The notes, the whole notes and nothing but the notes …
When you’re on the kind of roll the Broncos’ defense is, even spur-of-the-moment decisions go your way.
OK, so it wasn’t exactly spur-of-the-moment. But the fact is, it wasn’t until Saturday that Champ Bailey was assigned to cover Randy Moss on Sunday night.
“We actually decided to do it yesterday,” Bailey said. “We thought we’d throw a wrinkle in there because we hadn’t done it all year. We knew Moss was going to get the ball. He’s going to get some passes. If he gets some passes, I’m going to get opportunities. And you know what happens when that happens.”
Interceptions happen.
Less than a week after an end-zone INT vs. the Ravens, Bailey intercepted an Andrew Walter pass on the Broncos’ 1-yard line late in the second quarter. The play sent the Raiders to the locker room with no first-half points en route to a 13-3 loss.
Let’s see if we’ve got this straight. Bailey worked all week in practice on the other side of the field, and then one day before the game he switches to Moss? That can’t happen, can it? Isn’t this the NFL we’re talking about?
“It’s not hard to do,” Bailey said. “It’s just, ‘OK, you go with him.’ It’s within our group. We decided to do it. Previous games, quarterbacks haven’t been throwing my way. They had no choice tonight. With a guy like Randy Moss, I’d throw it. I’d at least give him a chance. But I’m going to make you pay one way or the other.” …
Two game-changing interceptions on national TV in less than a week? That has to put Bailey in the NFL defensive player of the year race with the Bears’ Tommie Harris and Carolina’s Julius Peppers. “If it was up to me, I’d give it to him now,” Al Wilson said. “But you know how that goes. We’ve got a lot of weeks to go.” …
Cheer up, Raider Nation. Maybe there’s a win hiding somewhere in Robert Gallery’s hair. …
Just wondering: How do you think Art Shell felt when he had to endure “False start, 78, offense” every other series? That was Shell’s number during his Hall of Fame career. …
A defense for the ages, but the class of the AFC West? Sorry, can’t go there. Not after seeing the Chargers hang 48 on the 49ers. That’s one fewer than the Broncos scored in the first month of the season. …
For the record, the Broncos’ 62 points are their lowest total for a five-game stretch during the Mike Shanahan era. They scored 70 in their first five in 1999. …
If this keeps up, Coors Field over-unders will be higher than Invesco Field over-unders. What, you think I’m kidding? The Dodgers beat the Rox 19-11 in the season finale at Coors. …
There’s no there there, and while we’re on the subject, there’s no offense in Oakland, either. The A’s scored nine runs in four games in the ALCS, and the Raiders went for three Sunday. …
After considerable soul-searching, I’ve decided not to rip Cecil Sapp for dropping that easy touchdown pass in the second quarter. The guy is a fullback. He touches the ball less than a soccer player. …
Elvis has sacked the quarterback. Twice. Would have been three if a penalty hadn’t nullified the first one. Not bad considering rookie Elvis Dumervil had been inactive the first three games. “Hopefully, I don’t have to get back on that inactive list anymore,” Dumervil said. “I want to show the coaches I can be an every- down D-end. That’s my main goal.” …
They’re not any good, but at least they’re consistent: The loss was the Raiders’ 17th in their past 18 games vs. the AFC West. …
They’re the Team of the Decades, all right. The most recent time the Raiders opened a season with five straight losses was 1964, Al Davis’ second year as head coach. …
Not that the Broncos have the most athletic linebackers in the business, but Wilson broke up a pass 45 yards downfield in the third quarter. Number of times Dick Butkus ventured 45 yards downfield in pass coverage? Think Bluto’s grade point. …
If/when are the Raiders going to win a game? They’d better do it Sunday vs. Arizona. After that, they’ve got back-to-back games vs. the Steelers and Seahawks, then a return engagement with the Broncos.
Catch Jim Armstrong from 6-9 a.m. during “The Press Box” on ESPN 560 AM. He can be reached at 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
