To those who closely observe or support the Broncos, and even those who don’t, this was a great lesson.
For the majority of this season, the Broncos were winning, but not in the stylish manner required to soothe fan and foe alike. The offense was sputtering, the quarterback position was in controversy, and those winning ways assuredly would be numbered.
Against the Indianapolis Colts in an AFC showdown on a gorgeous late-October afternoon in Denver, a sellout crowd watched Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer play his best game of the season. The Broncos moved the ball with such consistent precision, they made the Colts’ defense look like an 11-man gang of arm tacklers.
Yet the Broncos lost Sunday. , but, more specifically, the Broncos’ defense was assaulted by the incredibly gifted Peyton Manning.
The wins were numbered, all right. After winning 13 regular-season games in a row at home dating to 2004, after five consecutive games of winning ugly in 2006, the Broncos were pretty in defeat.
Is everybody happy now?
“We win and all people talk about are negatives,” said Plummer, who directed the Broncos on touchdown drives of 80, 80, 91 and 80 yards. “Now we lose and all we hear are positives. I don’t understand it. It’s about winning. That’s it. I’d much rather have 100 yards in total offense and win than have a good offensive game, pile up the points and lose.”
Perhaps it would be prudent if we all held off on that name-the-defense contest. The Broncos had become the first defense since the 1934 Detroit Lions to allow as few as two touchdowns through six games. The streak lasted two more quarters as the Broncos took a 14-6 lead into halftime Sunday.
But any defense that allows 28 points in one half is not ready to join the Orange Crush for nickname status. Even if it was Manning on the other side.
“Basically, he picked us apart,” said Ebenezer Ekuban, a Denver defensive end. “We have some work to do. A lot of work to do. I put it on the defensive line. We didn’t put enough pressure on him. He has a quick release, but when you let him stand back there for five seconds and pick out his second or third receiver, you can’t win like that.”
When it matters most, the Broncos cannot solve Manning. He threw nine touchdown passes and piled up 90 points while annihilating the Broncos in back-to-back playoff games in the 2003 and 2004 seasons. Those routs would never have been recalled had they not looked so much like the second half Sunday. Even if this was only a regular-season game, it may have had playoff implications. By losing, the Broncos (5-2) fell into an AFC West tie for first place with San Diego and dropped two games behind the Colts (7-0).
“I’ll tell you this, we will see them again,” said Nick Ferguson, the Broncos’ strong safety.
If so, the Broncos might be playing at the RCA Dome. Should the Colts win at New England next week, there would be little doubt the AFC playoffs once again would travel through Indianapolis.
Aside from a late-half kneel down, the Colts had eight drives in this game and reached the Broncos’ side of the 50 in all eight. They scored on seven of their eight drives, including all three in a frenetic, fourth-quarter shootout.
Afterward, Manning was walking alone through the tunnel leading to his locker room when he was asked about his 32-for-39 passing performance that was good for 345 yards – and three touchdowns to Reggie Wayne.
“That’s why you work in the offseason,” Manning said. “That’s why you throw timing routes in the month of April. You better if you’re going to throw against cover corners like Denver has.”
Adam Vinatieri, the greatest clutch kicker of the 21st century, kicked a 48-yard field goal to give the Colts a 23-21 lead early in the fourth. The Broncos’ Mike Bell, who had a terrific second half in place of toe-hampered Tatum Bell, culminated a lengthy drive with a 1-yard plunge that put Denver back up 28-23.
The third-largest home crowd in Broncos history roared, but didn’t exhale. Manning finished off the next possession with the best pass of the game – a perfectly zipped, 19-yard, hitch-and-go strike to Wayne, who beat Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams on the play.
Wayne then beat Williams on a short slant for a two-point conversion, and the Colts were up 31-28.
Afterward, the normally outgoing Williams walked out of Denver’s locker room without speaking to the media. As he was about to exit, he was called over by Broncos linebacker and defensive captain Al Wilson for a consultation.
“Darrent played well,” said Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey, who held Marvin Harrison to 38 yards on five catches. “It’s just when you play against a guy like Peyton Manning, who’s going to put it on the money, what can you do?”
On the first play of the Broncos’ next possession, Mike Bell churned through a hole that gaped from Invesco Field to the Pepsi Center. He broke a tackle downfield and rambled for a 48-yard gain. But after two running plays and an incompletion, the Broncos called on their own clutch kicker, Jason Elam, who delivered a game-tying, 49-yard field goal.
