Official Denver Broncos Site California Bronco NFL.COM

Denver Broncos News, 10-19-2003, First Half Summary:    What a start to this 2003 season!  Jake Plummer, after a rough week 1 start against Cincinatti, has really proven to be the piece to the puzzle that the Broncos have been missing since Elway retired.  We still have the MVP -- Most Valuable Portis -- who is running like a madman.  Rod Smith and Shannon Sharpe have really been vital in the first half, with Ashley Lelie, Ed McCaffrey, Chris Cole, etc. ready to explode the second half.  The defense has been outstanding, although a crushing injury to Ian Gold will not go without notice in the second half.  Jason Elam has proven why he is the best kicker of all time, and overall, at 5-2, the Broncos are in great shape entering the 2nd half of the season.  Jake Plummer will still be out until around the bye-week (week 10), and in the meantime everyone has to step their game up a notch, but after a battle against the undefeated (6-0) Minnesota Vikings, despite all of these injuries, the Broncos are remaining competitive and focused toward their Super Bowl march.  Anyway, I haven't posted in a long time, but here are the highlights from the first half, for me the most important being at Invesco Field at Mile High for the week 6 battle between the Broncos and the Pittsburgh Steelers, getting a chance to meet Rod Smith, Chris Cole, Reuben Droughns, Monsanto Pope, Bryant McNeal, and other Broncos, and watching the most exciting game of the year, which was seconds from overtime before Elam saved the day.  Anyway, enjoy:

Rod Smith, Chris Cole, Reuben Droughns, and myself:			Monsanto Pope, Bryant McNeal, and myself:
Rod Smith	Chris Cole	Reuben Droughns	Monsanto Pope	Bryant McNeal
Not just one, but 2 penalties on Dante Return (10-05-2003)...but they called a holding penalty on Deltha O'Neal's TD punt return?!  I'm sorry, but the Chiefs didn't beat us...the refs did, in an otherwise incredible game:

Denver Broncos News, 12/10/2002:    Well, the Bears didn't even come close to helping the Broncos on Monday Night against the Dolphins, and the spreadsheet below might have been a little ridiculous anyway, with some matchups and outcomes being highly unlikely and sometimes unwanted, since the below spreadsheet is for the Broncos to get home-field advantage, and all the Broncos should really be looking at is the playoffs, probably as a wild-card, although winning the division might be our best shot at making the playoffs.  Therefore, here are the games for Week 15, and who the Broncos probably want to win/lose just to give the Broncos the best shot at the playoffs:

Denver Broncos News, 12/09/2002:    OK, I understand that parody is now a major part of the NFL, and that it makes every game unpredictable and exciting, and that I am totally for parody.  With that being said, these last 3 weeks have been gut-wrenching, losing heart-breaking games to the Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers, and New York Jets, all teams that either had a terrible streak during this football season, or teams that for a period were not thought of as playoff teams, yet are right in the think of the hunt, just like the Broncos.  Even though the Broncos REALLY needed that game yesterday against the Jets, along with the other two games lost in overtime, and right now I am devastated, just like last year, here is the ridiculous playoff spreadsheet (this year in Microsoft Excel format).  The following spreadsheet gives the Broncos home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.  That might be a little ridiculous, but by getting rid of some of the wild upsets that have to occur for that to happen, you can at least see that the Broncos still have a legitimate shot at making the playoffs and winning a third Super Bowl.  I might make another spreadsheet simplifying the Broncos run at the playoffs, but at least this spreadsheet shows who the Broncos might need to win/lose to help them in their playoff quest.  As bad as things might seem right now for the Broncos, at least we'll see who the true fans really are and who will stick with the team through the think and the thin.  Using a line from one of my favorite movies, Galaxy Quest, "Never give up, never surrender."

Denver Broncos Spreadsheet, 2002

Denver Broncos News, 09/09/2002:    WOW, FOOTBALL IS BACK!!!  What an amazing Sunday of football.  Sure, everything started Thursday, when the 9ers pulled of a great and necessary win against the Giants, but on Sunday, everything was magnified.  3 OT games, 5 double-digit comebacks, the Texans winning their first game against their new and hated rivals, the Dallas Cowboys, and above all, THE BRONCOS BEATING THE RAMS, 23-16.  And of course, if you are new to the site you might not know this, but Ed McCaffrey is my favorite player, and watching him catch the winning touchdown against the Rams -- it just couldn't get any better than that.  Easy Ed is back, Griese is back, Sharpe is back, the "D" is back, and the Broncos are back, ready to plan a trip to San Diego for the 26th of January, the site of Super Bowl XXXVII.  WOW, I could go on and on about this weekend -- Michael Vick vs. Brett Favre, in a massive QB battle, KC winning a wild game against Cleveland on a cheap unsportsmanlike conduct penalty at the end of the game, Steve Spurrier and his Redskins putting up the points against their old rivals from Arizona, Robert Edwards scoring 2 TDs in an emotional and enormous comeback for Miami, Chicago continuing from where they left off last year -- winning in a dramatic comeback fashion against the Vikings, the Jets-Buffalo rivalry, in full swing, with Bledsoe doing everything he could to win, and the New York Jets Special Teams winning the game, with 2 TDs by Chad Morton on kickoff returns, the second coming at the beginning of overtime, New Orleans messing up Tampa Bay's punt in overtime, getting an interception TD, when the game looked like it might end in a tie.  And to think there is still one more game this opening week -- the Steelers vs. the Patriots tonight.  Move aside baseball -- football is back, and is as good, if not better than ever.

