How do you make Peyton Manning struggle?

Wear a San Diego Chargers uniform.

Lousy joke aside, it’s no secret that arguably the greatest quarterback in NFL history doesn’t fare well against the Chargers.

Peyton Manning is a MNF stud…but historically at times a dud against San Diego. (courtesy Mike Orbeck)

Entering Monday night’s Week 6 finale, Manning ranks in the top five in passing yards (1,499) and passer rating (101.0), but his career line against San Diego – all as an Indianapolis Colt – isn’t as impressive:

• 12 touchdowns
• 16 interceptions
• 72.5 passer rating

Manning’s is 4-5 against San Diego during his career, including two playoff losses.  In fact, Manning is 1-5 in his last six career meetings with the Chargers, 1-4 against Norv Turner coached Chargers teams.

• 1998: W, 17-12
• 1999: W, 27-19
• 2004: W, 34-31 (OT)
• 2005: L, 17-26
• 2007: L, 21-23 (Infamous 6 INT game)
• 2007 Playoffs: L, 24-28
• 2008: W, 23-20
• 2008 Playoffs: L, 17-23
• 2010: L, 36-14

Manning has thrown only three interceptions this season, all in the same quarter of the same game.  Since that Week 2 Monday night game in Atlanta, Manning has gone 15 quarters minus a pick.  Manning played uncharacteristically sloppy football in his last Monday night appearance.  With an all-time MNF record of 11-4, chances are Manning won’t drop two straight…

Even if the Chargers have historically given No. 18 fits.

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Broncos must get up to speed if other foes follow Patriots’ blueprint - When studying the evolution of NFL offenses, it’s important to … Wait a minute. The New England Patriots just ran another play.  Where were we? Oh, yes, just as Buddy Ryan came up with the “46 defense” to negate Bill Walsh’s West Coast offense … Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Broncos rookie Malik Jackson makes his own way apart from twin brother - For years, it felt to Malik Jackson that no one knew his name.  As an identical twin, Jackson was constantly called “Twin,” because people at school couldn’t tell the difference between him and his brother, Marquis. No wonder Jackson is relishing the chance to make a name for himself in the NFL.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Mark Kiszla: Manning’s fine, but other Broncos stars must play like it - For a football team with no Plan B, the Broncos lack a sense of urgency.  Quarterback Peyton Manning is ready to win big now.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Ready for a Monday Night Showdown - This is a huge game, especially coming off a loss last week. You definitely want to win all your division games. It’s tough, but we definitely want to get ourselves in a tie for first place with a win in our division to give us a better chance to go to the playoffs.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Making Stops on Monday Night - Champ Bailey and the Denver defense know they’ll have to make corrections and get off the field early to stop the Chargers in San Diego.  Watch video from Denver Broncos >>>>

Denver Broncos: Defense Needs to be More Aggressive - Everyone or seemingly everyone has an opinion on the defense for the Denver Broncos and how to fix it. I am going to give you my thoughts in a minute but first let me point out a couple of things. Two years ago the defense for the Broncos was historically bad; they were one of the worst defenses in NFL history.  Read more from Rant Sports >>>>

Chargers, Broncos Monday Night Matchup To Decide Early AFC West Lead - When the Chargers and Broncos meet this Monday Night in San Diego, the AFC West lead will be on the line.  In fact, one of these two teams have won seven of the last eight division titles, with San Diego being crowned five of those.  Read more from CBS Denver >>>>

Peyton Manning: Denver Broncos QB Must Spark Quick Start to Defeat San Diego - Peyton Manning must help the Denver Broncos to a quicker start if they want to win a critical early-season matchup against divisional rival San Diego.  The Monday Night Football clash between these AFC West rivals may be too early in the season to be a true difference-maker, but it certainly will be integral in how things end up playing out in the division.  Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>

Follow Denver Horse Force on Twitter at @DENHorseForce and Facebook at www.facebook.com/denverhorseforce.

