AFC West: Patriots-Broncos 101109
Posted by ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson
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We have to stay in Denver this week because the Broncos were the only team in the division to win again this week.
And we’re giving the nod to quarterback Kyle Orton. Orton proved he can win a game for the Broncos and he led Denver to a 20-17 overtime win over the New England Patriots. Orton outplayed the great Tom Brady to lead the victory.
Orton led Denver on a 98-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter and led a field goal drive on the only series of overtime. Orton threw for 331 yards.
Orton is proving he can be an effective quarterback for the Broncos and he is proving he can be the AFC West player of the week.
Posted by ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson
DENVER -- Welcome to the AFC West, where the Broncos have a 2.5 game lead over the 2-2 Chargers.
The following are some key numbers from ESPN’s Stats & Information:
Denver is getting better defensively as the game goes on. Denver is allowing 29.1 yards less a quarter in the final three quarter of the game. Fifteen of Denver’s 16 sacks have come after the first quarter. Seventeen of the 43 points Denver has allowed have come in the final three quarters of games.
Tom Brady completed one of seven passes for six yards when Denver sent five or more pass rushers. When Denver didn’t blitz, Brady was 18 of 26 for 209 yards.
Denver quarterback Kyle Orton was strong against the blitz. He completed 13 of 17 passes for 122 yards and had a 134.9 passers’ rating, according to ESPN’s Stats and Information.
The Broncos used the Wildcat formation significantly Sunday for the first time. The Broncos call it the “Wildhorse” and it worked well. Denver coach Josh McDaniels used the formation sparingly while in New England last season.
Orton’s coach at Purdue, Joe Tiller, was his guest at the game.
Oakland quarterback JaMarcus Russell threw just 13 times. According to ESPN’s Stats & Information, it tied the NFL low for passing attempts by a team that lost by 35 points or more.
Oakland defensive end Richard Seymour is not making much of an impact. He had one tackle against the Giants.
Denver held New England receiver Randy Moss to one catch for 36 yards.
Denver receiver Brandon Marshall showed support for the Colorado Rockies. He was wearing a Rockies’ jersey and hard hat in his post-game interview.
Kansas City running back Larry Johnson’s struggles continued. He had 37 yards on 21 carries.
The Chiefs have now converted 14 of 68 third-down attempts.
Orton emerges as calm, victorious leader
October, 11, 2009
10/11/09
11:13
PM ET
By
Bill Williamson | ESPN.com
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| Ron Chenoy/US Presswire | |
| Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton has folks in Denver believing. |
Posted by ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson
DENVER -- It was Kyle Orton’s Joe Montana moment, yet he doesn’t really remember the details.
Just as the Denver Broncos were beginning their game-winning drive to defeat the New England Patriots 20-17 in overtime Sunday, Orton gathered his team in the huddle and cracked a joke. Most Denver offensive players said they don’t remember the joke, including Orton. But everyone who was asked smiled while they pleaded ignorance about the punch line.
“It may have been a little too dirty to reveal,” Orton said, laughing.
It evoked memories of Montana pointing to a video image of actor John Candy in the stands from the huddle during San Francisco’s game-winning drive against Cincinnati in Super Bowl XXIII.
So, is Orton Joe Cool?
“Well, I knew there was no need to be nervous,” Orton said. “Not with the team we have and the belief we all have in each other.”
When Denver won the coin flip to start overtime, Denver center Casey Wiegmann said Orton went down the sideline and reminded his offensive teammates that they may only get one chance to win. They took advantage.
After taking over at their 20, the Broncos went 58 yards in 11 plays in 4:51 to set up a 41-yard Matt Prater field goal to beat New England. Orton completed four of six passes for 31 yards on the drive. Orton, a throw-in of Denver’s blockbuster trade of Jay Cutler to Chicago, had his biggest day as a Bronco. He completed 35 of 48 passes for 330 yards.
The Broncos, who have won three games in final seconds, including the past two on the final play, are now 5-0 and the story of the NFL. Skeptics argued that Denver wouldn’t be considered for real until Orton proved he can win a game. He just did.
He out Brady-ed Tom Brady. Brady had to sit during overtime and watch Orton perfectly execute New England’s offense under the guidance of first-year Broncos coach Josh McDaniels, the Patriots’ former offensive coordinator. Brady had a chance to win the game in regulation and couldn’t. In overtime, Orton didn't give Brady another chance.
“He’s the perfect New England-type quarterback,” Broncos receiver Jabar Gaffney, a former Patriot, said of Orton. “He ran that offense the way it is supposed to be run.”
As unlikely as Denver’s start is, is that Orton is the leader.
Just as the Denver players bought into McDaniels, they have bought into Orton. Sure, he isn’t the physical presence that Cutler is, nor does he have the big arm Cutler has. But he is a smart quarterback who doesn’t make mistakes. He threw his first interception of the season Sunday. But he should get a mulligan. It came on a Hail Mary to end the first half.
“The guy doesn’t make mistakes,” Wiegmann said. “We have total confidence in him as our quarterback.”
Orton is 26-12 as a starter in the NFL. In Chicago, he rode a strong defense, which has been the case so far in Denver. But he made the plays that counted Sunday as Denver rallied from 10-0 and 17-7 deficits.
Orton led a 98-yard drive to tie the score at 17-17 with 5:21 to go in the fourth quarter, hitting Brandon Marshall for an 11-yard pass.