Denver Broncos News, 02/04/2002:    OK, I think I've finally recovered from the fact that the Broncos missed the playoffs, and am ready to add an entry to this page.  Oh, and there was also some football game last night that deserves to be mentioned.  I thought after the unbelievable World Series in 2001 that the Super Bowl would have a really tough time living up to that level of excitement and intensity.  All I wanted in Super Bowl XXXVI was a fairly competitive game, and not a game indicated by the 14 point spread given to the Rams.  I thought it would be a close game, for sure closer than the 14 point spread, but in no way did I think I would be putting last night's game in my Top 5 list of Best Super Bowls of All Time.  Of course SBXXXII and SBXXXIII are #1 and #2, in no particular order.  I was at SBXXXIII, so I am kind of partial to that one, although SBXXXII was such a huge game in terms of historical significance -- having an AFC team finally win the Super Bowl again, Denver finally breaking through in the big game after 4 previous attempts...  #3 on my list is SBIII.  Even though I wasn't even close to being born at the time, I have to put SBIII that high on my list simply because that game put the AFC on the map, and forever changed the course of NFL history.  Besides, who can forget Joe Namath's guarantee and him shaking his finger in the air after that amazing upset.  #5 was SBXXXIV, because who'd have thought the RAMS, of all teams, could win the Super Bowl that year, and what an exciting finish that game gave us, with the Titans finishing 1 yard short.  I'd have to probably put last night's game #4 on my list.  Virtually no one gave the Patriots a chance last night, and they ended up controlling the game.  I thought they would give the Rams a really good fight, especially after their game earlier in the regular season, but I really didn't think they'd win the game.  But their defense was absolutely amazing, making the Rams look like the Ravens on offense.  And that final drive by Brady and co.  I was hoping Brady would listen to John Madden and kneel down on the ball, so that this would be the first Super Bowl Overtime game ever, but that drive summarized the Patriots season this year.  A "rookie" quarterback being that poised and controlled in such a pressure-filled situation.  1 minute, 20 seconds, with no timeouts.  Given virtually no chance of scoring, yet the Patriots found a way to get it done, and for that, I salute the Patriots for the season they gave us, showing us yet again that you can never underestimate the power of an underdog.  Oh yeah, and besides, they beat the Raiders (fair and square), eliminating them from the playoffs, and the Broncos beat the Patriots in the regular season, so in a year of disappointment for the Broncos, at least we can say we beat the champs (that's no consolation, but I guess it sounds good    ;)    ).

Denver Broncos News, 12/02/2001 (right after Raider loss):    Woo hoo!  Love seeing those Raiders lose, especially to the Arizona Cardinals (kind of like Arizona, living in New Mexico, and of course, hate the Raiders).  Anyway, I've calmed down a bit after the Bronco loss, and thought, what the hell, why should I assume the Broncos can go 9-7 and still make the playoffs?!  After seeing the Raiders lose, and thinking of a healthy Terrell Davis and hopefully Rod Smith coming back for the rest of the season, I truly believe the Broncos can, should, and will go 10-6, and came up with a scenario for them to get home-field advantage throughout the playoffs in the AFC doing so!  I'm not sure 10-6 has ever won home-field advantage, but it can happen, and until it can't (for example, Pittsburgh wins another game), I'm going to believe Denver can surprise the world and get that AFC homefield advantage.  Regardless, if Denver goes 10-6, they'll make the playoffs, with momentum, and could win their 3rd Super Bowl.  Go Broncos!

P.S.:  Broncos, if you're viewing this page, all this stuff is to keep you focused on winning -- that you can still make something of this injury-plagued, disappointing season.  Good luck!

