Sometimes we at Denver Horse Force like to remind Broncos County that other teams in the AFC West almost always have it worse.

Enter the Oakland Raiders.

CEO Amy Trask announced this week a “tool” that will hopefully cut down on blackouts.

The ‘tool’ – her word, not mine – is a tarp.

The Raiders will reduce capacity at O.co Coliseum by about 10,000 for next season.  The stadium currently holds 63,132 for football, but with thanks to the ol’ trusty tarp, the stadium will house about 52,300 in 2013.

InsideBayArea.com reports the area targeted for tarping is “Mount Davis,” the high-rise section of seats home to about 4,850 season-ticket holders. Those fans will be relocated.

The Raiders finished last in the league in attendance last season, averaging 54,217 per game. Reducing capacity at O.co Coliseum means the Raiders will have the smallest venue in the NFL. Chicago’s Soldier Field is second with 61,500.

Bucking the trend of most NFL teams, the Raiders are also lowering season ticket prices.

Welcome to Denver, where we pack the stadium. Even for practice. (personal photo)

The Raiders struggled with tickets sales in 2012, coming close to having multiple home games blacked out locally, though only one game was blacked out. The San Francisco Chronicle reports the Raiders have blacked out 80 games – airing on 64 home games – since 1995.

Meanwhile, the Denver Broncos just wrapped up their 43rd consecutive year of home sellouts. Just sayin’.

Denver Broncos Headlines:

• Bleacher Report: Players the Denver Broncos Absolutely Must Re-Sign
• Denver Broncos: Hester Happy in Denver
• Colorado Sports Desk: Denver Broncos needs for destination Super Bowl XLVIII
• Denver Broncos: Harris Readies For Another Jump
• Rant Sports: Denver Broncos Should Focus on the Offense
• Yahoo! Sports: Denver Broncos Have Decisions to Make on 16 Free Agents: Who Will Stay and Who Will Go

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Considering it’s a divisional playoff game, and the Denver Broncos’ first with Peyton Manning at the helm, it feels like there should be more in-depth storylines to dissect. When I really think about it though, there is a lot to consider, but nothing warranting a thousand words. In that spirit, here are some thoughts, facts, and observations I’m mulling ahead of Saturday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens.

New Day for Denver

Much has been made of this potentially being Ray Lewis’ final NFL game. It would serve as a fitting bookend for Lewis who competed in his first playoff game on New Year’s Eve day in 2000 against the Broncos. The Baltimore Ravens won 21-3 on the way to a Super Bowl victory. Yet, a Denver victory Sunday could also been seen as the closing of a chapter. That game in 2000 was Denver’s first playoff game post-John Elway. Since then, Denver has returned to the playoffs only four other times (twice being knocked out by Peyton Manning). A win Saturday will not only signal what is perhaps the start of a demise for a Ravens defense that has been dominant for the past decade, but also the end of a period that saw the Broncos stay competitive, but just outside the bubble of a perennial playoff contender.

Is Baltimore the Sneaky On-A-Roll Team?

Also known as “Who is this year’s New York Giants?” Wild Card weekend didn’t offer much help in identifying the lower seeded team who could win it all, or even IF there was a lower seeded team who could win it all. Take a look at last weekend’s winners:

• Houston Texans: Lackluster victory over a one-dimensional offensive opponent. Impressive outing for running game against a solid defense. Displayed no indications they would create a matchup problem for a team with an elite quarterback.
• Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks arrived in the playoffs after several weeks of blowing out opponents (and a tight Week-17-so-who-really-cares victory). Not surprised they won. Would hardly characterize Seattle as a team that “eked in and started surprising people.” Too good, and too consistent of a defense.
• Green Bay Packers: Under no one’s radar. Elite quarterback who was the league’s MVP last season. Yeah, not sneaking up on anyone.
• Baltimore Ravens: Inspired victory against a team that should have been about .500 or slightly worse based on point differential. Was the Indianapolis Colts’ defense that porous or has the Ravens offense clicked that much? Is the Ravens’ defense that stout in the red zone, or did the Colts bumble the execution of too many plays? Too many variables to say for sure.

