A day in the notes …
Javon Walker, circa early September, on the State of the Broncos: “We feel like this offense can be deadly as the season keeps going on.”
Or not.
Walker is gone and so is the Broncos’ quick-strike offense. Seven games into things, they have the worst big-play offense in the blocking-and-tackling business.
What, you think the Broncos’ biggest issues are in the red zone? How about outside the red zone? They haven’t scored an offensive touchdown of longer than 15 yards.
Jay Cutler has thrown eight touchdown passes. Three have come from 1 yard, two from 5, two others from 7 and 9, and the last from 15. The Broncos’ three touchdown runs, meanwhile, have come from 2, 4 and 6 yards.
It’s not the numbers, though, as much as what they reflect. The Broncos have dialed down the playbook. They aren’t stretching the field. They don’t have a single wideout who has beaten man-to-man coverage deep. Not once.
With their injuries piling up and their playoff hopes all but gone, the time has come to salvage something from the season. The Broncos need to get Cutler some confidence that he can make a big play. Because in today’s NFL, big plays are the name of the game. …
How far from the pedestal have the Broncos fallen? They’ve scored 11 offensive touchdowns. Randy Moss has 11 touchdown catches. …
Barry Bonds’ No. 756 ball isn’t the only thing that merits an asterisk. The Broncos are 3-4, but they’ve played five home games. They’re the only team in the league that has played two road games. The Chiefs, meanwhile, are 4-3 but have played four road games. …
Not that the Patriots have definite potential, but they’ve outscored their opponents by 204 points. Only two other NFL teams – Dallas (227) and Indy (224) – have scored that many points. …
Another example of the State of the Bronx: ‘s fantasy geeks list Cutler as the No. 86 fantasy option of the week, nine notches down from the immortal, Canton-bound Cleo Lemon. …
How good are the combatants in today’s Pats-Colts grudge match? The Colts are 1-50 at the Las Vegas Hilton to win the AFC South. And the Pats’ odds of winning the AFC East? According to the odds board at the Hilton, “The Patriots’ lead is too large for odds on this division.” …
One more quick Vegas note on the Performers Formerly Known as Patsies: Three months ago, the AFC was an eight-point favorite in the Super Bowl. That line has jumped to 16 1/2, putting it on course to surpass the largest Super Bowl spread ever. That woulda been SB XXIX, when the Niners were favored by 18 over the Chargers. …
Saw it, still don’t believe it. The Patriots blitzing in the fourth quarter with a 52-0 lead over the ‘Skins. …
Those reports before last week’s Monday nighter that Brett Favre had lost some arm strength? In a related story, Bill Belichick will be on the cover of next month’s GQ. …
If Tony Romo, the proud owner of a new six-year, $67 million contract, is the happiest man in America, Browns QB Derek Anderson must be the second-happiest. Anderson, a restricted free-agent-in-waiting, figures to be Priority One for a half-dozen teams – if the Browns hand the keys to Brady Quinn. At this point, they have to be wondering. …
From the good things happen to good people dept.: Marv Levy and Dick Jauron getting the train on the tracks in Buffalo. …
Go figure. The Jets, limping along at 1-7, have a better home record than the Panthers, who lead the NFC South. Carolina is 4-3 – 4-0 on the road, 0-3 at home. And you thought the Broncos had issues in the “friendly” confines.
Catch Jim Armstrong’s column on Sundays and the day after Broncos games. He can be reached at 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
