After almost 24 hours of tireless introspection, I’ve finally come up with a positive spin for the Broncos’ 37-34 defeat at the hands of the Chicago Bears.
It only counts as one loss.
But know what? Even if it counted for two, or none for that matter, the Broncos wouldn’t be headed for the Super Bowl anytime soon. They remain a work in progress.
The truth is, they have too many issues on special teams and defense to consider themselves serious playoff contenders. But having said that, Mike Shanahan has to like how the offense is coming around, injuries and all, with Jay Cutler at the controls.
Sunday was the 16-game mark of the Cutler era, what amounts to an entire NFL season. The Broncos are 7-9 in those 16 games, a clear reflection of their overall stature.
While 7-9 isn’t going to get it done in Denver or virtually any other NFL city, Cutler has shown signs he’ll be every bit the quarterback Shanahan was hoping to acquire when he traded up to get him on Draft Day 2006.
In those 16 games, Cutler has thrown 22 touchdown passes and 15 interceptions. Those are exceptionally good numbers for a young quarterback, especially one who was faced with on-the-job training in the NFL.
No, the Broncos aren’t a finished product. At this point, Shanahan has to be wondering if Jim Bates is the answer to the team’s defensive problems. But the offense is starting to click, and with no small amount of issues working against it.
Tom Nalen and Ben Hamilton, two vital cogs in the Broncos’ running game, are long gone, and Javon Walker is struggling to come back from knee problems. But despite it all, Cutler just reeled off back-to- back 30-point games, a first in his NFL career.
The Broncos, as is often the case with flawed teams, have been consistent only in their inconsistency. They were blown out by the Colts, Chargers and Lions, then turned around and embarked on a three-game stretch in which they scored 95 points.
It’s not going to be good enough to make the playoffs. But just make sure you finish the sentence.
As in, it’s not going to be good enough to make the playoffs this year.
Follow Jim Armstrong’s daily Broncos commentaries on The Jimmy Page at 7 a.m. and noon, and read his columns on Sundays and the day after Broncos games at .
He can be reached at 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