As these things generally go, I would probably pick No. 3 seeded Houston as that Wild Card weekend sleeper contender. If the Texans truly return to a potent run game, the defense and passing game are both still good enough to deliver a tough matchup. The same could also be said for Baltimore, but it just feels like more of a stretch. I could see the Ravens hanging tough, but I could also see a situation where it becomes evident early on that Baltimore is mainly smoke and mirrors. The big names on defense may be back, but I wouldn’t be too surprised if we’re talking Sunday about how it was evident they just weren’t at full strength.

Is Saturday the last call for LB Ray Lewis? (courtesy Keith Allison)

For the Record

Are you like me? Are you getting tired of the “argument” that the Broncos have only won against bad teams? Here’s my big issue with that: Yes, it’s true for the most part, but it’s not like these were close wins. Sure the Broncos may not have compiled an impressive 11-game winning streak had the team been pitted against the NFC West or played in the AFC South.

This isn’t college; coaches can’t schedule light. It’s often luck of the draw.

Before the season began, Denver’s schedule looked daunting. That was before we knew the New Orleans Saints really would be hamstrung by Bountygate, or Cam Newton’s Carolina Panthers wouldn’t improve on the past season, or the San Diego Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs would somehow find a way to get substantially worse.

The Broncos won a lot of games against inferior competition, and won handily. That’s what good teams are supposed to do.

Meanwhile, Baltimore did manage to lose to the Philadelphia Eagles, beat the Chiefs 9-6, and escape a loss to the vaunted Chargers due to a play that had both a personal foul, and would’ve have required Ray Rice to be nearly 6’5″ (it’s trigonometry folks – based on where his knee hit, there is no possible way the ball was extended beyond the line of gain).

Who’s Elite?

You know what would really help out Joe Flacco? Winning this game. He’d be able to say “he” was able to outduel Peyton Manning, and “he” was still worthy of being considered an elite quarterback (not that logically, “he” refers to the Ravens, and more specifically, Ray Rice and the Ravens defense). A win would help Flacco’s case.

A win would also really help secure Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker as an elite receiving tandem. The two have been playing exceedingly well lately after what was at times an inconsistent start to the season. A trip to the AFC Championship should formalize their ascendency as a 1-2 pair that poses a big problem for defensive coordinators.

Salvaging a Season for Rice

Ray Rice has had an underwhelming season…by Ray Rice standards. Two playoff victories should be enough for him to escape questions of whether he should still be considered a big time threat. What isn’t falling in his favor is the Denver defense. Despite several big rushing days (Houston, New England, Kansas City), the Broncos front seven hasn’t allowed many running games to get going. Even the ones that did failed to single-handedly dictate the outcome of a game. If the Broncos make this game a proposition of whether Flacco can engineer enough points through the air this one will be finished well before the final whistle.

The Chris Harris Pick-Six Happened

With this guy on your side, you have to feel good. (courtesy Jeffrey Beall)

Another quick beef…I’m a little irritated by the notion that the first times these teams met, the game would have been totally different if not for Harris’ interception. You know what? It could have been. But you know what? It wasn’t.

The Broncos could have also tallied victories in Atlanta and Houston if not for some unfortunate turnovers. Both the Ravens and Broncos could have won some additional games if they executed better. So could every other team.

Remove just the Harris interception, and the only difference is the Ravens trail 24-10 heading into the fourth quarter, the Broncos don’t fully let off the gas, and the game ends pretty much in the same fashion.

Final Note

It’s the playoffs. No outcome can be guaranteed, and the price of losing increases dramatically. All this said, the game really will come down to a simple question: Are the Broncos focused enough?

Even if the Ravens “want it more” than Denver, they still can’t match the talent of the Broncos. If Denver consistently fails to execute, it could spell trouble. If the Broncos execute for the most part and turn mistakes into minor hiccups, the Ravens still don’t win this one. If the Broncos play flawlessly, the Ravens not only lose, but lose big. The following weeks may provide a different scenario, but if the Broncos’ season ends Saturday evening it will be because the Broncos managed to end it themselves. My hunch is that’s just not going to happen.