Bears have secret, “different” plan to stop Broncos’ Tebow - Chicago defensive tackle Henry Melton had some quick answers to the challenge facing the Bears on Sunday.  Read more from The Denver Post >>>>

Broncos’ Bailey not in favor of kicking to Bears’ Hester - Cornerback Champ Bailey was one of the few Broncos on the sideline to witness what the Bears’ über-returner Devin Hester did the last time he faced Denver.  Read more from The Denver Post >>>>

Broncos, Raiders go down the stretch - In Week 1, the Oakland Raiders and Denver Broncos engaged in a lackluster season opener on “Monday Night Football” in which the visiting Raiders ended up winning by three points. Leaving the stadium that night (the last road game ever attended by the Raiders’ late owner, Al Davis), neither squad had the look of a playoff team.  Read more from ESPN.com >>>>

John Fox should get a lot of credit for Broncos’ rise -  The division-leading Denver Broncos passed a significant milestone this week, although it probably escaped the notice of most everyone at team headquarters. It was a year ago Tuesday that the Broncos fired Josh McDaniels as coach, setting the stage for the hiring of John Elway and John Fox.  Read more from Los Angeles Times >>>>

Denver Broncos team report: Andre Goodman rewarding team brass - Cornerback Andre Goodman endured the most frustrating season of his NFL career in 2010, as a series of leg injuries kept him out of three games and hampered him in several others.  Read more from Sporting News >>>>

Know Your Enemy: The Denver Broncos - The Broncos started their season out 1-4, but took a turn when a certain quarterback was added to their starting line-up. While putting Tim Tebow in at quarterback did make a marked difference in the Broncos season, the team is more than him.  Read more from NBC Chicago >>>> 

Catching Up with Jason Hunter - The Denver Broncos and quarterback Tim Tebow have been one of the main storylines in the National Football League (NFL) over the past month or two, but the team’s success goes deeper than the fleet-footed quarterback.  Read more Appalachian State Athletics >>>>

Denver Broncos Game Plan Evolves Weekly - The (7-5) Denver Broncos are proving there is no such thing as a consistent game plan as their offense and defense are “up in the air” each week. Based on their opponents and suited to fit quarterback Tim Tebow, even the first half does not represent the second.  Read more from The Penalty Flag >>>>

It’s Tebow Time –  After winning six of his seven starting games, it’s time to give Tebow some consideration. Maybe not for MVP, but we at least have to recognize that something is happening in Denver. Whether it is divine intervention or the fact that Tim Tebow is actually capable of becoming an NFL quarterback, something is happening.  Read more from Collegian >>>>

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Happy Anniversary, Broncos fans.

It’s been exactly one year since the tumultuous Josh McDaniels era came to a merciful end.  Now 365 days later, perhaps the biggest surprise is that the Broncos are 7-5 and the “if the playoffs started today” 4th seed in the AFC.

The Broncos are the talk of the NFL – for the right reason: winning.  Not because of Spygate II.  Not because of any handshake drama with Chiefs head coach Todd Haley.  Not because of an utterly embarrassing home blowout to a divison rival.

There’s no doubt about it; the Broncos have been better than any of us would have imagined, but that doesn’t exonerate McDaniels from his otherwise terrible tenure as head coach.

The last 55 days or so (and counting) won’t erase that mess, but it’s a start.

It's been a year since the firing of Josh McDaniels. (courtesy Jeffrey Beall)

The Good  

Yes, even Josh McDaniels did some good things in Denver.  For starters, he did win his first six games back in 2009, the franchise’s best start since the 1998 Super Bowl season.

This ‘The Good’ list would have ended there if not for what we’ve seen in recent weeks.

McDaniels did draft Tim Tebow, who, debate all you want about his quarterbacking skills, has gone 6-1 as a starter this season.  McDaniels also drafted wide receivers Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker.  So far, Decker has been the standout receiver of the two, but Thomas showed Sunday why was he taken 22nd overall in 2010.  While it remains to be seen, McDaniels’ validation could be that Class of 2010 trio.

Another plus?  McDaniels did put Denver in the position to draft Von Miller.  Though, had he been coach, I highly doubt McDaniels would have drafted the linebacker with the No. 2 pick.  I now shudder to think about life without Miller.  Moving on…

The Bad

Remember that 6-0 start in 2009?  Remember that halftime interview with Chris Berman during Monday Night Football?  Remember how everything went downhill – and fast – immediately thereafter?  Looking back on it now, McDaniels set that ball into motion months before; the 6-0 start was just a pleasant diversion from the inevitable.

Where to begin…let’s do this quick pull-off-the-band-aid-style with some highlights.

Jay Cutler.

He's not exactly Mr. Personality, but Jay Cutler can throw the football. (courtesy Mike Shadle)

Brandon Marshall.

Peyton Hillis.

Tony Scheffler.

