, the Broncos took no chances. They dressed every backup defensive back with the exception of Hamza Abdullah, who was signed three weeks ago. Bills quarterback J.P. Losman did not dress for the game. Shane Matthews was the backup for Kelly Holcomb. … It’s not going to steal any headlines from the Indianapolis Colts, but the Broncos’ next game does have an undefeated season at stake. Beat the Oakland Raiders next Saturday, and the Broncos will finish with their first 8-0 season at Invesco
Field and fifth undefeated home season in team history. The others: 1981, 1996, 1997 and 1998.
