Denver Post sports writer Mike Klis posts his Broncos Mailbag on Wednesdays during the regular season.
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What the heck happened to Denver’s defense over the past few weeks? It looks completely different (in other words much, much better) than it did earlier in the year. It’s championship-caliber now, despite a rash of significant injuries (Von Miller, Derek Wolfe, Rahim Moore, etc.). How on earth did our defense improve without these players?
–Chris, Denver
I’m equally as stunned. I addressed this same subject following the Denver D’s impressive performance against the New England Patriots in the AFC championship.
Shaun Phillips gave me credit: “The magic moment was a guy like you doubting us and calling us average. You said we were an average-at-best defense. I spread it amongst the locker room and guys started playing better and started stepping up.”
Aw shucks, Shaun. It was nothing. Seriously, Phillips must have caught me in a rare generous moment. Through 14 games this season, the Broncos ranked 25th in the NFL in total defense (374.6 yards) and 26th in points allowed (26.6). There are only 32 teams in the league. I know I uttered far harsher descriptions than “average-at-best.”
But in their last three games, the Broncos allowed zero points through three quarters against Oakland; zero points through three quarters in a playoff win from San Diego and 3 points through three quarters last week against the Pats.
I think the return of Champ Bailey has made a difference. I think the return of Tony Carter helped last week. I think the improved development of young players like Nate Irving, Sylvester Williams and Malik Jackson have made a difference. And I think Phillips was correct: veterans like Terrance Knighton, Robert Ayers, Mike Adams and, yes, Phillips, have stepped up.
Did Wes Welker intentionally hit Aqib Talib? Yep. It’s the NFL, not “touch football.” Was the hit malicious? Was it intended to “take out” Talib? No. But if so, I would suggest that John Fox send someone more the size of Julius Thomas and not someone who has suffered two concussions within the past month.
–Docthor, Morgan Hill, Calif.
Your second point is noted. But I’m not sure Welker intentionally hit Talib. I know it looked that way on video but I think Welker saw a collision coming, tried to avoid it and guessed wrong as to the path Talib would take. I could be naive, but given Welker’s recent concussion history, as you pointed out, I don’t think he was looking for contact.
So psyched the Broncos are going to NYC! I’m happier to be playing the Seahawks than then 49ers in the Super Bowl. I like Peyton vs. their all-world secondary a lot more than I like Peyton vs. the ’49ers all-world front seven (even without NaVorro Bowman). And the Seahawks offense has fewer weapons. Am I right?
–Eric, Brooklyn
I’ve heard this a lot since Sunday night: The Broncos have a better chance of beating the Seahawks than the 49ers. Probably because, had the 49ers won, it would have meant them winning three consecutive road playoff games — at Green Bay, at Carolina and at Seattle. A neutral-site game, then, would have seemed like a breather in comparison.
But here’s why the Seahawks are the tougher opponent: The weather. If it’s 30 degrees with light flurries at kickoff in New Jersey, the conditions will be ideal for a physical, defensive-oriented team like Seattle.
This has nothing to do with the Peyton Manning cold-weather baloney. All quarterbacks have a tougher time throwing the ball in cold weather. Receivers have a tough time catching the ball in the cold.
The Broncos are built to win 30-24. The Seahawks are built to win 20-14. The fear is, this Super Bowl won’t be Seattle against the Broncos. It will be the Seahawks and inclement conditions against the Broncos.
I am living in Brady-land New England and enjoyed hosting our Patriots friends during the AFC Championship while clad in an Elway jersey and sitting in our old Mile High stadium seats. The theme around here is that the Pats were too injury-depleted and it caught up to them. I’m wondering why more credit isn’t given to the Denver “D,” which has played well throughout the playoffs despite injuries to five would-starters since the beginning of the season?
–Ryan Tibbetts, Portsmouth, R.I.
U.S. Navy Engineer, displaced from the Motherland
You, too, missed the “Jack Del Rio is one step from backing Von Miller’s promise” story. I will say, I was among those surprised the Patriots made it to the AFC championship. It may have been one of Belichick’s best coaching jobs.
Peyton Manning was wrong, though, in calling Belichick the greatest NFL coach of all-time. Vince Lombardi has the best postseason record (9-1, .900 winning percentage) and second-best regular-season record (96-34-6, .738) behind John Madden (minimum seven seasons).
Belichick has the 13th-best regular-season record and seventh-best postseason mark among those with at least 10 playoff games (19-9, .679).
I agree Belichick is the greatest coach of the past 13 years. But what Manning should have said is “it’s safe to say that he will go down as the seventh-best NFL coach of all-time.”