View The All-But-Impossible Bronco Home-Field Advantage Form

Denver Broncos News, 12/02/2001 (right after Bronco loss):    Argh, the Broncos had a 10-0 lead into the 4th quarter, only to fall apart and lose 21-10 to the Miami Dolphins, in a game the Broncos really needed.  I have always loved the end of the season and calculating all the tie-breaking scenarios that would help the Broncos.  Hopefully, those tie-breaking procedures are for position in the playoffs.  However, this year I've had to come up with situations for the Broncos to simply make the playoffs at 9-7.  If the Broncos win their last 4 games, which I am completely pulling for, completely confident in, and completely excited toward, they will make the playoffs at 10-6.  However, there is a chance the Broncos could slip along the way, either against Seattle, Kansas City, Oakland, or Indianapolis.  Therefore, I have come up with the following spreadsheet showing the situations the Broncos could make the playoffs at 9-7, given some assumptions.  First of all, I assume the Broncos will beat Seattle, San Diego, and Indianapolis, with the Oakland game a toss-up game.  Obviously, it would kill me to get swept by the Raiders.  However, looking realistically at the remaining schedule, that would be the most likely game for the Broncos to lose.  Come December 23rd, you know I will be rooting as hard as I can for the Broncos to utterly destroy the Raiders.  We'll see.  Anyway, I also assume Pittsburgh and Oakland will make the playoffs and win their division.  Hopefully the Raiders lose the rest of their games, which could give the Broncos a chance at winning the division.  However, I'm ignoring that possibility right now and focusing on the 9-7 playoff scenarios.  If the Broncos go 10-6, which again I am obviously pulling for and confident in, the situation looks very good for the Broncos.  However, I am bracing for impact and prepared for the worst, which isn't missing the playoffs right now, but squeaking into the playoffs at 9-7.  Anyway, I've talked too much, so here are the situations showing teams that the Broncos could beat out for that final playoff spot in the AFC, and the remaining games per week whose outcomes are important to the well-being of the Broncos.  Enjoy!

View The Desperate Bronco Playoff Form

Denver Broncos News, 11/13/2001:    Yeah, the Broncos played a terrible game against the Raiders, and the Broncos would be out of the playoffs at 5-4 if the playoffs were to start today, but last year the Broncos were 4-4, only to win 6 straight games and finish 11-5, and I have a feeling the Broncos are again ready to make a massive run toward the playoffs.  Losing to the Raiders didn't devastate us -- instead, it only fired up the Broncos, and come December 30th, we'll be ready to upset those nasty Raiders in their own house.

Denver Broncos News, 10/29/2001:    Well, after a shaky start, I think the Broncos finally have things back together again and are ready to make a run in the AFC toward the Super Bowl.  And what a great time to do it, as the Broncos play Oakland next week on Monday Night Football.  The Broncos obviously still miss Ed McCaffrey just like I do, but I think the Broncos are finally figuring out ways to win without him.  The stupid penalties and costly turnovers must be eliminated, but the offense must have a flow to it and put up points, and they were able to do that against New England, beating them 31-20.  For now, it is time to prepare for an always exciting and emotional rivalry against our most hated foes, the Oakland Raiders.

Denver Broncos News, 09/10/2001:    It's been a LONG time since I've felt this badly after a win.  Ed McCaffrey has always been my favorite player -- although I love all of the great Denver Broncos, such as Elway, Romanowski, Terrell Davis, etc.  "Easy" Ed is all but easy, constantly putting his health and life out on the line, just to make a catch and move the chains.  I cringe each time I see the highlights of his left leg getting snapped in two.  All I have to say is that my thoughts and prayers are with him, and if you have any thoughts you would like to share with the world, please say them here on the "Easy" Ed McCaffrey Message Board here at JoshShainin.com.  In the meantime, I know the Broncos will deal with this adversity, come back strong, just like they did immediately after Eddie got injured, and will play strong on his behalf.  Come back soon, Eddie, good luck with your recovery, and lets destroy the rest of the league Broncos.

Denver Broncos News, 09/09/2001:    We're back!  Back with our same explosive offense, back with a new intimidating defense, and back on a mission to win back the Super Bowl.  The first step:  Monday, Sept. 10th, 2001, against the New York Giants -- the first game played in the new Invesco Field at Mile High.

NFL News, 09/09/2001:    Oh, man, thank God football is back.  It was a mixed week for my dark-horse teams -- Cincinnati and Chicago -- with Cincinnati beating the Patriots and Chicago losing to the defending Super-Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens.  The Broncos division looks impressive, with San Diego embarrassing the Redskins, and Oakland and Kansas City renewing their long-time rivalry.  Seattle won, although cheaply, with only 3 field goals accounting for all of their points.  Looks like an exciting year of football, although all I really care about is that the Broncos win their final game of the season on January 27th in New Orleans.

Old Denver Broncos News:    Overall, it was a very up and down year for the Broncos.  They started slow, had an amazing winning streak in the middle, then faded out at the end.  They embarrassed the 9ers, then got embarrassed themselves against the Ravens.  However, I still have a lot of respect for the Ravens (although revenge is on my mind), and they proved to me that defense wins championships.  (I have to say that, because on NFL Primetime they have constantly said that, although I personally hate it and don't agree).

Old NFL News:    Well, the Baltimore Ravens proved that they were the best team in 2000, winning Super Bowl XXXV in convincing fashion.  I'm ready for revenge next year, but for now, congratulations to the Ravens, who showed me a defense I never thought could exist.  Until next year when we set out to reclaim the trophy, sit tight, and enjoy the offseason.