Cleveland – Javon Walker kicked off the week by putting himself and the Broncos’ other offensive weapons in the spotlight.
Walker said everyone needed to seize the opportunity to resurrect a lifeless Denver offense.
Walker said he wanted the ball more, explaining he could be a part of the solution to the team’s offensive woes.
After the Broncos spent the week addressing offensive frustrations, Walker and his teammates went to work with a more wide-open game plan Sunday. The result was a livelier offensive showing in the Broncos’ 17-7 victory over the Browns.
While the Denver offense was neither brilliant nor flawless, it was much improved. It was alive.
“That’s what I was talking about,” Walker said. “That’s what I wanted to see more of.”
Once again, Walker proved he is Denver’s most dangerous offensive force. And he is right: He needs the ball as much as possible.
Walker had a game-high nine catches for 107 yards. Walker was acquired from Green Bay for a second-round pick on draft day for these playmaking afternoons. He leads Denver with 29 catches in a 5-1 season.
Walker was a tad sheepish about his previous comments after the game Sunday. He reiterated he simply was stating the Broncos needed to find a spark.
“I was talking about taking advantage of opportunities,” Walker said. “We had guys take opportunities.”
Satisfying to Denver is that it wasn’t solely Walker who answered the challenge. Quarterback Jake Plummer found his receivers as Denver scrapped its recently conservative ways. Plummer threw 41 times, completing 20 passes for 209 yards. Denver was particularly effective on third down, converting 9-of-20 chances.
Veteran wide receiver Rod Smith had his best game in a month with six catches for 69 yards and became Denver’s all-time leader for combined yardage. Smith, in his 12th season with Denver, has 12,181 yards in his career. Floyd Little gained 12,173 yards.
As usual, Smith was more interested in the team winning than his own accomplishments. Like Walker, Smith was pleased with the offensive progress.
“I think things went pretty well,” Smith said. “There are always things you’re looking to improve, but we made strides.”
Nearly as important as the two starters combining for 15 receptions was that rookie receiver Brandon Marshall made an impact for the first time. A training camp star, the fourth-round pick suffered a knee injury in the first preseason game. He missed a month and showed only minimal progress when he returned.
The kid they called “Baby T.O.” in training camp delivered Sunday. He made two catches for 22 yards and both were impact plays.
For his first NFL reception, the 6-foot-5, 230-pound Marshall made a spectacular catch in the middle of the field on third-and-10 at the Browns’ 9-yard line. Denver took a 10-0 lead on the next play on a 9-yard run by Tatum Bell. Marshall later scored on a 9-yard pass from Plummer as Denver took a 17-0 lead in the third quarter.
“I was so happy to see him make those plays,” Walker said.
Marshall’s eyes were still twinkling after the game.
“To see the looks on my teammates’ faces when I came back to the sideline after the score was the best for me,” Marshall said. “It was great to get in there and help this offense.”
Walker proved that talk and action can combine to be a force.
Bill Williamson can be reached at 303-954-1262 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com.
Coming alive
Denver’s passing game received a boost with some key plays in the Broncos’ 17-7 victory at Cleveland on Sunday:
FIRST QUARTER
19-yard pass from Jake Plummer to Rod Smith to Denver’s 21.
It was the first play of 10-play, 85-yard drive that culminated in a second-quarter field goal by Jason Elam. Denver was backed up to its 2-yard line, and this play gave the team much-needed breathing room.
38-yard pass from Plummer to Javon Walker to Cleveland’s 34.
Walker said last week that he can be a solution to the offense’s problems. This acrobatic catch on the Broncos’ first scoring drive proved it.
SECOND QUARTER
19-yard pass from Plummer to Smith to Denver’s 36.
It was third-and-7, and gave Denver life on a touchdown drive.
13-yard pass from Plummer to Brandon Marshall to Cleveland’s 9.
It was third-and-10, and Marshall made a great catch – his first in the NFL. On the next play, Tatum Bell ran 9 yards for a touchdown.
THIRD QUARTER
9-yard pass from Plummer to Marshall for a touchdown.
It was second-and-goal, and the touchdown gave Denver a 17-0 lead.
BILL WILLIAMSON