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Chris Harris’ pick-six was the momentum changer in Week 15. (personal photo)

Not even a month ago, the Denver Broncos left Baltimore having done something they had never done before: beat the Ravens on the road. Leading 31-3 entering the 4th quarter, the Broncos surrendered two late touchdowns, making the 34-17 final score look closer than the game really was.

But think back to late in the first half, when the Broncos were leading 10-0 and the Ravens were driving. Baltimore had strung together its most impressive offensive series of the game and was facing a first-and-goal on the Denver 4-yard line in the half’s final minute. It seemed the Ravens were seconds away from making it a 10-7 contest heading into halftime.

Enter Chris Harris.

At the 2-yard line, Harris intercepted Joe Flacco’s pass intended for Anquan Boldin, taking off for a 98-yard interception return for a touchdown. It was the longest such play in Broncos’ history, breaking the record set by Randy Gradishar in 1980.

If there was a single play that changed the entire momentum of a game this season for Denver, Harris’ pick-six is a certain contender – if not the outright winner. Instead of heading into the locker room in a tight 10-7 game, the Broncos led 17-0, and cruised in the second half.

It’s impossible to know how the game would have gone had Harris not a) intercepted Flacco’s pass, and b) returned the interception for a touchdown. I still suspect the Broncos would have won by double digits, but the Ravens might have made the game closer. The good news, at least for Broncos fans, is that Harris did intercept the pass and score a touchdown, so any “what ifs” are moot.

For Boldin, who was held to his first game without a reception since 2005, Saturday’s rematch is an opportunity for revenge. It might be too much to ask Harris to repeat his performance, but he and his defensive teammates should make enough meaningful plays to extend the Broncos season at least another week.

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With the dust now settled on Sunday’s thorough plucking of the Baltimore Ravens, here are a few additional thoughts on the Denver Broncos latest win.

Dare to Dream - The Broncos definitive victory paired with the New England Patriots’ loss puts Denver in the driver’s seat for a first round playoff bye. The talk right now is focused on Denver winning out and finishing as the two-seed.  I still think heading into Week 16 the focus should remain on the coveted No. 1 seed, given the remaining competition for the Houston Texans.

The Texans’ Week 16 foe, the Minnesota Vikings, are as much on the NFC playoff bubble as a team can get.  Combine that with Adrian Peterson’s very real shot of setting a significant NFL record, and the Vikings truly have everything to play for right now.  If Minnesota gets Peterson going and pulls out a victory in Houston, and the Broncos take care of business against the Cleveland Browns, it sets up Week 17 as the deciding week for seeding.

Denver hosts the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston travels to Indianapolis to play the Colts.  A Colts win this week guarantees them a playoff spot, but don’t underestimate Indy’s desire to win what will likely be the home finale of an amazing season.  The Colts remain hopeful head coach Chuck Pagano will return just in time for the regular-season finale.  The young Colts have exceeded expectations all season long – not to mention re-engerized a fan base.  The culmination of the Chuckstrong movement is not a situation any team would want to walk into if it needed a big road win.

The Broncos must take care of the schedule in front of them, but until Sunday proves otherwise, I still think there’s a better than average chance Denver finishes as the AFC’s top team.  In all likelihood, such a scenario would move the Patriots into the two-seed.

Welcome back, Knowshon! (personal photo)

Back to/of the Future? - Something has happened to Knowshon Moreno.  His solid performance in Baltimore has already spurred talk that the Broncos may not need much from Willis McGahee should he return while the Broncos are still playing.  (McGahee is eligible to return AFC championship weekend.)  Moreno still needs to show he can carry the momentum through more games and continue to run hard, secure the ball, and avoid injury.  It appears he has in fact changed, and the simplest observation as to how is that he’s gotten bigger and more powerful. Perhaps Moreno’s biggest disadvantage until now was that he entered the league as an in-between back…not quite bulky enough to be a power runner, and not quite quick enough to be a finesse rusher.  Realizing he was bouncing off, rather than running through NFL defenders, Moreno tried to make his bones as an agile speedster, and just didn’t have the tools for it. Now he’s bulked up, gotten patient, and appears more focused on finding holes than trying to avoid defenders.  Welcome, Knowshon.  Here’s wishing you all the best.