For one reason or another, each player’s relationship with McDaniels turned horribly wrong.  So wrong each player is now playing elsewhere.  Cutler was miffed about McDaniels open adulation of Matt Cassel, and was traded before the 2009 season.  Hillis did something to fall out of McDaniels’ favor…do we even know what?  Scheffler and Marshall were reportedly close to Cutler, and therefore, the “enemy” in McDaniels’ eyes.

The players Denver got in exchange for those deals have had little impact.  Has Brady Quinn even played a down for the Broncos?   By my count, Robert Ayers is the only other player still on the Broncos roster.

As a talk radio caller recently put it, McDaniels’ roster moves were akin to “putting the team into a minibus and driving it into a lake.”

If one Spygate wasn’t enough, thanks to Steve Scarnecchia’s videotaping misadventures in London in 2010, Spygate took on a Broncos-flair.  Scarnecchia, Denver’s director of video operations, was fired and the Broncos and McDaniels were fined $50,000.

John Fox: Upgrade (personal photo)

That’s all the hard evidence.  The softer, yet possibly most irritating evidence of the complete failure of the McDaniels’ era was his overall approach.  Josh McDaniels’ stint with the nearly invincible Patriots of 2007 both got him the Denver job, and ultimately lost it for him.  His roster moves showed his true belief that individual matchups don’t matter nearly as much as coach’s ability to scheme in a system.  McDaniels used the Broncos franchise as a laboratory in his attempt to show the NFL just how gifted he was at outmaneuvering any opponent.  What resulted was a team that couldn’t outmuscle physical opponents or out-finesse tactical ones.  From the onset, McDaniels wanted his people succeeding with his plays and when they couldn’t the system crumbled.

(A quick side note…isn’t this the most obvious reason why John Fox is a successful head coach and McDaniels is a losing offensive coordinator?  Fox didn’t get to pick his people. Heck, he inherited a quarterback in Tebow that basically didn’t fit into any system currently being run in the NFL.  So instead of Fox running “his system” and making terrible player transactions just for the sake of having “his guys” he looked around at what was available and got to building.  That’s coaching.)

The Verdict

Do we really need one?  The Broncos are in the playoff hunt and McDaniels is now offensive coordinator for 2-10 St. Louis.  If Denver does get the chance to play a 17th game, I think we know who gets the last laugh.

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The Cincinnati Bengals are supposed to be in utter disarray.

Veteran QB who retired rather than suit up: check

Starting rookie QB: check

Coach who should have been fired at the end of last season: check

Apparent lack of talent at key positions: check

Excellent chance of having first overall pick in 2012 NFL Draft: check

Week 1 victory: check

*Courtesy NFL.com

Wait, what?

Momentum, if you can really call a victory against the who-knows Browns ‘momentum building,’ seems to be with Cincinnati as we enter Sunday’s matchup in Denver.  Momentum is certainly not on the Broncos side, thanks to nagging injuries, billboard fodder, and overall dismal play to start the 2011 season – so dismal, the Broncos rank dead last in Sports Illustrated’s current Power Rankings.

But it’s only Week 2, and far too soon to jump to conclusions.  However, Denver needs this game.  Otherwise, the Andy Dalton led Bengals will arguably be the league’s biggest 2-0 surprise.

Shudder.

Call me crazy, but after watching the Broncos training camp practice, four preseason games, and one regular season game, I still think Denver is the better team.  Better, despite the Broncos still-lousy run defense, which surrendered 190 rushing yards to Oakland, 150 to Darren McFadden alone.

Think there’s a reprieve for Week 2?  Meet Cedric Benson, who rushed for 121 yards against Cleveland.  Knowing the Broncos porous run defense, Benson will get plenty of carries Sunday.  Perhaps helping the Bengals’ offensive plans is the banged up Broncos.  Defensive starters Champ Bailey and Elvis Dumervil are expected to sit.

*Courtesy NFL.com

Topping the Broncos defensive ineffectiveness was the one-dimensional offense.  With a woeful 38 rushing yards, it was up to Kyle Orton’s right arm to generate offensive production.  The results were predictable…a lot of throwing to Brandon Lloyd…a lot of ignoring other receivers…a lot of third-and-longs…and a lot of punts.

Is that progress?  Are you kidding?  That’s simply a stymied running game rearing its ugly head.

Running back Knowshon Moreno (hamstring) is officially listed as questionable, but he missed Friday’s practice, an indication he’ll sit Sunday.  That puts even more pressure of Willis McGahee to resuscitate the running game.

(Note: DHF will post latest official injury report Sunday morning.)

