It didn't take a miracle this week, but the Broncos won all the same. The Broncos moved to 2-0 with a 27-6 victory against the hapless Cleveland Browns on Sunday afternoon, and they did it behind a defense that continues to bear no resemblance to the ones that made Mile High Stadium a fairly innocuous place to visit over the last two seasons. Elvis Dumervil's four sacks of Brady Quinn led the effort, and his strip of Quinn on the first Browns drive of the second half helped a 10-6 game become a rout.
The Browns converted just 3 of 14 third downs, gained only 200 yards overall and, generally, looked like they had no answer to the newly-frisky Broncos 3-4 scheme.
The defense's strong game against the Bengals in the opener looks even better in light of the way the Bengals played in beating Green Bay Sunday afternoon. The strong performance of the Broncos' defense got lost because of the justifiable focus on the spectacular way the game ended, but after two straight good weeks, it's much harder to deny that there's been a resurgence under Mike Nolan's tutelage.
The Broncos looked good offensively this week, as well, but it's a little harder to get excited about that side of the ball right now. Kyle Orton completed only 19 of 37 passes, but did hit several big gainers to make for a better showing than last week. Whether that was because of improved relationships with his receivers or the generally abysmal Browns defense remains to be seen. More encouraging was the emergence of Knowshon Moreno, who had 75 yards on 17 carries in a sprightly performance that put to rest lingering concerns about his physical condition.
While you don't want to rush to any conclusions about the Broncos based on a performance against a team of Cleveland's caliber, there's a lot of reason to believe things are setting up well for a Bronco playoff run.
They've got four games with the Chiefs and Raiders in front of them, as well as a trip to D.C. to play the offensively challenged Redskins. The rest of the schedule is relatively difficult, but getting two wins under their belt gets things moving in the right direction. Confidence and chemistry has to be building across the rebuilt roster and having a defense that's actually capable of getting off the field without allowing points goes miles in the NFL.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-20-2009 @ 7:59PM
daveenlakwood said...
Randy Lerner rehires Romeo crennel in Eric Mangini.... it was the second game and our season is already over..... the offense/defense looks like last year, and now Cribbs blows too.... Randy Lerner is the worst owner in Cleveland history....we can now say the Belicheck tree had rotted roots, and produces bad fruit..... Mangin needs to be canned right now..... we have seen enough of his crap and his game playing with players and fans..... fire him.... we got blown out, the team is undisciplined..... we signed a bunch of jets lazy free agents that cant play, they look like a section 8 team.... we have no qb, no running back, no linebackers, our corners suck, your whole coaching staff blows top to bottom..... and we traded a number 5 draft choice for a bunch of crap.... we couldve took sanchez and built towards the future.... but you chose a center that blows......please resign and go eat food at all you can eat circuts with the other slob from new england. Eric look at your body dude and you think your a model of discipline.... how about wiring you mouth shut, and eat right..... cause you certainty do not no how to coach..... maybe Romeo and you could join that reality show big fat losers.....
Reply
9-20-2009 @ 8:17PM
rjw6683 said...
I agree with a lot of what you said but Sanchez by far wasn't the answer and the players he brought over are the only ones we have. Take the Jets players away that we acquired with the trade and nobody makes any plays at all. This team is crap though. The defense I feel bad for because they play 95% of the game. Of course people will score and move the ball. Our offense can only avoid a 3 and out when the other team gets a penalty. I have watched Browns football for almost 40 years, but I can't stomach the garbage I get to see on Sunday anymore. They quit on the field today, and this is a team with zero heart. Time to spend more time watching high school ball it seems.
9-20-2009 @ 8:47PM
Glenn20 said...
Dave, That's some funny stuff you wrote. Thanks for the laugh. If he was going to hire someone from New England, he should have hired Scott Pioli as General Manager. He is the guy who knows how to build a team. Watch what he does in KC. Oh, and don't forget that the coach on the other side of the field is also from New England - Josh McDaniel. He would have been a better choice than Mangini.
9-21-2009 @ 8:55AM
kinkboy1121 said...
Finally, I have figured out Randy Lerners plan after a decade of owning the team.... Lerner is in competition with the Ford family to see who can be the worst franchise in history.... and he's winning.... he coaching hires stink.... his teams free agents stink..... and he doesn't care a bit about a loyal fan base.... his motto.... "I can serve up crap on a stick" and the house will be packed year after year by fans who are starved for football..... and he laughs all the way to the bank, because his losing franchise ranks number 5 in revenue sharing according to the Forbes list. What is the difference between Mangini and Crennel.... answer: the color of their skin and that is it..... they are both rotten apples from a Belicheck tree.....both hire the worst coordinators.... both are enamored by field goals... both are defensive coordinators that field bad defensives as head coaches.... both hired inexperienced clueless offensive coordinators.... both cant stop the run or find a running back.... both signed free agents from their former teams that shouldve called it quits by now.... both get blown out by bad teams and make other bad qbs look like probowlers, and both showed no self discipline in their own appearances...so fans what is our course of action..... should we continue to preach we'll get them next year or hop the draft comes early, or is it time to embarass the London snob rich kid owner after ten years of destroying football in greater Cleveland..... we need to pool our money and take out a front page full ad in the PD and get some local ads up on TV, demanding Lerner sell the team or we the fans picket..... get off your coachwes and take your team back from this big loser of an owner.
Reply
9-21-2009 @ 10:47AM
jim said...
Gonna make this so simple even a football coach can understand it.If you score 3 points and they score 6, YOU LOSE.If your defense is on the field more than your offense,if you can call that an offense,YOU LOSE. The object of playing a football game is to score more points then the other team. WE NEED ART MODELL BACK at least he wanted to win
Reply
9-21-2009 @ 11:00AM
daveenlakwood said...
Our season is over and dumb fans will continue to support an owner who doesn't give a rats ass about them......the cleveland fans deserve it for showing up to see crappy scab players that couldnt start on any other NFL time....Mangini looks like your players don't like youcause they quit on you in the second game of the season, across the board..... Randy Lerner has embarrassed this city year in and year out.. Lerner you make Art Model look like a god.... you truly are the most hated owner in sports, running ahead of Dolan. You two men are not only losers and disgraceful, you are killing fans love of baseball and football in our great city. too bad the fans can't fire you.... both jackasses....
Reply
9-21-2009 @ 1:17PM
wmjasmith6 said...
The Browns were terrible and embarrassment.
1-Poor play calling
2-Defensive player out of position
3- Poor tackling
4-Fat a defensive linemen who can't move or won't move.
5- Find receiver willing to play
6- They need to get rid of the right tackle weak performance
7- Roll the quarterback if his linemen don't want to block
8- get rid of Eric Mangini who looks lost
9- No pass rush
I could go on and on .
Reply
9-21-2009 @ 1:56PM
avpdigital said...
My Sundays just got freed up.
Reply
9-22-2009 @ 5:59AM
daveenlakwood said...
Rumor is Robiski was inactive cause he was the player who took the water from the hotel
Reply