It seems D.J. Williams will soon get his chance to be back in the Denver Broncos starting lineup.

The linebacker, who missed the first nine games of the season due to suspensions, will likely get the nod Thursday.  His replacement, Wesley Woodyard, is listed as doubtful on the team’s official injury report.  Woodyard sprained his ankle in the second quarter of the Denver’s 31-23 victory Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Williams could split time with rookie Danny Trevathan in Woodyard’s absence.

Wide receiver Brandon Stokley, who did not play against the Buccaneers, is listed as questionable.

Denver Broncos official team injury report

For the Oakland Raiders, DT Richard Seymour is out with a knee/hamstring.

Oakland Raiders official team injury report

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There is no such thing as a guaranteed win in the NFL.

But this game – at least on paper – suggests the Denver Broncos should handily defeat the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.

The Chiefs are 1-9 with their lone win coming in September.  Kansas City is the NFL’s lowest scoring team and the highest turnover team.  Meanwhile the Broncos have scored at least 30 points in each game during a five-game win streak, and boast a suddenly frightening, game-changing defense.

Records aside: The Broncos and Chiefs have split the series eight of the last nine seasons.  Kansas City has won 12 of the last 17 games at Arrowhead against Denver.

Jamaal Charles leads the Kansas City Chiefs rushing attack, ranked fourth in the NFL. (courtesy Jeffrey Beall)

When the Chiefs have the ball: Kansas City head coach Romeo Crennel named ex-Broncos quarterback Brady Quinn as the starter Sunday.  Quinn spent two seasons with Denver and never played, backing up the media circus that ultimately surrounded Kyle Orton vs. Tim Tebow.

If the Chiefs are to reverse their losing ways, running backs Jamaal Charles and company will collectively need a huge game.  As bad as Kansas City is offensively – both in terms of scoring and turnovers – the team ranks fourth in the NFL with 145.4 rushing yards a game, best in the AFC.  And let’s not forget Kansas City has made it a habit as of late to beat Denver teams with superior records by running the ball:

2008: 213 yards (Chiefs record that season was 2-14)

2009: 317 yards (Chiefs record season was 4-12)

Charles rushed for a career-high 259 yards against a porous Broncos’ defense in January 2010.  Something tells me Denver’s talented linebackers will have none of that in 2012.  The Broncos’ rush defense allows an average of 93.8 yards per game, good for sixth in the NFL.  Von Miller is now seriously in the discussion for Defensive Player of the Year with 13 sacks, 45 tackles, and four forced fumbles so far this season.  Linebacker teammate Wesley Woodyard leads the team with 88 tackles.  D.J. Williams, who returned to action last week following suspension, had four tackles against the San Diego Chargers.

Remember, the Chiefs lead the league in turnovers this season, so expect Denver’s defense to capitalize at least once.  Woodyard leads the Broncos with three interceptions and defensive end Elvis Dumervil has six forced fumbles in 2012.

Wide receiver Dwayne Bowe is slated to play, but is recovering from a neck injury that limited his practice earlier this week.

When Denver has the ball: Perhaps curiously, the Chiefs have allowed just one 300-yard passing game this season, and that wasn’t against Drew Brees, Matt Ryan, or even Philip Rivers.  It was Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman.

It seems opposing quarterbacks are struggling at times against the Chiefs’ bread and butter of zone coverage schemes and four-man pressure formations.  And with nothing to lose this season other than fan frustration, don’t be surprised if Kansas City puts the pressure on Peyton Manning early and often.

Denver Broncos RB Knowshon Moreno, who’s been inactive for eight games this season, will likely be activated Sunday. (personal photo)

With leading rusher Willis McGahee out until late in the playoffs, assuming Denver makes it that far, the Broncos will rely Sunday on Lance Ball, Ronnie Hillman, and Knowshon Moreno.  Though McGahee was the alpha running back, he was also responsible for five fumbles (four lost) this season, and fumbling has been the Broncos’ ongoing nemesis this season.

Maybe Denver curtails those turnovers in McGahee’s absence, but will in all likelihood sacrifice rushing yards…

Which brings us back to applying the pressure on Manning.  Kansas City’s best hope of winning is keeping the Broncos offense from hanging its typical 30 points a game, thus easing the scoring burden on an anemic Chiefs offense.  Kansas City must knock Manning around, or at least force him into ill-timed passes to stall drives or create turnovers.

Denver is a pass-oriented offense and shouldn’t miss a step with McGahee sidelined, but still needs some production from its committee of running backs. If not, the Chiefs will predictably expect pass, pass, and some more pass, and close up whatever space would otherwise be around wide receivers Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, Brandon Stokley and Denver’s tight end tandem of Joel Dreessen and Jacob Tamme.