Power Source - It seems like every week I’m writing this, but it has to be mentioned time and again: The Broncos defense is the true key to this team’s success.  The defense turned in another outstanding effort limiting Baltimore running back Ray Rice and rendering the Ravens offense ineffective until the game was well in hand.  Cornerback Chris Harris’ 98-yard interception return was an electric moment, and a major momentum swinger.  Certainly defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio deserves major credit in his defense planning and schemes, but the players make the plays.  It’s interesting how the Denver defense received little talk, and even some criticism as a questionable unit before the season began.  What can very well be said now is the Broncos defense most definitely kept the team viable last season, and has turned Denver into an elite outfit this season.

Eric Decker’s line from Sunday: 8 REC, 133 YDS, 1 TD (personal photo)

Less than Special - The biggest “needs improvement” takeaway from this game is on special teams.  Trindon Holliday encapsulated his polar risk/reward tendencies by fumbling yet another punt return (luckily out of bounds) but also breaking along the sideline for what was nearly another return TD.  Come playoff time he could very well be the guy who wins a game for Denver, or loses it.  Tackling was also an issue for Denver special teams.  Matt Prater had two touchdown saving tackles while Britton Colquitt added one of his own. Great to see that efforts out of the kicking staff, but not great that the kicking staff had to make those types of efforts.

Look! Eric Decker! - Decker delivered one of his best performances in weeks. It was a good thing too as Demaryius Thomas was largely blanketed and blanked from the game. There was some speculation that Thomas may be hurting more than he or the Broncos are letting on.  If that’s the case, it will be imperative Decker, Brandon Stokley, and the tight ends continue to step up in the passing game.  Then again, if the Broncos can continue to run the ball effectively, the receiving corps may have little trouble making an impact.

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Peyton, Adrian…or even Tom?

Who should – or will – be this season’s NFL MVP?

Crap, I don’t know, but I’ll share my thoughts with you anyway.

The way I see it, it’s really a two-man race between Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning and Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson.  Forget Tom Brady.  What makes this showdown perhaps even more enticing, or at the least curious, is both players are also coming off significant injury/health problems.

That also makes the leading MVP candidates also candidates for NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

Nutty, right?

Peyton or Adrian? Adrian or Peyton? (courtesy Jeffrey Beall)

Manning has returned to his typical form – leading the Broncos to an 11-3 and within striking distance of the AFC’s No. 1 seed come playoff time.  (Right now, the Broncos are the No. 2 seed if the playoffs started today.)  Not a bad day’s work considering there were concerns Manning’s career was over.  Heck, even actor Rob Lowe “reported” Manning was set to retire.

This just in: Rob Lowe was wrong.

As for Peterson, he tore his anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his left knee not even a year ago.  Not only did he recover quicker than anticipated, he came back as strong as ever.

How’s this for a comeback?  Peterson needs to average 174 yards in the Vikings’ final two games to break Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record of 2,105 set back in 1984.

Adrian Peterson is the Minnesota Vikings.

Now as for who is more deserving of MVP, I ask this: Could you really go wrong with either player? You can make an equally compelling case for each – for both MVP and Comeback Player of the Year.

How do Denver-area readers feel about the MVP race?  It’s predictably Manning by a landslide.

Other Headlines:

• Bleacher Report: Cleveland Browns vs. Denver Broncos: Preview and Predictions
• Denver Broncos: Spreading the Ball Around
• Denver Broncos: Denver Controls Destiny, Remains Focused
• Denver Post: Broncos’ Chris Harris shows his value both inside, outside vs. Ravens

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Note: On days following the Denver Broncos game, Denver Horse Force will deliver the headlines midday to include more dissection, breakdown, and of course, the very latest analysis and Denver Broncos news from around the web.