Only problem was Manning had more time. He went 5-for-5 in the final drive, setting up Vinatieri’s winning 37-yard field goal with two seconds left.
After five wins despite a sluggish offense, Denver nearly doubled its previous season-high point total – and lost.
“People can read too much into stats,” said Broncos wide receiver Rod Smith. “I’d rather have one of those games where we scored 12 or 13, but the other team only scored 10. If it’s a loss, I don’t care if we scored 50. Losing stinks.”
Staff writer Mike Klis can be reached at 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com.
Extra points
TURNING POINT: Sizzling second half
Colts quarterback Peyton Manning completed 18-of-22 pass attempts for 213 yards and three touchdowns in the second half as Indianapolis outlasted Denver. The Colts won the game on a 37-yard field goal by Adam Vinatieri with two seconds to go, scoring on all five of their second-half possessions.
“That’s what we do,” Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne said. “We’ve been doing this for years.”
CRAZY PLAY OF THE DAY: Push from Plummer
In the second quarter, Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer slipped before giving running back Tatum Bell the ball. Then Plummer pushed Bell to daylight. Bell ended the strange play by slipping after a 4-yard gain.
HIT OF THE DAY: One serious safety
Broncos rookie Tony Scheffler was moving like a locomotive on a rare tight end reverse. In came safety Marlin Jackson, who brought Scheffler down hard after a 3-yard gain to the Colts’ 12 late in the third quarter. Jackson would seem to have little chance to bring down the 250-pound Scheffler, but he got it done.
BESTS: Perfect setting
Weather: Did it really snow a few days ago? It was 70 degrees and beautiful Sunday, a perfect day for football.
Milestone: Rod Smith made his latest milestone count. Smith had a big first-down catch to the Colts’ 2-yard line on Denver’s touchdown drive early in the second quarter. It was Smith’s 820th career reception. He stands 12th on the NFL’s all-time list, surpassing Steve Largent.
Third-down play: The Broncos’ offense ignited early in the second quarter when Jake Plummer found backup wide receiver David Kircus for a 45-yard gain on third-and-11.
Run: On third-and-5 from the Colts’ 20 late in the second quarter, Plummer made a 5-yard run to give the Broncos a first down. Two plays later, Plummer hit Javon Walker for a 15-yard touchdown pass.
Leap: You can’t take Green Bay out of the player. Making his own version of the Lambeau Leap, Walker, above, jumped high into the Invesco Field stands to celebrate his touchdown.
WORSTS: Warren sidelined
Injury: The Broncos missed injured defensive tackle Gerard Warren. The mammoth veteran was out because of a sprained big toe. The Broncos’ run defense could have used him.
Tackling: The Broncos’ defense had a rough time tackling, with several Colts breaking big plays after they should have been stopped.
– Bill Williamson
Report card
Offense
B: It was the Denver offense’s best effort of the season, good enough to win as the unit finally came alive. Remarkably, Denver’s 31 points – 14 more than its previous high this season – weren’t enough. But maybe the offense clicked for good Sunday. If the Broncos can score 31 points, they will win most games – unless they’re facing Peyton Manning.
Defense
D: This was more Manning than bad defense by Denver. Sure, the defense gave up nearly as many points as it had in the previous six games combined, but Manning was the reason. The guy was unbelievable, unstoppable. He always had an open man. The Broncos’ defense is close to great, but Manning is better and he proved once again that he owns Denver.
Special teams
B: Kicker Jason Elam had an outstanding game, his 49-yard field goal tying the score 31-31 with less than two minutes left. Punter and kickoff specialist Paul Ernster was outstanding, too. The Broncos’ return game wasn’t a factor.
Coaching
C: Denver’s offense stepped up and played well. The Broncos probably would have won the game if they had the ball last. Defensively, the coaches and the players couldn’t keep up with Manning. He simply has his way with the Broncos.
Overall
C: This game could affect the playoffs in two months. The Broncos, whose 13-game, regular-season home win streak ended Sunday, are two games behind the Colts with nine to go in the race for home-field advantage in the AFC. A win for Denver would have given it control of the AFC. The season is not lost by any means, but this was a squandered opportunity.
– Bill Williamson