Key Improvements (and Reality)

The incredibly short version of this game preview could be, “the Denver Broncos need to get a whole lot better.”  In the interest of offering slightly more in-depth commentary we’ll take a look at three things in particular Denver needs to do much better on Sunday if they want to avoid an 0-2 start.

Discipline:  This may improve simply because the Broncos will not be playing the Raiders, which make penalties contagious.  Still, Denver committed 10 penalties in its debut for 91 yards.  In most situations 91 yards is a touchdown drive.  Give away that many yards due to mistakes, and chances are you’ll lose most games by at least 7 points.

Run Defense: Probably makes the “needs improvement” list for every game this season.  Perhaps the most disparaging reality of the Broncos debut was that basically no progress has been made in Denver’s ability to stop the run.  Much like Oakland, Cincinnati has a questionable quarterback.  Much like Oakland, the Bengals will likely rely on an ability to run the football to relieve pressure on said quarterback.  Denver knew Oakland wanted to run, yet still allowed the Raiders backs to put up gawdy numbers on the ground.

The Broncos defense will likely be without CB Champ Bailey. (personal photo)

Running Game:  As I touched on last week, quite possibly the emptiest statement by a new coaching regime is “we’re going to be a running team.”  It’s a ridiculous claim.  It implies that the coach who was there before had a great running game, but just opted against using it.

If I’m a quarterback and my new coach makes this claim I’m trying to use my throwing arm as little as possible for the next 6 months as I know it’s going to be getting plenty of use on game day.  A poorly designed rushing package wasn’t the reason the Broncos couldn’t run under Josh McDaniels.  The Broncos couldn’t run because they didn’t have the personnel to run.  Here’s the thing…that personnel didn’t really change in the past year.  Yes, the young offensive line has a little more experience, but is still far from dominant.

When Moreno is healthy he’s fairly inauspicious, and McGahee currently has a season average of less than one yard per carry.  The Broncos need to improve their ground game, but it’s looking like the reality is that there’s no way of doing that with the pieces they have in place.

Fingers crossed I’m wrong…

TeboMeter

This week’s TeboMeter Index: 3

The chanting fans on national television, and the prospect of billboards supporting the promotion of Tebow to starting quarterback likely haven’t done much to influence John Fox (it would be kind of sad if they did).  I see those moves prompting one of two things.  In the most likely scenario, Tim Tebow remains on the sideline the entire game, with coach Fox now even less likely to play him as kind of “you’re not the coach…I am” statement.  Or things could start to unravel so quickly against the Bengals that Fox throws in Tebow for a few plays just to see what happens.

Final Score: Cincinnati 20, Denver 24 

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Welcome to Elway Live.

The Denver Broncos announced a new weekly audio broadcast featuring John Elway. The 30-minute series will begin 2 p.m. MT Tuesday, September 20, and include game recaps and previews.

Elway will also answer fan questions in real time via Twitter. To participate, send a tweet to @Denver_Broncos and use the hashtag #elwaylive.

Broadcasts will be available on the team’s official site and iTunes.

You Make the Call           

Remember that old television segment?

Loved it.  Miss it.

But that’s not what this is about.  This ‘call’ has to do with possible history.

According to San Francisco Chronicle, the Oakland Raiders want the NFL to rule that Sebastian Janikowski’s record-tying 63-yard field goal during Monday night’s game was actually a record-setting 64-yard field goal.

Two other kickers have booted 63-yard field goals: New Orleans’ Tom Dempsey in 1970 and the Broncos’ Jason Elam in 1998.

Want more debate insight? Go here.

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The Denver Post reports there’s a lengthy To-Do list for John Fox if he wants to turn the Broncos around.

Also from The Denver Post, Woody Paige writes the Broncos have only “a ghost of a chance” with Orton at QB.

FOX Sports previews Sunday’s Bengals at Broncos game.

Denver’s FOX 31 reports on the Broncos’ low (and I mean lowest) ranking on SI’s latest Power Rankings.

Metromix has a tailgating photo gallery from Monday night’s game.

From SeattlePI.com, I suppose there are perks to having a terrible offensive line.  I’ll end it there.

For those into television ratings, here are the numbers from Monday Night Football from Multichannel News.

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It’s the return of Aerys Huddle!  I join the other Aerys Sports NFL writers to discuss all things football, including my Indianapolis Colts pity party, because the truth is, I will always be an Indiana homer at heart.  Read more here, and a special thank you to Jaguars writer Corinna, a.k.a Aerys Huddle QB.