Denver’s passing attack is among the best in the NFL, averaging 289 yards a game.  Manning has 2,975 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in his 2012 comeback season.

Prediction

Denver 33, Kansas City 17

The Broncos should leave Kansas City still unblemished within the division and riding a six-game win streak for the second straight year.

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Get ready: Blue is making a comeback.

The Denver Broncos will wear blue uniforms Sunday as part of military appreciation Salute to Service.  Practice squad defensive end Ben Garland, an Air Force Academy graduate and a 1st Lieutenant in the Colorado Air National Guard, will participate in a halftime ceremony by presenting a game ball to other members of the military.  It’s a ceremony he’s proud to be part of:

“That’s a huge honor.  Any time you’re able to represent not only the country, but represent the Broncos in an event like that, it’s a huge honor for me.”

Garland isn’t the only Bronco with military ties.  Read more about that here >>>>

See how else the Broncos will mark Sunday’s Salute to Service >>>>

The Denver Post’s Mark Kiszla poses a curious question: How should Broncos fans greet just-returned linebacker D.J. Williams?

To boo…or not to boo…

For the record, Kiszla suggests fans should take the high road.  Maybe it will teach Williams a lesson in appreciation.

Other Headlines:

• Associated Press: The unsung hero of the Broncos season: special teams.
• Bleacher Report: 2012 Denver Broncos Are Better Than the 1998 Super Bowl Champion Broncos
• Denver Broncos: Elvis Dumervil is hopeful he can play Sunday against the San Diego Chargers.
• Denver Post: A closer look at the spike of QB injuries as of late.
• Fox News Sports Network: Broncos look to assert command of AFC West with win over Chargers.

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The Carolina Panthers are such a distant memory for the Denver Broncos.

Now it’s all about the San Diego Chargers in a critical AFC West battle.

Defensive end Elvis Dumervil sat out Wednesday’s practice with a left shoulder strain.  Head coach John Fox said Monday Dumervil is “day-to-day,” likely meaning he’s questionable for Sunday’s game.  Guard Chris Kuper, still nursing a sprained ankle, participated on a limited basis, but it still expected to be out for a few weeks.  It was Kuper’s first practice since his injury ten days ago against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The other notable newcomer to practice Wednesday was linebacker D.J. Williams, who has yet to play this season because of back-to-back suspensions.

Meanwhile, cornerback Tracy Porter has still not been cleared to practice.

Moving on…

Peyton Manning’s leadership skills are always on display game day, from commanding the offense on the field to coaching that same unit on the sidelines.  Using some insight from Manning himself, the Denver Post shed some light on the “de-briefing” sessions:

…Manning told reporters Wednesday that in those situations he is speaking with the entire offense, although the camera angle might show only the linemen closest to him.

“It’s something that we’ve decided to do after every series as an offensive unit,” Manning said. “We’re just trying to hash out what’s going on out there — good or bad.

“We kind of call it our ‘debriefing’ session,” he added. “(Previously) we had some military guys talk to us about doing that, and coach (John) Fox encouraged us to buy into it.”

Other Headlines:

• Bleacher Report: There’s more to the Broncos’ success than Peyton Manning.
• Denver Broncos: Players salute soldiers at Fort Carson.
• Fox News Sports Network: The Broncos are Super Bowl contenders.
• Opposing Views: The Broncos and Chargers are headed in different directions.

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Denver Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams, with the team once again following a nine-game suspension, is ready to get back to work:

“I did the crime, got to do the time.  But it’s over with now and hopefully I can help my team continue to keep winning.

“There will be some rust but football is a great sport to come back to because when in doubt just hit somebody.  I would like to jump out there Day One but you’ve got to earn the respect of your teammates and earn your spot back. I’ll just be patient and wait.”

During his media availability Monday, Williams said he’s kept in shape and worked out alone, and hopes to contribute meaningfully to the Broncos defense.

Other Headlines:

• Denver Broncos: Inside the Broncos’ Week 10 numbers
• Denver Post: This just in: Von Miller is awesome.
• Associated Press: A solid special teams outing by the Broncos played a role in the firing of the Carolina Panthers’ special teams coach.
• Predominantly Orange: Job well done, Broncos’ offensive line.

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According to Denver Broncos head coach John Fox, defensive end Elvis Dumervil is “day-to-day” with a shoulder injury.  Dumervil had an MRI exam Monday morning on his left shoulder, and luckily for the Broncos, didn’t reveal any muscle tearing.

Good news: No significant shoulder injury for Denver Broncos defensive end Elvis Dumervil. (personal photo)

Dumervil was hurt in the first half of the Broncos’ 36-14 victory against the Carolina Panthers.  Robert Ayers played well in Dumveril’s absence.  Ayers finished with five total tackles, including a sack and two tackles for loss.

