Lucky for the Broncos, they’re taught to play them one game at a time.
That way, they don’t know what they’re about to get themselves into.
Peek beyond this weekend and the schedule says the Broncos are about to encounter a four-game block of opponents that has to be among the most challenging any NFL team has faced this season.
First up are the 7-2 San Diego Chargers in an AFC West first-place showdown. Big game.
Then, in fewer than 100 hours, the Broncos have to play at Kansas City, and most likely a healthy quarterback in Trent Green, on Thanksgiving night, which is close to December and everybody knows how unbeatable the Chiefs are at home in December. A potentially huge game for the Broncos. Huge.
“Usually at the halfway point, everybody talks about each game being the most important game,” Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. “Which it is.”
Then it’s back home against the defending NFC champion Seattle Seahawks, who should have Shaun Alexander and Matt Hasselbeck back healthy and in form. Important game for the Broncos. Great test.
Then it’s another game against the Chargers, this time at San Diego. If the division title isn’t at stake this Sunday, it could really be do-or-die come Dec. 10.
The combined record of the Broncos’ next four opponents: 25-11. Call it the four-game block of granite.
“I can tell you what we’re doing Sunday,” Shanahan said. “And I can tell you what we’re doing as coaches Saturday. When you’re playing Thanksgiving, after you’re done with your team (preparation for San Diego), you as coaches have to spend a couple hours on the game you’re playing on the short week. That’s the only thing that’s different.”
The schedule could be worse for the Broncos. They could embark on these next four games with something less than a 7-2 record. For the Broncos, the game Sunday against San Diego is important if only because they don’t want to bring a 7-3 record into Kansas City, with Seattle and a road game at San Diego up next.
“It still doesn’t decide anything because they’re going to have a second game against each other,” said Jerome Bettis, a former running back who works as an analyst for NBC, the network carrying the Broncos- Chargers game Sunday night. “I think it ultimately will come down to the second game, but this game will give the winner a leg up in the division.”
Injury update
Linebacker Ian Gold (strained hamstring), defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban (pulled quad) and defensive end/special-teams player Patrick Chukwurah (strained hamstring) dressed for the team workout Wednesday after not playing in the 17-13 win Sunday in Oakland.
None of them participated in the “live” play repetitions, though, and they remain questionable for the game Sunday against the Chargers.
Running back Tatum Bell (turf toe) and tight end Stephen Alexander (thumb) are expected to play even though they also were listed as questionable.
Footnotes
Bettis said he thought the Broncos’ defense, which is ranked fifth against the run, will limit the effectiveness of Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who has scored 15 touchdowns in the past five games. “It may not be the defense you want to attack the quarterback, but if you want to stop the run, that Denver group can do it,” Bettis said. “I don’t think L.T. will be as big a factor in the game. I think (quarterback) Philip Rivers is going to have to make some plays.” …
Rod Smith has a streak of nine consecutive seasons with at least 70 catches but has just 32 through nine games this season, a pace of 57. The NFL record is held by Tim Brown, who had at least 70 catches in 10 consecutive seasons.
Mike Klis can be reached at 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com.
