As Christmas comes our way, this question is apt for this time of year. In the state of Colorado, this has taken on a new meaning as the Denver Broncos have turned a moribund 1-4 start to their season into an 8-5 record and a one game lead in the AFC West with three games to play. The fact that the Broncos have guaranteed themselves of at least a .500 record is nothing short of a miracle…but how have they done it?
Football is a team game with countless moving parts. When a team wins or loses multiple games in a row, the QB receives too much credit or blame, so we’ll hold the analysis of a certain left handed QB until later.
The Defense – During the Broncos’ six game winning streak, the defense has given up an average of 17 points. Removing the Vikings’ 32 points, that average drops to a mere 14. (The average score of NFL games in the modern NFL era (i.e. post merger) is 17-14. I like a team’s victory chances if the defense is only giving up two TDs a week. The Broncos have also only given up an average of 345 yards/game during this streak. They have bent but not broken.
Turnover Margin – During the six game winning streak, the Broncos offense has turned the ball over 5 times, while the D has forced 9 turnovers, a +4 turnover margin. This margin is not large, but the offense has done a very good job of taking care of the football and the defense has been extremely opportunistic. Two games ago in Minnesota, CB Andre’ Goodman had been burned mercilessly by QB Christian Ponder, only to intercept Ponder near the end of regulation to set up the winning field goal for the Broncos. Just last Sunday in overtime after Bears’ RB Marion Barber had burst through the line for a first down and easily into K Robbie Gould’s field goal range, the Denver D stripped Barber and recovered the fumble. Barber had not fumbled as a Bear prior to that play.
Kicking Game – In just the last three weeks, K Matt Prater has hit two game winning kicks in overtime (Bears and Chargers) and another at the final whistle (Vikings), with an additional 59 yard field goal to tie the Bears with only a couple seconds remaining in regulation. Additionally, during Tebow’s first start eight week ago, Prater booted a 51 yard field goal to win that game in overtime. P Brandon Colquitt has also been excellent. Against the Bears his high hanging punts forced one of the greatest kick returners of all time, KR Devin Hester, to fair catch almost every kick. When these two teams met four years ago, Hester returned two kicks for touchdowns as the Bears beat the Broncos in overtime.
Tim Tebow – All of the spread offense goes through the QB so this section will fall under his name. The so called experts say that Tebow and the Broncos can’t keep winning like they have been…to this I say, why not? The Bears bottled up Tebow for almost four quarters…but that “almost” left enough time for Tebow Time…what Tebow actually calls Bronco Time. To go back to the title of this post, Tebow has everyone believing that they are never out of a game. In years past when the Broncos have been ineffective on offense, even if their defense has been playing well, I could count on the game being lost…but not now. Tebow comes alive when the game is on the line. I don’t know how…and yes, I too wish he’d turn it on a little earlier, but Bronco players and fans are learning what kind of leader Tebow is. Defensive players watch when he is on the field and are as enthralled as we are. In fact after Tebow scored the go ahead touchdown in the closing seconds of the Thursday night tilt versus the Jets, it was two defensive players (CB Champ Bailey and S Brian Dawkins) who were the first to celebrate with him coming off the field….no coaches or backup QBs…just the leaders of the defense.
After completing only three passes in the first three quarters against the Bears (actually three in the first and zero in the second and third…including some horrendous drops), Tebow completed 18 of 24 in the fourth quarter and overtime. It is Mile High Magic once again.
I for one believe in Tim Tebow. He has that IT factor and until a team stops him through the final whistle of a game, I’m going to believe that the Denver Tim Tebows are going to pull out another victory from the jaws of defeat.
Finally Bronco fans have something to thank Josh McDaniels for…nah…not sure anyone will go that far.
No comments:
Post a Comment