Can’t get enough of Denver’s poor run defense from Monday night?  The Denver Post has this little goodie for you.

Would rather look ahead? You’re in luck. The team’s official site has a Bengals game preview.

Ex-Bronocs kicker Jason Elam welcomes the Raiders Sebastian Janikowski to Club 63. More from ESPN.

From Stampede Blue, the Colts claimed a former Bronco (NFL Draft class of 2009) off waivers.

The Broncos get mention in Time.

Oh Nick! More from 9News.com.

Yahoo! Sports has a Broncos update.

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One-dimensional offense.  Worn down defense.  Turnovers.  Kyle Orton booed.

Someone please pinch me, because I swear it’s last season all over again.

On a night with such promise at orange crushed Sports Authority Field at Mile High, the John Fox era began with a 23-20 loss to Oakland.

I've seen enough of these for a while.

Denver’s offense struggled from the opening series, especially with its supposedly revamped running game, which looked eerily similar to 2010.  Knowshon Moreno’s first three carries resulted in -4 yards and the drive predictably ended with a punt.

“Oh boy,” I thought to myself.  “But then again, it’s the first drive.  No big deal.  Denver will get the ball again and find its rhythm.”

Well, it was true Denver would get the ball again – very quickly, actually – thanks to two rookies, the fumble-causing Von Miller and the fumble-recovering Rahim Moore.  Too bad the Broncos’ offense, starting at Oakland’s 15-yard line, could only muster a field goal.

“So, it’s going to be that kind of night.”

It was.

An uncovered Darryl Blackstock blocked Britton Colquitt’s punt, Moreno, already on the hot seat, fumbled, running back Willis McGahee tried to produce…and failed, forcing the all too familiar pass-happy Broncos offense, which consisted only of wide receiver Brandon Lloyd as a target.  The Raiders defense snuffed out Denver’s offensive scheme quickly, blitzing often and forcing Denver into one third-and-long situation after another.

And that’s just the first half.

Credit goes to the Broncos defense for keeping Oakland out of the end zone – minus one drive.  The Raiders instead settled for three Sebastian Janikowski field goals, including a NFL record-tying 63-yard kick as the half ended.  Had this been the 2010 edition of Denver’s defense, it’s very possible Oakland’s 16 first half points would have been 24.

*Courtesy ESPN.com

In the third quarter, Denver found its scoring spark in Eric Decker, which isn’t a huge surprise considering his solid training camp and preseason play, though it is surprising the touchdown came on a punt return.  Decker and Matt Prater accounted for Denver’s 10 third quarter points, while the defense held Oakland scoreless.

Hello, momentum!

It’s funny how momentum can come when a team hasn’t exactly earned it.  Denver’s offensive line was still horrid, the running game was still stagnant, and the bending defense was a Darren McFadden run away from breaking.

Denver was poised to take the lead, then it happened: Orton dropped the ball.  Literally.

Bye, momentum!

Denver’s defense finally broke, giving up a 47-yard run by McFadden that set up a short touchdown run by quarterback Jason Campbell.

Game over.  Technically, there was still 12:33 remaining, but did anyone see a Denver comeback?  Anyone?

While it’s easy to blame Orton, and based on boos Monday night, the crowd certainly did, there’s plenty of blame to go around:

• How about Denver’s offensive line?
• How about Denver’s running backs?
• How about ignoring Denver’s receivers not named Brandon Lloyd?
• How about 25% completion on third downs of at least 10 yards?  Remember what I wrote Sunday about avoiding third-and-longs?  This is why.
• How about 10 penalties for 91 yards?  (Oakland, in typical Raiders fashioned, racked up a whopping 15 penalties for 131 yards.)
• How about the lacking run defense?

The Broncos have five more days to figure it out.   Denver hosts Cincinnati Sunday afternoon at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

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Well, that stunk.

More on last night’s game later today, but first, a look at the morning’s headlines.

The Denver Post‘s Mark Kiszla writes Broncos fans are getting tired of Kyle Orton.

Also from The Denver Post, Mike Klis ranks the Week 1 QB performances.

And one last Post article, and no truer words have been written; it is back to the drawing board for the Broncos.

Oakland’s running game proved the difference on Monday Night.  More from the team’s official site.

Defensive end Mitch Unrein fulfills life dream to make Broncos roster.  Greeley Tribune has a profile.

Yahoo! Sports previews the AFC West.

Want a New Zealander’s take on the NFL season?  Sure you do.

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