There was television, a nice stadium and full-price admission.
It was an NFL preseason game, all right. So how come it played more like a Wednesday afternoon scrimmage between teammates?
Rare is the preseason game that fails to meet low expectations. Considering the familiarity between coaching staffs, perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising that an exception became the Broncos’ 17-14 win Saturday night against the Houston Texans at Invesco Field.
Houston coach Gary Kubiak knows Broncos coach Mike Shanahan and Shanahan knows Kubiak. Every time the Texans ran a play, the Broncos’ defense reacted as if it knew what was coming. Especially, linebacker D.J. Williams, who played as if he was inside the Texans’ huddle.
The Broncos’ offense appeared similarly frustrated. It would run to the right, and the Texans’ defense would swoop in from the left.
Until quarterback Jay Cutler, running back Cedric Cobbs and the Bronco backups put together a touchdown drive in the fourth quarter, the night had been little more than play, negate. Play, negate. Play, negate.
Either the Broncos’ defense was a little bit better, or Houston’s offense was a little worse, but one or the other helps explain why this game became exhibit A of how familiarity breeds contempt.
Then again, the whole idea for Houston is to become the mirror image of the Broncos. For 11 years, Kubiak had been Shanahan’s offensive coordinator. Last season, when Houston finished 2-14 while the Broncos went 13-3, the Texans figured they better get inside some of that Mastermind.
Kubiak was inside Shanahan’s head like no one else. All that offense, for all those years and what happens when they go against together? Defensive domination. When Shanahan opened by trying to establish a running game, Kubiak opened by trying to establish a running game. Neither was very successful.
In fact, the so-so performance by the Bronco Bell’s, Mike and Tatum, and a third consecutive, strong effort by third-stringer Cedric Cobbs only the muddles the intrigue as this preseason mercifully approaches its close. Among the questions: Will the Broncos employ a three-man running rotation this year?
There were also some short passes. And more short passes. In the first half, the Broncos’ Jake Plummer threw 19 times for only 96 yards. That was efficient next to Houston’s David Carr, whose 14 pass attempts led to just 54 yards.
It was scoreless after the first quarter, and 10-3 Broncos at halftime. For their scores, the Broncos went 44 yards on 10 methodical plays, Tatum Bell finishing off the series by spinning in from a 1-yard out.
The next time the Broncos got the ball, they only had to go 20 yards for a touchdown, thanks to an interception by linebacker Williams, who seemed to have the field covered from backfield to backfield, sideline to sideline.
The Broncos’ offense could only get to the 5, though, before settling for a Jason Elam field goal.
Each team had their starters play one series in the third quarter. Both offenses were forced to punt.
Mike Klis can be reached at 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com.