Broncos, Peyton Manning run over Ravens for ninth straight win - The Broncos first clinched no worse than the AFC’s No. 3 playoff seed Sunday by trouncing the Baltimore Ravens, 34-17, then learned a few hours later on the team bus ride from Denver International Airport to their Dove Valley headquarters that they are in the lead position for the No. 2 seed — because the New England Patriots were on their way to losing 41-34 to the San Francisco 49ers.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Broncos’ defense limits Ravens’ stars in runaway victory - One of the chisel-it-in-stone items for any defensive coordinator is: Don’t let the stars beat you.  Don’t let the opponent’s best players, running their favorite plays, pile up the yards and touchdowns.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Woody Paige: Thanks to Broncos’ Chris Harris, a very Orange Christmas - Merry Christmas.  Chris “Kringle” Harris gift-wrapped a 98-yard interception return for a touchdown that put the Broncos in a festive holiday mood Sunday afternoon.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Moreno Paces Offense - With the Broncos ahead 31-3 entering the fourth quarter, the running backs carried the load as the game wound down.  Denver ran the ball 17 times in the final period and threw it just once.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Getting Better All the Time - Though plenty went right for the Broncos in the team’s 34-17 win at Baltimore on Sunday, each player in the locker room knows that there is still room for improvement.  “We just try to get better every week,” Head Coach John Fox said. “Right now, our guys have responded well to just improving every week.”  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Broncos Get Franchise’s First Win in Baltimore - Entering the team’s Week 15 matchup against the Ravens, the Broncos had never won a game in Baltimore.  That changed on Sunday.  “(Owner and CEO) Pat Bowlen has owned the team for 29 years and has averaged 10 wins a season over that 29-year period,” Head Coach John Fox said. “But it’s the first time he’s won in this building. I was proud to see that for him.” Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Denver Broncos: Moving On - Here are some areas the Denver Broncos need to focus on after a 34-17 road win at Baltimore on Sunday.  Read more from ESPN >>>>

Broncos show Ravens how NFL defense is really played - With a wrecking-ball defense, the Broncos came to the NFL town Ray Lewis built and tore it down. Forty-five minutes after Denver’s 34-17 victory against Baltimore, a tractor swept the stadium turf, picking up the shards of quarterback Joe Flacco’s ego. And for every team with a coaching vacancy, write down these three words: Jack Del Rio.  Read more from Baltimore Sun >>>>

Denver Broncos extend Baltimore Ravens’ woes - Sunday’s game between the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens was supposed to feature two Super Bowl contenders angling for a playoff bye.  It ended with one team looking unstoppable and the other in a free fall that might not stop until the offseason.  Read more from NFL.com >>>>

Knowshon Moreno running wild for Denver Broncos - Denver possesses a player that runs like a wild stallion in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Knowshon Moreno.  Moreno has been a beast for the Broncos over the last four weeks, stepping up to the task of filling in for Willis McGahee following his partial MCL tear.  Read more from Examiner >>>>

Broncos vs. Ravens: Denver Makes a Statement - The Denver Broncos have won nine games in a row and should no longer be doubted as one of the elite teams in football. The Broncos beat up on the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday en route to a 34-17 victory that pushed their record to 11-3.  Read more from Bleacher Report >>>> 

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Welcome to Quarter Calls, DHF’s quarter-by-quarter breakdown of each Denver Broncos game. Instead of a live game thread, Quarter Calls is a quick-hit summary of the big story of each quarter. It can be a general mood or theme, play, penalty, injury, whatever.

If you prefer real time analysis and commentary, follow Denver Horse Force on Twitter. As always, I’ll be tweeting throughout the game.

Go Broncos!

Pregame: Denver Broncos inactives: Lance Ball, Bubba Caldwell, Caleb Hanie, Chris Kuper, Tracy Porter, Sealver Siliga, and Julius Thomas

Baltimore Ravens inactives: Ed Dickson, Dannell Ellerbe, Ramon Harewood, Jameel McClain, Bernard Pollard, Deonte Thompson, and Marshal Yanda

1st Quarter

(11:40 a.m.) How the Broncos are only up by three points is beyond me.