You’ve held New England to 3 points through all but 10 minutes of the game. Then, (as they’ve done before, by the way) you go into a three-man front with a fall-back eight-man secondary — and give up two touchdowns. Happened against San Diego too. Why this is good football? It could bite the Broncos in the Super Bowl.
–Terry, Aurora
Earlier in this bag, you saw the 0, 0 and 3-point stats through three quarters of the previous three games. That’s really good. Now the bad: The Broncos gave up 14 points in the fourth quarter to Oakland, 17 points in the fourth quarter to San Diego and 13 points in the fourth quarter to New England.
It did take those three opponents some time score those points. The Broncos used a “prevent” type defense that essentially exchanged points for game clock, knowing they had points to give.
But Denver’s D has gone a little too soft with its fourth quarter defense. San Diego was a third-and-17 conversion pass away from having a chance to tie it. New England was a missed two-point conversion from possibly having a final minute chance to tie it. (The Pats probably don’t try the onside kick that Eric Decker recovered with 3:07 left if they’re 2-point try was successful).
To date, those fourth quarter letdowns were incidental. The Broncos won. The Broncos are in the Super Bowl. But as they use these next 10 days to prepare for the Seahawks, something tells me their fourth quarter “slumps” will be addressed.
Is it just me or do the Seahawks look really familiar? Run-first offense that wants to control the game. Strong-armed QB who improvises better than he throws from the pocket. A trio of small and speedy WRs who can also improvise. A defense that forces turnovers, hits hard in the secondary and consistently rushes the passer. And, oh yeah, they’ve got the best home-field advantage in the NFL. That’s Elway’s Broncos teams!
–Dave Moll, Denver
Actually, when I watch the Seahawks, I see more of the read-option offense that Tim Tebow and Willis McGahee ran to surprising success in 2011. The difference is, Russell Wilson has a far better passing touch than Tebow and is a swifter and more elusive runner. And Marshawn Lynch is a better back than McGahee.
Wilson’s arm has nowhere near the velocity Elway had on the ball. But both brought heavy doses of athleticism and leadership to the quarterback position.
And you were dead on with the home-field advantage. Elway and the Broncos had their way at old Mile High.
I know after a big win like Sunday’s, people don’t want to think about next year. But I was wondering if this could be the last game in a Broncos uniform for a lot of players, including Eric Decker, Knowshon Moreno, Zane Beadles, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Shaun Philips, etc. Please give us some insight for the possibility of these players returning.
–Richie Luetke, New Castle
Yep, it could be. I would say two of those five players you mentioned won’t be back. Maybe more. Don’t know who stays or who goes, yet. But last year’s Super Bowl turned out to be the last game for Anquan Boldin, Dannell Ellerby, Paul Kruger, Ed Reed, Cary Williams and Bernard Pollard with the Ravens. It was also the last game for Ray Lewis, but he had already announced his retirement beforehand.
Will injured players Ryan Clady, Von Miller, Chris Harris, Kevin Vickerson, etc. attend the Super Bowl? As a fan, I feel like they’re such a big part of our team and a big part of our success (even though not for the entire season) and I think they should be part of the special moment for the team. Do players feel the same? Or would they prefer to be watching from home if they can’t be on the field?
–Sarah, Lakewood
They’ll be there but not until a couple days after the team arrives. I do feel for those guys. They’re all putting on a brave face and staying positive for the team. But inside this has to be killing them.
Now that Denver is headed to its seventh Super Bowl, might people begin to finally recognize how under-represented the Broncos are in the Hall of Fame? Seriously, FOUR inductees! What gives? When I see individuals such as Kevin Greene make it as a finalist over Randy Gradishar, Terrell Davis and Steve Atwater, it makes me ill. Greene wasn’t even the best linebacker on his team!
–Brandon, Chandler, Ariz.
You’re right, the Broncos are severely under-represented in Canton. Dan Reeves should be in too.
But I want you to feel better about Greene. Think about how important sacks are in today’s football. Think about how much money pass rushers get. Think about how high in the draft pass rushers go.
Now think about this: Greene ranks No. 3 on the all-time sack list with 160.0. And we’re now 14 years after he retired. No. 3 to Bruce Smith (200.0 sacks) and Reggie White (198.0), both of whom were elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility.
I’ve been following the Broncos for 30 years. I watch every game live (even with the time-zone difference). And I’m planning to take a 13-hour flight to watch my Broncos live in N.Y. Do they have the gas for one more W?
–Marwan Alsudais, Saudi Arabia
Not only do the Broncos have enough gas, they have Peyton Manning. They can beat the Seahawks.
Pose a Broncos- or NFL-related question for the Broncos Mailbag. Listen to Mike Klis on “Klis’ Korner” on Monday-Friday at 102.3 FM ESPN.
