Notes from the cheap seats …
Jake Plummer, when asked if the national media’s perception of the Broncos will change after Saturday’s victory: “I’m sure it will now that we beat the Patriots, but we don’t pay attention to that. We know what kind of team we have. We know how good we are. As long as we have that ability and that trust and belief in each other, that’s all that matters. It doesn’t matter if (ESPN analyst) Sean Salisbury thinks we’re good now all of a sudden.” …
Before they give him grief for allowing the kickoff guy to separate him from the ball, Ellis Hobbs’ teammates might want to consider the source. At 215 pounds, Todd Sauerbrun was bigger than three of the four starting safeties in the game. …
How rare is it for the guy who kicked off to force a fumble? Let’s put it this way: Before Saturday night, Sauerbrun hadn’t made a special-teams tackle all season, much less forced a fumble. …
Sauerbrun: “I’m not going to say I’ve been saving it, but the opportunity hasn’t come for me because our special-teams coverage has been great all year. It was an opportunity for me to get in there and make the stick, and I did. What bigger game than this? There’s no way I’m backing out of that. I’m going to hit him.” …
A punter/kickoff dude, talking some smack? Judge for yourself. “I was so tired of hearing about these guys,” said Sauerbrun. “I don’t think anybody had us picked to win this game. I think we shocked the world, so to speak. We’ve got a bigger game next week, but I’m just glad it was New England that we took care of business against early.” …
Add the 39-yard pass-interference call against Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel to the list of fortuitous developments for the Broncos. But don’t take my word for it. Listen to Ashley Lelie, the recipient of the second-quarter call. “I thought it was going to be a no-call,” Lelie said. “That’s why I kind of threw my hands up, and they gave me a call. First one all year. I wasn’t begging for a call. If you want to call it that, you can have it.” …
The bad news is I walked out of the press lounge with mustard on my bowling shirt. The good news is I was dressed better than the Patriots’ coach. …
Plummer, whose image among the national media could use some sprucing up, on winning a playoff game against Tom Brady: “I’m not patting myself on the back, saying, ‘Hey, I beat Tom Brady.’ It’s a team game. Tom is a great quarterback, and he’s proven that at the highest level over his whole career. We won as a team. He’s a great player, but I don’t look at it as I beat him. It’s our team. Our team beat their team.” …
About that scoreless first quarter … The last time I experienced that kind of high drama was when I read “Born To Referee,” the life and times of former NFL official Jerry Markbreit. …
Ex-CU linebacker Chad Brown, now with the Patriots, when asked by ESPN radio 560 for one word to describe Bill Belichick’s personality: “Football.” …
Have you noticed all these low-scoring playoff games? The NFL’s competition committee will simply have to do something about it. Maybe next year defensive backs won’t be allowed to tackle. …
This books-and-tuition schedule is growing on the Broncos. They’re riding a nine-game winning streak on Saturdays, four coming this season. …
It’s not like the Broncos have backed into the AFC championship game. The victory improved their record to 8-3 against teams with winning records, 4-1 vs. playoff teams. …
Just wondering: Should we really be surprised it was the Patriots who lost the turnover battle? They’ve struggled all year to force them. Their 10 interceptions tied the season total for Jets cornerback Ty Law, unceremoniously dumped by the Pats to save money against the salary cap. …
By now, you already know that Champ Bailey went 100 yards with an interception return Saturday night. In case you’re wondering, Clinton Portis, the man Bailey was traded for, ran for 41 yards earlier in the day. …
John Lynch, on Bailey: “I told everyone who would listen that I thought his season was worthy of defensive player of the year. You can talk about a cover corner, but that’s not what he is. He’s a complete football player.”
Catch Jim Armstrong from 6-9 a.m. during “The Press Box” on ESPN radio 560. He can be reached at 303-820-5452 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