The drive wasn’t as important as John Elway’s 98-yard drive against Cleveland to send the Broncos to Super Bowl in 1987, but there is some Super Bowl relevance here. This is the fifth time in Denver’s history it has started 5-0. It went to the Super Bowl the first four times.
The way the Broncos are playing defense (they have allowed a league-low 43 points and shackled Brady in key moments), they have to be considered a strong AFC contender if Orton continues to play well. The keys are his continued working relationship with Marshall and fellow receiver Eddie Royal.
Royal had a breakout game with 10 catches for 90 yards. Seven of his catches were for first downs, including four in the fourth quarter and overtime. Marshall, who seems to be over his feud with the team, had two touchdown receptions and has caught touchdowns in the past three games.
“Kyle is finding us and we are making plays,” Royal said. “It’s going great.”
It didn’t seem possible after Cutler was traded. It didn’t seem possible after Orton was booed in a scrimmage, his first appearance in his new stadium as a Bronco. It didn’t seem possible when Orton threw interceptions on his first three series of the preseason and some were calling for his head.
But Orton and the Broncos are showing anything is possible -- even Montana and Elway comparisons on the same afternoon.
Rapid Reaction: Broncos 20, Patriots 17 (OT)
October, 11, 2009
10/11/09
7:45
PM ET
By
Bill Williamson | ESPN.com
Posted by ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson
DENVER -- Something special is going on in Denver, folks.
The Broncos just beat New England in overtime and first-year Broncos coach Josh McDaniels led a raucous celebration. McDaniels went near the stands, spurring the fans with wild fist pumping. Then, he jumped into the arms of his players. There's plenty to celebrate.
The Broncos are 5-0 and the NFL’s most compelling story.
After starting 3-0 against weaker competition, Denver overcame deficits to beat Dallas and New England.
The Broncos are for real and their exuberant 33-year-old coach is loving every minute of it.
Posted by ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson
DENVER -- We’re going to overtime in Denver.
Tied game at 17-17.
Denver had the ball in New England territory, in the final minute, but it couldn’t capitalize.
Posted by ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson
DENVER -- If Denver losses this game, mistakes on special teams will be a major reason.
Denver’s defense forced New England to punt twice, late in the third quarter and early in the fourth. But the Patriots got the ball back both times.
First, Denver was called for roughing the punter, nullifying excellent field position for the Broncos. Then, Denver rookie Richard Quinn was called for lining up in the neutral zone on a punt, giving New England a first down.
The Broncos trail 17-10 and are fighting, but these mistakes may be deadly. Needless to say, Denver coach Josh McDaniels is furious.
New England just punted and Denver didn’t shoot itself in the foot, but New England did down the ball at the Denver 2. Denver’s miscues cost it 50-plus yards.
Posted by ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson
DENVER -- The Denver Broncos just benefited from another deflected pass.
This time, receiver Jabar Gaffney caught a deflected pass for a first down on third and 14 in New England territory. It setup a Denver field goal. The Broncos trail New England 17-10 in the third quarter.
Denver’s season got rolling when receiver Brandon Stokley won the game at Cincinnati on opening day with an 87-yard touchdown play on a deflected pass.
Posted by ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson
DENVER -- The Broncos put themselves back in the game with a 93-yard touchdown drive, capped by a beautiful catch by Brandon Marshall.
Yet, the Denver defense allowed New England to fly down the field to take a 17-7 lead at the half.
The Denver defense is being ravaged by receiver Wes Welker. Welker has six catches for 69 yards. He left the game on the final drive of the half after being hit by Denver safety Brian Dawkins.
Both Tom Brady and Kyle Orton are playing well. They’ve thrown nine incompletions between them on 37 pass attempts.
New England receiver Randy Moss had one catch -- an interception to end the half. He was on defense in a Hail Mary situation. It was Orton’s first interception of the season.
Denver used one Wildcat formation late in the first half after using it often on the first drive.
Denver is not blitzing much at all.
Posted by ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson
We’re early in the second quarter and Denver has fallen behind10-0 for the second straight week.
If the Broncos are going to come back against New England, it will have to play crisper. The Broncos have two fumbles and they lost one.
The Broncos are moving the ball on offense, but they are shooting themselves in the foot. Denver’s defense looks like it may be settling down.
Posted by ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson
Josh McDaniels has been lauded in his head coaching career for being prepared.
He has been impressive early Sunday against his former team, New England. For the first time, Denver broke out the Wildcat formation. The Broncos used it successfully before its opening drive breakdown when it missed a 48-yard field goal.
McDaniels was with New England last year, as offensive coordinator, when Miami exploited New England while using the Wildcat. It will be interesting to see if McDaniels uses the formation -- with rookie Knowshon Moreno getting the snap from center -- all day.
Posted by ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson
Pregame notes from Denver where the 4-0 Broncos are about to host the 3-1 Patriots:
- It is about 30 degrees and cloudy in Denver.
- As expected, running back Correll Buckhalter is inactive. Denver rookie Knowshon Moreno is expected to make his first NFL start.
- New England receiver Joey Galloway is a healthy scratch.
- The Broncos will honor their 50th anniversary team Sunday.
- The two teams are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the AFL. You have to get a load of the Broncos’ throwbacks. Yellow and brown. Not good.
- While he was warming up, Denver backup quarterback Chris Simms chatted on the field with his father, Phil Simms. The elder Simms is broadcasting the game.
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
Bill Williamson
Williamson joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four seasons covering the Denver Broncos for the Denver Post. He previously covered the Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks.
