Mike Shanahan knows a little about winning. So much so that the Broncos are the only NFL team since 1995, when he became their head coach, not to have a Top 10 pick in the draft.
To Shanahan, disaster is a four-game losing streak, not a 4-12 season. He has had two such streaks, one in 1999, the other in 2006.
I only mention it because the Broncos have lost back-to-back games. And after Sunday’s home game vs. Miami, they have a short week of practice before playing Thursday night at Cleveland. Then, 10 days later, they’ll play at Atlanta, where the Falcons have been one of the most pleasant surprises in the league.
Tough games one and all. Not only that, the Broncos are banged up, with Boss Bailey out for the season and his brother, Champ, gone for four to six weeks.
A loss to the Dolphins Sunday and the Broncos officially would be reeling. Come December, they may look back at this game as the turning point of their season.
Win it and the Broncos could take a turn in the right direction. Lose it and the longest losing streak of the Shanahan era would be staring them in the face.
Jim Armstrong: 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com