Seriously, the Denver defense has looked amazing, already forcing one Joe Flacco fumble in addition to series after series of stalled drives.

So how is it the Broncos have only mustered a field goal?  The offense has benefited from excellent field position and are facing a Ravens defense decimated by injuries.

One thing is for sure; depleted or not, Baltimore boasts the league’s best red zone defense.  The Ravens somehow find a way to ratchet things up a notch when the opponent is driving.

I have liked Peyton Manning throwing downfield.  I’ll like those play calls even better once Denver actually connects on one.  Attempts are one thing. Completions are another.

Best play of the quarter honors go to Knowhon Moreno for his hurdling prowess.  What makes it even sweeter is that he cleared Ed Reed.

2nd Quarter

 (12:22 p.m.) Thank you, Chris Harris, for making the play of the game.

How huge was his 98-yard interception return for a touchdown?  Aside from being the longest in franchise history for the regular season, Harris’ play was a huge point swing.

The Ravens’ offense, which had struggled for most of the first half, suddenly assembled a solid drive, and were just yards away from making a 10-0 game a 10-7 game in the half’s closing seconds.  Instead, because of Harris, the Broncos are now leading 17-0.

So firing Cam Cameron has paid dividends for the Ravens so far, no?  Actually, no, not at all.   Jim Caldwell seems to be a nice guy, but does he really strike anyone as a significant upgrade?

3rd Quarter

(1:19 p.m.)  Total domination.

The Broncos are showing why they are the superior team.  The offensive scored two touchdowns, while the defense continues to wreak all sorts of havoc on Flacco’s offense.  Perhaps surprisingly, the Broncos have yet to register a sack, but the effective pass rush has disrupted the quarterback all game long.

Score: 31-3

4th Quarter

(2:06 p.m.) With the game out of hand, there wasn’t much of interest in the 4th quarter…

Other than the Denver Broncos earning their ninth-straight win of the 2012 season, a longest active win streak in the league.

It took until late in the 4th quarter, but Denver finally got its first sack of the game, courtesy rookie DT Derek Wolfe.  Robert Ayers and Elvis Dumervil also registered back-to-back sacks in the game’s final two plays.  The offense took a few shots downfield, but mainly was impressive in its ability to kill clock through a sustained running game.  A few lapses in concentration allowed the Ravens two touchdowns, but it hardly mattered as the Broncos wrapped this one up midway through the third quarter.

The Broncos head home with their first victory against the Ravens in Baltimore.  Denver also is finished with road games this season, going 6-2.  The Broncos conclude the regular season against the Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs.

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With the dust now settled on Sunday’s sinking of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, here are a few additional thoughts on the Denver Broncos’ latest win.

Define elite – The annual debate on who can be classified an elite quarterback is really a debate about the definition of “elite.”  Wins, championships, and stats are all important, but for me the real definition is one of those, “know it when you see it” things.  There were two plays this past Sunday that defined why Peyton Manning is regarded as one of the all-time best.

• Demaryius Thomas Touchdown: Not only was the accuracy in placing the ball at the back of the end zone staggering, but the fact that Manning basically saw the play unfold before it actually did. The touchdown required perfect targeting, velocity, and timing.  Manning delivered and the result was a play that truly was impossible to adequately defend.
• Knowshon Moreno Sit Catch: This play showed Manning’s mind just operates differently.  It’s just common sense that when a potential receiver is on the ground he ceases to become a target.  Yet, Manning saw that although Moreno was seated he was still in a position to locate a pass and also happened to be beyond the line of gain for a first down.  Absolutely stunning recognition, and all while on the run.

Remember Champ - With so many members of the Broncos defense being lauded for excellent performances its almost becoming easy to gloss over the impact of Champ Bailey.  We don’t hear a lot about him because per usual, he’s just not allowing much of an option for offenses. With Von Miller deservedly getting big attention, and other Broncos (Wesley Woodyard, Chris Harris, Tony Carter, Elvis Dumervil) making notable plays it’s still worth giving Champ a shout-out for his continued dominance at the league’s most difficult position.

