AT ISSUE
Future starts now
What: The Broncos’ struggles.
Background: Things are horrific for the Broncos in their bye week. The team has lost three in a row, including two at home, boiling over with a 41-3 loss to visiting San Diego on Sunday. It was the worst home defeat for Denver in 41 years. Making matters worse, injuries are piling up, and star running back Travis Henry is fighting the NFL over a failed drug test that may result in a year’s suspension.
Williamson’s take: Don’t expect a quick turnaround. It is shaping up to be a long year. The Broncos’ best-case scenario right now is to play the younger players and hope they develop. Players like Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall, Chris Myers, Selvin Young and the young defensive linemen will all be around. There is a young, good nucleus here. Denver’s only hope is the future at this point, so it might as well start it now.
THE HOT SEAT
Chink in the armor
Who: Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre
When: Sunday at home against the Washington Redskins.
Why: This was shaping up to be a magical year for Favre, who turned 38 on Wednesday. His magic was back and the Packers were controlling the NFC North with a 4-0 record. However, Favre and his team finally encountered some adversity Sunday night when they blew a home game to Chicago. The Pack would have had total control of the division with a win. But the loss proved that Favre and the Packers are not in total control. Now it’s time for Favre to regain the magic. If there is a knock on Favre it is that he presses in crunch time. The Packers will have to come out and beat a solid Redskins team.
ROOKIE WATCH
Linemen crucial
Who: Broncos defensive linemen Jarvis Moss, Tim Crowder and Marcus Thomas.
When: The rest of the season after the Broncos’ bye.
Why: The Broncos are looking for young players to step up and develop quickly. The tone of this team is changing, and the young players need to establish themselves, especially on the defensive line. There are many in the organization who think the team’s best defensive linemen are these three 2007 draft picks. Moss and Thomas have been impressive, and now that Crowder is healthy, he is starting to show progress. If the Broncos have any chance of rebounding, it will be because the defense finally clicks with the help of young players such as Moss, Crowder and Thomas.
