There is the outcome of one game, and there is what’s best for a long season.
The Broncos lost to the Indianapolis Colts, 34-31 on Sunday, a defeat that snapped what had been the NFL’s longest running regular-season home winning streak at 13 games.
But in the big picture, the Broncos’ expectations are centered on Super Bowl XLI. This is why, despite a 5-1 record, there was concern because quarterback Jake Plummer was not playing Super Bowl-caliber ball.
A national report last week said Plummer would be replaced by rookie Jay Cutler. The report said Cutler might be called on in last Sunday’s game against Cleveland, or a short time later if Plummer played poorly against Indianapolis and Pittsburgh.
It doesn’t look that way anymore. Plummer played well for two quarters in a win at Cleveland and played his best game of the season in nearly matching the high-powered Colts point for point.
“Hopefully everybody will get off of Jake’s back now,” tight end Stephen Alexander said. “Everybody in here has known all along he’s the guy who’s going to get it done for us. We just had to play better around him.”
Plummer’s passing stats Sunday – 13-for-21 for 174 yards, a touchdown, no interceptions and a 104.1 rating – tell only part of the story. It’s when he made his completions – enough to lead four touchdown drives of 80 yards or longer. It also appears the Broncos’ game plan has begun to call on Plummer’s athleticism in recent weeks. Three times he ran for first downs, and he scored a touchdown on a 1-yard dive.
“I’m a quarterback, not a running back, so it’s not like I’m telling them to put in running plays for me,” Plummer said. “But I’ve been getting yardage and it’s fun. I like doing those things.”
“He played very well,” coach Mike Shanahan said of Plummer.
Said receiver Rod Smith: “He’s taken a lot of shots, verbal shots. But that’s not come from people in this locker room. It’s like I tell him, ‘Wherever you drive this car, I’m going with you.’ He played with a lot of heart.”
Bailey bruised
Star left cornerback Champ Bailey was limping after the game with a bruised lower left leg. Bailey had X-rays taken but he said they were negative. He said he was stepped on by an Indianapolis player.
The Colts didn’t challenge Bailey after the injury.
“I was hiding it pretty good,” Bailey said. “But I thought they would come after me.”
Lepsis update
Broncos left tackle Matt Lepsis will have surgery Nov. 7 to repair the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. The surgery will be performed by team physicians Dr. Ted Schlegel and Dr. Martin Boublik at the Steadman-Hawkins Denver Clinic.
Lepsis saw on film how he suffered the injury during the Broncos’ 17-7 win last week at Cleveland. Blocking on a running play, he had just shifted all his weight on his right knee when contact was made by Browns defensive tackle Alvin McKinley.
Lepsis stayed in for one more play but said he knew then his knee was in trouble. He will have to stay off his leg for eight weeks following the surgery, but full recovery is expected in six to eight months.
Pears’ play
Erik Pears filled in at left tackle for Lepsis.
“You can’t tell without looking at the film, but very quickly I thought he played pretty good,” Shanahan said. “Erik’s a very conscientious guy. He really prepared hard. It wasn’t a perfect game – by no means – but I’ll take that type of effort.”
Helton, Holliday visit
Rockies stars Todd Helton and Matt Holliday, both once highly regarded quarterback prospects, were hanging out on the Broncos’ sideline before the game.
Holliday was going to play quarterback at Oklahoma State until the Rockies signed him. Helton, who started ahead of Peyton Manning for a couple games for his hometown University of Tennessee, chatted for several minutes with his former football teammate.
“It was good to see Helton,” Manning said. “I almost didn’t recognize him.”
Helton was sporting a full beard, his hunting look. So who was Helton pulling for?
“Broncos,” he said. “I didn’t grow up with an NFL team. The Broncos have been my team since I’ve been out here. I want Peyton to play well. He’s my boy. But I want him to play well and the Broncos to win.”
Mr. Clutch
Adam Vinatieri’s fourth-quarter field goals were the winning points in three Super Bowl victories for New England. And in his first year with the Colts, he’s 14-for-14 in field goals after making four Sunday.
No one was surprised Vinatieri nailed go-ahead field goals of 48 yards early in the fourth quarter and 37 yards with two seconds remaining to beat the Broncos.
“I don’t think they are ever easy or less pressure,” Vinatieri said. “It’s the same as ever. It’s a 37-yarder. You’ve a million of them (in practice), you try not to think about what the kick means.”
Said Colts coach Tony Dungy: “You hate to ho-hum it, but no one on our side thought he would miss it.”
Sapp runs hard
The Broncos have been looking for yards from a big back. With Cedric Cobbs out, fullback Cecil Sapp came through with tough yards. He had runs of 28 and 11 yards.
Warren out
Friday, Gerard Warren was “banking” on playing Sunday. However, the pain of his sprained right big toe was too much for the team to allow him to play. The Broncos are hopeful Warren will be able to play Sunday at Pittsburgh.
“I really feel like if we did play him, we would set him back,” Shanahan said. “He wanted to help us.”
Demetrin Veal started for Warren. Kenny Peterson, who was signed early this month, made his Denver debut in a backup role.
Scheffler shows up
Rookie tight end Tony Scheffler had his biggest game of the season with four catches for 51 yards. He entered the game with two catches for 7 yards.
Scheffler received treatment for a bruised hip after the game but is expected to be 100 percent this week.
Clark in, Morgan out
Rookie Brian Clark was on the active roster and replaced Quincy Morgan on kickoffs. Morgan, the primary kick returner, was inactive. Clark had 50 yards on two kick returns, runbacks of 27 and 23 yards.
“It was fun to get out there and taste the NFL,” Clark said. “Hopefully, I’ll get more chances.”
Denver’s other inactive players were receiver Todd Devoe, safety Hamza Abdullah, Cobbs, linebacker Nate Webster, Warren, guard Chris Kuper and tight end Nate Jackson.
For Indianapolis, safety Bob Sanders (knee) did not play. With Mike Doss out for the season, the Colts had backup safeties Marlin Jackson and Matt Giordano in the starting lineup.
Wayne, a Broncos pain
Manning said the game plan wasn’t specifically designed to throw away from Bailey. But that’s how it worked out.
Reggie Wayne, schooling cornerback Darrent Williams on the other side, had a good month in one afternoon. He caught three touchdown passes and added a two-point conversion.
“Another day at the office,” said Wayne, who has had big games against the Broncos in the past. “If Peyton is going to throw to my side, I’ll be there.”
Manning enjoys moment
Manning was impressed with the atmosphere at Invesco Field.
“What a great atmosphere out there. It kind of makes you want to have an outdoor stadium. In the pregame, I just kind of took a minute (to enjoy it). … It reminded me of some Saturdays back in Knoxville (Tenn.).
“(The Broncos) have a great crowd and a great team. It was a great football day.”
Staff writer Tom Kensler contributed to this report.