Champ Bailey has had another solid season…quietly this time around. (personal photo)

Poor Timing Prater – Um, is this going to get fixed?  Luckily, Matt Prather’s most recent botch came at a point when the Broncos already has the Bucs substantially in the rear view.  However, I don’t think any Broncos backer would want a game to come down to a Prater field goal right now.  I’m not saying he needs to be benched immediately, but he’s definitely entered a slump at the exact time of season where its a big problem to be slumping.

Clinch a Cinch – Amazing Denver has locked up a playoff spot and the division with a month of football left.  It’s also a welcome departure from the past several years.  With the exception of the atrocity that was McDaniels Year 2, Denver was generally playoff poised this time of year only to see meltdowns in December.  While there’s something to be said for facing strong competition to get a team seasoned for a playoff run, it’s kind of nice to get that box checked early.  Plus, weak divisions haven’t really hurt the New England Patriots too much.

Fixable Issues – The third quarter wiped away a lot of worries, but there were still some moments of frustration that again seemingly prevented Denver from being an efficient team.  Penalties on both the offensive and defense sides were most notable as they suggest a lack of razor sharp focus.  That same lack of focus appeared in other ways as well from a bad snap to missed assignments on both the offensive and defensive lines.  On a 3rd-and-16, boos rained down from the stadium crowd after a Broncos run play gained no yardage.  Perhaps the boos were directed at the play call, but they shouldn’t have been. The fact that the five members of the Broncos offensive line allowed three defensive linemen to blow up the line of scrimmage was the true disappointment.  The Bucs were playing intermediate pass all the way so the give to Knowshon Moreno was a good strategic call.  It probably wouldn’t have resulted in a 16 yard gain, but even six of seven yards could’ve put the Broncos in field goal range.  It’s play like we saw in the third quarter that makes these types of issues aggravating because we’ve seen this team deliver some great performances.

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Return specialist Trindon Holliday is the latest Denver Bronco to be honored.

Holliday has been named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.  His 105-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals was the longest-scoring play in franchise history.  Holliday is the fifth Broncos player this season to get the AFC Player of the Week honors, and the second special teams player, after Matt Prater in Week 4.  For the record, the Broncos lead the league in Player of the Week honors this season, just ahead of the New York Giants.

Cornerback Tracy Porter, who was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week all the way back in Week 1, was absent from Wednesday’s team practice – or at least the part of practice open to the media.  Porter’s last game action was exactly one month ago yesterday against the New England Patriots.

Chris Harris and Tony Carter have exceeded expectations in Porter’s place, so even if Porter does return from his health scare soon, it’s likely he’s relegated to backup status.  But the bigger issue is Porter’s health…and exactly how long he’s sidelined.

Sticking with defense, there’s been a lot written lately about the Broncos defensive improvement in 2012.  Credit defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio for his many schemes and use of the entire Broncos defensive depth chart.

You know where this is going…

A pitfall to being a good team is the not-so-good teams want to steal your coaches at season’s end.  Even so, the Denver Post’s Mike Klis writes Del Rio leaving in 2013 is no “slam dunk.”  In fact, Klis thinks it’s another Broncos coordinator that might be a more attractive head coaching candidate:

“…the top head coaching candidate after this season has to Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy. Has to be. You can’t get two more different quarterbacks than Tim Tebow and Peyton Manning. You can’t have two more different offenses than the Broncos with Tebow in 2011 and Manning in 2012.”

Honestly, I have a sneaking suspicion both coordinators will be lured away in 2013.  I’ll take that a step further with this prognostication I shared a few weeks ago with my favorite Broncos fan: Del Rio will be hired by the Kansas City Chiefs.

Here’s to being wrong.

Other Headlines:

• Bleacher Report: It’s never too early to start talking playoff picture.
• Denver Broncos: Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe has been named one of 11 members of the Black College Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2013.
• Denver Post: The game is never out of reach if you have a comeback quarterback.
• Rant Sports: The Broncos’ team-centric approach is propelling their success.

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