Williams returns

Linebacker D.J. Williams’ nine-game suspension is officially over.

Williams was suspended six games for violating the league’s substance abuse drug policy for allegedly providing a “non-human” sample.  He was later given a three-game suspension in connection to a DWAI conviction.

But it’s unclear what type of shape Williams is in…or how quickly he’ll be infused in the Broncos defense.  Wesley Woodyard has excelled in Williams’ absence, and it makes little sense to demote Woodyard.

What are Denver’s options?  Read here >>>>

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Typically, the first order of business on a Saturday before a Denver Broncos game would be all things preview.

But today’s top story, which generated a lot of social media buzz Friday, is courtesy Mile High Sports’ Chris Bianchi, who landed an interview with suspended Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams.  Here’s an excerpt from Bianchi’s column:

Part of the harsh judgment comes from several questionable actions, but Williams is also notoriously difficult to deal with for the media. Reporters looking for a quote from the now-30-year-old University of Miami product are always turned down, some politely and most rather bluntly. And Williams’ disconnect with the media has unquestionably helped shape a strongly negative perception of the talented-yet-troubled linebacker.

It’s a long read, but absolutely worth the time invested, so I’m linking to it yet again – just to get the point across that you should read this.  Scroll the bottom of the post for a link to the actual Q&A, which you can also access by clicking here.

Moving on…

The Denver Broncos landed in Cincinnati around 5:00 p.m. Friday for Sunday’s showdown with the Bengals.  Cornerback Tracy Porter, who didn’t practice Friday, is out and will be replaced by Chris Harris.

DHF’s Broncos at Bengals game preview will be posted shortly, but to wet your palette, here are some other game-related headlines:

• Denver Post: CB Champ Bailey is looking forward to his matchup with wide receiver A.J. Green.
• Predominantly Orange: Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton has thrown an interception in each game this season.
• Rant Sports: The Bengals defensive line will keep the Broncos offense on alert Sunday.

Other headlines:

• Denver Broncos: Rookie linebacker Danny Trevathan is finding his rhythm.
• Denver Broncos: The NFL honors military in November with “Salute to Service.”
• Denver Post: There’s a downside to a successful Broncos season: staff changes.
• Denver Post: Through strong play, offensive tackle Ryan Clady is proving his value.

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Here’s something I didn’t think was possible a month ago: The Denver Broncos have – or will soon have – flexibility at linebacker.

The unit has looked downright terrible at times this season, notably in the Broncos’ losses to the Houston Texans and New England Patriots.  The dismal performances even had me pining for the return of suspended linebacker D.J. Williams, a much-maligned player many thought Denver should have cut ties with before the season.

Denver Broncos LB Wesley Woodyard has earned his starting role. (personal photo)

But after watching the Broncos’ last 90 minutes of football, something changed; there’s been a defensive renaissance – thanks in part to improved play at linebacker, and more specifically, Wesley Woodyard.

At 6-feet and 220 pounds, Woodyard is undersized for an NFL linebacker, but he compensates with instinct and quickness, two attributes often described by football pundits as “uncoachable” traits.  Entering the season, those characteristics were typically limited to special teams where Woodyard has served as team captain since joining the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2008.

Woodyard has a knack for knowing where to be on the field, and that anticipation shined on Sunday night in the Broncos’ walloping of the New Orleans Saints.  Woodyard’s field presence showed on his stat line: 13 tackles, interception, sack, forced fumble, tackle for loss, and two passes defensed.

Woodyard started seven games last season while Williams’ was injured, but this time around, No. 52 is not about to give up his role.

In training camp, the thinking might have been to merely let Woodyard keep Williams’ seat warm until his return, but not anymore.  He’s made a convincing case to remain Denver’s weak side linebacker.  It seems to be an easy decision for defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio to make, and it’s not just because of Woodyard’s impressive tackle-leading stats.

With Joe Mays now on injured reserve, the Broncos are noticeably thin at middle linebacker.  Williams could likely soon share snaps with veteran Keith Brooking, a decent enough run stopper but a liability in pass coverage – which isn’t so much his fault as a product of being an aging human being. Rookie Steven Johnson is currently second on the depth chart, and he has zero tackles in his young NFL career.  Compare that to weak side linebacker – a position now apparently controlled by University of Kentucky football products (and much to my chagrin) – with Woodyard and rookie Danny Trevathan, who continues to see more playing time.

D.J. Williams, seen here watching practice, returns Nov. 12. (personal photo)

Williams played strong side linebacker early in his Broncos career, but Pro Bowler Von Miller has a stranglehold on that position with Nate Irving as backup.

Another byproduct of Williams’ return is added flexibility for Del Rio.

Let’s assume the Broncos go with Miller, Williams, and Woodyard as the starting strong, middle, and weak side linebackers, respectively. Del Rio has the option of implementing more of a rotation with Brooking, Irving and Trevathan.  Or if Brooking gets the starting nod over Williams, then he comes in later downs.  Maybe the 4-3 base defense gets a wrinkle as the Broncos throw in some occasional 3-4 schemes, or maybe we see Trevathan play more in modified nickel situations just as Woodyard did in previous seasons.

Given Denver’s current trajectory it seems likely this team could once again see the middle-strong offenses that gave the defense fits in the opening weeks (Houston and New England).  The return of Williams, bolstered by the ability to generate even more exotic looks in the box could serve the Broncos well if and when the high profile offenses come calling.

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If you followed DHF’s Quarter Calls during or immediately after Sunday night’s game, you got a recap of the headlines by quarter.  Here are some additional thoughts following another impressive outing by the Denver Broncos.

Broncos CB Chris Harris, a second year undrafted player out of Kansas, has been a huge asset for Denver’s secondary. (personal photo)

Defensive dominance – Quarterback Peyton Manning deservedly gets the lion’s share of credit and attention, but make no mistake, the Broncos defense was the impact unit in this game.  Most anyone who cares about football expected this game to be a high-scoring shootout.  The Broncos scored.  The Saints stalled.  It will be interesting to see how this unit continues to perform.  The replacement pieces of cornerbacks Chris Harris and Tony Carter and linebackers Wesley Woodyard, Keith Brooking, and Danny Trevathan seem to have a good thing going.  What happens when cornerback Tracy Porter and linebacker D.J. Williams become available again in the coming weeks?  It was especially nice to see extended minutes for Trevathan who did an adequate job in pass coverage against Jimmy Graham (even though Graham was noticeably less than 100%).  The Broncos front seven remained strong in the middle and at the point of attack.

Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker improving – It’s been interesting to watch the evolution of Denver’s starting duo.  Ahead of the season the common belief was adding Manning would almost instantly make Thomas and Decker vaunted stars.  It turns out they each still have work to do.  While you can’t complain about their performances on Sunday, there are still shortcomings.  What Manning has done is allowed Thomas and Decker the opportunity to make huge impacts.  Now it’s up to them to take their respective games to another level.  Not there yet, but heading in the right direction…and hopefully making that “Fumbles and Stumbles” nickname I recently gave them a distant memory.

Holliday redemption- Trindon Holliday helped his case dramatically with some solid punt returns.  He has an interesting technique: catch ball, take hop to set feet, start running.  Most dynamic returners explode the moment the ball hits their hands.  Hey…whatever works.  Of note, the Broncos are allowing Holliday opportunities as a returner, but haven’t let him out of the dog house just yet for his turnover in San Diego.  Jim Leonhard got the nod as returner in obvious fair catch situations.

Denver Broncos wide receivers Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas: So much training camp promise…finally coming to fruition? (personal photo)

Running weapons – It took the league’s worst defense, but the Broncos finally got a glimpse of what could be in terms of ground game.  Willis McGahee was his typical, yardage chewing self.  Ronnie Hillman finally started to flash.  Hillman had some impressive sprints, but you can bet running backs coach Eric Studesville will be calling him out in the film room for not running north-south enough.  The rookie put his impressive speed and agility on display, but will have to work on finding lanes upfield rather than toward the sideline.  Several rushes found Hillman sacrifice yardage as he attempted to run laterally around defenders.

Expecting wins – Looking at the Broncos remaining schedule during the bye week, it was tempting to think this team could very well win out.  However, as the New Orleans game came into sight some reality started to set in as the Saints were on an upswing, still had a potent offense, and let’s face it; the NFC looks much, much stronger than the AFC.  After Sunday, the prospect of a serious winning streak once again feels plausible.  It’s still the NFL and that means nothing is a given, but based on the last six quarters of Broncos football it appears Denver should be the favorite in each of its remaining games.

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Denver Broncos suspended linebacker D.J. Williams will serve 30 days of in-home detention for a driving while ability impairs (DWAI) conviction.  His sentence, handed out today in Denver County Court, will start Feb. 7, meaning should the Denver Broncos play in the Super Bowl, he’s eligible.

Prosecutors reportedly wanted Williams to spend a month in jail.

As part of his sentence, Williams must serve two years probation, perform 56 hours of community service, pay nearly $2,400 in court costs, and attend alcohol education classes.

Williams just wrapped up a six-game suspension for submitting a “non-human” urine sample, and is now serving a three-game suspension for his DWAI.  Williams is now allowed to attend team meetings, but cannot practice until Nov. 12.

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